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