Bewolkte nat groete

Saterdag 2 Mei 2014 Goeie dag allemaal, Familie en vriende, Hier gaan dit goed- dit reen nie( dit wat in die begin van die brief-daar val nou wel ‘n sagte bui reen!) en die wind waai nie en temperatuur van more was 9 en het nou gestyg tot 12℃ Ongelukkig is die son verdoesel agter massas wolke wat dik en wollerig nie baie hoog bo ons koppe rond dryf nie! Ons is tevrede en die boere glimlag- hier is die boere ‘n groot hap van die bevolking want natuurlik woon ons in die middel van die eiland en is omring deur boere klein en groot –vet en maer,gierig , ander ryk en ander arm! Ons tuin – die affodille is klaar geblom en ons wag nou dat die blare bruin word voor ons met die grassnyer korte miete van hulle gaan maak tot volgende jaar! Die tulpe lyk nog goed alhoewel die reen van die afgelope week hulle bietjie geteister het. Die aartappels en ertjies staan goed hoog- die is nou Duitse ertjies want ons het hulle by LIDL gekoop en instruksies was in Duits, Hollands en Engels Die blom saadtjie was ons by die hardeware winkel gekoop het was alles net stof- Gelukkig het ons verlede jaar goed sade ge-oes en die staan nou mooi reg vir uitplant Ons weet nie wat dit is nie want Barry het nie ‘n naam plaatjie ingesteek nie dus is dit iets om na uit te sien! Die gras was nou reeds 3x gensy en elke keer word dit makliker want dit het nou die regte hoogte en die onderveld lyk ook goed- Ons het verlede week, toe die wind oos-wes gewaai het die hoop takke in die middel van die veld gebrand nadat ons seker gemaak het daar is geen nessies of lewende wesentjies woonagtig daarin nie en dit was ‘n pragtige vuur maar alles het nie gebrand nie dus ons sal ‘n 2de poging moet aanwend maar eers in Oktober. Die gras buite in die pad het regtig manne moed geverg en Barry moes 3x die ding doen voordat ons eers kon sien dat hy die gras gesny het maar dit lyk nou baie beter- ongelukkig beteken dit nou dat jy al die rommel wat mense uit hulle karre gooi kan raak sien- toe die gras so hoog gestaan het was dit onsigbaar! Jammer dat mense sulke morsjorse is! Hulle het geen respek vir iets nie! Ja die katte is pragtig en help orals- maak nie saak wat jy doen nie hul neuse is diep daarby betrokke! Patches loop al beter maar die littekens is duidelik sigbaar waar die voertuig hom getref het! Hoop hy het iets daaruit geleer! Ons gee hulle gereeld padgevaar lesings maar of hulle dit toepas is ‘n ander saak! Die verkiesing in SA gaan hierdie week plaas vind en Baie Suid Afrikaners het by die Ambasade gaan stem – Ons het nie Dublin toe gegaan vir die gestemmery nie want ek werk heeldag en aldag! Hier by ons is ook verkiesings op hande en as jy die strate op en af ry lyk die soos ‘n karnival wat aan die kom is-elke moontlike kleur as agtergrond met al die gesigte daarop! Daar het ‘n lelike ding hier gebeur- almal ontken dit maar ons weet dat dit ‘n politieke besluit was – die leier van Sinn Fein wat nou reeds sedert Dinsdag in aaanhouding is vir ‘n moord, wat in die onrus tye van die Noorde plaasgevind het- van ‘n ma met 10 kinders- sy was ontvoer en doodgeskiet en iewers begrawe =-haar geraamte is op ‘n srtand opgegrawe en nou word hy, as toen-tydse leier van die IRA ondervra- en dit net voor die verkiesing waarin die ‘POLLS’ gewys het dat Sinn Fein met rasse skrede by die ander partye verby beweeg! Nou ja ons hoop vir die beste maar die optrede van die Polisie in die Noorde mag groot skade bring aan die ‘Good Friday Peace Accord’ Want as die klomp omge-elliede Iere kwaad gemaak word sal daar weer groot skaalse oorlog los breek en dié keer sal die bomme in Dublin ontplof!! Kan ‘n lelike ding word! By die hospitaal vind ons- onsself in ‘n tuimel droeёr! Die teater is toegemaak en al die instrumente en masjienerie (dit klink soos ‘n garage) is gediens – dit was wonderbaarlik net die genade van Bo dat daar niks verkeerd geloop het die afgelope 2 jaar nie! Die mense van Centric Health waar deur die ‘Receiver ‘ aangestel is om die hospitaal weer op sy voete te kry is duidelik mense wat weet wat gedoen moet word! Gister het ek ‘n paar benoude oomblikke deurgemaak toe een van die skinderbekke die storie die omgang laat maak het dat die akkreditasie op sy geskuif is- wat sou beteken dat ek nie meer werk sal hê nie! Ek skraap toe al my moed bymekaar en gaan klop aan die deur van die Baie ervare en uitstekende organiseerder wat Radioloog en radiografis is- se deur! Ek was verseker dat ek wel nog my werk het en miskien vir veel langer as wat oorspronklik die ooreenkoms was! Ek het met groot dankbaarheid uur en half later daar uitgestap! Ja die akkrerdiatsie M A G uitgestel word van weё die geweldige gevaar wat die hospitaal bedreig vir onaanvaarbare wekstoestandeen praktyk! Die X Strale department is toegemaak en net dag gevalle katerak operasies en gastrologiese-Endoskopie ondersoeke het plaasgevind vanaf Woensdag! Gelukkig verstaan al die dokters wat deel uitmaak van ons werkspan –hulle het gladnie besef wat aan die gang was nie en dat hulle ook gevaar geloop het van wan praktyk! Verjaardae- vandag! Gerda van Hessie en Attie en lieflike jong vrou van Louis albei dokters wat hul gradeplegtigheid gehad het! Veels geluk eers vir die verjaardag Gerda en dan vir die groot prestasie van geneesvrou! 4Mei! Lee Kruger van Florida- veels geluk met jou verjaardag, Lee – sou graag by die braaivleis gewees het wat ek weet julle gaan geniet met kinders en kleinkind! Mieana Bosman van Randfontein! Veels Geluk jonge dame –geniet die die dag en die verwen! Christaan Potgieter –student in Bloemfontein! Veels geluk Jong man hoop jou ouers dra ons gelukwensinge oor! My nuwe stoof- ‘n lelike ding- want die nuwe stowe het nie meer ‘n ‘splash board’ agter teen die stoof nie- dit lyk asof hulle vergeet het om die ding klaar te maak!-Dit is nou glo om by moderne kombuise te pas en ons het ‘n plaas kombuis en die stoof lyk sleg- goeie stoof Zannussi maar glad nie iets vir die oog nie! Dis met groot heimwee in my hart dat die ander stoof die deur moet uit! Hy lyk nog splinternuut- Vanwee my beroep en onderrig tuis –verlaat hierdie stoof my huis byna skooner as die dag wat ons hom gekoop het! Mǒre ( die simbole het nie die regte kappie beskikbaar nie)is die beste dag van die week en na verlede week se wonderlike geseёnde ervaring van die koor en orkes wat van Cookstown gekom het om ons ‘Songs of Praise’ diens waarteneem sal dit maar stil wees met net die orgel as beleiding! Dis my beurt om die lofsange te lei en ek sien altyd uit daarna! Ook na die siels voedsel! Ons dink baie aan almal wat bemoediging nodig het- die wat alreeds so baie deurgemaak het en nog steeds moedig voort gaan! Die wat nie lekker voel nie – die wat moeg is – moeg vir sommer alles- maar veral die wat geestelik moeg is! Ons hemelse Vader ken jou naam Hy weet waarmee jy sukkel en Hy sal uitkoms gee- vra in gebed en verootmoediging ,glo en vertrou! Baie dankie vir al die briefies- die pragtige fotos en die broer van my wat nou so goed regkom met die komper – ek kan byna nou by hom lesse gaan neem! Elke foto en skrywe word met groot entosiasme bekyk en weer bekyk! Nou ja dit is nou genoeg vir eers! Die swaeltjies kom en gaan, vlieg en swiep oor ons koppe maar hulle het nog nie tot rus gekom nie! Miskien het hulle die monsters gewaar en is baie versigtig! Wees asseblief versigtig- hou vas aan jou oortuigins is veral by die stembus! Wees gedurig op jul hoede vir die onverwagte- ry versigtig- sluit jul deure en moenie nalatig wees nie! Bewolkte maar droeё, nou nat groete vanuit Cranleymore! Barry & Christina

Up and Down greeting from Cranleymore

26 April ‘14 Good day to all, Family and friends Those of you who remembers Haas Das se Nuus kas and the weather report will understand when I say that we can experience all four seasons nearly in an hour! We woke up with brilliant sunshine, blue skies a slight breeze and the promise of having a glorious day.Fifteen minutes later the sun was gone the wind came up and blew every cloud that it could find over to Cranleymore and vicinity and within the half hour it rained and became so cold that we had to put something really warm on! By then my washing was on the line and I had to put my knee to the test for the run to get the 90% dry washing off the line. Fortunately it does not take away any of the beauty of spring ,the Cherry blossoms and all the trees in blossom- colours too beautiful to describe- as there are also trees with maroon coloured leaves and they stand between the 40 shades of green and the white of the hawthorn , the deep yellow fur bushes and the silver leave trees. The daffodils are coming to end of their flowering and the tulips are still coming out every few days, another lot with different colours-magnificent and a joy to the eye! We experienced a fairly dry period since just before Easter and even with the odd shower that falls, accompanied with hailstone, it has not rained a lot and the farmers are out in full force doing what they do best ,spreading the slurry as well as ploughing, rolling of the fields and all the cattle are outside . The potatoes are showing leaves and the rhubarb is ready for picking! We will be visiting the garden centre in the near future to get what is needed for the vegetable garden, it is too cold to work outside and the wind is freezing!The baskets will also hang before the end of May! Our dear cat children are lovely except for Patches who must have been hit by a vehicle - he is limping badly and the scars of where the sin was ripped off is starting to heal- but he is just like a baby and can cry like one too! Sits i n front of the back door and cry until you get up and attend to him either a rub ,a talk or may be something to drink or extra to eat! Last night I prepared supper and I know for sure that I switched the oven on -being Friday we have each our own piece of fish, Barry having cod and a piece of salmon for me. I checked the pots on the stove on the 15 minutes - noticed nothing wrong and at our usual time to ea,t I started to dish up and Barry took the fish out of the oven to discover it never cooked! He accused me of not putting on the oven -but I remember clearly that I did . So him being hungry and I never had a change , during the day to eat my ½ meal of the previous evening, as there were just not time-we were treated with some Chinese! Now that is something very rare in our house and is always something of a celebration! This morning we decided to cook the fish and have it ready for the cats- BUT an hour later when I checked the oven it was still as cold as last night ! Hoera- it was not me but the oven! Now the stove is 10 years old and has given us good service and it costs more to have it repaired than to buy a new one! We still have the plates that is working and a George Foreman as well as a fantastic cooking pan in which you can cook anything- so we are not totally dependent on take aways! It has been a very disturbing and unsettling week at work - the receiver arrived with the appointed company to take over the running of the hospital and addressed the staff at 8am on Wednesday morning and they started to work immediately -they interviewed the managers and by 1pm they called a halt realizing that the hospital was running as a risk and it was really just by the grace of God that nothing has gone wrong in the last year or more! The previous owner when he ran out of money did not keep up with safety regulations and the services of essential equipment especially in the operating theatres. The bosses of the company appointed stopped there and then all booked procedures and cancelled the rest of the week! The staff were devastated as they have already used up all their available annual leave with the lack of medications and equipment, and now this! All the consultants had to be informed that their lists have been cancelled until further notice and that in itself caused tremendous unhappiness but they realized that it was for their own good! So the hospital is temporarily closed until all equipment has been serviced , all the necessary drugs and medications made available and all possible risks have been removed! I, working now as administrative staff could go on with my work but felt very threatened as the people from this company called Centric\Health have the best computers-equipment, expertise, the know- how and superb computer programmes that they use and here we are just about at the time of Moses on the Nile in his basket! 40 Years behind- with no backup system if the computers crash as the other oak thought he could get away with it -as the whole system gave way some 18 months ago and was never replaced! Our methodology is archaic and our workforce illiterate when it comes to high felucent computer programming and the use thereof! You can just imagine what a tremendous mental and Psychological shock this brought on the faithful devoted loyal workers of the company! We all thought we are out the door! Yesterday afternoon another meeting was called as the group realized that the staff are emotional more than fragile and finds it hard to function under the circumstances and we were all re-assured that we will get paid and that the hospital will re-open as soon as all the risks has been removed and that we all still have got jobs! what a sigh of relieve! Just discovered that the sun is shining again but the wind is from the north pole. On the political front the people are in uproar and are protesting about everything! The Minister for Education wants the (our old St 8 public exam) to be removed and that the teacher must mark the papers themselves- and also to stop children leaving after that exam.Come election day they forget all about these moments of disgrunt and vote the lot of scoundrels back into power! A mother with 3 children has been living in a car for some time- but the high polite has not the slightest idea what is going on at grassroots! Two men are missing after they supposedly went to collect monies owed-part of a criminal gang - the car they were travelling in was found at a big lake near Mullingar and the police divers and foot patrols are searching now surely for their bodies- here life is cheap! Tomorrow is very special in our church calendar. Since we had a Thanksgiving service some years ago when we had the inauguration of the new organ ,the thanksgiving service stayed- took on a different theme of Songs of Praise and that is happening tomorrow, with an afternoon service and a visiting choir from Cookstown in NI. Looking forward to a very special service! Birthdays! I have no names for this coming week but should there be a Birthday happening out there! Happy Birthday and may the year be good! We also do remember those on my email address list that are going through difficult times, those who are not well, those who are recovering after surgery, those who have lost confidence and those who are tired of fighting Do not be discouraged because the Lord knows what you need and will provide- trust and believe! Thank you to all , I am not going to mention everyone by name as the list is far too long,who so regularly send a note, letter and photos! Be assured that every bit of news is new to us and just to hear about your experiences brings us nearer together! That brings me to the end of this letter that you might have found very boring- tough- you read up here , others might just have understood, what it is to be uncertain of your future! Be careful at all times, lock your doors and make sure that you leave nothing next to you on the seat while you are driving. Drive safely especially those who are daily on the roads and those who are doing long journeys! Up and down greetings, from Cranleymore where we continuously run in and out of the rain! Barry & Christina

Enjoyable sunshine greetings form Cranelymore

12 April 2014 Good day to all, family and friends, it is a lovely day, it started off with rain but through the morning the sun broke through and since then we have been enjoying a marvelous day! I was so enthosiastic that I walked a couple of kilometers quickly before coming to compile the news of the the week! We were also entertained with a good frost yesterday morning -1 degree earlier on and by the time I left for work it was just about 1 degree. the wind was blowing and unpleasant but it turned out to be a sunny afternoon. I have also spent some time in the garden admiring all the seeds that were coming up and the lovely colours of the tulips. The dark purple ones were affected by the torential rain of a week or what ago and had developed rust on the outer petals which is very sad as they were usually my pride and joy. We were also fortunate enough to cut the forest floor down to about 2” Barry did it all by him self as I am not here during the day and if it is dry you have to get on with things. He did it in shifts and survived the enormous task although he complained of pains in his ankles from all the walking. It looks very lovely and the bottom field will still have to be cut and outside in the road, but I forbid him to go out in the road if I am not here- the road is far too busy! The cats are too gorgeous although not white and black anymore but rather light brown- how they got this dirty only they can tell and I do not always understand the words in the choir pieces! They found a new place to sleep and hide from intruders! We have the big (and he is big) brownish ginger cat that continues to visit, although he has been peppered with pieces of turf- he finishes off the food left by them at night. Barry got worried again on Tuesday morning when both were missing! He searched every- where and called continually to no avail! He decided later to tidy up the fireplace and took the wheel barrow with turf back to the shed as we do not lit the stove anymore- if we are cold we switch the small oil heater on for a while- and suddenly from high up near the shed roof, he had a shelf hanging for long pieces of timber and things that he does not use often, the two cats appeared - they came to investigate what he was doing in their ‘house’! When he called they could not hear him as they were inside and he called far away from the turf shed! with gladness they were welcomed and he did not mind scrathing their head for hours there after. At work I gave the 1st 8 hour lecture on Health Safety & Risk with a power point presentation ,with a test afterwards which I am in the process of marking- tedious and time consuming as you have to read through every answer and compare with the information given! Do not know why I do this to myself- but I will persevere and fortunately the second session will only take place after Easter! The hospital has gone into’prepacked receivership’ apparently a legal term- which is used when the banks take over and appoint a receiver to take charge- the receiver then appoint some-one - in this case it will be the new investors, which will put a business plan together for the bank and in the mean time we can keep on functioning! We will know on Wednesday next week who the investors will be and how much they are prepared to invest- we will be able to change the name of the hospital as all strings with the previous owner will be severed. He gave the hospital such a bad name and sunk us into the deep end of the ocean with sinkers on, especially with people that he ordered stock from and never paid! Our wages are for the present not in jeopardy! On the political front- what made the news was that all the people involved in lending millions to investors and brought us to our knees in 2008 stand to walk free and blameless out of this if the jury fall for the defense teams plee! The president Lepricorn Higgins and his wife spent four days in England as the guests of the Queen- they were treated with such awsome admiration that it was sickening! The headline on his return yesterday read: Although small in stature , he is a giant intellectually! He gave 4-5 speeches in all exactly the same, with just the sentences turned around and in a different order! On the other hand it was a wonderful excersize in relation building between the two countries and essential after the troubles in Northern Ireland and the hate between the south and the north! Charity collections and institutions run by different Institutions has received a tremendous knock. the directors and chairmen of some of these place received up to ½ millon as salaries from HSE topped up with the monies collected for the charity work. They have been ordered in front of the investigating committee to please explain but ---they will get out of that as well, in the mean time there are charities that are now really suffering eg. the assistant dog foundation- dogs that are trained to assist people with epilepsy etc. they have no money to continue the training of the dogs because people stopped giving money to the charities learning that most of it went into the pockets of the directors and others! Enough of all the things that are not bringing joy into our hearts! The awakening of nature is much more spectacular in colour and lushness than anything else! Stephen the minister at church was talking about the 40 shades of green we have in Ireland - confirming my experience every day I drive to work! Tomorrow is my turn in the pew and a time to enjoy bringing praise to the Lord! How wonderful it is to start your week with uplifting of the soul. Birthdays: O dear I seemed to have things all mixed up and I have to be careful now! First of all to Gerda who had her Birthday on the 10th. Today Paul van Marle, tomorrow the 13th Mendel my brother who also had a cataract operation on the 9th, Happy Birthday to you , may it be a good and healthy year to you all! Thank you to all who so wonderfully write in answer to my letter and send lovely emails and photos- it is greatly appreciated and enjoyed! I will also forward from my ipad some photos of the tulips and daffoldils. Glad that the visit of Nine to the Cape allowed her to see Mendel and for |Mendel to see the family and grand children and daughter in law as well as Garth & Arnolda! We also think of those who are not well, that has gone through tremendous deep valleys of dispair- Those who have lost loved ones- take your courage from Ps 27:1 The Lord is my light and salvation. Who shall I fear?! That brings me to end of this writing and as always be careful do not drive with your window open -thinking back to the experience of the woman in Durban! Keep the doors locked never have anything of value next to you on the seat, lock the doors when you go inside the house! You are so precious in the sight of the Lord and to us who are far away! Enjoyable sunshine greetings from Cranleymore Barry & Christina

Lente gtoete

Goeie dag aan allemaal, familie en vriende, > Ek skryf op my iPad want my skoot rekenaar wil nie oop maak nie ek sit nou hier voor die ding en wag Maar die tyd gaan verby en die dag is al aan die aanstap. > Ek Moët se dit gaan al beter Maar my lyfhorlosie pas baie swaar aan by al hierdie somer en winter tyd zone. > Ek was nou net mooi aan die gang vir die winter tyd en nou Moët ons weer aanpas by somertyd,ongelooflike metode om deur die jaar getye te kom. > Daar was jou werklik waar 2 dae vol sonskyn van oggend tot laat aan.d Maar ons sal maar stil Bly oor die ander 5 dae. > Dit is gelukkig nie koud nie en so lank die wind nie waai nie kan jy nog die mis reen of die gietende reen verdra, dit wissel a- die reen patrone! Vandag is dit 12 grade gister was dit 15 met heerlike sonskyn gedurende die middag, ander dae begin ons met briljante sonskynmaar later word dit donker en die reen val asof die eiland in die vreeslikste droog verkeer. > Wat wel lekker is ,is die lang aande, dit is heerlik om nog soveel dag oor te hê om dinge in te doen. > Die rekenaar weier nog steeds om oop te maak ek het nou die battery uittehaal, soms help dit Maar bleikbaar nie vandag nie dus ek gaan 'n positive verander moet maak want dis effe kouerig in hierdie binne kamer! > Ek het aan sommige van julle 'n foto van my orgidee in volle blom , gestuur, as Daar nog is wat wil sien laat weet ek wys dit ook vir julle! Dit is nou as julle mooi vra! > Omdat ek Elke dag dieselfde pad werk toe ry sien ek dinge skielik raak. > Ek wag nou al so lank dat daar blaartjies aan die bome Moët kom,Eers isdaar net 'n groenerige skynsel en Maandag > Oggend dag ek ek sien bietjie meer as 'n groen skynsel en jou werklik waar Dinsdag sit honderde bome langs die pad vol nuwe Klein blaartjies ek was so opgewonde ek wou sommer sing en het toe sommer uit volle bors begin Oktober is die mooi ste mooi ste Maand ,ek weet dit moes April wees Maar dit wou nie regtig inpas nie Woensdag oggend is die hele ent pad se bome met ongelooflike skakerings van groen ingekleur, lig groen , geel groen, lemmetjie groen, gras groen, donker groen, olyf groen en tussen in staan rye affodille! Dit is werklik 'n voorreg om dit so stapsgewyse te beleef, > Ek maak nou seker dat ons Elke week vars affodille op kantoor het, dit ruik so heerlik en ek is Elke dag opgewonde oor nog iets in die natuur, die voeltjies sing vir 'n vale ,dit is soos'n simfonise, baie hoog op in 'n denne boom by die hospitaal groet die gesang van 'n black bird? (Afrikaanse naam asb) my, met groot entosiasme en se weer tot diens laat middag as ek ry, ek se Elke more Dankie en weer saans ,sou iemand my dop hou en hoor ek praat met die voels sluit hulle my dadelik op in die groen dakkies =St Lomans . > By ons in die tuin is dit 'n sprokies wereld , affodille by die honderde, tulpe ,blommende korente bos, die wit en geel daisies en ' n graspers met dik groen nat gras wat nou in 'n oerwoud verander. Die rekenaar het sopas besluit om oop temaak dus stuur ek die epos nou deur na die skoot rekenaar en ek kan dan van daarafn verder skryf dis net effe makliker! Kan julle dit glo die helfte van die brief het nou net verdwyn! Miskien moet ek op hou skryf.....? Ek het in die deel wat nou weg is vertel hoe Baryy gedurende die week terwyl die son geksyn het die groente tuin omgespit het en ons eie kompost ingewerk het, ek so trots om die kompost -dit het ons omtrent 5 jaar geneem om dit so ver te kry en nou groei ons aartappels reeds in ons eie gekomposte grond! By die werk gaan dit redelik goed . Na verlede week se kwaai teregwysinge het ek die hele spul Maaandag met rooi gesigte om die tafel gehad - al die base ook , dit was juis hulle wat die raps oor vingers gekry het! Ek wil die heletyd die spul inspuit met entosiasme, soos dit in my opborrel! Die baas dink ek is net die beste ding wat hulle oorgekom het! Hy het dit so aan my bevestig , nou werk ek nog harder! Ek moet so versigtig wees anders verloor ek weer alles , . ek het afspraak by die ortpeet gehad Donderdag oggend maar soos dit gaan loop dinge selde uit soos wat jy dit beplan en iemand rapporteer siek en die Direkteur van Verpleging wat 'n teater suster is moet daar gaan werk vir die dag en sy saal my toe op met haar werk ook, onder- andere die onderhoud met die Beroepsgesondheidsdokter wat ons genader het om ons bytestaan in ons nuut gestigte Beroepsgeosndheidskliniek! My afspraak by die ortopeet was vir 10vm ,ek bel die ontvangsdame en vra om sy my 1/2 later kan inpas . 10vm daag die Dr op Hy het ook jare in SA gewerk maar is nou hier! Hy hou nie op praat nie en gee ons daar en dan 'n lesing in hoe die kliniek beplanning moet gaan en wie wat moet doen en hoe asof ek nie weet nie! teen 1/2 11 raak ek opgewonde . 5 minute later maak ek verskoning en ,gelukkig het ek reeds vroeer die oggend my knie x-strale laat doen en die afspraak is by die kliniek langsaan, ek gryp die Xstrale en ek het letterlik gehardloop om nie my plek by die Dr te verloor nie. Die pasiente in die wagkamer kon my sien kom en toe ek die deur oop maak se een man 'wow but you can run' en ek se 'yes with my new knee' almal was stom van verbasing. 10 minute later is dit my beurt en so met die intrap vertel ek die Dr dat die pasient wat net uitgekom het, my getuie is dat ek gehardloop het, ja se die dokter hy het my ook sien hardloop, vra nie hoe gaan dit nie maar se met groot verbasing" I cannot believe how much weight you have lost" dit was die beste nuus wat hy my kon gee, en eers daarna het hy gevra hoe dit gaan. My knie is nou afgeneem 110 grade buig en met strekking 100% reguit! en ek kan hardloop! dit is met groot dankbaarheid eerste teenoor ons liewe Vader in die hemel wat my die sjirurg gegee het en die vermoee om so te kon herstel 4mnde en 10 dae later . Ek is nou met Cum Laude ontslaan! Liewe land dit word 'n boek , en miskien stel julle nie eers belang in my knie nie!groot ekskuus! More is die beste dag van die week en ek het reeds my Psalme en Gesange ontvang vir more se orgel spelery en natuurlik die skrifuitlegging van Ps 23! Verjaardae, ek het die ou kalender opgeskeur want ek was elke week 'n dag agter en so het ek nagelaat om verlede week vir die volgendes verjaardag wense toe te wens! Ek weet dit is laat maar die wense bly dieselfde! 4 April: Kayla en Devlin! Vandag 5de Gerda Vorster en Nine -Paula ! Veels geluk en mag dit 'n wonderlike jaar vol seeninge vir jul almal wees! Op die politieke front gaan die geveg tussen mense en politici steeds aan, die Kommissaris van die Garda het bedank en 'n mosie van wantroue is gewen deur die Min van Justisie want hy praat nie die waarheid nie en die hele Garda gemors is nou oop en bloot vir almal om te sien en te hoor en hy is soos 'n gans waarvan die water afhardloop - ongelooflik waarmee hulle wegkom! Die waarheid het hier 'n ander baadjie aan en elke nou en dan verander die kleur ook! Ons dink aan almal wat deur baie swaar persoonlike teisteringe gaan, aan die wat siek is, die wat in geestelike verdrukking verkeer, die wat alleen voel, en die wat sommer net moedeloos is ! In Filippense 4:13 Skryf Paulus " Ek is tot alles in staat deur Christus wat my krag gee" Mag dit met julle almal goed gaan , wees altyd versigtig, onthou veiligeheid, tuis , op die paaie en by die werk! Blye lente groete vanuit Cranleymore Barry & Christina > >

Opgewonde groete vanuit Cranleymore

Saterdag 15 Maart’14 Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende, Dit is ‘n lieflike dag, trietserig begin maar sedert 1nm het dinge begin verbeter. Die son skyn, hier en daar ‘n wolk , die wind waai maar nie te erg nie, en orals staan bome vol bloeisels. So ‘n dag word as baie besonders beskou want die hele week het hulle son skyn voorspel met redelike hoё temperature maar dit moes elders gewees het want 2 dae het die mis nooit gelig nie wat nog van die son skyn, die ander twee dae net die mis so teen 2nm begin lig en baie pieperige sonnetjie moes worstel om sy strale tot hier in Longford te laat strek! Gister middag laat het die son begin skyn gepaard met mis reen. Dit veroorsaak dat, sodra jy naby ‘n groot vragmotor kom kry jy sy sprei en moet jy gedurig die venster was en skoon hou, ry ‘n entjie verder weg van die ding kom al wat leef by jou verby gejaag teen aankomende verkeer want hulle is kwansuis haastig en kan nie agter jou aankruie nie maar elke keer hou jy jou asem op en wag vir die slag! Jy kry net nie gewen nie! Ek is nou gewoond aan vroeg opstaan en soos klok slag trek ek 5 minute na 8 elke more by die hek uit! As ek nie daarby hou nietref ek 3 minute later die bus op pad en al die groot aflewering vragmotors wat ekstra groot is. En tussenin die boer wat voer aanry vir sy beeste. Ek werk lekker maar dit is werklik ‘n baie uitdagende affêre waarin ek my nou bevind. Ek is soos ‘n slawe drywer en hou die hele personeel soos ‘n valk dop en as hulle een moment bietjie terug leun is ek daar om hulle weer regop die weg aan te wys! Op die manier het ons, ons eerste stap in die akkreditasie met vliende vaaldels geslaag deur 2 +1/4 uur voor afsluiting klaar te wees en Engeland was in kennis gestel. Geluk wensinge het oor die see aangestroom- glo die eerste keer sedert akkreditasie begin het in 2008. Die volgende stap is net so veeleisend maar ek dink hulle is nou in hul oppassens vir my en sorg dat alles heeltyd op datum is! Arme goed!Hulle moet Maandag 12 uur rapporteer wat hulle vir die week gaan doen en Vrydag om 12 uur moet hulle kom wys en verslag doen of al hulle pogongs suksesvol was – Ek het tot die groot baas rondom die tafel! Dit is mooi daar buite, sodat dit byna ‘n sonde is dat ek hier binne sit en skryf! Die tulpe en affodille gee so ‘n mooi vertoning ,die helder geel van die affodille afgewissel met alle kleure onder die son van die tulpe. Die katte is pragtig! ek is mal oor hulle! Dinsdag merk ek vroeg mǒre dat Patches weg is, nerens te siene nie- Werk toe met ‘n swaar hart. Later begin Barry die pad op en af loop , kyk in elke bos en roep sover as wat hy loop maar vind geen dooie kat nie! So elke uur het hy maar geduldig geroep maar dit was eers teen 20 voor 6 die aand wat hy sy opwagting gemaak het ,gesond en wel! Die blokskottel moes seker gaan kuier het en is toe toegemaak in ‘n skuur of plek en kon natuurlik nie uitkom nie- hy was so honger en het sommer al die kos ge-eet terwyl Spottie tjankende toegekyk het, Lg het heel dag getjank omdat sy boetie nie daar was nie! Barry het maar baie sy kop gekrap net om stilte om hom te hê as hy buite toe gaan! Nou ja die vermisde vliegtuig is nou regtig ‘n groot probleem –wat vir ons snaaks is , is dat hulle ‘n walvis dwars oor al die oseane kan volg met die sateliete maar nie ‘n vliegtuig nie- ongelooflik! Barry en ek vermoed dat hulle om een of ander rede almal aan die slaap geraak het en omdat die vliegtuig op auto was nadat hulle besef het iets is fout en terug gedraai het, het die vliegtuig maar aangehou vlieg –vir die volgende 7 ure totdat daar nie meer brandstof oor was nie! Hier is dit lang naweek want dit is Maandag St Patrick’s dag en alles kom tot stilstand as dit die land se nasionale dag is. Ons eerste minister besoek Obama en het reeds die Shamrock oorhandig en nou is dit al die parades wat gaan plaas vind. Jy woon so-iets 1x in jou lewe by en dit is ook dan die laaste keer! Vir die ouers met klein kindertjies is dit effe anders maar vir ons bejaarde inwoners is dit veel makliker om uit die gedrang te bly en rustig tuis te bly! Ons gaan Maandag dus hopelik die gras sny en ek sal al my saadtjies vir laat somerplante saai en die groente tuin begin reg kry! My groot orgidee se blomme sal seker ook Maandag oop wees en daar is omtrent 10 blomme aan elke stingel – ek kan nie wag nie! 2 van die geredde orgideё wat Marthie my virendin vir my gegee het het vrot geword maar ek het 4 wat ook blommetjies gaan kry! Op die politieke front gaan die geveg tussen die Minister van Justisie , die Garda Obudsman, die hoof van die Polisie en die 2 ‘Whistle blowers’ nog steeds aan. Een van die vroue wat geveg het teen die onreg wat deur die nonne en sekere land owerhede en instansies vroeёr jare aangerig het, teen ongehude moeders en weggooi kinders, waar hulle eintlik moes versorg geword, maar instede hulle tot in die hel mishandel is, is vroeёr in die week oorlede! Sy het regtig baanbrekers werk verrig deur aantehou – en uiteindelik het sy erkenning gekry! Geld is altyd ‘n groot onderwerp nie net hier nie maar orals. Die ellende in Rusland gaan ons laat swaar kry , so ver het die brandstof pryse nog nie begin styg nie maar wat weet ons wat môre sal bring. Die spul manne in die een bank wat verantwoordelik was vir die ontrafeling van ons finansies in 2008 plaas nou al die skuld op iemand anders maar hulle is soos gewoonlik nie skuldig nie! Verlede Sondag aand het Broer Mendel met ons Geskype en dit was wonderlik asof ek aan hom kon raak –so werklik was ons gesprek! Môre is die beste dag van my week en ek sit dan ook in die bank t terwyl Joy die orgel speel – sy doen dit soms net bietjie langsaam – en ons moet goeie lang asems hê om sommige van die Psalme gesing te kry- ek het vir Stephen die predikant gese hy moet luister na my inleiding en dan die tempo vandaar neem en nie stadiger en stadiger sing nie. Verlede Sondag het William ons besoek en hy is deel van ‘n wêreld wye Christen uitsaai diens FEBA- dit was baie interesant- maklikste opvangbaar in vér afgeleë lande op kortgolf! Georg jy mag dit dalk die maklikste kan opvang! Verjaardae! Georg die 18de, Arnolda (op besoek in SA) die 19de ! mag dit ‘n heugelike gebeurtenis wees met baie liefde en familie om jou Arnolda klein kinders en! Georg ons sal weet dat al die mooi vroue in jou omgewing jou sal verwen! Ek het geen ander name nie! Ons dink en bid baie spesiaal vir almal wat nie wel is nie , vir die wat in die knyp sit , die wat moedeloos is, vir die wat alleen is en moedig elke dag aanvaar met ‘n glimlag! Ook baie spesiaal aan die wat geliefdes verloor het. Ek wou nog noem dat die grys ring- duifies vanmôre op die muurtjie voor die kombuis venster kom hawermout eet het! Dit was so pragtig en natuurlik wag ons nou op tyding dat die swaeltjies begin reg maak vir hul lang tog na Cranleymore! Ons het gewoonlik 3 pare wat hier broei! Ons Skype gereeld met die klein kinders en hulle is pragtig soos altyd! Ek groet Fluit fluit my storie is uit! Wees altyd versigtig, tuis, by die werk en op die paaie! Opwindende groete uit Cranleymore Barry & Christina

Warm greetings from a windy Cranleymore

8 March’14 Saturday Good day to all, family and friends, Miserable out there, we wanted to bring all pots full of daffodils and tulips that has been left next to the shed in a protective area and where the sun, when it does shines and catch them all through the day, B U T the wind is blowing so hard that if you do not hold on to your car door the wind might just take it off and deposit it somewhere else- Temperature about 10℃ overcast and in spite of the fact that it is spring, it is not conducive to outdoor activities. Before I forget, we have the following birds visiting the feeders and peanuts, two beautiful ring necked doves, they are so graceful and proud in stature, green finches, gold finches, and a pair of siskens, Our usual hedge sparrows, red robins, blue tits, big tits, and do not forget the big black crows! They know so well they are not welcome, they watch to see when we leave or when we are not in the kitchen and help themselves to what is on the ground but their eyesight must be excellent because the moment we enter the kitchen they scatter! Patches and Spottie are spoiled rotten, they are the most beautiful cats in Cranleymore. In the morning when I leave they walk with me to the car and when I return late afternoon they are waiting for me on the small wall in front of my parking place. They assist Barry in all his daily tasks and if you do not scratch their heads they will keep on begging until you cannot stand the noise anymore and give in to them, a hand for each head! At present steam and is coming out my ears , who-ever is responsible for putting the coal in this brain engine sometimes lack energy, as the speed that it has to function is continually in over-drive, it has to absorb and produce which is very demanding. My 2nd week in this new environment of motivating, educating, and keeping the locomotive and carriages on track has taught me more that I have learnt in many a year. If I remember correctly I promised myself that there will not be a time for brain and grey cell activation going to take place after the last Advanced Cardiac Life Support course, which nearly cost me a severe brain breakdown- I allowed to happen again- but this time it is not just for a couple of weeks this is day and night week in week out and for the next 7 months! I completed the 1st set of Lectures to the entire staff on Quality Assurance and Accreditation on Friday afternoon at 2pm many more to come. Health & safety as well as Risk Assessment Yesterday morning the New CEO sat in on the lecture – nerve wrecking but as I knew the lecture by heart, it went well and I was complimented on my work which was a tremendous boost! Barry is getting used to the new arrangements of not having me around during the day and start the cooking well in time so that our time for supper is not out of sinque -we are quite regimental in our daily roster, may be, because both of us had to be so disciplined all through our lives. The best of it all is that I really enjoy what I am doing in spite of resistance from certain quarters- but suddenly I have developed duck like qualities and it just runs off me like water. The garden is starting to give a wonderful colour to the dull winter that is past, The tulips in every possible colour and the daffodils with long stems stand so proud around every corner. We did put in about 200 bulbs in October last year and we are truly enjoying the effort. Enough of us- thank you so much for all the congratulations and lovely letters and photos, it was heart warming and much appreciated! I endevour not to disappoint those who have put their trust in me with the help of our Lovingly Heavenly Father. We remember those who are not well, those who have lost loved ones, and other who are the deep end of despair, Philippians 4:13 keep it in your heart throughout every day! Tomorrow as you know by now is the best day of my week and I am privileged to play the organ for the 2nd week in succession. We are still studying Ps 23. What a blessed experience! Birthdays! Nicola Joshling, tomorrow 11th; Paul (Hanlie & Paul’s son) I hope I have that correct! Jaco in Roodepoort 14th, May it the best day for you in every aspect of surprises! On the political front, only those who are involved will understand what they are doing. They can never give a straight answer, they are always blaming some-one else just as in SA everything is blamed on Apartheid- it just does not have a name here! Financially they are boasting that we have turned the corner –they just not specify which corner it was and how many corners are still ahead! They tell us there so many jobs that are going to become available and in the mean time 25% more people are losing their jobs on a monthly basis. The mud slinging in the whistle blowers case is unreal- responsibility is moved from pillar to post – but they are never quilty! I do know that that it is part of the political setup and it is the same everywhere. I am frozen and I am starving! Lunch time is long gone. I have lost 8kg and fit beautifully into my small pants and I am absolutely chuffed. I have to admit that I been exercising regularly by walking 4-6 km daily or cycling 20 km on my Fly Wheel! The extra cheeks I carried around have disappeared and you can recognise me now again even my nose is sharper –more like those of my mother & brothers, since! Small regular meals, no sugar, no bread, lots of vegetables and fruit but low in sugar! We are taking far too much sugar in- the world health authorities are warning us that we are responsible for our own illnesses and early deaths! We do not need more that 12 teaspoons of sugar a day and 1(one) fizzy drink itself contains 12 spoons of sugar! A study in Cork under school children showed that 75% of children under 16 are suffering from high blood pressure because of the high salt intake – crisps and all the salty snacks! So parents with young children do take note! Congratulations to all who have lost weight, trying to lose more, those who are studying, who are writing exams and those who performed with excellence! Enough from me! Enjoy your week be careful, remember safety at home, at work, on the roads and where the children are playing! Warm greeting from a windy Cranleymore Barry & Christina

Koue lente groete vanuit Cranleymore

1 Maart 2014 Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende, Die son skyn ,so effe skamerig, die wind waai van die noorde en maak dit koud,temperature tussen 8-9℃. Dit is vandag amptelik Lente ,effe koue lente en baie nat, soveel van reen kan jy jou nie indink nie 120mm in 18 dae die reen meter het oorgeloop! Die lande staan onder water en die boere kry swaar! Die afgelope 2 weke het by my verby gevlieg. Verlede week het ek 3 nagte in die saal gewerk en was baie besig –het gemiddeld 9.5 km per nag geloop! Maandag het ek as helper begin in die akkreditasie en kwaliteit versekering afdeling net om Dinsdag oggend ingeroep te word- eers dag ek o wêreld hulle het besluit dat hulle my nie nodig het nie en ek moet maar terug gaan huis toe.Tot my groot verbasing is ek die pos van Projek Bestuurder vir Akkreditasie aangebied. Ek was bietjie oorstelp en wou eers van Barry hoor of hy genoeё sal neem met die feit dat ek 5 dae ‘n week gaan werk vir die volgende 7 maande! Ek het gevra of hulle my ure so uitwerk dat ek ‘n halfdag op Woensdag kan werk wat my darem kans gee om bietjie inkopies te doen want met my by die werk het Barry geen transport nie en Woensdag was altyd die dag vir die lokale koerant , aanvul van brood en melk . Barry gelukkig en ek aanvaar die pos. ‘n Magtige taak want alles het vir die laaste 2 jaar in ‘n diep gat geval met die man wat die hospitaal gekoop het en dit toe in die grond in vertrap het en hulle deur die bank op ‘n manier gered is , in my afwesigheid as afgetrede verpleegster! Die nuwe bestuurder is ‘n prokureur van beroep en het ‘n ander hospitaal wat ook op bankrotskap gestaan het so paar jaar gelede uit die doldrums gered! Hy is deur die bank aangestel met ‘n geokktroeerde finansieele bestuurder. Om die hospitaal oop te hou moet ons geakkrediteerd wees en die het verval onder die ander man se doen en late! Vandaar die byna naarstiglike gryp na halms om die proses weer ingestel en aan die gang te kry. Dus werk ek nou 4 dae 9-5 en Woensdae 9-12.30. Dit is vir my‘n ontsettende uitdaging en ek studeer elke moment wat ek vry het ,het te veel mense belowe ek skryf die week ‘n brief, dus beskou julleself as baie bevoorregt as ek hier klaar is is dit studie tyd!! Met die dat ek nou nie meer los hotnot is nie en kon doen wat ek wou wanneer ek wou is daar skielik militere strengheid in my roetine! Opstaan en bedtoe tye vasgestel deur Barry en jy doen soos hy sê anders is daar moeilikheid! Ek val gedweё in want dit is vir my in ieder geval die beste. Huis skoonmaak ,wasgoed was val alles nou op ‘n Saterdag en mensig was ek besig vanmǒre( kappie op sy kop) en tussendeur het ek nog Barry se hare ook gesny! Die nuus gaan by my verby soos die wolke in die wind- ek hoor so nou en dan van moorde, hofsake en natuurlik die geveg in die parliament oor die Garda ‘whistle blower’ wat die hele wereld gekielie het en almal in die Dial(doll uitgespreek) op hulle agterpote het! Sowat van korrupsie is ongelooflik- jammer omte dit sê maar ek staan verbysterd oor wat mense mee weg kom! Dit is maar dieselfde in elke land net erger in sommige lande! Ons tuin is besig om stadig maar seker wakker te word- die blaartjies is uit aan al die struike –die meerjarige plante het natuurlik groen gebly en kry nou net nuwe stingels en blare by! Die tulpe het snaaks genoeg voor die affodille oopgegaan maar oral is ‘n helder blerts van kleure en dit stem die gemoed absoluut uitstekend! Die katte is pragtig vet met dubbele wange want hulle eet mos aartappels saam met hulle ontbyt en saans kry hulle bietjie sous kos saam met die Whiskas- Daar moes ‘n hewige geveg die vorige nag plaas gevind het want orals is net wit wolle! Hulle is nou te groot om saam in die mandjie te pas en het hulle self tuisgemaak in die donkiehuis ! Ons grassnyer is my die garasie waar ‘m werktuigkundige na die aansitter sal kyk- die het sommer met die eerste probeerslag om die gras te sny uit sy kassie geklim en nou is dit in die hande van TYD! Ons bring ons hartlike geluk wensinge aan die bruid en bruidegom in Standerton wat vandag in die huwelik tree en Hoop en bid dat hulle mekaar sal lief he vir ‘n ewigheid! Marthie en Chris veels geluk met jul dogter se troue en die aanwins van nog ‘n seun! Ons dink en bid ook vir almal wat siek is, wat nie lekker voel nie wat deur swaar tye gaan finansieel , geestelik , en moedeloos is! Onthou! Ons hulp kom van die Here! Ooo dit is lekker om die briefies te lees- ek geniet dit tog so baie en moet natuurlik alles ook aan Barry oorvertel! Baie dankie! Die gereelde briefies en dan die wat so nou dan hul opwagting maak! Joy is so getrou! Baie dankie Joy! Die wonderlike werk wat Dr Tertius Venter in sy Christen werk doen as plastiese sjirurg! Enig iemand wat sy nuusbrief graag wil lees en besigtig laat my weet en ek stuur dit aan! Die klein kinders word so gou groot en is pragtig! Verjaardae! Die wat verby is en ek nie geluk gewens het nie Laurel en Angie! Daar is niemand in my boekie vir die volgende week nie! Sou daar tog iemand wees wat wel jarig word! Veels Geluk! My knie hou wonderbaarlik goed met die 3 stelle trappe wat ek daagliks meer as 10x ‘n dag klim! Baie trost op my knie! Dit bring my aan die einde van baie onbeduidedende briefie! Onthou jul eie veiligheid, tuis , by die werk , op die paaie !!! Ek groet vanuit ‘n koue lente dag in Cranleymore! Barry & Christina

Omgekeerde groete

15 Februarie’14 Saterdag! Goeie dag allemaal, Familie en vriende, Daar was ‘n studie gedoen hier in Ierland “Waaroor praat mense as hulle bymekaar kom?” > as 80% groet en bespreek die weer ,omtrent alles in een asem! Lanklaas was daar ‘n waarer word gepsreek. Ons maak ons oë oop en heeleerste kyk ons hoe dit buite lyk, reen of sonskyn, wind of rustig. Die storms was ons beleef het was regtig vreeslik en ek dink meeste mense het dit wel op TV gesien. ‘n Melkboer het besoek van die TV mense gehad en hy was erg bekommerd want daar is geen elektrisiteit nie en die koeie kan nie gemelk word nie en die pomp werk nie om water by hulle te kry nie en as die water nog 6” styg is die koeie ook in die water! Dit is werklik baie sielig! Ongelooflik is die temperatuur vandag 10°. Ek het my stap gestap in heerlike warm son en skielik draai die wind en hy gaan haal elke wolk wat op die westerlike horison rustig in die lug gehang het en jaag hulle op ‘n hoop regbo my kop in Cranleymore en trek die Zip oop ,sommer alles hael,reen wind en sonskyn alles saam! Ek moes mooi koes en vinnig my pad terug vind na die agterdeur! Ek was net binne besig om my droog te vryf toe alles verby is, en die son skyn weer heerlik en geen wolk in sig nie! Die weervoorspelling gee ons bietjie hoop vir môre en miskien Maandag maar dan verwag hulle weer ‘n storm ,die keer sneeu en wat nog! So met die stap kom ek agter dat baie plante byna al hul nuwe blare het en dat die jasmyn stil stil haar blommetjies oopgemaak het .die affodille sal seker eersdaags regtig begin blom –ons verlustig ons maar in die krokusse, elke jaar is daar ‘n bietjie meer! Ek is baie opgewonde want gister deel ek Barry mee dat ek baie graag weer sou wou gaan werk, die vakansie was nou lank genoeg en my nuwe knie is nou myne ,ons is goed verenig en sommer daar maak ek kontak met die hospitaal –die het intussen byna toegemaak en is weer in die lewe geroep met ‘n nuwe CEO wat deur die bank aangestel is! Hulle het dadelik na my toe terug gekom en ek hoop om volgende week ‘n paar skofte te werk! Een rede vir my besluit is omdat ons ten spyte van goeie geloof besef het dat Barry nie sy pensioen gaan kry nie en aan die einde van April kry ek my laaste “jobseekers allowance” en dan moet ons op spaar geld lewe tot ek 66 is en hulle het geen ooghare vir ons by die Welsyn departement nie want ons sukkel nou byna 10 jaar met Barry se pensioen. Myna sal seker deur dieselfde proses gaan en wie weet hoe lank hulle gaan vat voor hulle vir my gaan pensioen gee! ‘n Werkie hier en daar sal darem b aie welkom wees! Baie dinge vertroebel die gees op die politieke front- die bankiers wat die land in ellende gedompel het- iemand wat die Garda Onbudsman se kantore miskien afgeluister het – en die ‘dieselfde geslag troue’ ding krap groot sere in die opregte Christen hart. Intussen speel ons rugby teen Engeland volgende week en die spanning laai op ! Baie dankie vir al die heelike briefies, Joy in Brisbane, Sue ,ek wag geduldig vir die CD, al die fotos van die Eloff kinders in Roodepoort! Pragtige kinders!!!Isabel, Nine, Haya, Gerlof Die klein kinders word groot en oulik! Eli is nege mnde oud en Lukas staan 4jr se kant toe! My hart begin sommer ruk om te dink hy moet September skool toe gaan! Die troue in Standerton kom nou vinnig nader en die bruid se ouers is op pad SA toe! Marthie ons hoop jy het ‘n veilige reis en geniet die voorbereiding! Ons het honderde voëltjies elke dag op besoek en hul gesang is uit die boonste rakke – die twee katte hoop nog steeds dat hulle een van die dae sal kan vlieg! Verjaardae!Garth verjaar die 21ste en Renate Rohrs ook Veels Geluk met jul verjaardae! Ons dink ook aan almal wat in hartseer gedompel is, almal wat swaar kry finansieel en op ander gebiede. Ons dink aan die wat siek is ,wat ge-opereer is of operasies moet ondergaan. Ons beste wense vir vinnige herstel en uitkoms! Môre is die beste dag van my week en dit is my beurt voor die orgel! Pragtige psalme en gesange –alles met betrekking op Ps 23 en wat is hierdie reeks preke ‘n wonderlike belewenis- ek wens so ek kon hulle almal in ons kerk hê elke Sondag om die gawe en talent te beleef wat aan ons predikant gegee is deur ons Hemelse Vader! Heerlik aan al die birefies gelees veral die baie eina episode in Calgary – hoop dat dit al heelwat beter beter gaan, Arnolda! En ook Mendel wat ‘n baie traumatiese ervaring gehad het! Ons is ook baie trots op Georg wat hom so goed van taak kwyt daar in Yakutsk- nie baie van ons kan spog dat hulle op lewende TV program verskyn het nie en dit in ‘n vreemde land! Ek gaan nou groet want my storie is uit! Wees versigtig ,tuis, op die pad, by die werk - julle is almal baie kosbaar! Sonnige groete vanuit ‘n omgekeerde Cranleymore! Barry & Christina

Stormy Greetings

Saturday 8 February’14 Good day to all , family and friends, I can hear the fire crackling in the living room and I long to sit there but my computer is still working on standby mode! It is pouring outside-we postponed going to the shop till we realize that it is not going to improve. Drenched is not the word, my rain jacket seemed to have lost its ability to let the water run down and not in!!! I cannot really run but dodging the cars between red lights and those who do not stop for them I had to make a run to get safely to the pharmacy side, I really took a bit of a jog there-the knee is playing along! The temperature is 4° but with the icy rain and the stormy winds it feels more like -10 out there. It took 10 ½ days for Eircom to come and fix the broken telephone line! There stands a tree fairly near to the pole and with the strong winds the stark bare branches of the tree literally broke the line off where it comes out of the box on the pole. Barry suffered most –he is attached to the computer and found it very annoying that he could not follow his antique auctions and SA News. My iPad was not working as there were no internet modem or WiFi , I sometimes received emails over the phone but that was also very sporadic and many emails I send from my phone never reached its destinations but thankfully we are on air again and can continue with life as before. There were 253 emails awaiting my attention. What I thought I could delete I did –losing out on my usual medical news and left family letters and photos to be perused! I have not got through them all but as the day goes on I hope to do just that. The stormy Atlantic weather system that has been battering the island has been very sad and heartbroken. The sea just went out of control with waves 3 stories high and promenades, houses, roads, buildings just gone-a relief fund has been made available as many of the business people do not have insurance anymore especially after the last disaster, not so long ago! We are very fortunate that we do not live near a river or stream and on a slight incline therefore all excess water runs past the house to the bottom of the field where it meets up with the stream from the spring! The garden is going green and when the weather allows it I do my 4-5 km walk outside, I know every plant and bud, wonderful to see how nature awakens, The Jasmine will open early next week and so will some of the daffodils. A creeping rose that Barry pulled out because it would not grow I broke a piece off and stuck it into the ground and it is so happy it has nearly covered the entire wall even with the winter cold –it never stopped growing! It has been too wet and cold to start digging the vegetable garden and in spite of all our good intentions it will have to wait a bit longer. The crocuses are flowering and it brings great colour after the bleak winter. On the political front disaster is always on the horizon- they attacked on RTE the other minded people and now deformation monies have to be paid out to the homophobias. The biggest court case in the history of the country has started with the bankers and associates who brought the country to its knees in 2008! The problem is that they lied so much and then they cannot remember the story and it changes as times marches on! There is a new craze that apparently started on Face Book where youngster challenge each other to drink as much as they can of alcoholic drinks and then to attempt the dare set for them and so 2 young men who par-took in this, died in the last 2 weeks- unbelievable ! If it is not bullying young girls into suicide then they dare each other to death! The days are much longer and of course the night much shorter which is a great bonus! When the sun shines you count the hours and the days in the week! You who live in the sunshine and beg for some other weather ,count your blessings as we experience the effect of this sunless weather in the moods and mental attitudes of people, there is definitely a very dark side to this weather where sun is in short supply. Birthdays: TODAY!!!! Kathleen in England and Belinda in SA Happy birthday to you and may you have a wonderful day! Nine had her birthday during last weekend and officially turned a mighty 80 on the 5th! Happy Birthday to you and may you experience many more! Philip Josling has his birthday on the 12th and Brenda Dunne in England on the 13th happy Birthday to you all! Tomorrow is the best day of my week and as I played last week I will be privileged to sit in the pew and do some singing! We have just completed a brilliant series of sermons on Galatians! Ps 23 is now ahead! We do think of those who are not well, those who have had traumatic experiences in the last few months, those who are in recovery , those who are preparing for a new academic year, and those who are studying already for final exams. There are also those who are preparing themselves for a wedding on the 1st in Standerton- may all go well Jeanne! The parents are also in preparation mode! The joy of being parents! Congratulations to Leopoldt with the eldership he entered into! The opening of the Winter Olympic in Sochi was very impressive- we also saw a documentary of the hardship and all the problems that this whole project brought to those who worked on it! Many were not paid for months on end! Thank you for all the photos, the letters and lovely emails- be assured that it is much appreciated and enjoyed! May you all be diligent in safety at home and where-ever you find yourselves. Drive safely and be careful! Wet ,windy and stormy greetings from us in Cranelymore! Barry & Christina

Ongure weersgroete

Saterdag 25 Januarie’14 Goeie dag allemall, familie en vriende, Ons het ongure weer, staan op vanoggend en dit is 8 °en soos die dag ouer word ,word dit kouer en nou is dit 3°! Die wind waai verwoed en die reen val asof ons die droogste plek op aarde is! Meteens kom daar ‘n breek in die massa wolke en die son skyn vir 30 sekondes! Net ‘n illusie! Ons het regtig niks om oor te kla nie – dit is winter en dit moet koud wees en eintlik het ons so-ver nog baie lig daarvan afgekom! Daar gaan nog niks buite aan die gang nie – ons sal nie voor 1ste week in Feb ,as die weer dit toelaat, buite toe beweeg, intussen bly ons snoesig in hibernasie binne!,die vuur brand daagliks vanaf 2nm en ons geniet die warmte van die TV kamer! Blomme is verward maar dit gee kleur ek het heel party geel botterblommetjies wat blom en ‘n paar anemone!Ons is dankbaar oor die reen wat in Brisbane geval het en hoop en bid dat die dele in SA wat so bitter droog is ook reen kry! Ek het my besoek aan die ortopeet met vlieende faandels geslaag en ek het byna 100% funksie van die knie terug, maar moet aanhou oefeninge doen en my 4km ‘n dag stap! As die weer so beroert is soos vandag trap ek die vlieg wiel vir kilometers op ‘n slag! Die katte is pragtig hulle het die oorhand gekry en ons het langlaas die baklei kat gesien- hy het sommer oordag kom moeilikheid maak maar na die laaste geveg en stuk turf wat na hom gegooi is moes hy seker besluit dit is nie veilig nie! Ons het hom nooit raakgegooi nie maar net skrikgemaak – hy is goed versorg en is sommer aan die rondloop! Ons het nog nie by die vee-arts uitgekom nie –sal wel ‘n plan maak daar was meer dringende dinge wat ons aandag geverg het! Dit is nou byna 10 jr wat ons sukkel om vir Barry ‘n pensioen te laat krymaart hulle het dit in vir hom en ons wag alweer in spanning om te hoor wat die resultaat van Maandag se besoek gaan wees! Hy het nooit in Ierland gewerk nie en omdat ek gewerk het kon hy niks kry nie maar nou is ek afgetree en is hy veronderstel om iets te kry –al die mense uit Afrika kry huise, karre en enige moontlike toelaag om hulle gelukkig te hou maar ons vel kleur is ongelukkig nie donker genoeg nie! Baie dankie aan al die lekker lees briefies- ai ons geniet dit baie! Op die politieke front gaan dit beroert! Die “whistle blower” uit die Garda –die 2de een het gskrifte om sy aantuigings te bevestig – hier kry jy “penalty points” vir verkeerde bestuur gedrag, drink en ry, belasting en assuransie, spoed ens. As jy nou invloed en geld het kom jy weg met die punte wat dan teen jou verskyn deur middel van,hoe sal weet- maar as dit puntjie by paaltjie kom is die punte teen jou gekanselleer! Die hoof van verkeeren Garda staan op vir sy mense en die ouens wat die stories vertel is onderduims! Die ellende van donasie gelde vir liefdadigheid wat gebruik is om die groot manne se pakette aantevul is nog op die voorblaaie- der duisende €’s is so bestee aan salaris pakette instede van die liefdadigheid self! Daar is miljoene alreeds bestee aan die waterskema voorstelling en mense wat van wie weet waar kom om hul mening te gee en nog niks het gebeur nie- die verbrandings konstruksie vir vuilgoed beheer is nou byna 10 jaar in wording en so iets soos 94 miljoen bestee aan mense wat praat en nog geen steen is opmekaar geplaas nie! Ag ja, ek wonder wie het by wie geleer om korrupt te wees! Verjaarsdae!Dimitrij Butkovic verjaar 26ste en Reuben Kruger die 29ste Sharon die 30ste Veels geluk aan julle almal! ‘n pragtige jaar julle tegewens! Ons herdenk ook die dood van my twee broers, Paul en Gerhard op 30 Januarie 10 jaar gelede,ons dink aan Nine en Isabel, die kinders, klein kinders en hul kinders wat hul oupas nooit sal ken nie! Die wat studeer, doen dit goed en met ywer, die wat ‘n nuwe jaar begin jul kragte is nog baie! Sukses aan almal wat eksamen moet skryf! Ons dink ook aan almal wat nie gesond is nie en hoop van harte dat hul gou beter sal voel! More is die beste dag van die week en Joy sal orgel speel en ek sal sing! Ons het ook ‘n nuwe man en vrou wat nou so 10 mnde in die land is en net 1maand lank hier in Longford woon, wat verlede Sondag na ons kerk toegekom het, ontmoet! Ons het hulle oorgenooi vir koffie en hoop hulle sal gelukkig hier wees! Ek dink hulle het gevlug van die swart gevaar en nie besef hoeveel van die gevaar reeds hier op ons klein eiland woon nie! Nou ja die nuus is min en ons het lanklaas met die kinders geSKYPE want elke keer gebeur iets of die een moet toilet toe of die een wil kos he en op die manier hoop ons om hulle darem weer eersdaags te sien! Ry asseblief versigtig, wees altyd gereed vir die onverwagte, veiligheid tuis , by die werk en oral waar jy jou bevind is van uiterste belang! Geniet julle klein kinderts en fotos is regtig in groot aanvraag! Groete vanuit ‘n verwarde Cranleymore waar die son sopas vir 10 minute geskyn het! Ongelukkig het dit weer donker geword en ek is bevrees as jy buite is, kom gou in anders is jy sopnat! Barry & Christina

Greetings from a cold Cranleymore

Saturday 17 January’14 Good day to all, family and friends, It is with a little bit of hopefulness ,2 ° outside- it is cold and wet, not the usual pattern of warmer weather when it rains, disappointing, and it also means I cannot walk outside and have to use my fly wheel more times today than otherwise! I have a feeling that we have been spoilt this winter as it has not really been cold and when the temperatures do drop we feel it more than before! We are both well and so are our animals, very brave Spottie fighting nearly every night to protect his territory – he is scarred and you can clearly see where the fur has been pulled out! Patches is the timid one and watches from the windowsill! The big visiting black and white cat comes back in spite of being chased and turf thrown at him! One dove is back and that was lovely to see-wondering where its mate is? The doorbell rang and a man from some company request to enter our premises as he has to check the electrical pole standing in our garden, the same one that stood in 6” of water 2 weeks ago. Every tree has a plague on with details of day and date erected and a serial number. The big leaf ivy with white and green leaves must have been winding up that pole since it was erected in 1967. The pole is rotten, you can push your finger right into it- they were forced to remove the Ivy to expose the data and left us with the notice that the pole will have to be replaced in the near future –some-else will come and do that!. Suddenly the garden is bigger as the ivy took a big enough space all around the pole. We will be notified of date and time by post! On the political front we sit with a scandal that is nearly un-over-come-able! The Irish, give them credit , are very good in collecting money for charity and there are many charities that benefit from the good heartedness of the Irish. The HSE also have a centre for remedial care for the hundred if not thousands of children born with some defect or genetic deviation, Downs syndrome ,or autism, many in severe situations of needing care 24hrs a day! The centre is run by a board and directors like everything else and the last CEO left there sometime last year with a handshake of €740,000 which now have come to light, were taken from the charity find for the CRC. Those who were aware of it were sworn to silence and when it came to light it caused many charities to come forward and declaring where their monies were paid into and to whom. It is not the correct way of saying thank you, to a man’s services as the centre needs the money more than him and this has caused tremendous anxious moment the last week in the Erachtus, where the investigation is taking place with all different members of political parties and responsible people for the fraud! This is only one – and it might, for all we know be just the tip of the iceberg! So be careful where and to whom you give your monies! The heat in Australia is frightening , the fires destroying woodland – harshness of the summer temperatures seems to spiral out of all control! I am well aware of areas in SA where the draught is so bad that animals are dying and dams drying up. There is also the national wide issue of electric pilons that will destroy the landscape and the fracking that will destroy everything underneath us! We need power but not in my back yard. We also need alternative energy but also not in my back yard! We are very proud of all the students that did well in their exams and think of those who with renewed energy start a new year or a new model! May it go well with all of you! Those you start new jobs and those who are ready to leave! May it go well with you as well! Birthdays Kylie Du Toit 23rd and Leandra 24th- Happy Birthday to you. The garden is starting to liven up- Hyathins, daffodils, tulips anemones, as well as many of the other plants in the garden are showing green leaves and buts! In another 2 weeks , weather permitting we will start in the vegetable garden, preparing the soil and planting + the pruning of certain bushes! Tomorrow is as always the best day of the week for me and I will be very privilege tomorrow to be back behind the organ! I have been driving since last Sunday! The Physio -Therapist also discharged me from his care will flying colours! Thank you to all of you who wrote such lovely letters of late and continue doing it! I have said before, we devour all the news! Please drive safely, keep safety always in mind home and away! Greetings from a cold Cranleymore Barry & Christina

Sonnige groete vanuit Cranleymore

Saterdag 11 Januarie’14 Goeie dag aan allemaal, familie en vriende, Ek is net in van buite na my stap in heerlike sonskyn, die son sit nog maar laag op die horison maar hy skyn en dit is al wat tel. Dit was vanmôre regtig koud -2 teen 9vm, die ryp het goed wit gelê en die huis was omring met ys! Barry moes erg versigtig sy werkies doen ,want as jy op die ys gly, is jy daarmeeheen! Gelukkig het die weer kalmer geraak en die laaste van die storms is verby ,ekstra hoë getye, golwe wat 30 meter hoog hul draaie gooi,idiote wat van oral in die wêreld gekom het om branderplank te ry! Die skade wat aan die kus dorpe aangerig is beloop in miljoene der miljoene, Europa sal seker darem help , dis nie net hier nie maar oral oor Europa. Ek kry die Amerikaners baie jammer want hulle vires toe en so ook die Nyagra valle! Bly om te hoor van Arnolda dat Kanada weer terug na normaal is! Soos ek loop sien ek oral die ontplooiing van blaartjies en hoe die bome bot- dit is darem wonderlik wat in die natuur gebeur- alles word weer nuut! Onse Spottie, die groter van die twee katte het dit in sy kop dat hy die plek moet verdedig met sy lewe- en hy was in ‘n hele paar gevegte –orals sien jy net die wol pluise soos hulle geveg het- Ons probeer die groot swart en wit kat verwilder maar hy is baie skelm! Ons beplan om hulle volgende week by die vee-arts te kry en hoop hulle sal minder aggresief wees,daarna! Patches is nie baie braaf nie en sit maar die spul en beskou!, raak nie betrokke nie! Ons het ‘n magdom voëltjies wat kom eet- dit is pragtig om na hul sang te luister en soms kan dit so oorweldigend wees dat jy jou verwonder aan die desibels wat die klank bereik! Dit bly mooi maak nie saak hoe hard hulle sing nie! Met my laaste besoek aan die fisioterapeut ( ek moet nog een besoek bring) het hy verklaar dat ek elke mylpaal in die rehabilitasie program reeds bereik het. Miskien het ek dit soms bietjie oordoen , maar nie ten kwade nie maar ek het my voorgeneem dat as ek die sjirurg sien moet hy nie kan agterkom dat ek ‘n knie vervanging gehad het nie! Die besoek is gereël vir Donderdag! Ek hoop dat ek dan toestemming sal kry om te bestuur! Barry was wonderlik hy was chaffeur en het hom uitstekend van sy taak gekwyt, sonder lisensie en al, maar hy bestuur so versigtig en daar was geen Garda op die paaie wat ons gery het nie en geen stop punte nie dus was daar geen rede vir bekommerd wees nie! Hy het reeds 10 jr gelede toegelaat dat sy lisensie verval en hy het dit nooit hier weer probeer kry nie! Op die politieke front lê die hospitaal pasiente almal op trollies en wag vir beddens. Die logika van die mense gaan my verstand te bowe. Dis nou sedert die val van die Celtic Tiger wat daar ‘n moratorium op die aanstel van verpleegsters was en almal wat klaar gestudeer het is die land uit want hier was geen werk vir hulle nie- sommige het wel in verpleeginrigtings poste gekry maar elkeen is nie ‘n ou mens ge-orienteerde verpleegster nie, beddens staan leeg .sale staan leeg en nou het hulle geen verpleegsters om te werk as hulle die beddens gaan oopmaak nie en nou moet hulle verpleegsters van wie weet waar weer invoer! Hulle het miljoene gespandeer op advies oor die water ellende van die land- 4de wêreldse gedagtegang en groot gebiede is nog onder ‘kook die water’ verpligting! Water meters word nou ge-installeer sodat die mense kan betaal vir die water en die 15 miljoen wat hulle vir advies betaal het! Dit gaan hulle ‘n jaar neem om die meters in die grond te kry en teen 2015 gaan ons dan betaal dat ons hik in ‘n land wat meer water het as land! Die Taoiseach is in Dubai besig om vriende daar te werf , hulle het al so baie van Ierland in pag met hulle resies perde! Nou ja ons hoop maar dat die jaar goed sal verloop ten spyte van al die idiote wat aan beheer staan en dat hulle tog die regte besluite sal neem . O Ja die sogenaamde Christelike Eiland (katoliek) se President is ‘n mens wat nie in die Drie-enige God glo nie!- Nou wonder ‘n mens maar net! Die foto’s en briewe van die afgelope weke was heerlike leesstof! As julle dit nou maar net kan volhou! Baie het reeds hul jare goed geslaag en ander moet nog hard werk maar ons dink aan elkeen wat hul grys selle in rat hou! Verjaarsdae!MarieJanke verjaar16e en Dorothy Dennis 17de! Veels Geluk aan julle albei! Mag die jaar goed verloop! Ons SKYPE maar met die kinders want almal werk daar en hulle was siek oor Kers en Nuwe Jaar – dus kry ons hulle darem te sien! Môre is my beste dag van die week en ek sien uit na die sielsvoedsel en die lekker sing! ! Isabel gaan bietjie by Joleen kuier en ander gaan eers Maandag terug werk toe! Mag dit met julle lamal goed gaan! Daar is soveel mense dood op die paaie en vir die wat nog moet reis ,wees asb versigtig en veiligheid tuis is altyd van uiterste belang! Ons groet van ‘n heerlike sonnige Cranleymore en hoop om van almal iets te hoor! Liefde Barry & Christina

Wet winter greetings 2014

Saturday 4 January’14 Good day to all, family and friends, Just back from my walk in bright sunshine! , a slight breeze and dark clouds building up from the west. Poor Ireland has been battered by high tides, winds of 100-130km/h, floods and power cuts for the last 14 days on and off! Temperatures not bad, between 1-5° early morning , going sometimes up to 8 or 9°, not as hot as there in Belgium, but very mild. We had an odd morning of black ice and frost and -2°- but that has been the worst! Rain unbelievable- we had several pools of water on the lawn and our electrical pole stood in a good deep pool of 6” of water for several days, I noticed this morning that it has subsided a lot but it still sloshes when you step too near! Farmers fields have turned into inland lakes- rivers has burst their banks and it is still not over- the forecast is again for heavy rains, storm strong winds, & flooding . In spite of all that, there is a wonderful glimmer in the sun rays – so bright and crisp and we do appreciate the sun, as it is somewhat of a commodity to us! The garden looks awful –brown in most spots but in between the evergreen which bring colour to the dullness! The daisy bush is ready to burst into flower and I found a lost little rose this morning, all the bulbs are up, Hyathins, daffodils and tulips, and even the grass has grown! We are very glad that this madness of the festive period is over because it is such a money making racket it hurts your soul! We have communion tomorrow to start the New Year in the church and that is always very special! I am still not allowed to drive or play the organ, I think I could, but the disability movement because of the stiffness in the knee means that I cannot re-act quickly enough in case of a sudden stop or whatever in the traffic! The organ means that my leg is not aligned and at home I get up if I get a spasm but it will be a bit funny if I suddenly stand up in front of the organ! In the pew I can stretch my leg or bend it more, what- ever the case maybe! Patience- I do walk since yesterday without my crutches, 6 weeks yesterday! We bought a “Fly Wheel” a modification of an exercise bike where I sit on a chair and pedal away with or without resistance! I am still freewheeling! It is mainly to compensate for the bad weather when it is impossible to walk outside! The cats- we have seen now 2 new cats visiting with our own 2 sitting on the windowsill with ears forward and eyes as big as saucers! one is a Black and white cat beautiful animal, well fed, with a lovely coat- long hair, and then a bigger brownish ginger cat – little shy but comes to finish what our cats left in their plate! There are bird feeders every-where and hundreds of birds visit us daily ,gold finches, green finches, bull finches, sparrows, blue tits and tits(they are bigger than the blue tits)Black birds& robins! Do not know about “mossies”? We had hoped to see a pheasant but were not so privileged! All relatively quiet on the political front- we are waiting for the explosion on Monday! Schools re-open and most people are back at work! A big thank you to all who wrote letters, sent photos, and shared their year with us- it was most enjoyable! Keep it up and Kathleen who wrote such a wonderful Afrikaans letter! Congratulations! In Some places it is very cold -45° like in Yakutsk or 41° in Brisbane . Some places floods and other places so dry cattle are dying! It is difficult to understand why these weather patterns exist – is it really global warming or is it the natural run of events! Birthdays! Josie in England 6th, Corli 9th! Happy birthday to you both! I would appreciate if I could have the birthdates of all the new arrivals, Otto and Louie! Ouma Nine please let me know! The days are getting longer and the nights shorter which give us a spring in our step! We think of all those who are waiting for results! Those who are going to school for the first time- those who are going to high school, Those who still have to write a few exams to get where they want to be- research projects to be completed and all the doctors qualified and ready for new challenges! We also think of those who are not well, those who are still in the process of recovery- those who are worried about something, those who are struggling with cancer! “Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, To trust Me in the dark. The more extreme your circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation “ From Jesus Calling. I have to share with you the wonder of technology and that you are never too old to learn something new! Mendel , my brother in George and us Skype during the week , not only did I hear his voice but we could see each other first time in 10 years! That was a wonderful experience and we will be able to do this now more often! Well done Mendel! We also correspond now via email! Thank you also to Hillie and all the children and grand children that has made this possible! Thank you also to Tjaart who so regularly supplied Mendel with a printout of my letter! You will be blessed Tjaart! We greet you with the usual reminder to remember safety in and around the house and on the roads! Wet winter greetings from Cranleymore Christina