Monday, November 16, 2009

Wintter warm groete van Ierland

Sondag 15 Nov 09

Goeie dag almal, familie en vriende,

Eerstens ,groot ekskuus vir die ongevraagde gemors “8th wonder” wat met my onkunde per ongeluk na elke siel op my gmail adres lys gestuur was. Ek was in die proses om van die ding ontslae te raak toe dit gebeur het, ek het dit ook per ongeluk oopgemaak , niewetende wat dit behels nie. Jammer!!!!
Net terug van ‘n ritjie na Old Castle waar ons na die antieke veiling besigtigingsdag toe was. Dit is so 45 km van ons af en die pad daarheen pragtig. In die somer maak die bome ‘n koepel oor die pad en vandag was dit minder dig en instede van al die groene was dit al die gele denkbaar, die verkeer laat jou nie toe om altyd fotos te neem nie ,veral nie as daar ‘n GAA wedstryd aan die gang is nie, en op die manier stop ek toe met die eerste kleurvolle boom en kon nie droom om gedurende die koepel gedeelte te stop nie.Maar dit was nogtans baie mooi!. Die son het geskyn toe ons hier weg is met heerlike 12 gr maar terwyl ons binne was val die temp met 3 gr en die wolke vergader toe met mening en die pragtige dag kom snel tot ‘n einde!
Ierland het net ‘n 3 gedruk of is dit ‘n 5, maak nie saak nie, nou moet o’ Garah die bal oor die dwarslat skop! Dis oor en 20/20 Ireland/ Aus. Daar was net van te vore ?doel maar kon nie bevestig word met kamera fotos nie en nou is dit gelyk op!.
Dit is nou regtig winter hier in Ierland en die vuurtjie brand elke dag , die huis is heerlik warm en die kort dae word al korter en die lang nagte nog langer!
Tussendeur reen dit aanmekaar en orals staan damme water in die velde!
Verlede Maaandag ry ons Belturbet toe om daar ‘n veiling te besigitig toe ons die ganse langs die pad sien, op pad terug sien ons die boer buite en stop , hy stem toe in om van die ganse aan ons te verkoop, Die hele week soek ons strooi maar nêrens , maar nêrens kan ons strooi kry nie ,die klomp Iere is goed met adverteer maar antwoord geen foon of bel terug nie,geweldig frustrerend.
Nou dink die man ons wil seker nie meer die ganse hê nie terwyl ons moedeloos is, nou gaan ons sonder strooi môre die ganse oplaai, waarin? Die kattebak!
Ons voeltjie populasie is soos altyd baie lewendig en interesant! Die voedsel word nou met grondboontjies aangevul en dadelik kom ander voeltjies besoek aflê, hulle gee ons groot plesier.
Ek verlang so vreeslik na ‘n kat dat Barry uiteindelik saamgestem het dat ons maar weer, ten spyte van die ellnde van die pad, ‘n kat mag kry. Nou soek ek naarstiglik na ‘n Tabby kat! As die kat saam met die ganse groot word is dit nie ‘n problem nie en die ganse laat hulle nie maklik deur ‘n kat afskrik nie.
By die werk is die nuwe korting van 18% nou in werking, alhoewel ons 75 ure per 2 week periode, werk maar word net betaal vir 61.5 ure per 2 weke, die res van die tyd word aan ons teruggegee as ‘oortyd’ wanneer dit stil is in die saal.
Heel party van die personeel kon die verskriklike onsekerheid nie meer hanteer nie en het bedank, een is op na New Zealand, ‘n ander het met sy wêreld in die botter geval en ‘n pos gekry by ‘n ‘elite’ Oue tehuis ‘ in Dublin, maar dit beteken dat hy elke dag 170km moet ry.
‘Songs Of Praise’ is aan die gang en ons geniet hierdie program baie en die saam sing is wonderlik! 3 Priesters wat pragtig sing maak deel uit van die program!
Aan almal wat verjaar het, gsiter, Annalize en die wat die komende week ouer word, ons beste wense!
Aan die wat hul laaste skool eksamen skryf, net die beste en die wat enige ander jaar end eksamens skryf , alles van die beste, dan ons geluk wensinge aan Sam (Thabo) in Brisbane, lekker dat jou ma met jou kan spog!!!en ons ook!!!!veels Geluk!
Die trou fotos wat deurgekom het van Stefan en Nine is pragtig en ek het gewens dat hul groot oupa Gerrie die gene pot verryking kon sien! Hy sou alles wat hy sien so graag wou ontleed,die ‘mooi!’was altyd vir hom ekstra mooi!
Nine in Kokanje, ons hoop jou kar is goed herstel en dat jy weer op pad is, dat alles goed onder beheer is, Paul en Hanlie , hoop dat die trek na nuwe bly plek goed sal afloop!
‘n Suid Afrikaner het hier in Galway betrokke gewees in ‘n rooftog van ‘n poskantoor, Quintin Smith, mens voel maar sleg as so-iets bebeur ,’n afgetrede boer is deur sy kleinseun vermoor, hy was seker op soek na geld vir ‘drugs’ en ‘n ander jong man het vroeg more met sy motor(seker smoor dronk) die sypaadjie bestyg en in ‘n groep mense ingery , waarvan 1 dood is, een in intensief is met erge hoofbeserings, orals op aarde lyk dit of dinge buite beheer is. Ons lees maar die berigte elke dag van al die moorde in SA met seer harte. Dit wil voorkom of daar geen respek vir lewe oor is nie.

Baie dankie aan almal wat so gereeld laat weet hoe dit met julle gaan en ‘n fototjie word baie waardeer! Die Australie fotos was pragtig en omdat ons self daar was beteken dit baie!
Maak seker dat julle veilig ry , dat die deure van jul huise gesluit is, wees altyd versigtig, maak nie saak waar jy woon nie!
Mag dit reen waar dit droog is, en mag dit nie te warm wees in die somer gebiede nie, en vir die in die Noordelike halfrond,geniet die winter, dit is ook mooi! Waar daar ge-oes moet word , mag alles volop wees en die mark pryse goed!
Groete van ons in Cranleymore waar winter ons omhels!
Barry & Christina

NS. Wou net noem dat die 'strike' hier in Edgeworthtown nou iets van die verlede is, 6 maande het dit geneem om tot 'n vergelyk te kom! Die hele dorp is dankbaar!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Winter Greetings from Ireland

7 November 09

Good day to all, family and friends
Some of you may know the term ”hutspot” where everything you have left are put into one pot and outcome a stew like dish ,lip smacking tasty. Here it has been done with every element available in the weather pot, all thrown in together and we have strong winds, continuous rain, some brilliant moments of sunshine, lasting 10-20 seconds, early ,very early evenings and gray mornings! This is called WINTER!
During the week, as I was on my way back from work, Barry thought some-one was calling him urgently from outside, opened the back door quickly and answered”Yes....!?”, bewildered looking around, seeing no-one he heard this urgent call again and looked up to see a flock of swans flying fairly low in formation over the roof, struggling against the strong winds and making these nearly humanlike calls to each other. He says it was one of the most beautiful sights he has seen in a long time- sorry I missed it!!!
Hours of deliberation, bullying of the 1st degree, disregard of human feelings the following materialized at work.
The manager of the Nursing home resigned and left within a week, With the financial crisis the senior management cannot appoint a person from outside and the post has to go to some-one internal BUT no- one wants to work there as resources are scarcer than chicken teeth and the work very demanding and patient care of utmost importance. The normal nursing staff agreed to 18% cut in hours but with development the managers were put on the spot and told , one of you have to take over in the nursing home, the most senior of them was told to go down and when she said , she does not think she will be able to cope with the short staff and cut hours she was told , that all the managers will now work only 20 hrs a week and the staff nurses will keep their hours and the cut will come from the ward management because none of them want to work there and their argument “ the reason the previous manager left” he was an excellent administrator and very good in organising but with no staff and 2 women continually interfering and refusing his request , he had enough and up and out. He is going to a Nursing Home with excellent credentials and outstanding record with Hiqa the control board looking after the well being of Nursing Homes. Many tears were flowing, and morale lower that low we have to continue with this unbelievable behaviour of the Director/Manager of Nursing and the Human resources official. No one of us dare to become a “whistle blower” regarding the bullying because the walls have ears and you cannot trust the nearest and dearest to you in this situation.
Very many of the staff in theatre had the SWINE flu , a anaesthetist came to work not feeling the greatest ,not realizing he had the “swine flu” and gave it to the rest of them! Barry and I are careful with keeping our immune system on high alert and we have not fallen ill yet. It spreads very quickly and you become very sick, and needs to be nursed in the home situation in isolation.
With all the rain the beauty of the pansy baskets is out the door and rotten flowers are everywhere to be seen, when the rain stops you quickly pick at them but within minutes you have to desert your post in order not to get wet and sick! With the high temperatures of 2 weeks ago the bulbs all started to grow and we have many standing heads 2” above the ground. The winds are so strong that whatever you put over them gets blown away and the soil makes them grow quicker. We just cannot win!
Tomorrow is Sunday and as ever the most important and joyful day in my week, I am working tonight and will arrive here tomorrow ready to take the uniform off and put clean clothes on and back into the car, on our way to church. It is wonderful how I can manage staying awake going to church and all through the service and other days I am asleep before Barry has pulled the door closed!
Thank you for all the lovely photos I received, I look at them often and enjoy!
Angie, Frik and now we are awaiting the wedding cd/dvd, Georg has fallen of the earth and I am still awaiting a photo of that wedding!!!!!!!
Sam in Brisbane is celebrating his birthday tomorrow, may it be a joyous event! May the exams go well and the year ahead full of new adventures and experiences!
All who are writing exams, whatever kind, read your questions well! Every best wish is with you!
Glad to know that Arnolda and family are safely home after a very traumatic start of a midterm break. Hope sincerely that you were properly insured!!!!!! As the house is now half empty it might be a good idea to leave it empty and make plans to move down under, rent a place in the mean time and I am sure the Ausies will give anything to have the expertise of the 3 ,mother father and daughter in their midst!
I also hope that the Occupational Health AGM went well!
I pray and hope that you will all be very careful and diligent in locking your doors and watch your going about!
May it rain where it should, and other must enjoy the warmth of central heating during the next week of unsettled weather conditions. Gerlof , I enjoyed your writings about Prague.
Our sincere and warm regards to tante Poppie and hope she is keeping well!
Ours warmest regards
The Dunnes from Cranleymore

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Nat en wind in Ierland

30 Oktober 09

Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende,

Die kothuis se mure is baie dik en ‘n groot gedeelte van die dak dubbel ,maar selfs met al hierdie eienskappe kan jy die wind hoor loei om die hoeke van die $huis en die reen met geweld weerstand vind teen die ruite! Wat wel skrikwekkend is ,is dat dit byna warm is buite, 15 grade vanoggned toe ek uit die hospital stap. Dit was selde so warm gedurende die somer middae wat nog van vroeg oggend ,dit is erg verwarrend vir die bol plante en baie ander plante! Die tulpe en affodille het begin uitloop wat drie maande te vroeg is, dit maak my baie benoud! Ek kyk by die venster uit en skielik is daar ‘n breek in die wolke en die son is besig om onder tegaan en ‘n pragtige donker pink kleur het in die weste veskyn,dit wil voorkom asof die wind ‘n groot gedeelte van die wolk massa begin beweeg het ,ek het gou die mooi gaan afneem maar het die pink verpas! Dinge gebeur hier teen ‘n geweldige sped en jy kaan nie half aan die slaap wees as jy hier iets op film will verewig nie.
Ek glo dat die 2de huwelik van ,wat sou vir my ma ,agterkleinkinders sou wees,
vind môre plaas! Wonderlik! Alle seёn hulle toegewens vanuit Ierland!
Hier het die personeel en die bestuur tot ‘n vergelyk gekom en hul voorgestelde 30 % is nou afgeskaal na 18% verkorting op salaries.Hierdie nuus maak die vooruitsig van werk tot 2010 ‘n bietjie meer rooskleurig! Daar is praat in die dorp dat die hospital te koop is of reeds verkoop is maar van ‘transparency’ is daar geen beduies met die klomp nie. Die hele hospital is geverf en pragtige kennisgewing borde in die voorportaal aangebring en arme Dr Tersius Venter het ‘n nuwe van,(ek het verskeie kere hulle op die spel fout gewys maar was geignoreer) VENTNER!
Ek sou met verlof gewees het hiedie week maar Dinsdag oggend lui die foon en ek werk toe 3 nagte. Enigiets is beter as dae by die huis met oortyd ,jy raak vervreemd van die werk situasie!
Dit was ‘n rustige week en niks interesant het ons lewens opgekikker nie.
Julle word dus ‘n lang brief gespaar!
Ons beste wense is met almal wat eksamen skryf, in welke vorm ookal!
Die jong dokters wat klaar gestudeer het –Veels geluk!
Ek het geen verjaardae in my boek nie en hoop van harte dat as ek iemand gemis het dat hulle ‘n mooi dag sal he!
Ek dink gereeld aan die wat siekte toestande het en dra jule aan die Here op in gebed! Ek weet tante Poppie se seuns bring gereeld my groete en beste wense oor.Baie dankie! Nine ek hoop dat die diabetes gou onder beheer sal kom!
Ons het ‘n stukkie Suid Afrikaanse geskiedenis gesien in die dokumentere film ‘The making of a modern Brittian’ Die Boere Oorlog en die verskriklike dinge wat die Britte aan die Boere families aangerig het en die vroue en kinders in die konsentrasie kampe , ellende en dood. Hulle verlede is nie so rooskleurig nie en moet maar versigtig trap!
Dit is eienaardig om saans reeds net na 5.30 in donkerte te sit en dit word gewoonlik geassosieer met koue weer, maar nou is dit eienaardig warm, die kouw kom glo volgens die weer buro maar hier neem jy alles wat hulle se met
’n knippie sout!
Maak seker dat julle die deure sluit, Wees altyd versigtig! Kyk waar jy jou voet neersit!
Ry veilig!
Ons wag op die trou nuus ! DVD kan by Dr Martin Kelly in Sunninghill afgelaai word vir direkte aflewering ,ek het gevra of hy omgee om klein goedjies te bring en hy sê, dit is ‘n plesier!Hy sal die 3de week van Nov weer hierna toe kom! Selfs hulle werk het met 60% afgeneem.
Nine ken jy die mense van wie ek skryf? Kan jy hulle onthou? Cilna en Koos Maritz toe van Siloam?
Natuurlik is die ontvangs van briefies en fotos een groot plesier en ek kyk verlangend uit na al die briefies! Baie dankie aan die wat laat weet het hoe dit met hulle gaan! Althea, Dorothy dit was heerlik om jul nusies te lees! Karin ,jou dogter is pragtig!
Die vuur brand hoog in die kaggel en dit is erg gesellig hier by ons. Dit is Halloween vanaand, ek weet nie regtig waaroor dit gaan nie maar spoke ens is aan die orde van die dag!
Byna vergeet ek, Ek bestel gereeld my homeopatiese medikasie per krediet kaart vanaf Engeland het nog nooit ‘n probelem gehad nie maar gedurend die week arriveer ongevraagde tablette en ‘n rekening vir byna R1000, ek was woedend, Barry weet nie want hy het gewaarsku daar is groot bedrog aan die gang met internet aankope.Ek het toe die maatskappy op die net probeer soek maar hulle is weg, nerens te vinde nie, Kontak toe die bank en kanseller die kaart vir veiligheid en op hul aanbeveling stuur die tablette terug geregistreerde pos en ‘n brief om my misnoee met hulle uittespreek .Die bank sal prober om die geld terug tekry. Dus moenie dink dit sal nie met jou gebeur nie want dit kan en sal!
Ek groet vanuit ‘n wind verwaaide sopnat Ierland!
Die Dunnes

Autumn Greetings

Weekend 23-24 Oct 09


Good day to all far and near, family and friends.

I caught most of you out, I made a mistake and only Isabel realized it, Apologies to Jaco van Marle on the farm in the Free State. Congratulations to him for the 14th some 10 days ago! Paul Eloff from Zam also had a birthday on the 18th, belated best wishes!
It made me think, no-one noticed this mistake except one, only one person realised that I did not write last week!
In the mean time life moved on. I cannot even remember where I last ended or where I should start.
We still had a fridge that stayed behind in the GAA grounds after attending the MONSTER AUCTION in Gowna and the man with the trailer could not pick it up as the doors were all locked , We left here in good faith some Saturdays ago in the hope to find some people there and were fortunate. The doors were open and the fridge still standing there.
I dare not ask questions and were extremely worried about the manner in which we will be bringing the fridge home!?
Very carefully we carried the fridge down the flight of stairs, I was told to bring the car near to the door en then the most fantastic manoeuvre took place. Barry loaded the fringe onto the back seat, with the ends sticking out both back doors. With blue rope the doors were secure and off we went! Both doors open like wings! Everyone stayed far away from us who made the trip back easy but we then got the fridge home!
We also attended at Belturbet with good purchases, and the new room is full to the brim!
The old ‘new’ hand woven Persian carpet, looks lovely in the lounge and fit perfectly. Pictures on the wall and we now really have a lovely lounge!
The week that followed was filled with meetings at work, I had no duty, because of time due but the hospital is in die straights! Union representative for our area seems not very interested and we had to inform her instead of her giving us advise. Found it very strange, 2 days later big management /staff meeting where we were, with a slide show, informed of the decline in work and the ratio of staff versus income is not warranted and they want from the staff to cut 150hrs per week from the ward. In reality it is 30% less hours and also 30% less salary! For part time staff it means hardly any income and as it is, their partners or husbands are not working because of the slump in building
Every on up in arms and a ward staff meeting scheduled for Sat was heated, and then suddenly they wanted to vote and me not keeping to my promise of ‘I will only listen’ intervened and explained a few rules and regulations regarding voting on something that has not even been put down on paper, So the meeting had to be reconvened and proper minutes were taken and a vote of no confidence brought forward as conclusion and refusal to cut hours.
Another Union /staff/management meeting took place on Tuesday and the proposals put down on paper were not even mentioned, what a waste of time and we are back to square 1!
I decided to rather keep away and will wait till they want to close the doors or shove me out before I will get involved again!
At the moment I still have a job but really do not know for how long! The poor management of the hospital for years, like in the government, is taking its toll on those who carried them in the good times!
Better news, weather not the best this week but we enjoyed such glorious times the last 6 weeks that we are in no position to complain! The beauty of autumn is grandiose ,colours ranging from bright yellow to dark maroon ,carpets of leaves covering the sidewalks and the small lanes ’ borines’
The front hanging baskets were emptied and winter pansies planted, the strawberry plants, the strawberry plant must be family of the hen with chicks, as the same principle provide growth for the following year and we planted 27 new little plants. The tulips are in and we wait now for the change in hours Sunday night, which means we will have longer evenings and a little longer mornings for a while but then comes the long nights and the short days. “Winter time”! 2 Hours behind SA!
The South African ladies, many wives from doctors working in MIDOC on 6 week stints, met this week at Marthie Potgieter’s house, as she worked yesterday, it was her birthday as well. Once again very pleasant! Met a few new ladies and the one Cilna Maritz and her husband Koos? I think, were long working at Siloam ‘sending Hospitaal’ late 70 into the 80’ies. She knew Paul well, he also operated on one of her children. Also a writer who already has books published, Gerda Ersmus, now Vorster!
2 people I met that used to work or know Paul and Nine ! The world is so small.
Saturday
I worked 2 nights and it was very difficult after being off so long, to get this not so young body back into being very alert, patient, playing a clown, shows intelligence, perseverance, and to be able to make quick and important decisions are at times somewhat tricky.
My back nearly broke as I was, without my knowledge, allocated to St Clair’s the nursing Home it is wonderful how the Lord provides even in simple ways, he send s a nurse that was to have been cancelled for last night, and was not, to arrive and lightened the workload by a 1/3!
Suffering from blurred vision after watching ‘AMAZING GRACE’ we does not often look at films but this was a soul lifting experience! I have to first wipe the eyes.
The wind is howling, the rain is lashing against the windows the trees are bent low and the skies are grey and we are so blessed to be warm and snug in front of the fire while you are hot and bothered!
Hope sincerely that the Krugers’ enjoy their visit to ‘down under’ that Haya and workforce will go into this wedding as medalled warriors! I am not sure but I believe there are a few family members studying for their matric exams and our best wishes are with them, others are doing many modules to achieve their dreams and others are at the end of years of study to venture into the healing field
Lovely to have heard from the Kuypers and as always, every letter is welcome, I have to say there are some gaps in the correspondence register and that needs attention!
I herewith wish the couple to be wedded Gods riches blessings! Nine and Stefan!
Our greetings also to our Tante Poppie, hope that she is feeling well!
No birthdays for this week in my book! Should there be any I am not aware of , Congratulations!!
There where it is dry and rain is needed , may it soon pour ! Those who are hot think of us moving into winter and feel the coolness flow over you!
Those who travel, do it safely
Turn the keys in your doors for safety sake!
Tomorrow, a visiting preacher, hymns chosen and all well for praising the Lord!

With the fragrance of wood burning in the fire, flame red and yellow licking into the air, warm greetings from Cranleymore!
The Dunnes
!