Working BEE:Sunday 8th December.! We have booked a fine day and are gathering tools to clear tracks and sites for two new lay kutis. Come in the morning for breakfast at 7am. Work ’til lunch in the sala at 10:30. Start again at 1pm. We need tea wallahs, chainsaw swingers, leaf lifters, log lumpers, dirt diggers… and more. Buzz off around 3.30pm. Depending on how many come we may not have enough tools. You could bring a small pruning saw and/or loppers. Chainsaw? Digging things? Come for all or part.
Views:Trees keep growing and keep crowding each other, buildings and views. The patio area at the Upper House has been opened up as has the space around a lovely totara by the dana sala. Space and light – wonderful. view photoss
Carpark:The entrance driveway, kitchen turn-around and main carpark have all been asphalted. This happened just after vassa but somehow has taken this long to report. Many of you may have seen it. Some of you may even have been allowed to drive on it 🙂 There is still work to be done – marking car spaces (done), wheel stops, edging, etc. but, after over two decades, it is finally done! view photoss
New Year Retreat:Friday December 27th, 7pm – Friday January 3rd, 3pm. All our retreats are semi-residential and you are welcome to join with all or some of this retreat. If you want to stay in the monastery please book early through the online guest form. This will overlap with our usual New Year’s eve vigil (more details of this later).
Space Shuffle:The project is mainly about moving lay activities from the monks’ area into the lay area. Several office functions will be relocated into what was previously the dana-sala store. Those stores are now in the back of the Dhamma Hall. The monks’ sewing area in the Dhamma Hall is now in the top of the Upper House. The new office will (may? should?) provide a more directly accessible and efficient point of connection. view photos
School Visits:Two in a row – Tuesday, Kapiti College. Wednesday, St. Mathews Masterton.