Dark winter greetings

Sunday 28 October 13 Good day to all - family and friends, The wind is blowing –the clouds move over at great speed and every now and again it decides to empty its contents on us! It is not freezing yet but with the wind factor the 10° feel more like 3°! Weather warning for Wales and South England that winds can reach 70-100 mph! Most ferries have been cancelled and we expect bad weather tonight! We have nothing to complain about if you talk to Georg who came from 40° to -13 and snowing and wondering why he is not feeling the greatest?! We hope you acclimatize quickly Georg and hope the medication work well and that you will be able to handle a class on Tuesday! We are now 10 hrs behind Yakutsk! And 2 behind SA! Winter has arrived and we have to comply with its demands! The garden still looks lovely – for how long I do not know and the stupid tulips are all 2” above the ground already –I fear the frost that is still to come will burn then to bits! The gladiolas have finished flowering but the chrysanthemums are gorgeous! I had a bad week behind me with the computer and McAfee who is my Anti Virus provider but eventually got things sorted and on Thursday it called ‘HALT’ and there was no way that we could get it to move! Trouble shooting to such an extent that I now feel like a computer technician! I spoke nicely to the laptop and switched the lot off for 24 hrs! That helped and we were back on air on Friday morning before I left for coffee- Just imagine, I leave and Barry has no access to the news or antique affairs! Disaster- averted! It was a blessed Sunday, Joy played the organ and I was in the pew! Guest preacher and that was also a blessing Colossians 2:4- end of chapter! Looked at Ryan’s daughter for a while and switched over to BBC for the BIG SING! BRITIANS 10 MOST FAVOURITE HYMNS! This came from the Albert hall and was an uplifting experience! On Friday afternoon just before the phone rang- that in itself is strange as my phone seldom rings- The Hospital –am I available- as always – YES. It was very busy for the first time in months and when they are stuck they remembered my number. It was good to be back, the night flew and I enjoyed being back! The week also sped pass at great speed, it rained many a day but we had some sun as well - so much that I could nearly get the washing dry on the line! We are still suffering from aftershock debating and tearing apart the Budget! Unbelievable the chaos it brought to the island- it is great fun to look at the back flashes from when the current Government were in opposition and the promises they made then and how they went back on their word now! All I can say is’ Shame on them’ the question is now! Who are these people going to vote for next time? For the same lot who has infuriated them so? Sure my great grandfather voted for them, and my father voted for them and therefore I will vote for them! The cats are still both alive and a tremendous joy! The grandchildren are growing fast, getting cuter every day! Birthdays: Monique du Toit 31st, she is the only one in my book for the coming week! Happy Birthday to you young lady! Hanlie we hope that you will also be on the road to recovery after your operation. To all who is in recovery stage- we pray and hope all is going according to plan! Congratulations to the engagement couple, the new parents in Canada and naturally the first time grandparents and Great Ouma Nine! I did pay a visit to the orthopaedic surgeon and if he could I would already have had the knee replacement – he was discussed at the state of the knee and was amazed that I was still going! I think I am so used to the discomfort and have learnt how to cope with the knee and its instructions for use! The medical insurance has an issue with funds and I might have to go on the public waiting list as the cost is far above our reach, but we will wait and see! I was booked for 11th Nov but that will have to be postponed until funds have been secured! We are so excited as Hillie(Hildegard, daughter of Br Mendel and †Anke) coming to visit us on Sunday 10th! …and while I am writing the phone rings and it is Hildegard herself! Lovely to hear her voice! That brings me to the end of my letter and with the falling of the leaves and the brilliant display of colours we greet you, it is already night! Be careful, drive safely and be alert at all times! Barry & Christina

Nat herfs groete

19 Oktober’13 Goeie dag aan almal, familie en vriende, Gelukkig is dit nog nie regtig koud nie –net as die wind van die noorde waai sukkel ons bietjie maaqr die temperature is baie gematig en alhoewel dit die afgelope baie gereen het ,(sommer 27mm oornag, Dinsdag tot Woensdag) lyk alles nog goed. Ek het die laaste van my druiwe gepluk en ek het dit baie geniet! Die arme pere hang nog en ten spyte van al die groei onderdrukkings , begin hulle darem nou soos pere lyk! Die tuin is nog ‘n lushof en die kappertjies is orals teen die muur op en grondlangs- baie mooi- die krissante is ook nou is volle blom en vir my is dit baie spesiaal want Joy-by die kerk het hulle vir ons persent gegee!Die slakke was baie lief vir hulle en het die stingels tot op die grond afgevreet tot ons hulle verdrink het en toe kom die plante weer reg! Elke nou en dan kom daar nog ‘n swaardlelie uit en die ligpers tussen die rooi en wit van die begonias maak dit ‘n veelkleurige tapeserie! Barry het baie hard aan al die klein dingetjies gewerk in die huis hy het die insolasie(? Afrikaans?) bo in die plafon uitgelê om die hitte intehou! Die ergste was waar hy op sy maag moes rondkruip want die dak was te laag en hy met ‘n lang stok alles in die hoeke ingedruk moes kry! Ek wou hê hy moet ‘n masker dra maar hy het byna versmoor en ons moes die toe maar los. Daar is nou nog die ander helfte oor maar dit sal makliker gaan want hy kan darem redelik regop staan! Die katte is soos altyd ‘n groot vreugde- soggens kyk ek gou of albei nog daar is en as een nie op die vensterbank is nie –roep ek gou en tot groot verligting komdie ander een dan van iewers uit veld aangehardloop! Met die dat Spottie besoek gaan aflê het aan die veld oorkant die pad is ons nou maar baie benoud! Hulle is nog nie 6mnde oud nie en ons kan hulle eers op 6mnde laat regmaak- hopelik sal die gerondjakker dan tot ‘n einde kom! Hulle hardloop al agter ons aan en geniet ons daglikse rondte van die ‘estate’ hulle spring en hardloop klim en speel wegkruipertjie, te pragtig! Die groot swart kat het die pad gevat want die twee het hom seker mooi laat verstaan dat hulle nou baas op die plaas is! Die krimpvarkie is iewers maar ons kon hom nog nie opspoor nie! Ons kyk nou uit vir die fisante want dit is nou die tyd vir hulle om te begin rondloop! Ek wil byna nie eers dink aan die week wat verby is nie want Dinsdag was BEGRTING! Vir baie was dit die breek van die laaste strooitjie! Jare terug , om stemme te werf het die vorige regering die hemel en aarde aan die mense belowe- een van die dinge wat hier grootliks misbruik word is die Mediese kaart! Die kaart is aan mense oor 70 jr and vir mense met baie slegte diagnoses soos sistiese fibrose, motor neuron siekte ,genetiese afwykings en in sommige gevalle kanker gevalle gegee. Oor die jare het al hoe meer mense aansoek gedoen vir die mediese kaart al was hulle nie finansieel behoeftig nie en op die manier het die Gesondheids departement baie hoë onkostes gedra van mense wat behalwe goeie salarisse ontvang ook nog aan ‘n mediese assuransie skema behoort- 5 jr gelede wou die vorige regering die medies kaarte van die oor 70tigs wegneem en derduisende ou manse het by die parlement opgedaag en en hulle moes die plan laat vaar- Hierdie keer is dit weer die ou mense en die baie siek kinders wat geraak is- die mediese kaart wat onbeskryflik baie geld van die regering vereis moet nou opgeskort word in sekere gevalle en daarmee saam het die mense op medies kaarte ook vry medisyne ontvang van die staat- vir die afggelope 2 jaar betaal die medies kaart houers nou ‘n bedrag vir elke voorskrif 10 verskillende tablette op ‘n voorskrif kos nou iets soos €15 en die is nou opgestoot n €2.50 PER MEDIAKSIE- kinders onder 5 kry gratis huisdokter besoeke i.p.v net sekere mense wat dit werklik nodig het! Sommige van die ou mense kry net ‘n staatspensioen en leef regtig nie spandabelrig nie en hulle moet nou uit hulle klein pensioentjie soveel meer vir hul medisyne betaal. Die ou manse –bo 70 het ook bylaag gekry op telefoon en TV lisensie en die is nou geskraap! Toentertyd was al die dinge vir hulle gegee om stemme te kry en nou verbeur hulle dit – ek stem saam dat die hele Ierland erg verwen is – hulle kry tot ‘n begrafnis toelaag-die is ook geskraap! Die jongmense wat uit die skool kom gaan direk op die Dole of op werksoeker toelaag( ek is ook daarop omdat ek nie pensioen kry tot ek 66yr is nie- idiote besigheid- hoekom nie die aftree ouderdom verander na 66 of 70 toe nie en laat mense wat nog kan werk –werk – maar nee nou kos ek wat nog niks makeer nie –dank die Vader -nie meer werk nie en is nou ‘n las vir die staat) Hulle is veronderstel om opleiding te kry en dan in werkposisie geplaas te word wat net nie daar is nie en daarom het duisende onopgeleide en universiteit gegradueerdes reeds die land verlaat. Finbarr het in die afgelope 3 maande seker vir 40 onderhoude gegaan – of hy is te goed gekwalifiseerd en hulle kan hom nie betaal nie of hulle soek iemand wat ander kwalifikasies het – absoluut ‘n gekke spul! Die bevoorregte studente –waarvan die ouers dit kan bekostig gaan universiteit toe- of op eie onkoste of met beurse! Intussen wil die onderwysers nie meer Oueraande hou nie want hulle word kwansuis nie daarvoor betaal nie en die kinders kry nou dag af uit die skool sodat die onderwysers nou ouerdae kan hou gedurende skool ure! Klein Lukas en Eli het nou ‘n Aupaire want Amanda moet teruggaan werk toe en ‘n creche en kleuterskool kos veels te veel – sy woon in en dit beteken sy hoef nie so baie betaal te word nie! En die kinders is in goeie hande! Genoeg gekla oor die politieke toestand van die klein bevolkingtjie waar moord en doodslag aan die orde van die dag is- Om by iemand verby te ry en hom dood te skiet is niks-veral as jy met ‘drugs’ deurgrmekaar is. Ander maak dood omdat dit hulle behaag wat skrikwekkend is! Ons is dankbaar dat ons omtrent net die mense by die kerk ken en die S Afikaners – my ou kennise by die werk wat ek darem kan vertrou! Nou nie dat ons met verkeerde dinge deurmekaar is nie maar ...... Verjaardae! 20ste Marthie Potgieter, 24ste Erna(mevr Scholtz)! Veels geluk aan julle twee- enig iemand anders wat verjaar Lieflike dag aan julle almal! Maandag word Hanlie ge-opereer en ons dink baie spesiaal aan haar. Georg vertrek More Na die verre bibberde deel van die wêreld –alles van die beste vir jou! Aan almal wat aan die beter word is – Attie ons is dankbaar! Rina en Wessel Herbst-dankbaar om te hoor dat dit beter gaan met julle twee. Arnolda en Garth – hoop die pak en berging gaan vlot en dat julle ‘n goeie trek sal hê. Baie dankie ook aan almal wat sulke lekker briewe vir ons geskryf het – vir al die fotos- julle sal nooit weet wat dit vir ons beteken nie! Ons dink ook aan Sue en haar sang prestasies! Baie trots op jou Sue! Ander begin voorberei vir eind eksamens – hoop dit gaan goed! Fluit –fluit my storie is uit! Ry versigtig, sluit die deure en wees altyd gereed vir die ongekende! Nat herfs groete Barry en Christina

Crisp Autumn greetings

13 October 13 Good day to all family and friends, I am slightly late in my letter writing this week but my computer played up. I have McAfee to protect this little trove of treasure for Barry and myself. The renewal date came up and I DID EXTACTLY What I am suppose to do but somewhere I lost the renewal update and now I get this warning continually that the computer is not protected and it does not recognise the renewal although it has been paid and all. It prevented me yesterday to gain access and eventually I contacted them via my phone and did try to help but even though I followed their instruction to the letter I could not correct this miserable situation. Just do not have enough knowledge to fix it-I did eventually get the computer going again and hope that Finbarr will come next week and fix the mess. Just to put you in the picture- we had our first light frost with temperatures of below 5° even as low as 2 on Friday morning- it was lovely and crisp fresh and full of excitement for the winter that is lurking around the corner. With the cold weather we have wonderful blue skies and lots of sunshine which suites me fine! I have been enjoying my grapes, Barry says they are sour but to me it is like nectar. There are still 10 pears hanging some just a little knob and others looking even like pears, I doubt though if they will come to ripening but I enjoy looking at them, next year might be a better crop! Wishful thinking! The flower garden still looks lovely and a 2nd crop of gladiolas are flowering and the colours are too beautiful. The begonias are still flowering and some of the clematis started flowering again. The chrysanthemums are in flower and I am really chuffed with them as the slugs ate them to the roots and I never thought that they will recover. The 2 cat children are now getting big and very naughty. On our way to church this morning I noticed only one of the rascals in the garden Barry also looked around and as I DROVE OUT THE GATE AND STOOD THERE WAITING FOR BARRY TO CLOSE THE GATE AND TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR, I NOTICED THE BLACK AND WHITE HEAD OF Spottie in the long grass in the flied across. It was the first time we saw the cat out of the estate- and how many times this has happened, we will never know. The writing is on the wall and it is really now only time which will tell if they are road wise or not. Sorry for the capital letters! We have noticed the markings of the hedgehog and were very pleased! The foxes have definitely taken the road or have been killed. Our road is in itself a death trap and the possibility of them being killed is quite possible, there are small forests all around us and I would rather like for them to have moved house than being killed. On the political front we have had the referendum and the Government were defeated and the Séanate stays, a new appeals court will be called into being and in the week to come we are awaiting the future on the financial side of this island when the budget will be made known , with the promise that we are on the road to recovery and if you can imagine trying to conquer the highest mountain we are just at the very beginning approaching the mountain and already the people are believing everything this Prime Minister is promising them. They have this juicy yellow carrot in front of their noses and allowing them to sniff at it but heaven help if they dare to bite into it! Memela announced that the land of SA belongs to the landless and that to me sounds like a threat! We have seen quite a few documentary programmes on the decay of African countries that has been under home rule for the last 30-50 years and everything that was put into place by either the British , or French has been destroyed, they live in squalor and deprived of human dignity because of corruption by their leaders, so very sad, - is that what is waiting for the beautiful country of South Africa? Thank you to all who wrote letters- Arnolda please let me also have the link to the new house would love to see what it looks like! Thank you Haya for your letter, Gerlof and all his ailments- you just need a bit of love and tender care! Nine(not 9 -Nienne) your letters are always something to look forward to. The Kuypers were busy packing but inspire of that I received news from them which was wonderful, Joy in Brisbane so diligent answer every letter I write, you are wonderful Joy! All the lovely emails from Nanette, and the Reineckes! From Zambia we received this very good little snap of laughter. Lovely photos from Adelbert and all the others –it is always so inspiring to open the emails and these letters are there! Thank you Paul(vdBijl) for the photos you send Being Sunday we were extremely privilege to attend the service at our church in Corboy Presbyterian Church- Google it – it is a listed historical building- we also has a website if any-one wants to know what we do and where we are. Stephen is a man with a gift to bring us the Good news according to God’s word in such a wonderful way that you cannot but relive the sermon right through the week. I was behind the organ and all went well. Birthdays:14th Jaco Snr,16th Rina Herbst, 18th Paul from Oubaas and next Sunday Marthie Potgieter. Happy Birthday to you all! I have not much more to say just to wish Hanlie the very best with her neck operation! So happy to hear that Attie’s recovery is on track. Any-one that it not feeling well- hope that you will feel better soon! The days are much shorter and we sleep a little longer every night! Keep well, looks after your selves; be careful in all your doings. Lock up, drive safely with autumn greetings from Barry and Christina

Heerlike sonnige herfs groete

5 Oktober 13 Saterdag Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende, Ons beleef ‘n pragtige dag- baie ongewoon vir die tyd van die jaar- reen so elke nou en dan maar dit is grotendeels droog en heerlik warm –nou net in van buite 19°,’n ligte briesie, hier en daar ‘n donker wolk maar te vér weg om ons nat te maak! Die weervoorspelling vertel ons dat dit nog warmer gedurende die volgende week gaan wees- mens sidder eintlik om te dink daar gaan eendag koue weer opdaag! Ek het my trossies gepluk en eet heerlik aan die katobba druiwe waarna ek met soveel vreugde uitgesien het- vir my is dit tog te lekker! Die tamaies was ietwat van ‘n fiasko en die pere word nou groot- miskien kry ons regtig nog iets van hulle te eet! Eergister toe die reen verby is en die son sy verskyning gemaak het , is ons hier uit met spoed! Tussen Barry en myself het ons seker 300 of meer bolle geplant- sommige uit gekoopte sakke maar meeste wat ons gewin het in die somer! Affodille en tulpe! Vrydagaande het ons ‘n pragtige tuinprogram op die TV wat natuurlik van BBC af kom maar dit hou ons aan die gang en op die korrekte manier- Ons volg Monty Don slaafs na! Hy neem ons gereeld na die mooiste tuine in Engeland en ons leer baie uit die halfuur van blomme, bolle, vrugte, en groente se plant en versorg! Die Referendum x2 is verby en ek dink die stem % was baie laag- die mense is nie baie be-indruk met die regering nie en stel net nie belang nie! Moet die Senaat- behou word of nie en moet daar ‘n ekstra apél hof aangestel word? Ek moet my liewer nie uitspreek oor die klomp senatore nie- hulle word deur die parlement aangestel en word nie verkies nie- dus jy het nie veel sê in die saak nie. Vir ‘n klein landjie is daar genoeg howe wat my aanbetref maar ander voel daar is tog ‘n behoefte aan ‘n hof wat met die apélle kan betrokke kan wees en dan sodoende meer tyd aan die ander howe vry stel. Ons sal maar sien wat die uitkoms is! Ek kon toe nie die sinisitus uit my borskas hou nie en is nou 4 weke siek met geen verbetering nie en moes plegtig beloof dat ek wel Maandag Dr toe sal gaan! Verjaardae:12de Hildegard van Br Mendel en Mieanka van Karen in Florida Park . Dra asb ons gelukwensinge aan die 2 oor aangesien ek hulle nie op my poslys het nie! Lekker verjaar! Ons dink aan almal wat nie gesond is nie- ,aan die wat besig is om te herstel, hoop jul vordering is volgens plan! Aan almal wat so gereeld skryf, Isabel, Nine, Gerlof, Arnolda, en Oubaas en Gerda nou en dan! Joy in Brisbane en die Scholtz neefs! Julle hou my aan die gang! Ek moet eerlik wees en bieg dat ek wel nou die werk begin mis- as jy darem vir 45 jaar jou lewenstaak verrig het en dan sommer skielik moet ophou dan is daar ‘n groot leemte,my hele gestel moes weer aanpas aan dag-lewe en ‘n nuwe slaap patroon moes aangeleer word- ek wil so baie, maar kom nie werklik aan iets nie! Ek het darem ‘n truitjie vir Eli gebrei en is besig om sy kombers te hekel, die serp moet nog tossels aan kry en ek is nou naarstiglik op soek na my studie gids. My boek van soduko’s is byna vol en ek het elke moontlike boek in die huis gelees en sommige 2x! Sal al die boeke maar in ‘n sak pak en na die 2de handse winkel toe neem om uitteruil. Ek het nog nie ‘n Kindel nie en is ook nie lid van Amazon nie- ek koop nog die boeke en dan lees ek hulle so tussendeur! Was nog nie weer Dublin toe nie en die kinders was ook nog nie weer hier nie- ons SKYPE maar en hulle word vinnig groot en baie oulik! Ek het nie regtig enige iets om te vertel nie en my storie is uit! Maak nie saak waar julle woon nie –waarheen julle gaan nie- werksplek huis ,inkopies,wees altyd versigtig- wees op julle hoede en moet nooit waag en jaag nie. Sonnige groete vanuit Cranleymore Barry & Christina NS sou graag wou weet hoe dit met die ander familie en vriende gaan-wat van ‘n paar lyntjies? En ‘n fototjie of 2?