Leaks and Leeks!

Leaks and Leeks!

The past month has seen the monastery awash with workmen. I suppose it is inevitable that a 135 year old building will manifest wear and tear.  But these manifestations are coming at a great rate at present! The Sacristy roof has been leaking for some time. So Gaggi and Peter came and replaced the old lead roof with a fiberglass roof. They will return in October to replace 4 rotten windows in the sacristy Tribune. Brian, our handy man has been busy making good the interior of the roofs where there have been leaks over the years leaving beams under the ceiling – to use Brian’s term – ‘rotten as pears’!  We are very fortunate with the workmen we have.  Gaggi came as a recommendation.  His work is very good and is carried out to perfection. He is very sensitive to our way of life and tries to work as quietly as he can. Brian has worked on and off for us over many years. He is very trustworthy and a perfectionist in all he does. We still have one more leak in the computer room to be seen to  next month.

  
Gaggi (on ladder) and Peter          fiberglass roof                               Brian

Which brings me to another form of Leek, yes, the green veg of the onion family. This year they have produced very thin, small specimens. This is due to the unusual weather at the beginning of the season. As with most of the Uk none of the vegetables this year did very well in terms of heavy crops. We usually have lovely large leeks that stand in the ground through the winter months and are picked when needed. This will not be the case this year. The green beans, after a third sowing did better than we expected, the potatoes produced an average size crop. The carrots and beetroot have struggled but the cabbages have done very well, though we did have to contend with sharing them with the local pigeon population and the white butterfly!  Still, there is nothing like eating your own fresh, organic vegetables. For this we are very blessed and thankful.

 Patrick Turk, the cabinet maker from Nottingham, came at the beginning of the month to see to our fallen Copper Beach. He will return in October and mill the tree on site, then stack it against our enclosure wall to dry. He will also take the trunks of the Plane trees when they are felled.  It is nice to think these wonderful trees will not be used for firewood but will come to life again in Patricks skilled hands and will bring pleasure to others in the form of furniture.  Sr Susan managed to count the rings on the fallen Beech Tree. She thinks its about 120 years old.
  
You can check out Patricks website via the link below
http://www.forest2furniture.co.uk/