Greeting from a Cool Ireland

27 Sept’10 Monday



Good day to all, family and friends,

I think the sunshine, blue blue skies and wind stillness, have confused me totally! Morning temperatures have dropped to 4!!!!! The previous week was miserable, just not nice, and when the sun did shine the wind was bitterly cold and very unpleasant. It is not that I am moaning because I do not the mind cold and wet, and neither do I mind the wind but I do prefer sunshine!!!!!!!!

We are just back from a tour through the Estate! I have not been able to take a good look at all around for more than a week!

Worked awkward hours, was called in when the hospital was supposed to be closed and then had to stay open for 2 medical cases, and no one was available.



Back to the tour! The lawnmower now with 5 years of hard labour on its card, gave notice. The frame work just collapsed on Barry and with ingenuity he fixed the thing but cannot change cutting levels now and therefore the grass was cut 10 days ago at a high level and looks like a forest all round! We will have to invest next spring in a new machine!

The hedge is still lovely with all the wild roses now hanging with rich red rose-hip knobs ,the autumn berries hanging heavy and very red ,which is apparently not a good sign for the winter, but looks good all the same!

The baskets and flower pots are not to be discussed! A sight for sore eyes!

We will endeavour to put it right later in the week when I will have some time off! If the weather holds!!!! Hopefully!!!!! It is a massive job, as all the pots will have to be emptied of their soil, re-composted; all the bulbs sorted and replanted. And the rest discarded.

The fence on the far side of the geese camp, allows some sun in now that 2 trees were cut down and the grass which has been waterlogged for the last 5 1/2 years have now dried out and looks better, next year the rest of the trees will come down! The grass in that field does not need cutting as our white little lawnmowers are doing their job perfectly!

There is no vegetable garden at present, and the rhubarb will have to be replanted and fenced off next year they belonged to the geese and were trampled to nothing! To be able to extend the shed Barry moved the one apple tree further back and they are all going into dormant state for the winter ahead!

Well the roses presented me with a surprise, the 2nd crop of pink roses are covering the wall and looks lovely! The gladiolas, which were waiting for, turned out to be miniature Gladiolas with crinkled edges very pretty but delicate and they suffered severely with the rain of the last 2 weeks!

The swallows are gone, the second lot of fledglings were just about 4 weeks old and we hope they survive the long journey to Africa!

The house birds sits like monkeys sunning themselves in the sun and wait for Barry to put the oats out every morning and then the flock in their hundreds for a nibble onto the back wall!

The government has issued a decree that the millions of crows, mag- pies and other black undignified feathered friends may be shot if becoming a pestilence, now we have been getting rid of them, for a time already ,as they will easily pick up a gosling and devour it! Then it was done in secret but now we can do it without feeling bad! We do not shoot them but gives them nice little treats which give them a tummy ache, which they do not like and then they fly past!!!!!

The trees have started to shed their leaves and other has started to turn to the most magnificent kaleidoscope of winter colours ranging from bright yellow to dark maroon!

Indoors I have the pleasure of my geraniums and the orchid which is going to flower with 3 stems of 10 flowers each! Unreal!!! 2nd time this year!

My hothouse is coming along fine (the front pallor which is not in use) where green and red peppers are growing and some other plants I rescued from near death!after given to me by my dear friend Marthie!

Ireland has gone through some rough patches regarding our Prime Minister who, true to tradition seemed to have had a ‘good’ night some 10 days ago and then had an early morning radio interview and did not come over very presentable, causing him to publicly apologize for not being up to scratch, but now they are making fun of him on U Tube and in the USA.

It brings us into the lime light for the wrong reasons and on top of it all he earns more a year than Barak Obama!!!! There may be an election looming before long with polls dropping his popularity into the mud! Such a pity that people in high office does not get a special course in public behaviour and conduct, it would prevent situation like this!

Yesterday was surely one of the best Sundays this year; Corboy parish of the Presbyterian Church Ireland had their Harvest festival and thanksgiving service. The sermon was conducted by a very well known missionary and retired? moderator of the church also known to quite a lot of people in SA where he visited, Dr John Dixon. It was good, nutritious feeding of the soul! I was extremely privileged to play the organ for the occasion and had some of my retired work friends as well as SA friends attending! I appreciated it so very much Marthie , Annarie& Nico!!!!

Then I went to work and got through the night with 4 hours sleep in 34 hours!

Birthdays are scarce in my book, but in case to those who does read this far and happens to be a year older! Happy Birthday!

I know that there are all over the world some-one studying for an exam! Do your best and enjoy the great gift of being able to study! There are so many intellectually disabled people in this country that your heart bleeds for them. Never knew but one of the anaesthetist working at the hospital has 2 such children, we are as family and friends very thankful for all children born healthy and very intelligent into this world!

I thank all those who wrote lovely newsy letters since my last reminder! Thank you also for those who live far away that stays in regular contact, especially Joy in Australia, I do appreciate it very much!

I read about ’ Oupa Koos’ passing away and do not know who this is, please help! Could it be anybody I should know?????

I have come to the end of my waffling and hope that this letter will find you all in good health and spirits!



Always take care

Love and regards from us to you

Barry& Christina where the sun is just setting as a fireball in the west after a magnificent day! Cool but ever so good!