Mild Winter Greetings from Cranleymore

Saturday 3 Dec’11
Good day to all, family and friends,
Since the 1st Dec it is officially W I N T E R in Ireland!
Last year we were under the snow just trying to survive and this year we have broken all records for the month of November as it has been the warmest November since records began! Some places have also reported that the daffodils are in flower!
The day started gloriously with temperatures of 5° and bright beautiful sunshine – but as the morning progress so did the dark clouds started to roll in from the south west-ominously dark, 7° with a strong wind!
The azaleas are in full bloom and looks lovely I am afraid for the lovely new growth in the rose trees and everywhere else-what a confused time! We had a quick count this morning and it could have exceeded a 100 little birds frequenting the peanuts and the wild bird seed. Blackie, the visiting cat, comes every 2nd day and eat then like a horse, as I have not been working, there is little scrap food available and he has to be satisfied with only milk some days. Tuesday was wet and cold and we brewed a pot of soup that lasted us 3 days and the older the soup got the better it tasted we kept on adding veggies and titbits- the very last lot left I froze so that I have something to take to work next week!
Professor, our other visiting cat came only once in the last week and looked thin but the limp is much better! The foxes are now too big to be observed as they are as clever as what the saying says:” Slinks soos ‘n jakkals” they do not mind dry bread – every morning everything is gone!
We also attended an Antique auction in a castle which was fascinating- it is enormous and very old built somewhere around the 15th century Tullynally Castle in Castlepollard. We stayed to the end and bought a gorgeous gilt framed mirror for nothing as every-one was tired and cold and lost interest!
I enjoyed my time off and feel like a human being again after being depleted of all strength and energy last week!
Who knows what is waiting for me on Monday night but at least I will be strong again! I enjoyed Leopold’s letter tremendously and thank you as well to Nine, Hessie en Gerlof, Arnolda , Haya,Isabel as well as my friend Joy in Brisbane who had a bad fall and now experienced difficulty with the fracture and needed pins and plates inserted- I hope and pray that you are now on the mend! Our thoughts and prayers have been with Marthie who lost her Mom last Saturday most probably while I was writing my letter and I did not mention anything then. Our sympathies to her and her family here and in SA. She was very fortunate to be there.
Our political situation is in dire straits and the whole of Europe as well as England are struggling in this treacherous economical dilemma. Our budget day is the 6th and everyone is scared. There are many things that should be changed in this lovely island but the politician’s eagerness to get votes especially the previous government who increased every possible social welfare payment to the extreme and the new Government now found that it is a disaster beyond recovery –are now going to cut these same payment that once got them their votes.
In my mind all these social payment should be means tested. The millionaires do not need child allowances and people who are members of a Health insurance scheme should not have the option to use the free service from the HSE. I am well aware that there are cases that need more attention than others but the people of the Island are draining every cent there is and then they are worried and angry! I should be careful what I say as ‘Big Brother’ might be reading my emails- who knows!
Tomorrow is as always the best day of my week and I am on organ duty and look forward to it-as well as the wonderful series of sermons” What is the big deal about Jesus?” Stephen our Church Minister came to visit and we did convey our thanks to his wonderful ability to explain difficult concepts so wonderfully!
We had a tremendous amount of rain during the week the lower field of Jimmy the neighbour looked like lakes- we noticed this morning that the water has drained well- we also looked with big eyes at the river of water that passed by the front of our house as well as at the back, being on a slant protects us from being flooded but all the water from above passes by us to the stream below us!
Arnolda, I spoke to Barry about the carpet, the best would be to send it via DHL otherwise by cargo ship-plane which might be a bit costly but without a hassle- but if the costs exceed the value- do not do it!
Birthdays! Exams etc! I would say that the matriculants have now done their bit in SA and the results are now in the making! We wish each and every-one of you just the very best! Any-one else at university, college or otherwise- to you also just the very best! Young and Old alike!
The week ahead has no names in for Birthdays but if there is somebody having a birthday and I do not know about it – best wishes!
We have our “State of the Nation” speech on Sunday night after the news from our Taoiseach and wonder what will be revealed in it!
I greet you with great thankfulness in my heart that we receive blessing upon blessing everyday of our lives from the Lord above in very turbulent economical times
Look after yourselves- be vigilant in safety aspects, Oumas and Oupas must enjoy their grand children and those who are preparing to take a trip to Canada we hope the snow lasts! Safe Journey!
Winter greetings from us in Cranleymore
Barry & Christina