Saturday, 28 April

Although the brickies are back and so the next sections of the priory are now being built much of the work is the fitting out of the rooms.  These are the finishing touches. 

One thing that has been done of late was the erection of a plinth outside the front door and the placing on it of the fountain.  All we need now is for the planting to grow, the benches to be placed and the concrete to be finished and then we will have our entry space.

We have a fountain but no water as yet

The exterior of the priory in the first section is largely complete.  Below is a view of the oratory with the cells beyond.

The oratory from the 'novitiate'

This is not to say that we have been doing nothing.  In regard to the oratory interior we have been hastening slowly.  Basically this means talking about what is possible and desirable with Alex Coutts and Peter Coad the architects and Kevin Coen the site foreman while his brother Maurie is away.  It is a blessing to have this team to work with.

A particularly exciting day recently was opening the boxes which had been in storage with the church furnishings and art from our house in Box Hill.  The stained glass windows by Cedar Prest, a noted Australian artist in glass, are particularly impressive.   These are based on themese and images from St John of the Cross.  We hope to use them in the refurbished retreat centre. 

It was also a joy to see once more the religious art from Box Hill.  For me it was a particular delight to see the icon of Our Lady of Kazan and the figure of Christ from a cross.  These were given in memory of the deceased members of my family.  We will certainly use these in our oratory.  Finding the right place for the crucifix was largely solved by getting a long ladder and holding the corpus high.  I think we have found just the right spot for it.

The icon of Our Lady of Kazan

This week I hope to visit a stone mason in Revesby to see about the altar and lectern which we hope to have made from sandstone. 

Friday, 13 April

On Easter Sunday we had the brothers from St Ives with us for the Easter meal.  We then looked around the building site.  They were very impressed.  It is a good feeling to hear the appreciation of the brethren for the project.

Easter week has been blessedly quiet.  We have had some cold and windy days but other days like today have been magnificent.  There has also been further progress to report.  'Whisky' our neighbour's dog has left her prints on the concrete of a veranda.  I think this may be one adventure too many for Whisky. 

The walkway from the retreat centre to the priory now has its framework.  The steel is now undercoat black. 

The framework for the walk way is in place

The floor coverings have extended into the corridor.  We are using comcork which is made of 70 percent recycled wine corks and rubber.  So it is quiet, has some give in it and is not cold in winter.

Comcork on the floor of the office and corridor

Looking past the courtyard into the priory corridor

The courtyard now has a tree and little bushes along with its rocks and gravel.  We will be able to see the seasons change as the Red Spire pear tree in the centre loses its autumn coloured leaves, then is bare in winter before it blossoms with beautiful white flowers and then has its leaves emerge as red purple in spring while in summer it is green.

The courtyard with its Red Spire pear tree

The bedrooms are almost ready.  Here is one which will soon have its comcork floor and lighting.  Even the showers and toilets are now tiled.

Bedroom

Tiled shower and toilet

Looking down the corridor

The dining room takes shape.

This is a rush job as I am about to head off to Wollongong for a disco (for the disabled) and tomorrow I will be for some days with the Carmelite Secular Order in Launceston and Hobart, Tasmania.