The Restory Retreat Centre

  Rest and Work The Conversation Elements From The Conversation " “The world is being destroyed by industriousness.” Dendermonde  advocates a life of "appropriate laziness and modest industriousness"  instead of destructive haste. Music Eddie Dalton sounds like an old river on its way to the sea.  As always, with our love. George & Matilda

  Flow The Conversation  Apologies for any background sounds. While recording, the dogs lie at our feet and bump against the camera stand. Elements From The Conversation   “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”              ...

  Without Nature We Can't  The Conversation  Elements From The Conversation  Music  Keep well. George and Matilda 

Photo: George Angus When doing stone balancing I wish to be as open and receptive as possible. I do not want to force my ideas or wishes onto the structure taking shape under my hands. It is at root a meditative, creative process with amazement and surprise important elements as well. During our monthly Quiet Day last Saturday, the rock pile I erected down at the river was done against that backdrop. I did not venture far from the big rock that acted as the platform for my structure in search of stones – maybe 5 metres in any direction.  It’s difficult to describe how you know when you have gathered enough stones. I do not count them and do not look for any particular shape. When I feel I have enough I simply stop and start building. And I trust that these rocks came together and that they will settle in such a manner on top of each other that all will be used and what will eventually stand there in the river bed will be a unique expression of this collectio...

Photograph by Matilda Angus His name is Monty. Actually Montgomery, but he is only addressed that way if he’s doing something a naughty Monty would do. I also call him “Montego Bay” or “Wille Waghond” (Afrikaans for wild guard dog). Sebastien calls him “Monkey dog”. About the size of a brick, maybe smaller, with a thimble mouth, he epitomizes chutzpah. He has taken the guard duty of Barowfield onto himself, being of the opinion that it was in a shambles when he arrived here about four months ago. At the slightest noise outside, he’ll run from door to door or jump onto the coach and then into the wide window sill to deliver his warning or to inspect. Among other things, 800 kg bulls are charged and snakes confronted. And he’ll end up with the juicy bone initially given to Jasper the Border collie and will protect it so ferociously that none of the bigger dogs will come near him. With absolutely nothing to his advantage or in his favor but attitude. The love of his life is...

A senior monk and a junior monk were travelling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a young, beautiful girl also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the girl, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on with his journey. The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could not contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted any contact with a woman, how could you then carry that girl on your shoulders?” The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down...