More groundwork…
… and painting:
We’re very happy that the work is progressing so well! 
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That reminds me of a practice that one of my favorite bands would engage in at each hotel they visited on tour, where they would move a picture or any other typically stationary object and proceed to dress up that hidden space with a work of artistic expression. Although it’s technically vandalism, I always thought it was kind of a neat way of enlivening a dead space, and giving the one who discovers it a small joy. A similar story is that of Jack White of the White Stripes who, in his time as an upholsterer’s apprentice, would leave special notes inside the refurbished furniture intended for the next upholsterer to find if and when the piece was ever given yet another life.
Anyway, very excited about the work progress, and eagerly anticipate more pictures!
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After many difficulties a few of our external contractors did indeed show up at the building site! 
Yesterday the first layer of the floor insulation in the ground floor has been put in:
And the stones for the outside cladding arrived:
Best of all: We made the acquaintance of this very sweet neighbour: 
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As you can see above, we had a few busy days at Tilorien. Except for one person… 
Tilorien Monastery - Nothing to do
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Doing Nothing seems pretty important work (too).
I love seeing these updates. i am not looking forward to them stopping. So i kinda hope they don’t! And i kinda wish other vihara might sometimes share in this way.
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How do locals react to the fact this is a place for Buddhists renunciants? Do they get interested to learn more about Dhamma?
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I’m probably not the most competent to answer this question because I am only occasionally at the site.
But as much as I know there are people in the village who have quite a spiritual attitude, and others might rent us their holiday home in order to accommodate people so that we could organise retreats at the monastery (for up to 15 people or so, that’s the size of Tilorien’s meditation hall).
Overall people seem to be friendly and open.
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This moment we’ve been waiting for for so long now: Finally, the water has been connected to the building!
(I almost had given up hope that it would ever happen at all… 
)
They had to make a hole in the street so no traffic could pass for 4 hours.
Our new shower
Inside the building the underfloor heating is being put in place:
… and we’re exhausted!
And outside the masonry is nearly finished:
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By the looks of it I bet it will be finished within 12 months since the first photos were posted by Ayya @Vimala. Very efficient builders you’ve got! 
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Floor in the ground-floor: ready for the screed to come!
And… we also have gas now!
More gardening work:
And again the outside stone cladding:
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Even more progress has been made during the last few days!
The inside walls have been filled with insulation material (cellulose) that had to be brought in under high pressure. At the first attempt a while ago some of the walls did not stand the pressure, but this time they proved solid enough. 
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More doodles have also been drawn on the walls: (fans of the dhamma doodle thread might have a deja-vu… 
)
The kitchen deva
All monasteries should have kitchen devas. Anyone who has ever been a monastery kitchen manager will know why…
Gangatiriya and his hut made of three palm leaves
This doodle was made after someone got a glasswool fiber into their eye and spend an entire morning in pain and wishing that we could just build a monastery out of three palm leaves…
The following three doodles were made during the putting down of the underfloor heating, the most exhausting job we have done so far:
Dhamma- weightlifting
The cold winter nights
Exhausted
And finally, after we were done:
Feeding on joy!
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It will be most surprising for later generations to discover what is underneath the wallpaper… 
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“I wonder if it’s reasonable to conceive of myself as a later generation?” 
“I wonder if I should pack a steamer when I visit?” “I wonder if these thoughts lead to a bad destination?”
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Makes me want to visit Belgium straight away!
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The walls might not be finished yet by the time you visit… No steamer necessary…
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