Saturday 25 Feb’12
Good day to all , family and friends!
We are experience S P R I N G ! It is absolutely gorgeous outside, some cloud with bright sunshine and no W I N D! Temperatures between 9-11°. Why would you say is she so excited? Well if you live in Ireland the weather forecast is very much the same as Haas Das report of 1975! Wind rain and sleet in some places especially in the north and brighter spells of dry and rain forecast for the rest of the country, with strong winds at times - and if you hear that every day of your year then today is brilliant!
The Irish and the Italians are playing rugby and I can just hear the noise in the back ground- it will be somewhat of an embarrassment if Ireland loose against Italy -I would say. So far the score is in our favour!
My garden has exploded in bright yellow all over- Barry did plant over 200 daffodil bulbs and therefore the kaleidoscope of colour at the moment- I picked about 20 this morning for the lounge and there is twice that much still proudly standing and tomorrow just as many will open again! We also have a tulip or 2 open. The pruned roses are covered with new leaves and we cross cherry/plum tree is covered in blossoms- what a lovely sight. The birds are a humming choir on every note of the scale. Last Sunday it was very prominent and when Lukas got out of the car it was the first thing he said....” hear the birds”. And only after that he said Hello Oupa!
I do not feature very high in his estimation until he has been around for a few minutes: The next thing he said out of the blue was: “Hello Ouma what are you doing here?” and so he surprised us all day long with an exceptional vocabulary for 22mnths old.
He is a great joy! I am sure you can gather that we are very proud grandparents.
The rest of the garden is sopping wet and one finds it difficult to dig as it is too muddy- the onions are growing in the bag in the garage. We also have wild primroses flowering in the bottom field which give a lovely impression.
Blackie makes sure that he gets the best of the best and he hardly left here all week marking every possible tree to make sure Professor does not come near!
We noticed some different droppings in the garden and we think the Hedgehog must have woken up. We are not sure what is happening with the foxes as 2 nights went by in which they did not make an appearance! The birds are mating and we hope that some of them decide to build their nest in the hedge!
We had a very sad week as Irish people .Earlier in the week there was ?an argument between 2 brother in laws and the during the early hours of the morning the one man burned down the sheds and feeding stock of his bother in law and shot him in the chest, left and hung himself in his own shed. His wife woke up and he was not in the bed and when she got outside she saw the blaze on the a joining farm where her brother lives and when she got outside she heard that her brother was shot dead and they are looking for her husband and a few hrs later they found his body hanging in a shed. The next day a little boy of 2½yr drowned in a pool of rain water in one of the ghost estates. Since the fall of the Celtic Tiger many estates are standing half built and empty –becoming totally derelict. This family lived adjacent to one of these horrible estates and the child followed their dog, crawled through a break in the fence and a passerby found the child a few minutes later dead in the pool of rain water. Suddenly all are very sad and every possible pre-caution has been put into place to prevent such a tragedy again – somewhat late-as the people living next to these ghost estates has been complaining for years that there must be better security around these places also for vandalising attempts as they break in as steal everything that is copper in these unfinished estates. Very sad!
On the political front we are now best friends with China –heaven help us- and the Taoiseach is travelling between USA and Europe to secure bonds between the counties. The health services has crumbled to such an extent that there were on night last week 46 people lying on trolleys in Galway University Hospital –no beds, no staff, and chaos.
The planning board refused that the planned Children’s Hospital go ahead as the sky line of Dublin will be damaged and now they have to start looking for a site all over again after spending already €34million on the project.
Most of the drastic cuttings brought in by the Minister of Education had to be reversed as he has brought the wrath of the people upon him- there are an abnormal amount of Intellectually disabled children in this country and need special attention and teaching methods to get anywhere.
I paid a visit to the shoulder man on Monday and was told that work is out for the time being and that he wants to inject the shoulder and that will happen now this coming Fri in Dublin. That in itself is already stressful but to get there is a further worry as I am not allowed to drive the car after the procedure and this meant that we either have to stay over or leave very early on the train- which we have decided to do! Less stress. Barry has a free travel pass and that is then cheaper that the car and we will spent some €’s on a taxi.
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and it is my turn to provide the music and I love that as much as singing! The series of sermons are so brilliantly presented that I cannot wait for the next sermon!
We also attended the other congregation in Mullingar’s Jumble Sale to collect funds for the building of their new church! We took everything that was still in working order and delivered it on Wednesday. Most of what we brought was gone by the time we arrived this morning and that was good news! Our old scrabble was also on sale.
We bought a few things and got a bag of wool and now I have something to do again! We are master scrabble players( with the Scrabble dictionary) and had to buy a new game as you could not see the blocks on the board any- more and I had to make a new block bag as the original one gave notice!
Rugby score: Ireland 42 Italy 10! Hip- hip- hoera!
Birthdays: Laurel will be a year older on the 27th and Angie on the 28th! We hope that you both will have wonderful days and a blessed year ahead!
Any young people writing exams- everything of the best and for those who preparing to take big steps – may it go well!
Thank you to all who so wonderfully wrote letters and send photos! Wonderful!
I have nothing more to tell you!
Be always alert –behind the wheel or at home!
I include one little photo from our Lukas!
Brilliant spring greetings from Barry and Christina
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Groete vanuit 'n ysige Cranleymore
Saterdag 18 Feb’12
Goeie dag aan allemaal, familie en vriende,
Ons het so ‘n ½ uur gelede ‘n lekker klomp sneeu deur die lug gewarrel sien kom, was net betyds in van ons Saterdag inkopies, melk, brood, koerant en nogwat toe die stormpie opdaag! Gister was dit warm 12° C op ‘n stadium en vandag is dit yssig net bo 2°- ongelooflik wat aangaan en daar spog die Kanadese met hulle heerlike winter! Ek word sommer groen van jaloesie!
Nog nie gehoor hoe die Exeters die weer beleef nie!
Vanwee die ewige nattigheid is die huis groen van die alge en gister middag koop ons toe gellings ‘bleach’ hulle ken nie JIK of Javel hier nie en maak dringend die buite sement skoon en die mure veral aan die noorde kant waar ons in die winter geen son kry nie!. Vanoggend na ‘n nag van hewige reën lyk die plek toe aansienlik beter. Nog ‘n keer met ‘n groot tuin besem en die tuinslang ‘n goeie skrop gegee en nou ons hoef nie bang te wees vir gly nie.
Ons kleinseun kom môre kuier en ingeval die weer goed is en hy wil buite toe moet dit darem aanvaarbaar wees vir ‘n 21 mnde oue kleuter wat alles weet en praat en alles beklouter!.
Buite gaan daar bitter min aan- ons het wel die mooi van al die affodille wat stuk stuk blom, ek pluk ook baie af want met al die reën en koue tussen in lê hulle soggens plat! Die tulpe kom ook nou goed by – maar soos altyd met ons wonderlike nat weer eet die’ slugs’-huislose slakke alles wat hulle kan vind,ek loop gereeld rond en strooi sout maar netnou reën dit en alles was verniet!
Ons wilde diere is pragtig ,vet en gesond professor kom nou al effe nader en kruip nie meer so hewig weg nie – hy sit nou al heel kordaat in die middel van die grasperk-maak seker dat ons hom sien as ons uitkyk!
Die voëlgesang is uit ‘n ander wêreld,so mooi dit laat jou hoendervleis kry!
Op die politieke front het ons die onder president van China op besoek, hy sal erg beskerm word want geen media mag naby hom kom nie.
Hy gaan ‘n paar plekke besoek ook ‘n mooi plaas in een van die counties.
Die geldelike situasie veral in Griekeland het ons maar almal aan die benoude kant – as hulle nie Maandag met ‘n aanvaarbare plan voorendag kom nie is hulle onderdeur en dit kan baie repurkusies vir die res van Eurozone lande hê wat ook in verknorsing sit soos ons!
Ek moet die skouer spesialis Maandag per foon kontak en as hy tevrede is met my verslag kan ek terug werk toe – ek dink Barry sal ‘n sug van verligting slaak want met my hier het hy aan niks gekom nie!.
Verjaardae is min- Renate Röhrs en Garth Kruger verjaar albei Dinsdag 21 Februarie. ‘n Pragtige dag word julle toegewens!
Ek weet nie van jongelui wat eksamens skryf nie maar sou daar wel iemand wees wat hard studeer –alles van die beste.
Ons dink gedurig aan ons neef Werner en hoop dat jy daagliks beter word!
Môre is my beste dag van die week en nou gaan dit ‘n dubbel vreugde wees want ons siele sal verryk word met ons begaafde predikant se preek en natturlik die sing van Psalms en Gesange( ek sit in die kerkbank) asook ons klein Lukas se besoek!
Ek lees in die opskrifte van News24 dat moord en doodslag maar net so erg is in SA as hier by ons- die mense wat hier woon het geen waarde vir ‘n lewe nie – hulle skiet en steek iemand dood net so maklik as wat hulle roomys in die winter eet. Die ‘drug lords’ en dwelm en alkohol misbruikers kan alles want hulle weet dan kwansuis nie wat hulle gedoen het nie en daarom kan die straf nou nie so erg wees nie.
Baie dankie vir die briefies van Zambia en ook bly om te hoor dit gaan elke dag beter met Oubaas- Arnolda, Hessie en Haya se briefies was ook baie welkom Gerlof skryf gereeld en alles wat in Exeter of Telford gebeur is ook heerlik omtehoor!
Ek het niks verder om te sê nie en groet dus met ‘n ysige wind en vlae sneeu uit Cranleymore.
Wees altyd versigtig, tuis en op die pad!
Liefde
Barry & Christina
Goeie dag aan allemaal, familie en vriende,
Ons het so ‘n ½ uur gelede ‘n lekker klomp sneeu deur die lug gewarrel sien kom, was net betyds in van ons Saterdag inkopies, melk, brood, koerant en nogwat toe die stormpie opdaag! Gister was dit warm 12° C op ‘n stadium en vandag is dit yssig net bo 2°- ongelooflik wat aangaan en daar spog die Kanadese met hulle heerlike winter! Ek word sommer groen van jaloesie!
Nog nie gehoor hoe die Exeters die weer beleef nie!
Vanwee die ewige nattigheid is die huis groen van die alge en gister middag koop ons toe gellings ‘bleach’ hulle ken nie JIK of Javel hier nie en maak dringend die buite sement skoon en die mure veral aan die noorde kant waar ons in die winter geen son kry nie!. Vanoggend na ‘n nag van hewige reën lyk die plek toe aansienlik beter. Nog ‘n keer met ‘n groot tuin besem en die tuinslang ‘n goeie skrop gegee en nou ons hoef nie bang te wees vir gly nie.
Ons kleinseun kom môre kuier en ingeval die weer goed is en hy wil buite toe moet dit darem aanvaarbaar wees vir ‘n 21 mnde oue kleuter wat alles weet en praat en alles beklouter!.
Buite gaan daar bitter min aan- ons het wel die mooi van al die affodille wat stuk stuk blom, ek pluk ook baie af want met al die reën en koue tussen in lê hulle soggens plat! Die tulpe kom ook nou goed by – maar soos altyd met ons wonderlike nat weer eet die’ slugs’-huislose slakke alles wat hulle kan vind,ek loop gereeld rond en strooi sout maar netnou reën dit en alles was verniet!
Ons wilde diere is pragtig ,vet en gesond professor kom nou al effe nader en kruip nie meer so hewig weg nie – hy sit nou al heel kordaat in die middel van die grasperk-maak seker dat ons hom sien as ons uitkyk!
Die voëlgesang is uit ‘n ander wêreld,so mooi dit laat jou hoendervleis kry!
Op die politieke front het ons die onder president van China op besoek, hy sal erg beskerm word want geen media mag naby hom kom nie.
Hy gaan ‘n paar plekke besoek ook ‘n mooi plaas in een van die counties.
Die geldelike situasie veral in Griekeland het ons maar almal aan die benoude kant – as hulle nie Maandag met ‘n aanvaarbare plan voorendag kom nie is hulle onderdeur en dit kan baie repurkusies vir die res van Eurozone lande hê wat ook in verknorsing sit soos ons!
Ek moet die skouer spesialis Maandag per foon kontak en as hy tevrede is met my verslag kan ek terug werk toe – ek dink Barry sal ‘n sug van verligting slaak want met my hier het hy aan niks gekom nie!.
Verjaardae is min- Renate Röhrs en Garth Kruger verjaar albei Dinsdag 21 Februarie. ‘n Pragtige dag word julle toegewens!
Ek weet nie van jongelui wat eksamens skryf nie maar sou daar wel iemand wees wat hard studeer –alles van die beste.
Ons dink gedurig aan ons neef Werner en hoop dat jy daagliks beter word!
Môre is my beste dag van die week en nou gaan dit ‘n dubbel vreugde wees want ons siele sal verryk word met ons begaafde predikant se preek en natturlik die sing van Psalms en Gesange( ek sit in die kerkbank) asook ons klein Lukas se besoek!
Ek lees in die opskrifte van News24 dat moord en doodslag maar net so erg is in SA as hier by ons- die mense wat hier woon het geen waarde vir ‘n lewe nie – hulle skiet en steek iemand dood net so maklik as wat hulle roomys in die winter eet. Die ‘drug lords’ en dwelm en alkohol misbruikers kan alles want hulle weet dan kwansuis nie wat hulle gedoen het nie en daarom kan die straf nou nie so erg wees nie.
Baie dankie vir die briefies van Zambia en ook bly om te hoor dit gaan elke dag beter met Oubaas- Arnolda, Hessie en Haya se briefies was ook baie welkom Gerlof skryf gereeld en alles wat in Exeter of Telford gebeur is ook heerlik omtehoor!
Ek het niks verder om te sê nie en groet dus met ‘n ysige wind en vlae sneeu uit Cranleymore.
Wees altyd versigtig, tuis en op die pad!
Liefde
Barry & Christina
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Mid February greetings from Cranleymore
Saturday 11 Feb’12
Good day to you all, family and friends!
We woke up this morning with brilliant sunshine creeping past the blind! Now I have to admit it was somewhat late – in Ireland you lose the ability to be up with the birds, it was already past 08h30 , the sun rises just after 8am but being on sick leave and resting we get up when the radio stops that is 2 hours from the first announcement. The sun was só welcome as it has been raining since last Sunday- never hard but with showers in between continuous drizzle. Everything is wet. The pathway around the house is green and slippery, the outer walls of the house are green from the algae and the grass has also changed colour as the moss has taken over. Temperature 9°C . We are ever so thankful that for once we are missing the terrible weather that is coming in from the east. Large areas of England and France are really in the grip of an icy spell and it turns just before it reaches the east coast of England, missing us!
There is some joy in all of this – my daffodils are flowering and I have picked my 2nd bunch, proudly displayed in the big lounge. The crocuses are covering the ground/grass with bright dark yellow and purple flowers- everything is so new and lovely and promises of some better weather in the near future!
All plants in the garden are budding and we will hopefully have fruit blossoms shortly!
Blackie, the cat has changed his sleeping quarters to the donkey house as he most probably finds it too noisy in the shed especially when Barry starts chopping wood! We can just see where he makes himself comfortable on the straw!
We have been honoured by Professor’s presence nearly every evening this week. He loves the dry food where Blackie is very particular and will only eat the dry food if he is starving.
The foxes are ever present just much too clever and knows precisely when Barry leaves the kitchen for the last time in the evening and dash then to get whatever has been left for them!
We also are the proud human parents of the 1st starling babies in the roof of the shed- they are very verbal in their demand for food!
I wish I could record the sound of 100-200 birds singing at one time in the hedge, it is so beautiful it causes you to shiver.
Barry dug the vegetable patch over during the week, it is a big patch and he has to do it in sections, otherwise he gets some tightness in the chest- he has an appointment with the cardiologist in 3 weeks time- but other - wise he is fine. We hope to plant the rest of the onions and will soon visit the garden centres to buy veggie en flowers seedlings.
Last time I visited the physio I was a bit a edgy- I pay a lot of money for a session and all they do – I can do at home as well- after sitting in the waiting room for 20 min, I made up my mind that I will not return. It was quite obvious that they overbooked and had 2 clients for the same time-and one on the table- so when I was eventually called in I made it clear that that I am not happy and that they have not given me the treatment as requested by the specialist and what they do for me- I can do at home. The owner felt a bit stupid but that was true. So I am now my own Physio therapist and do my exercises as prescribed.
I have another 10 days and hope to be back at work then. The pain is 95% gone only some pain when I do a stupid move- and now I am working on it and have already improved- so I am holding thumbs that the shoulder man will let me go back to work! The arthritis is something I have to live with.
We have Radio and TV program one after the other about the sanitation problem of rural Ireland. The 40% of people living in rural Ireland refuse to pay the registration fee and dread the outcome of an inspection. As if that is not enough- some Australian company has obtained a license to do a survey of underground gas and found a large deposit in Co Leitrim bordering the North of Ireland and in Ireland progress, the ability to provide work, is good as long as it does not happen in “my back yard”. It is called ‘frecking’ and large groups of people started to gather in opposition to this drilling process. We will see what happens- the last time SHELL tried to drill for oil in Co Mayo there was enormous problems and it has been revealed during the week that the cost for policing and guarding the Shell works form all kinds of threats cost the country more that €14 million. Just imagine what will happen when they go ahead and try to drill for the gas?
Birthdays! Philip Josling in Dublin has his birthday tomorrow and Barry’s sister in law-Brenda, in England has her birthday on the 13th Happy birthday to you both of you Josie you will bring our best wishes to your Mom.
Any-one else that may have a birthday and I do not know about it- have a blessed day!
Hope that Werner is feeling better and on the road to recovery.
Tomorrow is the best day of my week in all circumstances and I will be in front of the organ again and I just want to remind all in the Midlands of Ireland about our Hymns Singing Service on the 29th April – 3pm- arrange your diary so that you will be able to attend. You have plenty of warning! We would also love to give you a cup of tea afterwards and show our appreciation for your attendance.
I hear Barry moaning that he seems to be the only one living in this house and are not looked after- that is my cue to greet you!
Be careful while driving –does not matter in which country you live- be always safety conscious!
Thank you for photos and letters- always enjoyed and appreciated.
We greet you from Cranleymore where the sun is trying to break through the cloud cover after this morning’s treat!
Barry & Christina
Good day to you all, family and friends!
We woke up this morning with brilliant sunshine creeping past the blind! Now I have to admit it was somewhat late – in Ireland you lose the ability to be up with the birds, it was already past 08h30 , the sun rises just after 8am but being on sick leave and resting we get up when the radio stops that is 2 hours from the first announcement. The sun was só welcome as it has been raining since last Sunday- never hard but with showers in between continuous drizzle. Everything is wet. The pathway around the house is green and slippery, the outer walls of the house are green from the algae and the grass has also changed colour as the moss has taken over. Temperature 9°C . We are ever so thankful that for once we are missing the terrible weather that is coming in from the east. Large areas of England and France are really in the grip of an icy spell and it turns just before it reaches the east coast of England, missing us!
There is some joy in all of this – my daffodils are flowering and I have picked my 2nd bunch, proudly displayed in the big lounge. The crocuses are covering the ground/grass with bright dark yellow and purple flowers- everything is so new and lovely and promises of some better weather in the near future!
All plants in the garden are budding and we will hopefully have fruit blossoms shortly!
Blackie, the cat has changed his sleeping quarters to the donkey house as he most probably finds it too noisy in the shed especially when Barry starts chopping wood! We can just see where he makes himself comfortable on the straw!
We have been honoured by Professor’s presence nearly every evening this week. He loves the dry food where Blackie is very particular and will only eat the dry food if he is starving.
The foxes are ever present just much too clever and knows precisely when Barry leaves the kitchen for the last time in the evening and dash then to get whatever has been left for them!
We also are the proud human parents of the 1st starling babies in the roof of the shed- they are very verbal in their demand for food!
I wish I could record the sound of 100-200 birds singing at one time in the hedge, it is so beautiful it causes you to shiver.
Barry dug the vegetable patch over during the week, it is a big patch and he has to do it in sections, otherwise he gets some tightness in the chest- he has an appointment with the cardiologist in 3 weeks time- but other - wise he is fine. We hope to plant the rest of the onions and will soon visit the garden centres to buy veggie en flowers seedlings.
Last time I visited the physio I was a bit a edgy- I pay a lot of money for a session and all they do – I can do at home as well- after sitting in the waiting room for 20 min, I made up my mind that I will not return. It was quite obvious that they overbooked and had 2 clients for the same time-and one on the table- so when I was eventually called in I made it clear that that I am not happy and that they have not given me the treatment as requested by the specialist and what they do for me- I can do at home. The owner felt a bit stupid but that was true. So I am now my own Physio therapist and do my exercises as prescribed.
I have another 10 days and hope to be back at work then. The pain is 95% gone only some pain when I do a stupid move- and now I am working on it and have already improved- so I am holding thumbs that the shoulder man will let me go back to work! The arthritis is something I have to live with.
We have Radio and TV program one after the other about the sanitation problem of rural Ireland. The 40% of people living in rural Ireland refuse to pay the registration fee and dread the outcome of an inspection. As if that is not enough- some Australian company has obtained a license to do a survey of underground gas and found a large deposit in Co Leitrim bordering the North of Ireland and in Ireland progress, the ability to provide work, is good as long as it does not happen in “my back yard”. It is called ‘frecking’ and large groups of people started to gather in opposition to this drilling process. We will see what happens- the last time SHELL tried to drill for oil in Co Mayo there was enormous problems and it has been revealed during the week that the cost for policing and guarding the Shell works form all kinds of threats cost the country more that €14 million. Just imagine what will happen when they go ahead and try to drill for the gas?
Birthdays! Philip Josling in Dublin has his birthday tomorrow and Barry’s sister in law-Brenda, in England has her birthday on the 13th Happy birthday to you both of you Josie you will bring our best wishes to your Mom.
Any-one else that may have a birthday and I do not know about it- have a blessed day!
Hope that Werner is feeling better and on the road to recovery.
Tomorrow is the best day of my week in all circumstances and I will be in front of the organ again and I just want to remind all in the Midlands of Ireland about our Hymns Singing Service on the 29th April – 3pm- arrange your diary so that you will be able to attend. You have plenty of warning! We would also love to give you a cup of tea afterwards and show our appreciation for your attendance.
I hear Barry moaning that he seems to be the only one living in this house and are not looked after- that is my cue to greet you!
Be careful while driving –does not matter in which country you live- be always safety conscious!
Thank you for photos and letters- always enjoyed and appreciated.
We greet you from Cranleymore where the sun is trying to break through the cloud cover after this morning’s treat!
Barry & Christina
Saturday, February 4, 2012
February Greetings
Saturday 4 Feb’12
Good day to you all, Family and friends,
In most places that I know of, the temperature drops at night but not in Ireland here the temperature rises during the night. You go to bed pretty cold and get up the next morning wondering why you were getting rid of the duvet several time during the night, just to find out that the temperature has risen at least 6 degrees! Therefore we experience after a freezing week of -4 to 0° a wonderfully mild day slightly wet, 7° a few moment ago -only a drizzle now and again nothing much- thick cloud that prevents the sun from bringing us light and brightness which was such a wonderful part of the freezing weather, we are never happy, are we?! Moan, moan, and moan, ah, it is not really moaning it is just missing the sun which sits high in the heavens now a days and shine with such brilliance that it dazzles you!
Plant growth has suffered as in Exeter, a great deal – Our daffodils in bloom have an extra-ordinary ability to pick them- selves up from the ground after being frozen stiff as soon as the sun shines on them I wish I was a photographer to capture this amazing event in slow motion!
The roses were pruned – I did that on the 1st as per gardening advice- we are trying to cover the wall and every year I cut them back well and proper but this year I had a much gentler approach and we hope that was enough to stimulate growth.
The winter garden have onions in and the rhubarb has also made a come- back after a transplant – the Brussels sprouts developed very late and what- ever the reason there were some of them more like miniature lettuce leaves they did not form a core and although tasty was a bit of a mishap. We did eat most of it –rather I ate most of it as Barry thought they looked too odd!
I am still off work and feel very guilty- unfortunately there are no facilities for work injury -to go on light duty and still be of some value to your company while not 100% well and therefore I am in my 4th week of convalescence with Physio once a week and home exercises to strengthen the muscle and repair the tear! I get regular updates from my friends Deirdre (works with me night duty) and Karen (a theatre nurse) about the situation of short staff and critical care –but I do miss the work itself – I know while doing it you feel it is not safe and unwise but I still miss it! Barry is a wonderful carer and after a good lecture he now allows me to do some things.
On the political front our Taoiseach made foolish remarks about the people of Ireland and was ridiculed well for doing so- The disastrous pay outs by Social Welfare is out of this world. We only heard during the week that families get Communion pay-out for their children having First Communion, they go absolutely mad in this country the girls are dressed as if they are getting married and arrive at the church in horse drawn carriages or white limousines, they receive enormous amounts of money from friends and relatives- have a big party afterwards and hardly ever go back to church there-after. We are in the deepest of financial mess and the Government when said they are going to cut this allowance were nearly crucified!
There will be an exodus of over 7,000 workers during the next month – an offer was made to civil servants which includes nurses, garda and other dept to go on early retirement and they will receive their full pension and will not be taxed on it- if you stay, your pension will be cut in different ways and it will be taxable in future- so- the brain drain has started at a tremendous cost to the government in the mean time over 2000 new immigrants received their citizenship yesterday and the day before- Good for them, I am really happy for them but in the mean time there is no work over 460,000 on welfare allowance and young people are struggling -with degrees , leaving the country- please do not understand me wrongly I am also one of those who are now an Irish citizen and I hope that those who are waiting will be rewarded soon with their papers- they on the other hand are those who are working very hard, paying taxes and provide for their children themselves and is not a drain on the resources but so many are provided with every possible means to live while other struggle, this is only my opinion- eat me up alive but deep in our hearts we know it is true – I just wonder how many of those who received their citizenship are tax payers? I hope and pray that they all are!
The health system is at cross roads and what is going to happen with 3000 nurses leaving?– and this is only the beginning of a country wide disaster.
Away from morbid thoughts and back to reality. Thank you Haya for the lovely photos of young Cobus He looks lovely! We will not divulge how it came about that the photos were eventually posted! The wonderful news from Australia, still in the very early stages, is great! It also means that we are all getting older and the years are starting to count.
Nine (mother, grandmother and great grandmother) is having her Birthday tomorrow and we pray and hope that her year will be healthy and with as little pain as possible! Enjoy the day!
Kathleen Cooper is having her Birthday on the 8th and so is Belinda in Jhb.
Hope sincerely that your days will be wonderful and the year blessed.
We are also hoping that Werner is getting better and that the fever he developed has been dealt with.
Tomorrow, as you all know by now, are the best day of my week and I am on organ duty all Hymns well practiced and we are ready for once again a good message! We are- God Willing- going to have another Hymn Service at the end of April, 29th, so all our SA friends from Mullingar and everywhere else mark that day to visit Corboy Presbyterian church for heavenly singing and praise!
Our grandson Lukas is our joy and delight and we will have him and parents visiting us in 2 weeks time and we cannot wait! He is as clever as you can find and very cute! He has never lost his loveliness and wonderful nature and is a charmer out and out!
Our wild animals have been here frequently during the cold weather and the birds multiplied in numbers when it is so cold- their feeding days are coming to an end as they will soon start nesting, we see the signs all around us!
I sincerely hope that those who travel will do it safely and be very alert regarding you safety!
Thank you for the lovely letters and photos are always welcome
Warm regards from us in Cranleymore
Barry and Christina
Good day to you all, Family and friends,
In most places that I know of, the temperature drops at night but not in Ireland here the temperature rises during the night. You go to bed pretty cold and get up the next morning wondering why you were getting rid of the duvet several time during the night, just to find out that the temperature has risen at least 6 degrees! Therefore we experience after a freezing week of -4 to 0° a wonderfully mild day slightly wet, 7° a few moment ago -only a drizzle now and again nothing much- thick cloud that prevents the sun from bringing us light and brightness which was such a wonderful part of the freezing weather, we are never happy, are we?! Moan, moan, and moan, ah, it is not really moaning it is just missing the sun which sits high in the heavens now a days and shine with such brilliance that it dazzles you!
Plant growth has suffered as in Exeter, a great deal – Our daffodils in bloom have an extra-ordinary ability to pick them- selves up from the ground after being frozen stiff as soon as the sun shines on them I wish I was a photographer to capture this amazing event in slow motion!
The roses were pruned – I did that on the 1st as per gardening advice- we are trying to cover the wall and every year I cut them back well and proper but this year I had a much gentler approach and we hope that was enough to stimulate growth.
The winter garden have onions in and the rhubarb has also made a come- back after a transplant – the Brussels sprouts developed very late and what- ever the reason there were some of them more like miniature lettuce leaves they did not form a core and although tasty was a bit of a mishap. We did eat most of it –rather I ate most of it as Barry thought they looked too odd!
I am still off work and feel very guilty- unfortunately there are no facilities for work injury -to go on light duty and still be of some value to your company while not 100% well and therefore I am in my 4th week of convalescence with Physio once a week and home exercises to strengthen the muscle and repair the tear! I get regular updates from my friends Deirdre (works with me night duty) and Karen (a theatre nurse) about the situation of short staff and critical care –but I do miss the work itself – I know while doing it you feel it is not safe and unwise but I still miss it! Barry is a wonderful carer and after a good lecture he now allows me to do some things.
On the political front our Taoiseach made foolish remarks about the people of Ireland and was ridiculed well for doing so- The disastrous pay outs by Social Welfare is out of this world. We only heard during the week that families get Communion pay-out for their children having First Communion, they go absolutely mad in this country the girls are dressed as if they are getting married and arrive at the church in horse drawn carriages or white limousines, they receive enormous amounts of money from friends and relatives- have a big party afterwards and hardly ever go back to church there-after. We are in the deepest of financial mess and the Government when said they are going to cut this allowance were nearly crucified!
There will be an exodus of over 7,000 workers during the next month – an offer was made to civil servants which includes nurses, garda and other dept to go on early retirement and they will receive their full pension and will not be taxed on it- if you stay, your pension will be cut in different ways and it will be taxable in future- so- the brain drain has started at a tremendous cost to the government in the mean time over 2000 new immigrants received their citizenship yesterday and the day before- Good for them, I am really happy for them but in the mean time there is no work over 460,000 on welfare allowance and young people are struggling -with degrees , leaving the country- please do not understand me wrongly I am also one of those who are now an Irish citizen and I hope that those who are waiting will be rewarded soon with their papers- they on the other hand are those who are working very hard, paying taxes and provide for their children themselves and is not a drain on the resources but so many are provided with every possible means to live while other struggle, this is only my opinion- eat me up alive but deep in our hearts we know it is true – I just wonder how many of those who received their citizenship are tax payers? I hope and pray that they all are!
The health system is at cross roads and what is going to happen with 3000 nurses leaving?– and this is only the beginning of a country wide disaster.
Away from morbid thoughts and back to reality. Thank you Haya for the lovely photos of young Cobus He looks lovely! We will not divulge how it came about that the photos were eventually posted! The wonderful news from Australia, still in the very early stages, is great! It also means that we are all getting older and the years are starting to count.
Nine (mother, grandmother and great grandmother) is having her Birthday tomorrow and we pray and hope that her year will be healthy and with as little pain as possible! Enjoy the day!
Kathleen Cooper is having her Birthday on the 8th and so is Belinda in Jhb.
Hope sincerely that your days will be wonderful and the year blessed.
We are also hoping that Werner is getting better and that the fever he developed has been dealt with.
Tomorrow, as you all know by now, are the best day of my week and I am on organ duty all Hymns well practiced and we are ready for once again a good message! We are- God Willing- going to have another Hymn Service at the end of April, 29th, so all our SA friends from Mullingar and everywhere else mark that day to visit Corboy Presbyterian church for heavenly singing and praise!
Our grandson Lukas is our joy and delight and we will have him and parents visiting us in 2 weeks time and we cannot wait! He is as clever as you can find and very cute! He has never lost his loveliness and wonderful nature and is a charmer out and out!
Our wild animals have been here frequently during the cold weather and the birds multiplied in numbers when it is so cold- their feeding days are coming to an end as they will soon start nesting, we see the signs all around us!
I sincerely hope that those who travel will do it safely and be very alert regarding you safety!
Thank you for the lovely letters and photos are always welcome
Warm regards from us in Cranleymore
Barry and Christina
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