What is a Velux?

All is well in Ventabren FR today, L’Eau Vive
is a wonder place to work with very kind people.

Work is very physical.. and that is good!

Before beginning to unroof the roof.

here are photos of the recent project…
Installing a Velux (skylight) at L’Eau Vive Provence.
The Velux was installed in the Third Story. It is the attic “volunteer hang-out”
Above the main offices. It was a dark cave with two very small non-vented
Non-insulated glass-brick “windows” in the roof..

The new velux is approx 1 Meter H x ¾ Meter Wide….double glazed and Flips open and seals well ...
And even has a shade…very cool. It will make the virtually unusable attic space very workable and even inviting (for an attic room).
Got a wee bit little wiser today and allowed the younger guys to do much of work.

Tim (the young man with great smile from UK) was on the roof, tethered with ropes most of the day.

Ian lent a hand (light blue shirt ..red hair from Belfast) a few times too.

We worked from 7:00AM til about 5:00PM and nearly finished.

Everyone pressed to finish in one day because we are having Intermittent weather.
PTL no injury or trouble of any kind! Just tired … good tired.
Tomorrow we will cement the top course and ridge cap of roof tiles,
cut /trim the right column of tiles and fit them and then glue down the left
column of tiles and voila! Fins! Lotsa Work …. but fun with a great team.

Blessings,
Tom

A "wee" bit of work.

Ian's Parents came the next day after my arrival. They are from Belfast and Ian's Mom is constantly saying "a wee bit" of this or that...
I might just pick up more Irish-English than French whilst they are here...

So, I am staying at "Le Mas"
That's a smaller house (still very large) out across the way from the main house and have my own flat. It is nicer than any of the places when I was single! And of course that is because it is here in South of France

If you look at the big house (see photo below…the one with the house and flowers), looks from the street like it might be an 8 person house. The reality is that it goes way up and back like an old villa. ... And back, and back ..and has so many little rooms, cubbies and corners.
Most of the rooms are sort of camp-style two and three beds, but all very cute and cozy.
All are painted with the colors used here in Provence…absolutely look new and fresh and clean.


The main house probably houses about 35 ~40+/- It has a major sized kitchen, Laundry, Library, seversal offices and vey large dining room.
The other, the “mas” where I live, has about room for 10~15+/-. In and about the mas are another large flat, and many moresigle, double and triple rooms and the altalier/workshop.

Been working, already,on some projects. Enough tools to keep this large facility running and maintained weell. We are starting to build a safety fence for the compressed gas to keep “younger visitors” away, out and safe.
Work was a bit limited for 2 days, because of the rain so today, worked inside hanging a glass shower enclosure
… had to do this one myself.
… lifted it and set it down and prayed out loud for strength. At first …could not do it.

Above photo is the "Garage" ...the lower workshop

the one up top is called the atelier.

The Lord gave me super human strength just to get the huge 45” x 80” monster fully-assembled frame out of the shipping box and lift it into position…
I found out quickly that at now, nearly 60… my strength just ain’t the same…but for that short moment, it was sufficient. T

First Days - Ian

Greetings!
I was coming out at Marseilles Aeroport
And I could not believe it!!

The guy who was sent to meet me at the aeroport … Ian.
He has a sign “L’Eau Vive”.

Now this is unbelievable…
He was the Irish guy that Leslie and I met in the street on the “Cour”
in Aix ..Last Spring!! Turns out he was telling us about L’Eau Vive
when we first met him…but of course, I immediately forgot the name
as it really meant nothing at the time.

Anyway.. Ian has been working at L’Eau Vive for last 3 years
Doing “man-work” and leading Bible Studies for the college students
Who come here to intern.

So here is this guy with a sign at the Aeroport
He says “I know you!!! Why do I know you??
“I was standing here with the sign looking at this guy
coming out that door”

“And thinking … why does that guy look familiar?.. And was thinking … out of maybe 300,000,000 Americans, the one guy coming off that plane, who greets me…and I actually
know him?”

I tell you that he immediately made me feel at home!

Amazing!

6 days and Counting

This last Saturday was very fine. Friends food and prs.
busy enough not to take any photos..

In preparation ... on the way back from the grocery store, planning, scurring, etc., etc., there was minute or so where I was just sitting there. A new vision of the trip was placed on my heart. No, Tom you are not going to solve all of this. Skylight in the roof by yourself? Hum. You know there just might be a few young folks in Aix that could come out to help. What an idea... you mean this is not about me being a hero?

Oh. I get it. An outreach for youth in Aix?? Perhaps someone might want to do so of the work for the fun of it? An Adventure ..

Tom