Westacre Day minus 22
Alex and Hilde have escaped the DIY madness for a little while. They’ve travelled to Belgium, where Hilde’s cousin is getting married on Saturday. News services may be suspended for a while.
An inspirational TED talk about the importance of connection in hard times, and the importance of the human heart.
Westacre Day minus 23
As Alex put it: there is a kitchen sink in the work surface, with a tap that makes hot and cold running water and a fully functioning set of waste pipes connected to the waste. Not bad for a day’s work.
Especially since the day’s work also involved moving more stuff around in the bungalow, so the plasterers have access to the main bedroom and the en suite.
Hilde has (hopefully) had the last difficult day at work, and can relax for the last two weeks. But first there is a wedding to go to in Belgium.
Westacre Day minus 24
The professional plasterers have started work. They have replaced the ceiling in the extension (lovingly called the East Wing) of the bungalow, and have plastered the new porch. They will keep going for a couple more days.
Alex, in the meantime, has fitted some of the kitchen cabinets, cut the worktop to go on top, and was still working at 9:30pm, trying to fit the sink.
Hilde was doing her London job, trying to find ways to attract more people to the City Lit Welsh courses.
These two are intimately connected. You can’t shine out your deepest self without risking to be hurt. And the tenderest part of yourself is your greatest beauty.
Westacre Day minus 25
Hilde had quite a productive day. Before midday, she squirted expanding foam behind some plaster board to make good the walls next to the new patio doors in the bungalow. Then she caught a train back to Harrow, where she met the people who measured up for new windows. Then she filled another six boxes with stuff, mostly books.
Alex and Roger ended up moving building materials around the bungalow so that the plasterer can start work tomorrow and a delivery of lengths of skirting board can be accommodated.
Listen. You will hear Nature winding down to its deepest stillness. The whisper of the last falling leaves will carry you down to rest with the Earth. You will be lifted by the song of a lone bird.
Listen. You will also feel the plight of the Ash and the Blue Tit. You will hear the sorrow of many souls weeping.
Listen. What joy do you carry that meets the need of the land?
Alex puts a kitchen cabinet in place
Westacre Day minus 26
As well as some invisible work, like putting insulation into the partition walls, we managed to glue down all of the lino and put kitchen cabinets in place. It’s beginning to look like something at long last.
I wouldn’t expect a relationship with a human being to mature and deepen quickly. So why should I want to rush my relationship with the apple trees, the ash and the soil at Westacre? I will be spending my life here. There is enough time to make deep friendships with the spirits of this place. There is time to savour each encounter for what it is, right now, right here.