Greetings from a wet Ireland

11 June 09
Saturday


Good day to all,
We are experiencing dreadful weather, it has been raining since Monday. have not seen the sun at all this week. Temperatures stay around 14 –17 at the most and otherwise you have to put a light on to read in the middle of the day!
Barry who cannot relax decided that we need extra, secure space for all my things I have accumulated over the 5 1/2 years in Ireland and started partitioning the garage workshop into a living area one side and workshop on the other, The garage doors will be replaced by a window and door and the ceiling will be put in next week. It looks good and we will have space !!
The building is below the sewerage system which means we cannot put a toilet in which is a great pity because we could have really made it good extra accommodation. While hammering the frame work into place the swallow nest disintegrated and came with a bang down to the ground, fortunately the babies were already 14 days old and flew out into the open. Mother very protective brought them back and they are now living on a beam in the woos shed where they are being fed and cared for , they go for their daily flight exercises and return duly for a rest. Barry felt terrible as he really has been looking after these birds like gold! But they are surviving well!
Part of my lovely garden has been destroyed by the heavy showers early in the week, the big pots with the trailing petunias x 3 started to rot and although I tried to pick out the soaked flowers I could not keep up and can now just remember the beauty of it all as it is all over. The pink tiger lilies are now in full bloom and they have also suffered greatly. I was very proud of my lovely garden , the plants in the barrels growing up the trellises still looks good, dark purple flowers from the climber, petunias and roses with nasturgeums on the edges, hydrangeas’ also in flower!
We have been enjoying peas and spinach from the garden and by lack of potatoes Barry dug the potatoes and as they were just planted for the fun of it we have enjoyed a wonderful crop of new potatoes!
The hospital has been very busy this week but all big cases requiring long stays are now being done on Mondays and Saturdays the ward closes for the weekend and that will be the case till the 2nd week in August when we re-open after a weeks’ break, re -assessment and then retrenchments to follow.
I just keep on going, they will have to notify me in writing if they want me to leave and only then will I look out for something, there is shift work available and I believe God will provide!
With all the rain the fields are wet and the hay cutting has been delayed which makes it very difficult for the farmers. Jimmy behind us had a date with the contractor for this coming week but they need a few days of wind and sunshine before they cut otherwise it all rots.
The brightness and lustre of all the growth is gone and we are surely turning quickly into the latter part of this summer, the leaves started to fall and the days are getting shorter, BUT we still have so much to be thankful for that it does not matter. Isabel surely had the best weather during her stay!
Tomorrow, the best day of the week, and the Hymns all well known and played through as I know them nearly by heart, prepares us for soul food!
Birthday wishes to Pauli, in Exeter and Sonja in Linden SA. Many happy returns of this day the 13th July.
Take care, be always careful, Hope that it is not to cold in the southern hemisphere that the security on the farm in the Free State has been jacked up and that the inhabitants of the farm yard has returned or replaced!
Gerlof and the family who will be on the farm in the ‘Bos kamp’ must enjoy the fellowship!
Kind regards to all,
Remember letters and photos are very welcome and thank you to you all who so diligently write me a note!
The Dunnes from Cranleymore