Sunday, 22 January

The work on site has continued this week.  It has been another mild week in a very mild summer.  I expect that this coming week the brickies will complete their work on the public area of the priory and begin to move up the hill working on the first of the accommodation modules.

The brickwork has reached the foyer clerestory

On Saturday I showed our old friend Robert Love around the building.  One of the things he enthused about was the aspect of the building and the placing of windows to give a rich variety of views over our property.  He thought the building would nurture our spirits and our spirit.

Below is a photo from the entrance looking down over the first dam.  This area will be landscaped.  It will be a plaza- pleasant area to sit and look over the view.

Water glimpsed through the trees with hermitage to the right

Accommodation module with cows on the hill

In the photo above you can see the timber being placed to frame to the roof.  The carpenters will be working this week on that project.  If you click on the photo you will see the cows on the hills behind.

The brickwork in the entry foyer is now almost complete.  Here you can see how it reached up to the windows below the high ceiling.

Entry foyer takes shape

One of the things I am pleased we have done is to protect the Hoop Pine outside the house oratory.  You can see it in the photo below.

Looking across the courtyard to the oratory and library with the Hoop Pine beyond

Celebrating Des's birthday with a joyous feast

Today the Varroville community went to the St Ives Carmelite community where we celebrated Fr Des Williamson's birthday.  They had expected that perhaps one or to of us might turn up.  But we all wanted to go.  We enjoyed the warm welcome, wonderful food and and lively conversation.

Des, Peter, Gerard and Aloysius

Johny, Bernard, Paul and Shane

Admiring the new garden

We examined the bananas planted by Frs Peter and Johny and the impressive vegetable garden that Des and Johny made.  As well we looked at the huge development next door besides which our new priory seems small.

In regard to community celebrations the standard has been set.  We look forward to the next birthday or jubilee.  There are a number this year.

Fr Johny has sent me proof of his post-Christmas expedition to the back of Bourke.  While there he travelled around with a local priest and the Uniting Church minister.  He was proud to have visited what he called my ancestral home.  This is not quite accurate but the sentiment is fine.

Johny back o'Bourke