Much of the story of December had to do with learning to live on this property which has become our new home. This involved developing a rhythm of community life for our changed situation, within the existing rhythm of our prayer life, which remains the same wherever we are. So, rotas of meal provision, house cleaning, gardening work and so on have been agreed to after considering various possibilities.
Of course, settling into a new property also involves many of the same challenges that would commonly be faced by anyone else. The Eskom electricity provision accounts have to be transferred from one owner to the next, and a complication in this process nearly resulted in disconnection of the supply. The generously supportive previous owner was able to rescue the situation by intervening with Eskom, for which we are most grateful.
That same previous owner also assisted us in fulfilling the proof-of-address requirement with the local driver’s licensing authority, after Brs Roger and Daniel both realized that their licences were expiring in December. Three trips to the licensing centre later, both have temporary driving licences while waiting for the new driver’s licence cards to be printed. Proof of address is not straightforward for monks who have no individual ownership of anything, and all the more so when those monks have just relocated!
Other commonplace challenges have included adopting and adapting security arrangements, engaging with maintenance issues including the need for electrical and plumbing services and the delivery of gas cylinders, as well as the servicing of groundskeeping equipment. Transferring our online access including email service was also not entirely straightforward.
There has been opportunity to discover and enjoy some of the beauty that now surrounds us in this part of the world. Mondays are the community rest day, and these have seen monks going off for sunrise or sunset walks on various beaches, or hiking in a local nature reserve. An excursion to Knysna included a visit to the Anglican parish church there and an introduction to the local archdeacon.
Br Aelred had more of an adventure than he expected when the bus returning him from a week’s visit with his family in Worcester had to take a detour around some roadside fires, delaying his arrival by several hours. Fortunately, the bus station in Plettenberg Bay is not very far away from us, so Br Daniel was not greatly inconvenienced when he drove to fetch Br Aelred off the bus.
We enjoyed visits from several people who relate to our community in various ways. Robert is in the process of becoming an Associate of Holy Cross, and is pleased that we have moved closer to him. He and his family visited on their way past one afternoon, and gifted us with some delicious milk from a local dairy farm where Robert’s wife Catherine works. Tally, a long-time Associate and friend of the community, was able to join us with her husband Tony for Lauds and Eucharist on their way past one morning. Alex, whom we got to know during our time at Volmoed, spent a couple of days with us at Christmas.
Being modern monks, some of our life involves online communication, including the provision of spiritual direction. The Junior monks in our community attend weekly class with Juniors at our Order’s Holy Cross Monastery in New York, USA. Br Roger participated in online meetings of the Benedictine Communities’ executive committee and of our Order’s Council. Several men interested in exploring a possible vocation to monastic life with our community have made contact with us online.
We wish you all a peaceful entry into the new year.
Estate agent Helene Gardner kindly arranged for the filming of the welcome and introduction video below, and distributed it throughout the Plettenberg Bay community. Her son Adam was the videographer.
Thank you brothers for the newsletter. Your Christmas photos seem to indicate a good mood in a new place. We’ll done for all the good work. We hope you will be blessed as you were in Volmoed (even more) now in your own place. Bless you.