Wet Greetings

Saturday 11 May 2013 Good day to you all, family and friends, Just to make sure that recipients of this letter understand that they are in no way obliged to read it! The weather is most atrocious and very disappointing we are nearly halfway through May and we are still in the terrible grip of winter-some days it is colder than what it was in mid winter. Temperatures are hovering around 9-11° with strong winds, rain, hale ,sleet and I think the sun is also getting fed-up because it just breaks through the clouds to be overshadowed by ominous dark boulders of approaching clouds. I drove underneath the rainbow- if that is at all possible-but last night you could very clearly see where the prism starts and of course as you near it, it disappears but still, as I looked back- it was behind me! Magical moments! All my little plants orchids and alike were taken outside when the work in the TV room started as the old porch was my dedicated hot-house, so were all the big windowsills At present I do not have the courage to go outside and check what is left of them after the hail storm we had earlier in the day- I was asleep and did not know about it but according to reports it was B A D! My poor orange seedlings which I took care of for a whole year was burnt by the frost 10 days ago but the apple seedlings stood firm and strong next to them! Great was my joy when I discovered that one of my grape pips started to grow and it is so amazing to see the handiwork of God in nature! The weeding has been done and the garden looks quite empty without all the lush growth of the weeds- the slugs are hard at work and when we go shopping again we will have to invest into some cheap beer as a treat for the slugs! All the roses are growing after I became quite desperate- I did severe pruning in Feb + the long winter – they took their time to come to life! Thank you to all who answer my letter and those who so diligently and wonderfully share their experiences with me! On the political front we are waiting for Bus Eiran, the Garda en the nurses to make up their minds on strike action this coming week! Here it works exactly like those who have will have more and those who have little that will be taken from them! It if you an artist , in the performing arts, or just plain rich because you own hundreds of racing horses or you are a head of the bank – you are not to be touched! We idiots who are working and paying the taxes of this country and who are in desperate need themselves are pushed to the outer limits of endurance- 6 farmers committed suicide during the last month! Nothing is ever said about these tragic events and those are just farmers – who know what is going on else-where? The feeding programme for the desperate cattle farmers has a vicious circle –they have to contact the RSPCA to avail of the fodder coming from oversees for the cattle but as soon as they contact the RSPCA they go and investigate why you need it and may confiscate your cattle if they have been starving- there- for the farmers refrain from trying to get the fodder in case they lose their livelihood! Admitting that the fields are starting to look good and there are leaves on all the trees this week- there has been no growth and the farmers cannot cut the grass or even send the cattle into the fields because of overgrazing! Now the news that our newest grandchild is on the move – but is taking its time Amanda went to the hospital this morning just to be send back home and enjoy some more hours of waiting, but we hope that it will be over sooner than later! I have no birthdays in my calendar and wish every-one who needs a bit of love and tender care God’s blessing upon them! I am in the pew tomorrow which is a bonus because I was supposed to be in bed! Look forward to another good and nourishing soul-food sermon and great singing! I think of those who are not well, who are receiving treatment and we think of Hennie Redelinghuys and pray that the Lord will be with him every hour as well as with his family. I hope that you will all have a wonderful weekend filled with the nearness of our heavenly Father and experience all His goodness. Be careful in all you do, at home and on the roads. Wet greetings mixed with all sorts Barry & Christina