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