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.

Abigail Nine

Last weekend, we joined with Abigail, with her parents and a school friend  to celebrate her ninth birthday at Azurea Cafe. That is where we go most Sundays after church. On this occasion, Joy her mother brought along a cake with nine candles. Azurea got in on the act by supplying plates and a generous amount of whipped cream to add to the slices.

Few will be able to guess what sort of gift that Abigail is holding unless they are in the know. Wooden, yes, but what is it?

Bike Skills

At the school, Peter has been involved supporting a "Bike Skills" program, a homegrown initiative by a specialist teacher for building up social and life skills for children who could really benefit. Vic Roads loaned the school eleven Mongoose 21-gear bikes for the duration of second term. A few smaller bikes were supplied by the teacher for the very young children involved in the program. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and warmed to each riding challenge they were given. The pictures are filtered to maintain confidentiality in the public domain, but they still help to share memories of recent weeks at the school. Soon the bikes will have to be returned, sadly.

Peter told the school assembly recently about his first ever time he rode a two-wheeler bike. The bike was a small one like the little green one just above, only it was a fixed wheel so the pedals went around all the time it moved. Peter thinks he was about four years old then. He was so excited to find he could do it, weaving in and out of shoppers on the footpath (he lived behind a shop in the main street of a country town those days), that he did not notice that his ankles were getting ripped at every turn of the pedals. He only noticed his bleeding ankles when he returned after his long footpath ride. Ouch.

MIB casting

Some little while back, a smart looking man arrived to check us out and let us check him out. Dan does scrub up well, doesn't he? Dan stood between the wedding vows and the banquet that follows. He came during that time that has to be absorbed in some constructive way before he and the other guests reassemble to resume the celebration. We went out for a celebratory cuppa to share the space in a memorable fashion. After all we rarely see him out of a T-shirt and jeans.

Funk Departure

These are our departure memories of our travelling family of Funks ready to live in Canada for three months. The day arrived and we had to say good-bye, glad for them and sad to be without them at such a distance. The day was a balanced one with shared excitement but also concern about how the kids will travel, especially Jethro who was not that well. May all who read this blog at the time of its publishing offer a prayer for God's travelling mercies. Each picture here tells some of the story so we want to post them promptly as they travel. With our love.

Funk Fun

Today we had the time to travel the 90 Kms for a visit with our special family in Gembrook. Bec was away at a women's circle meeting so there are no pictures of her this time. It was nice to spend time with Gord and the kids. Jaz had been sick and had to lie down at times to recharge. Otherwise he did not want to miss out on the action. We left after sunset with memories of a fun time... a relaxing time with family.