It has only been two days and a half here, and I am already quite ruddy-cheeked. I suspect I expect I shall look very much like my Irish ancestors by the time I leave England.
Today was my first day of work at the friary, and it was barely anything at all. I'm the only female volunteer here, and all the brothers and the rest of the men have this strange idea that it would be very wrong to give me too much work. The schedule here, however, is very easy an I'd like to be made as useful as possible. Here is the typical work day at Hilfield:
7:00- Private prayer
7:30- Morning Prayer
8:00- Quiet breakfast
8:45- Morning meeting
9:00- Work
10:15- Morning tea
10:45- Work
12:00- Midday Prayer
12:30- Eucharist
1:00- Lunch
1:45- Rest
2:15- Work
4:15- Afternoon tea
5:00- Evening Prayer
7:00- Supper
9:00- Night Prayer
The people here are so full of life , character, of themselves really, in the best sense possible. Just really possessed of identity and selfhood. The brothers are just what older men should be. I'm delighted merely by the sight of them. They're just so cheerful and their minds are so active. Good nature simply oozes from them. I couldn't begin to do them justice in writing, but maybe I'll try later on.
Anyway, I love it here. It's the kind of place one wishes to have grown up, and consequently it's made me wish to raise children here.
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