From Lake King I wandered up to Gingin for my cousins 70th. Lovely weekend. I was rather surprised at how much stubble is being burned off - very smokey. I thought that practice was discouraged. 
Spent Easter with friends at Seabird, then back to Waroona via 'back' roads to avoid the school holiday traffic. Lovely drive via Gingin, Bindoon Hill, Toodyay to Katrine camp beside the river. Bit tricky to get in to but flush toilets - always a big plus. Then to York intending to fill up with water - but my fancy anti-vandal tap fitting doesn't work on those tap. Got water at Beverley instead. On down to Pingelly and across to Pumphreys Bridge. Lovely big area down by the river, up behind the hall and on an oval out the back. Thought I was the only one there and a bit nervous about all the traffic stopping at the hall during the late evening. seems to be a meeting place - or maybe they just stop to use the loos. Anyway - I see a van tucked away on the oval next morning.
Enjoyed the drive via Crossman and Boddington. Thought about stopping there but went in to Waroona via Lane Pool. I had forgotten how narrow the north end of that road is - and with weekend traffic it was a slow cautious trip!
Farm sitting again - a couple of dogs and 600 acres. Enjoying being back amongst old friends in Waroona.
From there I went via Mt Barker (laid up a few days with a nasty cold) and on to Esperance where I had another farmsit for 6 weeks. Lovely old renovated house, 4 farm dogs, a cat, a bird and chooks. Did a trip to Lucky Bay, hellfire Bay, Stonehenge, Cape Arid (almost - road too wet and slippery).Found the amazing Hakea Victoria in Helms Arboretum. Pity it is such a spiky plant - certainly has stunning colours.
Stood beside a snake at Hellfire Bay - thank goodness it seemed to be asleep. Not sure if a Tiger or what but not getting too close whatever it was.
Stonehenge was amazing and the tidiest Tourist destination I have seen in Aus. The farm & business is for sale!
Big flock of black cockatoos flew past a couple of times - migrating I am told.
I made my way back to the next farmsit out of Waroona. Will be here 3 months so looking forward to catching up with all my friends in the area. The weather has certainly changed - wet and wintery but at least everyone has grass again.October:
New Norcia Benedictine Retreat – 29/9 – 2/10
My birthday present from the family was a weekend retreat at New Norcia. Lovely group of 9 people I was with. All good Catholics…..and heathen me. Dom Chris looked after
us and ran sessions where he told us about being a monk, how New Norcia runs
and the Benedictine Philosophy which was all very interesting. I did feel
though that I had heard so much of that from ‘life coaches’ and motivational
speakers – just not with the concept of God being the giver of this inner
strength! We were shown very old material maps of the 1 Million acres they used to own
& lease – down to 20,000 acres now which they have decided to lease out as
that will make them more money.
Had silent 3 course meal with the monks one day – complete
with our own '2.5 glass' bottle of wine. Coffee with another monk after lunch –
and a glass of port! We were served by the Abbot and another monk while we
listened to readings. Self-help cereal and toast breakfast and 2 course dinner
with wine also!
They built 8 bedrooms against the monastery wall when they
decided to expand the guest house. All twin ensuite rooms – with aircons
donated by an Irish man who decided they were too hot! A suggested donation of
$80 including meals is the going rate. Lots of people booked this week.
Went to Vespers a couple of times where the monks chant the
psalms unaccompanied, and a beautiful Mass on Sunday in the chapel with the
huge old organ. One of the new monks is a musicologist and plays
magnificently. He played Tchaikovsky’s Barcarolle on a piano during communion.
Stunning acoustics in there. Maybe 30 locals there as well, and morning tea
afterwards.
The monks pray 7 times a day for half hour (except Sundays )
starting at 5.15 am and last one at 8.15pm. Means they cannot ever get too involved
in their other work and forget about their ‘mission’ to become a better holy
person! They all commit to the monastery for life – some have been there 60
years!!!! The 3 we spent time with were delightful - very well educated
and lovely humour.
Anyway – I stayed an extra night so I could meet the Archivist who has been there for 10 years. I will go up for the 10
days soon to make a start on scanning
letters from 1847 – 1860 from the original monk to people in Europe asking for
money……and who knows what else. The Spanish ones have been translated and are
on computer – they just need the originals copied now. There are thousands of
documents to digitise all kept in temp controlled room. Huge interest from
around the world for this stuff apparently. I plan on going up there in March for however long I don’t
know - 😊 Just waiting to hear where I can camp etc and what cost if any …..
Unlike
priests, the monks do not administer to a congregation – although some monks
are priests as well and do Mass etc. Father Anscar has spent 28 years at
Kalumburu working with the bush aborigines and built a museum there. Full of funny
stories and has written a couple of books about an abbey cat. He is feeling
very sad though – since he left 5 years ago, 30 of them have died through drugs,
suicide etc.
Interesting that anyone can go to Mass – I always understood
it was absolutely not done if not Catholic. But the history of the place I find
quite compelling.
Decided to do a 'Morphography' picture for the Waroona show!
