07 Nov November 2020
On 8th November we celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of Br Stuart’s profession in monastic life.
From the 10th to the 13th November we had another of our Estate “Weeks”. Unfortunately the trees we were hoping to plant didn’t arrive – they hadn’t yet gone to sleep, apparently – but there was plenty of other work for us to do: cutting back hedges, felling diseased ash trees, pollarding willows, planting laurel groves, rotavating the kitchen garden, bonfires &etc. . We were pleased to be joined, as ever, by chainsaw-wielding former Alongsider, Tim Vick (Tim was hired as a professional and during his stay self-isolated in the hermitage).
Tim Br Matthew raking brambles by the hermitage Br Adrian transporting firewood
Sr Alison and Sr Jessica experiment with the rotavator Br Stuart transplants the rosemary in the courtyard Br Jonathan on the tractor
Br Anthony on kitchen detail, receiving this week’s groceries Abbot Thomas The willows got their annual haircut
During that week we also welcomed the Rev’d Br Matthew Webster, of the Community of St Sulien, who will be staying with us for three months to gain some experiencing of living in a monastic community [This was at the behest of his Bishop, the legality of merging households was run past a lawyer, and Br Matthew had a Covid-19 test before arriving].
On Thursday 26th was had a celebratory tea in honour of Thanksgiving (Sr Gregory is from the US) and Br Adrian’s birthday (Br Adrian is from the eighties). Attempts to sing Happy Birthday to the tune of The Star-Spangled Banner met with limited success.
