BTW: This mail can be forwarded to interested people
Dear friends, after a rather cold and rainy March, we have now had some pretty hot days in April. We have now been able to start work on the basic water and electricity supply.
There are now nine of us here (Germany 6, France 3), including three children aged between 10 and 13. And from next week there will probably be two more adults (Morocco, Argentina)
The solar pump has now been connected and tested. It works perfectly. We have a 5000 litre tank to which the water is pumped up and we now have running water at 4 bar.
We have already started our community education programme because we think it is very important for us to get to know each other better. We also want to tear off the masks that we - sometimes unconsciously - put on to make ourselves invulnerable. Because only by showing ourselves to be vulnerable and broken and revealing our traumas, diminishing our ego, can we better assess others and communicate from soul to soul. And that is important for a group that has common goals. Ultimately, we all want to subordinate the common goals, which were also decided together in the group, to our own goals and our own ego.
Next, we will build a shower, toilet and kitchen. With pallets that we can buy cheaply. Unfortunately, Sabine and I have to go to Germany due to a bereavement and won't be back for another three weeks. I’m curious what can be done in the meantime.
We've already had our first visitors, but of course we haven't been able to accommodate them yet. More friends have also announced their arrival in May. We are happy to have visitors, but if you would like to stay with us for longer, a motorhome would be great because we can't offer accommodation yet. From May onwards, the heat will probably be more stable (it's quite cold again at the moment) and then you can also stay here in a tent. BTW: Stéphane and Lucie and Joé are already living here in the tent despite a few cold days and are preparing their hobbit house.
The excavator is also back on the site and some of the areas that were displaced by the heavy rainfall in winter are being repaired. Platforms are also being created for the two families from Germany and France and bushes teared down for wildfire reasons.
We haven't been able to build any huts yet. But we want to start building accommodation as soon as possible. But things move a little slower here in Portugal: "Com calma". And we don't want to be rushed, we want to live well here. And so far we're doing very well.
Best wishes from Portugal, Tom
BTW: At the end of June, our friend and neighbour Harida will be holding the Osho Festival. Perhaps this is an opportunity for you to come and visit us.
