Autumn greetings from Cranleymore

26 August ’12 Sunday Good day to all, family and friends, This morning we had our first experience of autumn with temperatures below 10°. It did warm up to 18° later in the day but we were well and truly reminded that our summer was just an illusion. The days we had good weather does not include all our fingers and since the rain meter has been installed we have had more than 100mm rain in 4 weeks. In fact it has been fairly dry the last 48 hrs. Last night we had another slug suicide session and the advice that I receive from Liza some weeks ago has been put into practice. My dear friend, Marthie Potgieter, realizing that Barry is definitely not going to buy the beer we need for the experiment; she gave me 2 tins of bear as part present for my birthday. That same night we put things into practice and have a photo to proof it, 20 slugs per saucer x 5 suicide on a large scale. The unpleasant devouring creatures for which I have a true revulsion, love beer and drink themselves into a stupor and drown! Cilna we do not have to pick them by hand anymore! After a strole through the garden before a nippy wind send us inside we inspected everything in detail. The tomatoes are starting to colour and there are many hanging on the tomato trees. We will have a few grapes with a bit of sunshine to ripen them. The few apples left, as 3 fell during the last week, looks good. We are still eating potatoes from the garden and tomorrow if the weather permits we will harvest some peas. The carrots are not very big but most delicious. The roses are going down fast but I will cut out drastically tomorrow in the hope there will be another spurt of growth. The nasturtiums planted from seed I gathered have overshadowed every plant bought in the garden centre and I am very proud! Our animal life consisting of hundreds of birds, 2 grey collard doves, Blackie the cat and the foxes as well as those we do not always see give us continuous joy and great entertainment. The swallows are now 2 weeks old –a late hatch and we hope they are going to be ok –there is still a long road ahead before they can even think of taking the air streams to Africa. Today, as always the best day of my week. After last week’s disappointing sermon , I should not criticize, but all meant well but he lost track of the critical point and lost track of time –we could not even sing our last Hymn as he has to rush on to Mullingar. Today we were so privilege to have an inspiring sermon, excellent food for our souls and great enthusiasm to praise the Lord with word and song! I worked last night, gave over report and left in good time to be able to attend the service. The attendance was good and the noisy children were not there-everyone could hear every word! Great were the thanks he received greeting the members at the door! We sang with the roof lifting, praising the Lord. At work things were difficult, I was called in to do a day shift on Tuesday which was more than a torture session. I was so tired I could not walk from the car to the front door, every joint was aching and every muscle in spasm! Why do I say yes to these special favours- every time I say I will not do it again, but when the call comes, I always yes. Stupid, I know! I also completed 3 nights with the ward filled to capacity each night. This week ahead I will have my other week of leave which were cancelled as it was going to be a heavy week and it was. Finbarr Amanda and Lukas were in Sicilia and returned on Monday evening and he has been working since! We had hoped to see them this weekend or maybe next weekend but that fell in a wave and was shattered against the rocks and now we will hope for a future date to see the little man in our lives as well as his parents. It started raining and the weather report for tomorrow is not good. We had hoped to make a few day trips but ...it does not seems if it will materialise. The schools are due to open Wednesday and all will return to normal. Birthdays: Martie Redelinhuys is a year older this day, Happy birthday! I have no other names in my book for August but on the 1st it is Barend Bornman’s birthday, 2nd Sept Leané Eloff in Roodepoort will turn 7yrs old. Happy birthday 5th Sept we remember Maryke- and Michael Knight will be a year older.. Cobus van Marle’s birthday is on the 6th and Nanette and Brandon Pienaar will be having their Birthday on the 8th Many happy returns! If there is some-one having a birthday and I have omitted to mention you it is because I do not know about it! Have a lovely day in any case! I have been working so much that I lost track of the doing of the politici but you can be sure that the action will commence very soon. The Paralympics will start and we hope it will go as smoothly with them as the other Olympics. Thank you to all for the lovely messages and letters I received on Monday. I had a wonderful day and felt very special! We have been watching with interest the Marikana Mines disaster and the follow-up. SA was continually in the head lines all over Euro news. Hope sincerely that those who were visiting SA and are on their way home will have a safe journey and those that are still on safari that they will enjoy a very enjoyable time. Remember that safety on the roads and at home is of utmost importance! I greet you all from a Cranleymore where Autumn has arrived.! Barry and Christina

Heerlike warm groete vanuit Cranleymore

18 Augustus ‘12 Goeie dag aan almal, familie en vriende, Ons beleef ‘n 2de week van somer, natuurlik reën dit gereeld en gedurende die laaste 2 weke het ons 40mm reën gehad. Die temperature was meestal tussen 13-15 soggens en ‘n paar dae het die temperatuur tot 23 gestyg en ons vergaan van die hitte! Die sweet drup behoortlik van jou af en snags het ek ‘n handdoek om my nek om gereeld my gesig aftevee want vanweë my ouderdom werk die hormone nie meer so goed nie en instede van warm gloede hardloop die water in strome van my kop af, dit is nie baie lekker as jy op ‘n pasient se arm drup nie en dan om verskoning te vra nie. My ouderdom daar gelaat,ek moet lag vir die feit dat julle bibber as dit 13 grade is en ons loop dan buite rond met ‘n onder hempie en kortbroek en flipflops! Heerlik! As die grade bo 18 is kry ons baie swaar! Almal blaas en swoeg van die hitte! Ek het geskryf van ons baba krimpvarkie wat verdwyn het en ons vrese was bewaarheid toe ons die ou klein diertjie se oorblyfsels in die onderveld gekry het waar die ‘magpie’ korte miete van hom gemaak het. My hart was baie seer en het ook weereens besef hoe wreed die natuur kan wees. Blackie lyk heelwat beter en is die prins van die wilde diere wat besoek by ons aflê. As hy arriveer spring ons om hom kos te gee en hy kry net die beste,glo my!Die voëltjies in hul 100de leef ‘n koningslewe met saad en grondboontjies as voedsel byvoeding. Die jakkalsies blink en is steeds baie sku-kan die geringste beweging agter die glas raaksien en hardloop teen groot spoed die veld in om dan later weer terug tekom! Die tuin en die beslommernis van die huislose slakke –baie ongure kreature en gladnie aanbevelinswaardig vir proteien inname nie- vreet alles op, ongelooflik, ons was op ‘n moord tog vanmiddag en het elke blom en pot omgekeer en seker 20 dood gemaak maar kom die nag, kruip hulle uit die grond en verorber alles-enige nuwe groei word summier opgevreet. Ek is jammer maar ek hou nie van die ellendige goed nie. Ek het al my nat sout, pakkies en in houers om die plante leeg gemaak –net om dan in die nag weggereen te word! 3 Appels het geval in die stormwinde van verlede week en die 1 peer sit nog, wonderbaarlik. Die tamatie boom het baie tamaties aan en ons hoop daar is genoeg hitte oor om die tamaties te laat ryp word. Ons eet gereeld groente uit ons tuin. Aartappels, wortels en uie. Die ertjies begin nou lyf kry en een van die dae sal ons ook ons eie ertjies kan eet. Die swartvoel’blackbird’ het elke appelliefie opgevreet- die enigste ding wat hoog en gesond staan is my rubarber. Op ‘n eiland wat water in oorvloed het is daar ongelukkig geen sorg beskikbaar om seker te maak dat ons goeie drinkwater het nie- Daar is altyd iewers ‘n plek op die eiland waar mense gewaarsku word om water te kook en soms help dit nie eers nie-die kwaliteit van die water is so swak dat jy dit nie eers gekook mag drink nie! Sedert ons hier woon het ons nog nooit water uit die kraan gedrink nie en ander water word altyd gekook. Ons koop water om te drink, altyd! Die einde van die 3 maande skool vakansie is byna op ‘n einde en skole begin die 30 Aug. Die matriek ‘Leaving Cert’ uitslae is uit en die dogters het die seuns uitgestof –gelukkig is daar darem nog slim kinders op aarde – 10 of meer het 9 A1’s gekry! Enigiemand wat ‘n A vir die Ierse taal kry moet ‘n wonderwerk wees. Dit is seker die moeilikste taal opgemaak deur mense wat nie geweet het wat om te se nie- voor die Vikings en toe ‘n konglommerasie van letter bymekaar gegoei het en dit Iers genoem Dit maak geen sin nie en om dit uittespreek is byna onmoontlik. Nou net op die nuus gehoor dat jy selfs nie in die see mag swem nie wat die see water is besoedel met E Coli! Dit is nou aan die kus van Cork, 3de wêreld is ‘n mooi plek! Aan die anderkant kant leef ons nog 100% veiliger as ander op aarde. Die dood van mense wat in die see verdrink is baie erg-5 in 3 dae se tyd en natuurlik ongelukke op die paaie is oneindig hoog! Ons leef ‘n baie veilige lewe en ons is erg dankbaar daarvoor, ons lees op die rekenaar nuus van die moorde en ons harte bloei vir die mense wat agter bly! Ons weet ook dat die wat daar woon nie so bewus is van wat in die land aangaan as die wat daar buite bly nie- ons lees ook mooi nuus as dit verskyn! Huidiglik maak SA se myn opstande en die polisie wat die myn werkers doodgeskiet hoof opskrifte ooral op die nuus en in elke koerant! Mamela se toespraak was byna in sy totaal op CNN en BBc uitgesaai! By die werk, werk ons teen ‘n geweldige spoed en onder geweldige druk- temin personeel en onmoontlike omstandighede en soos ons altyd verwag het, het die ellende toegeslaan toe een van ons ‘respite ‘ pasiente Woensdagnag geval het en haar heup gebreek het en terselfdertyd ‘n pasient wat aan dimensia ly op soek geraak het! Die narkotiseur vir die Oor-neus-en-keel gevalle het nie genoeg anti -naar medikasie in teater gegee nie en 14 kinders en groot mense het gebraak- dit was C H A O S!!!! Elke stukkie van my was getoets gedurende daardie nag. Nou ja die politici hou nog vakansie en ons vrees hulle terugkeer,want ons weet nie of hulle aldag weet wat hulle doen nie! Die Olimpiese Spele is oor en veby en ons raak nou weer gewoond aan die normale programme op die TV. Die Para Olimpiese Spele kom 29ste aan die beurt. Die egpaar moet teen hierdie tyd reeds getroud wees en ek hoop dat dit ‘n pragtige dag vir hulle was en vir almal wat dit met hulle gedeel het. Veels geluk aan Pauli en Mader. Verjaardae, Nicholas and Christopher in Cork verjaar 19e, SJP Kruger in Australie verjaar die 20ste en Rachelle Josling die 24ste. Veels geluk aan almal Mag die jaar ‘n goeie een wees en al jul drome bewaarheid word! Môre is die beste dag van my week en dit is my beurt om die orrel te speel en die keer is ek nie moeg nie en hoop dat my oë my nie weer in die steek sal laat nie. Dit is seker een van die vreeslikste dinge vir my om daar te sit en niks te kan sien nie net wit en swart stepe vir note en al die note op die bladsy onleesbaar! Die oogkundiges het opgegee-ek moet daarmee saam leef. Die prediker is steeds elke Sondag ‘n verrassing, ons eie predikant is aan die beter word en ons hoop en bid dat hy eersdaags sy herderskap sal kan hervat! Baie dankie aan alaml wat gereeld van hulle laat hoor! Dit is heerlik om die briefies te lees! Hiermee dan ons warm groete vanuit Cranleymore waar my wasgoed nou vir die laaste 2 weke op die draad droog geword het!. Wees tog altyd versigtig op die paaie en tuis! Barry en Christina

Warm greetings from Cranleymore

Sunday 12 Augustus’12 Good day to family and friends, We experienced the long awaited summer since Tuesday the week gone by. Wonderful sunshine, temperatures to cause severe perspiration. 25° Most days – today it rained for the first time in 7 days and that is a record. 25° equals about 36° in SA ! July was the coldest in Decades!!! The Olympics is nearing the last hours and although it was fantastic I have had enough! Great disappointment about the 800m for women last night-I could not see it but Barry looked! I worked last night, rushed home this morning, changed and went off to church immediately and were privilege that our minister’s father was the preacher for today! I was very tired but it was my turn to play the organ as Joy thought they might be away but in the end did not go. I have a condition where when tired my focus is delayed and during the service I sit in the pew next to Barry writing down the service and move during the last prayer back to the organ. Disaster struck when I realised that I could not see the notes – because you do not expect it, the confusion causes me to play nearly by feeling as the key board becomes blurry as well! Only at verse 3 my sight improved and the last verse all the notes were correct! It is the most terrible sensation when you look at the book and back to the keyboard and you see nothing, the eye specialists can do nothing for the condition but it is very embarrassing and frustrates me greatly – I will have to refrain from playing the organ when I have worked the night before! The garden does not look too bad and has been photographed by Cilna from corner to corner. Some SA friends had coffee with us on Wednesday( invitations went out but few responded because of previous engagements) and although we were few it turned out to be very pleasant with 50 protection screen we enjoyed the refreshment in the garden! Dr Gert Maritz, Cilna’s husband joined us and it was lovely! They are from Memel. At work there has been a surge in theatre cases and my leave for the week of the 20 August has been postpone I sincerely hope that I will get it back before the end of our delayed summer. The snow in SA has really been an experienced- with us something quite normal! When the snow lasts for weeks on end the fun disappears from it, hope it stays a novelty and not a burden. On the political front all is quiet- we expect an eruption as soon as this lot return from their summer vacation-which is nearing an end. The financial state of the country is in a state of total disarray and the fear the Budget in 4 months time! The good news of Baby Christiaan is wonderful and we thank the Lord for every little bit of improvement! We wish the Ohlmesdal couple who are on their way to Canada a good experience for the next 2 years. We had a baby hedgehog with us since Sunday last but on Tuesday evening I fear the magpies must have picked him up as we have not seen the beautiful little animal again, had a chance to take some lovely photos though but feel very sad for its disappearance. The vegetable garden provides us with potatoes, carrots and onions, the apples, 11 of them are still on the tree and the 1 pear still hangs. The grapes are filling out and we might just be able to tastes a grape in a few months time before the cold comes! The tomatoes are coming on as well The snails persists and in spite of their protein value as, I was so politely been informed, they do not look very appetising as they have no shells, are very slimy and rather dark and unfriendly. They devoured nearly every dahlia in the garden of which there were quite a few originally. Birthdays. Yesterday the 11th was Marjorie’s happy day and today it is Gerhard from Frik and Elmaie- Happy birthday to them! Next Saturday the wedding of Pauli and Mader is taking place and our best wishes to them! Thank you to those who regularly let us know how they are, there are a few people on my address list that has been very quiet lately, I hope they are keeping well! I GREET YE ALL WITH A WARM HEART FROM A WARM CRANLEYMORE! TAKE CARE on the roads and at home. Barry and Christina

Groete vanuit 'n deurmekaar Cranleymore

Sondag 5 Augustus’12 Goeie dag aan almal tuis en met vakansie, Finbarr het my ‘wireless’ ingestel en ek kan ongestoord nou op my skoot die briefie skryf en stuur. Die weer is gevaarlik verkeerd- die koudste Julie in dekades. Dit reen nog steeds-so nou en dan is daar ‘n breek in die wolke en die son maak ‘n verskyning en ‘n mens is so honger vir die son dat jy elke druppel indrink soos iemand wat by ‘n oases in die woestyn kom! Ek dink die weer buro het ‘n klap van die windmeule weg want hulle kan nie die weer voorspelling reg kry nie- Haas Das se weervoorspelling is werklik hier van toepassing! Ons eet en leef Olimpiese spele en ek moet sê, ons harte bars van trots elke keer as ‘n SAfrikaner ‘n medalje kry- was doods benoud dat Chad se pa ‘n hartaanval gaan kry! Die Iere het nie genoeg disipline om iewers te kom en dit met respek gesê- deursettingsvermoeë is skaars! Usain Bolt is ‘n buitegewone atleet en hy vlieg deur die lug so gemaklik as wat kan kom. Nou het ons gister ons eerste 2 knie vervangings gehad- vir ons as ‘n klein privaat hospitaaltjie ‘n groot prestasie, die ortopeet, die teater personeel en natuurlik die splinternuwe ‘clean air laminaflow’ teater. Die heup vervanging is al reeds ou nuus! Vir ons as verpleeg personeel uiteraard ‘n uitdading en soos met die heup vervanging was dit weer my beskore om te werk die nag na die operasies! Tuinwaarts – die ellendige slakke –dis nou nie dat ek die werk van ons liewe Vader wil kritiseer nie maar ek kan met die beste wil in die wêreld , nie ‘n goeie rede vind vir hulle bestaan nie. Hulle verwoes alles maar alles! Onderdood wil Barry nie bier koop om in pierinkies uittesit en hulle te laat verdrink nie-dus hou hulle elke nag ‘n fees in my tuin. Ons eet nou gereeld uit die groente tuin aartappels, uie, wortels en rubarber. Die voëls verorber al die appeliefies en ek glo nie ek gaan kans kry om hulle eens te pluk nie. Daar sit een misrable peer aan die boom en 11 appels aan die ander boom, ons is so teleurgesteld-het regtig gehoop dat ons die jaar bietjie vrugte gaan pluk maar helaas begin ek glo dat ons maar die goed moet koop! Die enigste ding wat goed gaan is my pit plantery- maak nie saak wat ek in die grond druk nie, 6 weke later kom die plantjie deur die grond! Pomelos, lemoene en naartjies. My orgideë, gegroei van stiggies begin nou blom en is ‘n mooi gesig!.Die rose hou nog koers en lyk redelik ten spyte van die baie reen. Blackie kom ander oggend vir sy ontbyt en terwyl hy aan sy Whiskas smul en ons hou hom dop om te sien of hy begin beter lyk, kyk hy skielik op, ons volg die rigting waarin hy staar.Skielik hardloop die kat na die heining en Barry wat in die rigting gestaar het sien die beweging en roep die kat terug die kat verwilderd, stop sy aantog en gee ons die kans om die krimpvarkie raak te sien en te beskerm , nie dat hy homself kan beskerm nie maar omdat ons hom nog nooit so naby kon sien nie- die pratige diertjie was besig om vir wurms te grawe en het nie eers besef dat ons daar is nie- teen die tyd dat ek terug is met die kamera is hy in ‘n bolletjie – ons het hom veilig onder ‘n bos geplaas en later gaan kyk en hy was weg,gisteraand toe ek werktoe ry kry Barry ‘n baba krimpvarkie by die hek- 2 gesien in 24 uur! Ek weet nie of krimpvarkie die regte benaming in Afr is vir ‘hedgehog’ nie? DIE ‘FOXIES’ blink in hul mooi jassies en verorber alles elke nag maak nie saak of dit droeë brood of bene is nie. Was kerk toe van môre en het gesing en nie gespeel nie-was moeg na die nag en die eerste gesang totaal onbekend –teen vers 3 het ek die wysie en toe gaan ons aan! Predikant van Belfast en ‘n wonderlike preek gelewer Ps 84- ‘n openbaring! Verjaardae: Die boekie is baie ver en ek het vanmôre vergeet om te kyk wie verjaar vandag – aan almal wat die volgende week ‘n jaar ouer gaan word-. Baie Geluk! Ons dink aan almal wat heerlik met vakansie is- aan die wat gereed maak om ‘n egpaar te word en die wat kinders gaan bykry! Mag die voorbereidings goed gaan! Die politici hou vakansie en is vir die oomblik rustig- Banana Republiek is ‘n mooi ding! Die Quinn saga gaan aan- sommige vir hulle en ander teen hulle, sal maar sien of die waarheid eendag na vore sal kom. Ek groet vanuit ‘n deurmekaar Cranleymore met die hoop dat die wat reis dit voorspoedig sal doen en die wat tuis bly altyd versigtig sal wees. Ons dink ook aan die wat nie gesond is nie en hoop dat hulle beter sal voel en dat babatjie Christiaan goed vorder Liefde groete Barry en Christina