Desperate greetings.......

26 May 2013 Sunday Good day to all family and friends, I first read all the correspondence- I worked most of the week and had little chance to get updated! The weather is like a teenager, totally unpredictable, there are no instructions included and you honestly have to improvise as far as you are exposed! As with Gerlof in England, here it has been the most awkward spring ever recorded and I think the weather prophets have been silenced by the events, we may experience a good day now and then and by that I mean that you can go outside and may be have time to have your cup of tea outside before the hail comes down or dodge the freezing winds. The Tornado in Oklahoma and the snow in Scotland and in Italy and strong winds in Australia predicts severe changes for the future. We still wear all our winter clothes. Flannel sheets and sitting under blankets at evening time! Some trees that usually are known for their flowers went straight into leaves and no flowers at all, the Cherry blossom is now in full flower nearly 2 months late! There are very few bees around and I fear that we will have no or very little fruit. I enjoyed all the letters it is great to hear about the Ouma’s and Oupa’s around the world and their grandchildren, what a wonderful gift they are! We were very privileged to spend last Sunday afternoon and early evening with our newest addition Eli, the spitting image of his father and older brother , a wonderfully well behaved baby, he stole our hearts and now we have divided hearts between our 2 grandsons!. Eli seems to be born wise and at this stage he follows you and has a sweat little grin on his face, as if he takes great pleasure in being here on earth and loves the attention dearly! Lukas took to his brother like he took to his JCB front loader with great enthusiasm and interest! Today ,the best day of the week for me was again a wonderful experience as Stephen our Church Minister is continuing with the wonder of the ‘cloud’ and the representation of God within the cloud! From Genesis to Revelations. I sat in front of the organ and enjoyed it thoroughly. Hymns speaking to your soul! Last Sunday was Children Service and brilliant, the two congregations had a combined service and the church was so much richer for the many souls congregated in it! At work we were busy after a frightening period of quietness, few procedures and many cancelled working hours. My retirement date is nearing fast and although I requested to stay on –it might never materialize as all ‘bank’ staff has been cancelled. I do not have enough ‘stamps’ for contributory pension as I have to work a full 10 years to qualify and if I leave in August I WILL BE SHORT 8 MONTHS. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE a MEETING WITH THE PENSION PEOPLE IN Citizen’s Information to hear what I have to do and how the whole retirement thing works; maybe I can buy ‘stamps’ to cover me! Our wildlife is in the process of feeding their young, how the fledglings sit and wait giving a special cry for the parents to feed them-sadly many of the young animals have no road sense and this morning there were three little rabbits dead in the road as well as a pheasant. We have 4 swallows that have started to fix up the nests in the donkey house, and we are ever so glad to have any, as many died because of the prolonged cold spell in the north. We planted 18 Lupines avoiding flowers that the slugs love- although in great lack of knowledge we got hold of some beer to drown the lot! The tulips have been the best we have ever had and the Rhododendrons the two who is still alive –looks wonderful! My seeds I planted have all been stunned by the icy nights. To all who are studying- have a good time, those who will meet in Holland have a safe journey, those in SA visiting, enjoy! The children going places to bring joy to grandparents with their off-spring, may you all have a blessed time. We think of those who are not well Hennie, Brandon and Nanette, any-one in constant pain and discomfort- endure bravely and rejoice! Birthdays: Gerhardus in Roodepoort had his birthday yesterday and I am late ! Hope your day was extra blessed! The events in England with the horrific attack on a soldiers saddens me greatly and I cannot help to wonder if the Lord is not speaking to the Governments to bring their soldiers out of the countries where they are being used to kill and be killed it is so unnecessary! Thank you to all who so wonderfully shared some of their daily lives with us- it is great to hear and we rejoice with you in the good things and you have our prayers when things are not going so well! I greet you each and every-one with some hope that one day we will get a bit warmer and that there will be summer in store for us! Take care, watch out, keep safety at home and on the road, your priority! Barry and Christina