Mild Winter Greetings from Cranleymore

Sunday 20 Nov’11
Good day to all, family and friends!
We experience the most bizarre weather patrons- . There was that cold spell about 3 weeks ago when the temperature dropped below -2°and everything received a hard blow and since then the tulips, daffodils crocusses are all 2 inches above the ground. Barry covered everything with soil and still the tops are coming out again! Temperatures for this time of the year should be about 2-3 degrees in the morning and maybe reach 9-10 in the afternoon but lately we have morning temp of 9-12 and going up to 14°, the wind blew a few days and some days it rained and as I am writing- it is clearing from the south east! It rained all day yesterday- here in the midlands- but was perfectly dry in Dublin!
Last week Monday it was dry enough for Barry to cut the grass which have not stopped growing yet- very peculiar! We picked already 4 beautiful heads of broccoli and watch the development of the Brussels sprouts, the heads of the Cauli flowers are also forming- it is all very fascinating to see nature from nearby! We usually buy frozen and sometimes fresh Brussels sprouts but this home growing is wonderful!
We still have a few roses that keep on flowering! All other pots were put into the shed to prevent further damage by frost and now there has been none!
Nine I also had a fall, Monday night was very busy, full ward and for some idiotic reason they mixed surgical patients with respite patients- recovering from hip replacements and they just need a little extra caring for at night like having a commode next to their beds! The lid of the chair is heavy and we always remove it and cover the seat with a towel or pillow slip. I left the room cluttered with all their own cases and BP machines, Oxygen bottles etc and left the lid at the end of the bed to fetch a pillowslip. The lights were still on when I left the room but 3 minutes later the lights were off, always in a desperate hurry I half ran to get things done and tripped over the cover of the commode and went flying -head first into the bedside table – I honestly saw stars for a moment the bed with all its fancy cot sides hit my left side, arm and leg and on the other side the commode! I must have bones of steel or rubber I also thought something must be broken but I slowly rose and found that all was still intact- I could not do anything but made as if it was nothing and went on my way! The bruises were very deep and it took about 4 days for the yellow and green to make their appearances and I also had to take pain relief going to bed for at least 2 days! I know exactly how you felt!
I worked a long stretch the last 2 weeks with a night off in-between 6 which confused me more as I did not know if I should sleep of stay awake! Got through it and now just one more week and then 10 days off! We still do not know if the hospital will be open over Christmas and New Year and we are all on call! I did request urgently to be off over Christmas as I will be on organ duty and on the 26th we will have the pleasure of having the grandson Lukas and parents over!
We spent yesterday in Dublin with them and it was lovely! Lukas knows every word, tells us that the cat’s litter box is ‘DISGUSTING’
He is very good when not tired but being so busy and running around so much he takes an afternoon nap of a good 2 hours otherwise things get out of hand! We dreaded the journey to Dublin but this time I memorised the directions and arrived at their door with no problem and it took us even less time to get out this time than ever before! Now it does not seem so bad- but I had tummy cramps in anticipation of getting there and back- last time we landed on the wrong highway coming home and had nearly a 100km detour!
On the political front which is now old news Father Smurf Micael D Higgins , a Humanist, whatever that may be- was elected President and it was a fancy business –the inauguration etc. Now they are fighting to keep the country’s economy afloat with Budget day hanging like a thunder cloud over our heads. VAT up with 2 % and will now be 23½% driving the people again over the border to go and buy in Northern Ireland! The € is also in danger and all the finance ministers in Europe are trying to save the currency! With new governments in Greece, Italy and now Spain we will see what is going to happen!
We feel very sorry for those who have not had summer yet- and for those who are melting in the heat! The weather is having quite a lot of senior moments at present!
I enjoyed the letters but never received the link to the photos of the Australian tour- Arnolda, could you forward it to us as well!
Birthdays! Belated good wishes to Hanlie who had a birthday on the 19th! Paul and Mendel in PMB will enjoy their day on the 21st and Jeanne Potgieter on the 22nd Young Renate on the 23rd many birthdays in the one Eloff family!
To all those who are still writing exams- hope it is going well! To those who have done their share and are waiting for the results, everything of the best!
Our thoughts and prayers are with Marthie and her family with the illness of her Mom. In God we trust!
I have to greet ye all with winter sun shine on the horizon!
Take care- be always careful in all your doings and travels

Barry and Christina in Cranleymore