Greetings from Cranleymore

Saturday 29 Oct’11

Good day to all, Family and friends!

....and now we have a new President.” I will be a President for all the people” I wonder if he realize what this statement means. Maybe that some of the other candidates, if successful, would be President for only some of the people? Well it is over and I think the whole Island is sighing with relief.
“Old uncle” Michael D Higgins on his way to 71 years old will be inaugurated on the 11 Nov. I have to admit apart from the fact that he just do not have the physic and appearance of a president and that he will hopefully finish the 7 years without reverting to a walking frame and hearing aids, he had the least criticism from the press and TV crucifiers. They did hammer on the fact that he is old and needed a box to stand on behind the cathedra, in order to see the audience and TV presenter. He was stammering last night in excitement over the success and I hope that he loses this quickly. He does give the impression that he is an intellectual and a learned person and hopefully his heart will last under tremendous stress, meeting heads of countries and selling Ireland to the world! You know that he is old by the size of his ears! Barry says I can just see them better because he had a haircut! Hahahaha!

Back to the weather! As most of you have seen on TV we experienced the most awful floods during the last week. The whole of one full months rain fell in 9 hours, the death toll was sad. A Pilipino Nurse drowned in her basement apartment after receiving her Irish citizenship 3months ago, and a young Garda was swept away by the force of the waters while helping and advising people to take different routes.
We have been very fortunate that the house is built on the side of a smallish hill and the water ran past us in torrents, very frightening! And then on Tuesday afternoon the sun broke through and the wind took all the clouds somewhere else! It was brilliant to see the sun, clear blue skies and no rain!
With the clear skies comes the cold and frost and we had our 1st frost on Wednesday morning just a scare, not bad but enough to make you realize there is now no escape!
The clouds are gathering momentum again and the forecast for tomorrow does not look good, high winds and heavy rain! Temperature today 12-15° in comparison with 2-9° earlier on.
In order not to be caught by a sudden downpour we already cut the cabbage for the ham tonight! The first of the winter cabbages! We were supposed to be in Dublin today but I received a request to be on standby for duty for the weekend( Halloween and Bank Holiday Monday)
I am also on organ duty at church and we had to postpone our visit until the weekend of the 19th- my heart cry for our little man and we are very sad that we cannot see him but we know that his parents take good care of him!
I mentioned that the flowers and plants have lost contact with nature and started to grow again, the Hydrangeas are going to flower and so the Rhododendrons, idiotic and we had to bring in soil to cover the tulips and daffodils form the frost and cold. The roses are flowering in bunches, all so wrong, but is because of the warm spell we had!
Professor arrives now every 2nd evening for a meal, last night he ate so fast that he nearly choked! He could not jump on the wall and were stretching himself to reach the milk and food! Tonight we will put it on the grass for him! Blackie who thinks he owns the place also sleeps in the new shed on the straw we found his hiding place! I would say that he does belong to some-one somewhere in a barn and that we are his adopted parents! The foxes are light sensitive at present and hides until they think it is safe and then they grab the food and run! We have not seen the hedgehog for some time but he leaves his trail in the long grass and we know he is somewhere!
I had to go back to work this morning to return the drug cupboard’s key! I was so very tired yesterday morning that after a session with one of the managers that insisted on something being on the computer and I had to convince them that is it not and in the process of leaving ½hr later forgot the key in my pocket, usually I would empty my pockets before I put the uniform in the bag but not yesterday -I folded it, dropped it in the bag dressed and left! At 3pm yesterday they phoned looking for the key and to my shame it was in my uniform pocket! There was a spare key and it was not urgent but the last week of work was unreal! Amanda does ‘power walking’ but I do power walking in the ward, it is built in a square and covers about 350meters all round and if I did that on Wednesday-night 200x’s then it is a few times as the ward was full! I was so tired that I napped a little, waiting 15 minutes for a 2way stop light where there are road works, and the oak behind me hooted! I felt such a fool!
I usually sing loud while driving home but then do not have to stop anywhere, just imagine me singing at the top of my voice while 50 other cars are listening! So I dosed off- I have to say I was very much awake there-after!
We are at the end of the month and we have to sleep one hour longer tonight as the time changes and we move on 1 hour to accommodate the schoolchildren that had to walk to school in the 1930-50’s They never changed it and we still live in the past! “ Wie Immer” This Island with all respect, is about 20 years behind the world if not more!
Birthdays: I have only one birthday in my book and that is Monique du Toit- Happy birthday and we hope you have a lovely day! Anybody else that I do not know about! Happy Birthday!
We do think of Jeanne who has had a set back from the Irish Government refusing her a working visa- their reasons not applicable to her at all but they live in an archaic juridical system and cannot think for themselves! We keep on praying for a good outcome!
Those young people who are studying and writing their Matric- everything of the best!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and also places me in front of the organ which I love- last Sunday I was off but landed there for a short while when the other organist misjudged the time with a husband who’s foot is in a plaster and 3 little ones . The minister, visiting waited 5 minutes on and then I got up and did the honours with the wrong glasses on and truly had to play from memory and hope for the best! I cannot see that far with the bifocals but we got through the Psalm without a problem In future I will take my glasses with to church in any case!
I have said enough- hope you are all well and save. Hope that the weekend for the van Marle’s was grand and that Gerlof and Sandra enjoy visiting the grandchildren!
It was lovely to hear from Arnolda and the trip through west Australia! Waiting for the album!
There are a few on my post list that somehow does not write to let us know how you are and sometimes it is very nice just to get a line or 2 confirming that you are still well! I am thinking of Barend and Elsje for example!
This is only applicable to the guilty ones who know who they are!
It has become brighter outside and the sun just manages to shine every now and again! We lit the fire for the 1st time last night and that was very special! It brings a different atmosphere into the house the crackling of the wood and the warm flames!


....and with that I greet ye all.
Watch where you go and be diligent with safety!
Warm greetings from
Barry & Christina in Cranleymore