School Disco

The previous Friday evening, as the rain fell continuously outside, Peter's school had its annual school disco. It is a fun event for the kids. The formal 'paired dancing' does not happen. There is simply a lot of jumping and shaking to the music for some while the rest simply run about in the semi darkness. This all happens under the watchful eyes of many teachers and the many parents who organised the event. There was an entry cost because the event is a fund raiser, but the music and lighting were well presented and each child was given a glow band to wear and take home afterward. For a bit of extra money LED products were available for purchase, flashing things that hang off the body in some way. It made for an impressive spectacle.

Mass Olympic Homage

This happens religiously every four years, the lighting of the cauldron. It is always interesting to see how a particular group of designers will rework it for the host country. This time it was placed at the very centre of the crowds of athletes and in so doing has intensified its power and meaning. The flame has always taken on great religious meaning, representing the life and spirit of the games. Instead of its being to the side as a  servant/guardian it as moved to the centre, at least for the opening night (since it will be relocated to the side for the remainder of the two week long event). So given what happened, stop and consider these images surrounding the lighting of the flame, as we saw them. They are powerfully and perfectly religious in every way and do give us cause to contemplate how this will play out in our minds and the collective mind of the world. At such a time as this the Olympic gods are rekindled. They burn deep into the subconscious collective mind of the world. (And as an aside, its power may be somewhat strengthened but also diminished by all those commercial forces pushing it into the middle.)

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Class

As part of a thorough course in First Aid at the school, Peter has experienced some practical hands on experience with the help of plastic dummies with detachable faces. Every body in the course was given a sterile face to work with (!) and their first challenge was working out how to put them on so that they worked properly for the Expired Air Resuscitation. The latest ratio is 30 CPR to every 2 EAR. It is definitely a daunting prospect to have to compress a victim's chest about 100 times a minute, continuously at that rate, with such heavy pressure (if the dummy's spring is any indication) until help might arrive.

Joined Together

Peter has recently cut up a length of pine stud 3 degrees of line both sides to make 28 wedge blocks plus a 'key stone' block in order to make a large arch for a teaching session at church. The teaching was about being joined to Christ. As many living stones we all work together to form one living body with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone or in this case the key stone. The arch came together in a very impressive way and gave a strong teaching in how we are part of a greater whole.

Tank Project

This is to keep a photo record of our longish project to get a 2000 litre rainwater tank into a spot into our back yard. It involved knocking away part of the front fence and carrying in the new tank. That was right back in about April and it sat there for a few months while we prepared its final resting place.

Because of existing sewerage pipes, we found that it could not sit at the corner of our house but be set back along the back wall. That was a bit of a compromise when considering the fall of the guttering and the position of the down pipe into the tank.

The border was set with strong plastic garden divider at a radius 30 cm greater than the tanks to conform to installation instructions.

We used plenty of sand from our disused sand pit at the back, over 10 cm of sand right across and it was pleasing that the garden divider strip sat perfectly level and did not need adjusting.

Peter initially had the overflow pipe running in an open way into the sewerage 'breather' pipe nearby, but was told by the plumber installing our new guttering that that was a wrong thing to do. He kindly reset the guttering to suit the new position of the tanks down pipe and ran an outlet hose round the corner of the house to the storm water inlet which had the old down pipe.

It was very pleasing to see it all finally come together. There has been a lot of rain recently and our tank is now full to the brim. Pleasing. We will paint the white pipes green some time soon.

Biking to Brunswick

We decided to go on a bike ride to Brunswick if we could. It was winter but the day boded well. It took us two hours to reach CERES a community farm community on the edge of Brunswick. It was there that we stopped for a cuppa and lunch and called it our destination. We were able to follow a dedicated bike route for most of the trip which was very satisfying and safe.

Interestingly, at CERES each Saturday the community bike maintenance area is alive with people working on bikes. You have to see it to believe it. If you look closely, one of the work spaces is 'arched' by a 'geodesic dome' of discarded bike wheels, all lashed together. This metal canopy is fast being smothered by a passion-fruit vine. Bike riders helped themselves to community bike tools and experienced bike repairers were on duty to help and train.

We had a very healthy meal of organically grown produce sitting on box seats by a notice board absolutely covered in community advertisements. This was where it is at...

The community market at CERES was also a Saturday event and we stopped by to purchase a few things that were not too much to carry back on bikes. Near by were community farms and Barb took a few pictures of these. It looked very well planned winter garden. A rain shower swept over causing us to ponder how our return trip might go. It was good to wait under cover for it to pass because the rain went ahead of us and we had a dry run home. Even the cold wind was not so strong. That took another two hours but the excursion was empowering for us. We now know that what ever happens to our car and P/T, we know we can get to Brunswick and back by peddle power!

Cousins Baptised

We had the pleasure of witnessing the baptism of cousins, grandchildren to our friends Mo and Ha who we helped to settle into Australia over a generation ago now. This family always likes to include us in these special family occasions and we always like to participate if we are able to.

Reshaping a Tree

Recently we responded positively to our neighbour's concern about our bordering gum and called in Trav's Tree Service. Trav recommended what should go to still maintain the tree's integrity. It was a good compromise all round. We gave him the go ahead and were pleased with the outcome. Maybe in ten years someone will have to revisit the question of this tree, the biggest in our property.

Life at the Retreat

At the Gembrook Retreat there is a dynamics that is rare. It must have a lot to do with the numbers of children and the free Spirit in the place. There is acceptance and respect of each other there and these values include and create time for others to come in and share their lives, sometimes for just a few days, but for others even years. God is acknowledged at times in creative openness and at meal times with barely a whisper. Overt Quaker elements enhance and embellish the many lives that make this dynamic work, through sickness happiness and health.

Gembrook Vista

The Gembrook Retreat is famous for its vista. Peter is always ready with his camera for those times when the lighting and weather makes it even more special if that is possible. So here is a few more on offer, taken from the construction site. This land rolling away and coming back in beauty and distance provides healing and renewed head-space for all who are touched by its power.

Gembrook Shed Started

Peter was invited to join in with others for the start of a giant shed construction at the Retreat. The opportunity came at a good time - during school holidays - so Peter spent four days there. This was not the usual time to build a shed - midwinter - so the guys had it tough in temperatures as low as 8 degrees. On top of that were all the passing showers. In between the showers it was mostly drizzle. The ground below the front posts was becoming a muddy soup. Fortunately the sun broke out on the fourth day to give some encouragement, so by the end of the fourth day they were happy enough with their progress. That was the time Peter had to leave. Other people come to continue the shed at the next weekend. There are a few more rafters to lift into place and then the battens, metal braces, insulation and tin roofing. Big shed - 6 x 11 metres.

One might think that Thomas is slacking on the job. Not so. He played a very important part adding his weight to the plank which in turn was resting on a rope pulling together the opposite beams and stopping any chance of the rafters slipping out of their metal hangers while the other guys nailed them in place.