Sunday 22 May 11


Good day all, family and friends,
I hope I remember all the wonderful things I wanted to tell you about but first the weather report;
Unsettled, rain over most of the country with sunny break through now and again, south westerly gusty winds most of the times. temperatures between 10-14 except where it will be colder., or wetter or more windy. When the skies are clear at night frost can be expected.
W HE R E I S S U M M E R?
A hearty welcome to all the South Africans who arrived in the last couple of days, Bianca Carstens's parents, Gerda Voster and any-one else I do not know about.
Hope sincerely you brought a bit of proper sunshine with you.
I also wanted to wish all the hard working students a very successful exam time Jeanne in Dublin, Thilo in Saudi, and she has to travel to Bharain to write. Just the very best for you both. There are more writing exams but I am not aware of who they may be. Christiaan is in block time before his Leaving Cert exam in a couple of weeks.
Birthdays for this week Sandra in Exeter and Gerhardus in Jhb. Happy birthday to you and we hope that you will have good year.

You will notice that the forwarding address is from my gmail I cannot access thisistoomuch from the work computer and as I am on duty I am writing while I can.

I am looking after only 2 patients tonight both had prostate operations and demands frequent visits from the attending nurse,so there will be quite few interruptions in this letter.
" Hours later"

It is just after 2am and we are moving to the end of the night
True to the forecast the wind is howling and whistling around the corners of the building.
Tuesday became one of the most important days in Irish History when Queen Elizabeth II put her foot on Irish soil. For an 85 yr old Lady she put many a woman to shame walking up sets of stairs, without rails and without even puffing getting to the top. As always she was immaculately dressed and so was our President.All I can say is that the time of her visit fell in well with the changing of Government and still having a president who has integrity and is of good standing
For once the Irish was on time and everything worked out exactly right, military precision was at the order of the day. Unfortunately the people of Dublin could not really see the queen as security prevented people on the streets which was very sad,but rather safe than sorry. Cork made up for it, there they took a change and had her walking next to the onlookers, talking and shaking a hand here and there.
She acquitted herself with tremendous grandeur and so did the Irish. The University visit was wonderful and the state banquet where she shook 167 peoples hands really an achievement.
the concert they arranged were covering a wide spectrum of Irish culture and was very tastefully done.
Sadly a former PM died while she was here which put a bit of a depressed feeling on the festive atmosphere and his state funeral is tomorrow.Following this we have the friendly visit of USA in the form of their President,wow, I must not even think about the cost this will mean and the load on the taxpayer.
...and that brings me to Wednesday which was the highlight of my week. We were invited to a SA family's house somewhere north of us, beautiful in the rugged country of hills,flowering hawthorns,cattle and small wild animals. far from everything and near nothing.Bainca and Mario Carstens converted a cowshed into a large reception room, unbelievable the work that was done and how well it turned out. On wall hangs an old SA flag draped on it quite magnificent. We were treated like princesses with the most delicious tarts and a most desired Afrikaans main dish of Bobotie and yellow raison rice, pumpkin and chicken pie- out of this world. Bianca made her own chutney and Mrs Balls must watch it! I met several new SA ladies and it was such an experience of being home from home. Jeanette has her own business and makes biltong and boerewors, can't wait to taste the rest as we had a tiny snack of dried boerewors before lunch and it tastes very good! Toni who is working with Jeanette in the business is leaving Ireland to go to Australia and sadly I have to say goodbye to some-one I have just met but we hope and pray that all will go well with her and her family in Melbourne. She teaches Montosori and hope to find work quickly.
These get -togethers are very precious for those of us who would like to speak Afrikaans and keep traditions going.and also as Christians.
Next to the cow shed in that far of beautiful estate is a tunnel filled the wonderful SA vegetables! A true delight which take me our own little garden in Cranleymore were the weeds are growing just as fast as the veggies. I am extremely proud of our produce and have already cooked rhubarb and will pick my first spinach hopefully on Monday afternoon. The 2 tomato plants in the front porch are growing with speed and we hope to enjoy good fruit from them. The roses are especially lovely this year and the buds in their tens.on a stem.
The grass needed cutting urgently and with all the rain you have to wait for the wind to dry the place somewhat before you can even try but we did succeed and even cut in the road which give a very good impression!.
Here at work the driving force behind everything is not forthcoming with the fees to keep our Instructors licence going and also not our training certificates, 80 people needs to be trained in CPR and it is now their problem. We cannot do it as our licence fees are behind! We also have to pay for our new scrubs (uniforms) and all the nursing staff is in uproar.
Harley Street who refers their cosmetic surgery to us has been given us a headache and may soon be something of the past. The hospital is old and is in need of a decor and front uplift . The patients think they are arriving at a magnificent hotel and are then very discouraged when they enter this old building. That is the start of the trouble and I think this half Irish Englishman has had enough of their complaints!
I will be on holiday from Monday for 3 weeks. We hope the weather improves so that we can do some sight seeing.
Our grandson Lukas is 2 hands full but ever so lovely!
I think that is all I wanted to tell you.
Tomorrow is Sunday and because I work and will be in bed I will miss the soul food and Hymn singing. Hope that your Sunday will be blessed.
Take care on the roads and accept the election outcome, as always, without rebellion.
Kind and warm regards from a flowering Cranleymore
Barry & Christina