Warm spring greetings from Cranleymore

Sunday 25th March’12

GOOD DAY TO ALL, FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

It is with a song in my heart that I am writing this letter today-the temperature is 19°, bright, wonderful sunshine, a slight breeze and some streaky clouds so high that you have to squint to look at them, it is just the best day we have had since 2012 commenced.
We are also just back from a drive in the country- we actually wanted to walk but Barry’s foot is too painful with the furuncle that just not want to let go- I blame his wellies for it but he refuse to buy new ones – and so we decided to go for a country drive and it was out of this world –we went 1st to Roosky and from there onto Strokestown but with a detour through a valley and a lovely lake, sloping hills and green- green vegetation every- where. It just makes you realize how wonderful creation is, to me, all the work of the Lord’s hands, majestic!
Driving into the driveway I have to get used to the new image, the pots are gone, the donkey cart is behind the shed and in its place are magnificent flower beds. A total metamorphoses that took place.
Nearly 20 ton of topsoil had been wheel-barrowed into these new beds and to contain them 10 railway sleepers have been placed as curbing stones. Hard work and we had the old ?Romanian guy here with a helper for 2 day and Barry as pilot of the scheme shouting every now and again “nee,nee,nee” as if they would understand-only by the movement of his head they in the end understood it means “no” . By Thursday evening the beds were ready for planting .On Friday we ventured just after 10am to our favourite garden centre to by the basic ingredients for this massive project. A couple of €100 later the car loaded, we departed with great excitement. The transformation started immediately and all the creepers were planted according to instructions .The rambling roses have been transplanted from the barrels to one of the new beds and the Clematis x3 with a root system that would uphold the world, into their respective places. Shrubs will be going into the ground tomorrow God willing and also the sweet peas in between the roses. I cannot wait for tomorrow morning when I can plant and admire!
For those who read my last letter ,the lawn mower that was taken out of its box ,good looking as it is, was just not able for the job and will now become the proud property of Finbarr in Dublin-their lawn is 1;50th of ours and will do the job well! The old lawn mower gave notice but Barry –thinking he is more BOER than Irish made a plan and fixed it- by replacing the cable that broke with a wire and a little bit of ingenuity the mower was going full speed and the grass was cut in no time. Knowing that this is only temporary we realised that a new lawn mower will have to be purchased for the coming summer as we have to cut the grass every week for the next 7-8 months.
Our friend knew that the new L M was not up to the job and notified us on Friday afternoon about a sale at Home Base and the wonderful privilege she has of an enormous discount for employees and their families. Being nearly family we could purchase the correct machine with a mighty engine that should last us the rest of our lives as we will not use it for the bottom field like we did with the old one. So in the garage behind a locked door is now the new lawn mower to be opened as well, tomorrow morning!

We are listening to Songs of Praise –Gospel singer Mavis Staples- they were singing together as a family since 1960. It is different but in its own way very lovely, so full of meaning.
Apart from the garden which has at present taken over our lives we continue to live our quiet lives, I work, not always knowing when, days or nights. I was to start my day duty on Tuesday but Barry’s words were not cold-saying “Mama I tell you they are going to call you to do nights sooner than you think” and the phone rang shortly afterwards-so I am doing them a favour working still this coming week nights- then according to the duty roster I will start the following Tuesday with day duty! For this week I am quite delighted to do them this favour.
Our country has made the headlines again with the report from the Moriarty Tribunal costing in the region of nearly €400million, which sat for over a decade to un-raffle the doings of post and then present politicians. Corrupt is too good a word for their dealings, bribery and handing over of brown envelopes on so many aspects of planning, collecting monies for political parties and underhand dealings- too many to mention. Our 2nd last Prime minister Bertie A’Hern promised to resign before he gets expelled from the then ruling party Feine Fail to safe his reputation, he claims.
Our Taoiseach is in China getting into the Chinese pockets –we can just pray that he knows what he is doing. His first visit to China- his eyes nearly popped out in amazement. It is all in the hope of strengthening business relationships!
On the other hand the people are seriously planning not to pay the house tax that has been introduced and of the 1.4 million house owners in the country only 20% has paid. Demonstrations has been held all round the country while the Min for Environmental Affairs shows no mercy and the fact that it is totally unfair makes no difference.
Every one- does not matter what your house looks like an amount of €100 has to be paid before 31 March otherwise you face a penalty payment accumulating every month the monies that are outstanding. There has been so many glitzes’ with the method of payments and errors I am sure that the Chimpanzees in the Congo basin would be able to have done a better job! I am sure I am not suppose to criticize the doing of the government but every-one claims that it is democracy to be able to say what you think.
Today was, as always the very best day of the week for me and the sermon was excellent. What are we a privileged 12 people! I was on organ duty and enjoyed playing the hymns chosen as it was all well known and playable according to me!
We are thinking of all the people that are not well, those who were fortunate enough to be treated and are feeling better-Adelbert, his brother Werner and those that are waiting for verdicts Hanlie and Haya as well as those who will be undergoing important procedures this coming week Brandon Pienaar are to have a ?3rd attempt of ablation-having had it myself I have a good idea what it entails without problems but Brandon is special and his heart has a different tilt to other people and it is very difficult to do what needs to be done. We pray sincerely that it will - God willing be a success this time and that he will be smiling at the end of it!
Nicholas in Cork is waiting for his date for brain surgery and we think of him and his mom Sharon and the rest of the family awaiting this procedure.
There are students old and young who are studying for exams, others waiting to leave on holiday and others who will stay home satisfied with their lot. To all of you success and safe journeys!
We have not seen our grandson Lukas since their last visit but his parents are very good in forwarding photos regularly and he is really growing up far too fast!
The visiting animals are a delight Blackie allowed me to take a picture of him as well the robin has 3 eggs in the nest and the black bird sings every evening at the same time- we moved on a hour at 1am this morning and I wonder if the birds will know that the sun is now going down an hour later than yesterday- wonderful long evenings!
Welcome also to those who arrived today Gert and Cilna, Gert being a doctor who is going to work in Ireland for some weeks.
I have said more than enough and hope that you will all remember that safety is a priority at home and elsewhere for example the roads, especially over holidays.
Warm regards from a most pleasant spring experience in Cranleymore
Barry and Christina