Saturday 16 July’11
Good day to all, Family and friends.
We have had a glorious week filled with bright sun shine, some cloud, no winds and intense warmth, something we lack desperately in our summers!
We are happy, smiling and do not have a care in the world! Thank the Lord! It is somewhat cooler today but still lovely! The Island is green from east to west and north to west!
With the good weather and the dryness Hay making was at the order of the day. The older farmers still turn the hay; pack it under tarpaulin and 100s of old tyres to keep for the winter. The younger and more sophisticated you are the better the machinery. The enormous tractors with the cutter behind comes in and cut the hay, It lies for about 48 hrs and is then gets picked up by another fancy tractor and contraption that bales it and wrap a piece of plastic around it to keep it in place and as it is finished it drops off the back of the platform. The next tractor arrives and with something like a fork lift, pick up all the bales and stack them at the end of the field where another tractor with another fancy machine picks up the bale wrap it neatly in black plastic from side to side up and down and when finished drops same. The next tractor comes with the trailer designed to pick up bales and with the same forklift utensil stack the bales on the trailer and it is taken away to where- ever!
That is all very fancy but not the end of it! Some farmers allow the cattle to come and graze the rest of the field, mostly the sides where the machine COULD NOT CUT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. Remember the weather is still good and then it happens. The slurry that was gathered during the coldest part of the winter in big slurry tanks arrive now by tractor and spreader. The next 48 hrs is nearly unbearable the smell is from an unknown place-far removed from human habitat but then deposited right next to you! The flies comes with it and not just flies but real big “ brommers” You can hardly breath and every vent is closed , you dare it not to go outside or you will be overpowered by the fumes of 6 months fermented manure! It so happened that the Irish have Cemetery Sunday where they beautify every cemetery and honour the dead with a service. In Killoe they were busy with this service in a country church cemetery. THE FARMER WHO OWNS THE LAND RIGHT NEXT TO THE CHURCH AND CEMETRY COULD NOT CARE A HOOT AND WHILE THE PEOPLE WERE HAVING A BARBERQUE HE CAME ALONG AND SPREAD THIS REFINED PERFUME RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THEY WERE EATING!
The outcry was loud and clear ...but as always no one listens and life continues, and we went through the exact same event- the fumes were of such magnitude that I experienced a broncho spasm and needed to take my inhalers for the 1st time in a year!
The country is once again plummeted into disbelief about the hierarchy of the Catholic Church that allowed the child abuse to continue and where it was reported to cover it up and the ambassador from the Vatican was asked to leave but that is also just talk as the Catholics control the Government in such a way that they are like clay in the evil doers hands! The schools with the exception of the Protestant schools and very new in the country are all in the hands of the Bishops and Cardinals and Priests and Brothers and they all cover up for each other! The Government is in the process to change this but it will take some years, that is for sure. Child abuse is rife, in every aspect of life but it is so sad that where it is the most detestable there it is aloud! They all need a lot of prayer and maybe they do not know that God can see behind doors and in the dark and does not matter how much they deny it –“ I have nothing to apologise for- I did nothing wrong” they will one day stand in front of the Most High Judge and all will be revealed!
Away from the church and its problems – the hospital is moving with speed into being a very well serviced centre of excellence! The Cardiology dept opened last Monday and the new Cardiologist is apparently a man that knows his work, the Emergency department is opening on Monday coming and we are all on standby! The x-ray CT and MRI dept is up and running and a SA person is working there, I have not met her yet but there are many SA Doctors and workers in the field of medicine especially here in the Midlands. Some SA doctors arrived – Cilna and Husband Rina and Husband and Cynthia and Husband! we hope you enjoy your stay!! This country lack common sense in great chunks The numbers of student allowed into the medical school is curtailed to only say 150 per year, may be more but not much more- Only those who achieved the highest point are allowed to apply- they study for 5 years and then when finished leave the country instead of staying and working for the government for at least 2 years( They can specialise in other countries in shorten time than in Ireland) – That means that an enormous drive to find newly qualified doctors has been going on everywhere but mostly in Pakistan to cover the shortage of doctors in the hospitals! On the 11th July the previous lot of Dr’s move on and it left a big hiatus – no new drs to fill the posts! It is a desperate situation but they still do not stop the exit of newly qualified drs in spite of the problem! IDIOTS!
My heart is in the Boskamp with all those eating biltong and having a braai every evening, watching the animals come and drink at the waterhole and listen to the sounds of the bosveld night.
I hope that you all are having a blessed time together!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and it is my turn to play the organ! We have a visiting preacher and the last time he was there he preached from a book not to be found in our pew Bibles which upset the older people tremendously- this time I was assured it will not happen again as I am the only one that tell this kind of thing to our own minister! May all who attend services on this special day be filled with food for their souls especially those that has been severely traumatised in the last week. Laurel we keep you in our prayers.
Birthdays! 20th Werner Scholtz, slightly older that myself but still young! A very good and blessed year is our prayers for you!
Little Leandri du Toit whose birthday I was just been notified of on 21st- Happy Birthday to you Young lady I will send a special email card to you!
We remember our dear Tante Poppie in love – her birthday would have been on the 23rd.
My Bother Johann who passed away many years ago(1984) would have 71!on the 16th
IF I MISSED A BIRTHDAY IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT AS I WOULD NOT HAVE THE DATE!
We are watching the British Open but in the mist as I could not improve the picture from the Analog Channels- will have to get a man out to check a few things. I had hoped to convince Barry to get Sky but he will not bite- Does not matter how I try!
The garden is a feast of colour! The roses against the wall looks exceptionally beautiful a mass of pink roses in the corner the most glorious dark red bush with many roses on The white rose next to the house is so Beautiful- I measured the diameter which is 6” it is so heavy it pulls the whole stem down! Sweet peas are available in every colour and shade! The nasturtiums are lovely – the baskets are passed their beauty but still gives colour! The vegetable garden- outside – not in a tunnel like Biancha’s, is doing well! The cabbage heads are big and solid! Spinach still growing strong, carrots so sweet it tastes more like sweets! The onions are strong and the peas are ready to pick!
The potatoes are standing in full bloom and we will not need any shop potatoes for a while when they are ready!
The apples on the trees are swelling out and sit bright red on the branches! I cooked some black current and raspberry jam – very lovely!
Bird life is very exciting- mamma’s feeding little ones, the red robins fledged yesterday and our cats visiting realize if they wait till it is dark they get nothing so have been arriving much earlier in order to be fed! Spoilt out of this world! The days are much shortened Sun rise was 24 past 5am on Thursday morning! Last night it was darkish by 22h30! The moon too brilliant for words!
I have nothing more to say – those who live in places where their safety is not for granted- please take care !
It just started to drizzle and it is very soothing- not cold at all!
Those who do not want to receive this letter please notify me in order to remove you from the email list! Just thinking that you regard it as tripe and delete it without reading it, saddens me, I rather not send it!
Greetings from a cloudy but lovely day in Cranleymore!
Barry & Christina
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Groete uit 'n somerige Ierland
Sondag 10 Julie’11
Goeie dag Allemaal, familie en vriende en baie spesiaal aan die nuwe vriende op my pos lys! Marianne en Lizzie!
Gelukkig dat ek vandag kan skryf- die hospital het 3nm gesluit en ek hoef nie vannag te werk nie! More aand is ek weer terug aan diens.
Ek is nou goed wakker en kan met vreugde sé dat die buie, dis nou reën word gereeld afgewissel met wonderlike warm welkom sonskyn! Julle moet verstaan dat temperature in Finland was gister 32! En hoe dit moontlik is weet ek nie maar hier het dit net so 20-22 geraak op sekere plekke en dan skrik hierdie klomp Iere hulle skoon katswink vir die donderweer.
Kyk nou net na die beelde van die ellendes in Belfast- daar is mense wat so hard probeer om vrede in die punt van hierdie eiland te bring maar die afgelope 3 weke het nou gewys dat dit nog lank nie verby is nie- dit is so jammer want toerisme wat so brood nodig is word erg befoeter deur die spul ontevrede onredelike idiote, die Protestante inwoners die keer, wat geen rede will verstaan nie en soos Barry se die toekoms van Noord Ierland se ellendes is nog nie gebore nie. Mense is bang en vrees vir hul lewens- karre is uitgebrand en polisie beseer! Petrolbomme is die wapen van die dag. Gaan oor vlae wat gestryk is in plekke naby kerke en mense word uit hul huise gedryf. Groot massiewe ‘bon fires’ word aan die brand gesteek. Dis oorlog in die Noorde van vooraf!
Hier by ons is die gort gar. Die Feinne Gael party wat nou aan bewind is het met die voor verkiesing veldtog baie beloftes gemaak wat nou totaal in al in die modder vasgeval is- Die Taiseach het ontken dat hy die beloftes gemaak maar hier is ‘big brother’ wat jou dophou en alles hoor en opneem wat jy sê en nou speel hulle sy besoek aan die hospital waar die Ongevalle afd. Van Roscommon Hospitaal more oggend om 8vm toegmaak word, terug en Hy skud die personeel se hande en beloof plegtig dat die behoud van die hospitaal dienste ten alle koste behou sal word. Hy sal nou sy trap moet ken want die valletjie is uit!
Mense is woedend en voel dat vals beloftes was gemaak om die stem van die mense te kry- ons is wel bekend met die metode in SA!
Gedurende die week was ons as SA vroue in Ierland se Midlands bymekaar om koffie te drink en in ons eie taal te praat- dit klink baie soos die gegons van die bye!
Ek het nog 2 SA dames ontmoet en soos altyd is dit altyd baie spesiaal. Daar is nou byna meer SAfrikaners in Die middel van Ierland as in die Vrystaat!
Gister wat seker een van die besigste dae in die lewe van die hospitaal sedert ek daar begin werk bet 7 jaar gelede! Dink julle net in- 26 kindertjies tussen 4-15jr met elk ‘n ouer n ‘n saal met 32 beddens plus 4 volwassenes almal behalwe een se mangels wat verwyder is! Dit was besiger as Heathrow die dag voor Kersfees!
Gelukkig het hulle hierdie keer pasient veiligheid laat seëvier en ons was 2 verpleegsters en ‘n helper met 1 verpleegster wat die man met die grootste operasie ‘ge-special’ het. Teen 1vm was almal aan die slaap en ons kon ‘n kopiie tee drink vir die 1ste keer. Dit het vroeg(04h45) gister oggend begin toe ons reeds 14 pasiente in die saal gehad het van die vorige dag. Hulle moes almal wakker gemaak word ,pyn verligting en antibiotika gegee word, al die mammies se beddens opgemaak word van wie daar aan my kant alleen 7 was , en die saal moes aan die kant wees teen ¼ voor 7 vir die 1ste opnames vir die dag se groot teater lys!
Dit was geen grap nie!
Die ou, MG (die baas) het darem die ordentlikheid gehad om te skakel van England waar hy deel van die naweek met sy gesin deurbring, om te hoor hoe die dag verloop het en of ons dit darem gemaak het! Ongewone gedrag vir hom, maar hy het ook ‘n spesiale operasie dag gehad vir mense met nierstene wat met laser flenters geblaas word en 11 pasiente was in die ander saal waar hierdie prosedure plaas gevind het- masjien en tegnoloog en spesialis oorgebring vna Engeland! Die kadiologie dept maak môre-oggend oop en ek is dankbaar ek werk gedurende die nag!
My tuin: Die groente tuin is in chaos, total oorgroei en onbeheerbaar! Het alles te naby aanmekaar geplant en met die gans mis in die grond het alles dubbel so groot gegroei! Die aartappels is nou in blom en die ons sal die week ertjies kan pluk. Die wortels is heerlik en die spinasie is nou op ‘n einde die duitse pers wortels(kan nou glad nie onthou wat dit genoem word nie)RADYSE is groter as die wortels en nou wonder ek hoe ons dit moet eet? Net opsny in slaai of kan mens die kook?
Die rose is buitegewoon mooi- die muur is pink, pers en bloedrooi en jou oog rus op die wonder van natuur!
My tamatie plant in die voorportaal staan nou 6vt hoog en ons het die 1ste tamaties vanmiddag gepluk!
Ons het kerk gemis want ek het geslaap- groot verlies vir sielskos maar ons sal opmaak met ekstra Bybel studie!
Verjaardae: Die nuwe lede van my adreslys word versoek om verjaardae deurtestuur sodat goeie wense julle kan bereik op jul belangrike dag ook die van kinders. Hier die week stuur ek gelukwensinge aan Esther Kroon Veels Geluk vriendin- mag dit ‘n pragtige jaar vir jou wees! Pauli Eloff in Engeland- ook goeie wense vir jou! Geniet jou besoek aan SA.
Nou ja my nuus is op en as ek die brief wil uitstuur voor die nag my oorval moet ek nou end kry! Gerlof vertrek môre na SA veilige reis en geniet! Baie dankie vir al die lekker lees briefies- dit is so welkom!
Hierdie keer groet ek vanuit Cranleymore waar daar tans geen reën val nie en die son besig is om onder te gaan en waar dit lekker warm was vir die hele dag!
Wees altyd versigtig!
Liefde groete
Barry en Christina
NS : Ons het ook ‘n Nuwe TV gekoop om by tehou met tegnologie want die ou TV sou obsoluut gewees het aan die einde van die jaar! Na groot ellende het ek uiteindelik toe al die Analog kanale ook ingstel gekry!(die digitale kanale was ‘self-tuning’) Daarvoor moet ek gelukwensinge ontvang!( Hoe klap ek myself nou op die rug!)
Goeie dag Allemaal, familie en vriende en baie spesiaal aan die nuwe vriende op my pos lys! Marianne en Lizzie!
Gelukkig dat ek vandag kan skryf- die hospital het 3nm gesluit en ek hoef nie vannag te werk nie! More aand is ek weer terug aan diens.
Ek is nou goed wakker en kan met vreugde sé dat die buie, dis nou reën word gereeld afgewissel met wonderlike warm welkom sonskyn! Julle moet verstaan dat temperature in Finland was gister 32! En hoe dit moontlik is weet ek nie maar hier het dit net so 20-22 geraak op sekere plekke en dan skrik hierdie klomp Iere hulle skoon katswink vir die donderweer.
Kyk nou net na die beelde van die ellendes in Belfast- daar is mense wat so hard probeer om vrede in die punt van hierdie eiland te bring maar die afgelope 3 weke het nou gewys dat dit nog lank nie verby is nie- dit is so jammer want toerisme wat so brood nodig is word erg befoeter deur die spul ontevrede onredelike idiote, die Protestante inwoners die keer, wat geen rede will verstaan nie en soos Barry se die toekoms van Noord Ierland se ellendes is nog nie gebore nie. Mense is bang en vrees vir hul lewens- karre is uitgebrand en polisie beseer! Petrolbomme is die wapen van die dag. Gaan oor vlae wat gestryk is in plekke naby kerke en mense word uit hul huise gedryf. Groot massiewe ‘bon fires’ word aan die brand gesteek. Dis oorlog in die Noorde van vooraf!
Hier by ons is die gort gar. Die Feinne Gael party wat nou aan bewind is het met die voor verkiesing veldtog baie beloftes gemaak wat nou totaal in al in die modder vasgeval is- Die Taiseach het ontken dat hy die beloftes gemaak maar hier is ‘big brother’ wat jou dophou en alles hoor en opneem wat jy sê en nou speel hulle sy besoek aan die hospital waar die Ongevalle afd. Van Roscommon Hospitaal more oggend om 8vm toegmaak word, terug en Hy skud die personeel se hande en beloof plegtig dat die behoud van die hospitaal dienste ten alle koste behou sal word. Hy sal nou sy trap moet ken want die valletjie is uit!
Mense is woedend en voel dat vals beloftes was gemaak om die stem van die mense te kry- ons is wel bekend met die metode in SA!
Gedurende die week was ons as SA vroue in Ierland se Midlands bymekaar om koffie te drink en in ons eie taal te praat- dit klink baie soos die gegons van die bye!
Ek het nog 2 SA dames ontmoet en soos altyd is dit altyd baie spesiaal. Daar is nou byna meer SAfrikaners in Die middel van Ierland as in die Vrystaat!
Gister wat seker een van die besigste dae in die lewe van die hospitaal sedert ek daar begin werk bet 7 jaar gelede! Dink julle net in- 26 kindertjies tussen 4-15jr met elk ‘n ouer n ‘n saal met 32 beddens plus 4 volwassenes almal behalwe een se mangels wat verwyder is! Dit was besiger as Heathrow die dag voor Kersfees!
Gelukkig het hulle hierdie keer pasient veiligheid laat seëvier en ons was 2 verpleegsters en ‘n helper met 1 verpleegster wat die man met die grootste operasie ‘ge-special’ het. Teen 1vm was almal aan die slaap en ons kon ‘n kopiie tee drink vir die 1ste keer. Dit het vroeg(04h45) gister oggend begin toe ons reeds 14 pasiente in die saal gehad het van die vorige dag. Hulle moes almal wakker gemaak word ,pyn verligting en antibiotika gegee word, al die mammies se beddens opgemaak word van wie daar aan my kant alleen 7 was , en die saal moes aan die kant wees teen ¼ voor 7 vir die 1ste opnames vir die dag se groot teater lys!
Dit was geen grap nie!
Die ou, MG (die baas) het darem die ordentlikheid gehad om te skakel van England waar hy deel van die naweek met sy gesin deurbring, om te hoor hoe die dag verloop het en of ons dit darem gemaak het! Ongewone gedrag vir hom, maar hy het ook ‘n spesiale operasie dag gehad vir mense met nierstene wat met laser flenters geblaas word en 11 pasiente was in die ander saal waar hierdie prosedure plaas gevind het- masjien en tegnoloog en spesialis oorgebring vna Engeland! Die kadiologie dept maak môre-oggend oop en ek is dankbaar ek werk gedurende die nag!
My tuin: Die groente tuin is in chaos, total oorgroei en onbeheerbaar! Het alles te naby aanmekaar geplant en met die gans mis in die grond het alles dubbel so groot gegroei! Die aartappels is nou in blom en die ons sal die week ertjies kan pluk. Die wortels is heerlik en die spinasie is nou op ‘n einde die duitse pers wortels(kan nou glad nie onthou wat dit genoem word nie)RADYSE is groter as die wortels en nou wonder ek hoe ons dit moet eet? Net opsny in slaai of kan mens die kook?
Die rose is buitegewoon mooi- die muur is pink, pers en bloedrooi en jou oog rus op die wonder van natuur!
My tamatie plant in die voorportaal staan nou 6vt hoog en ons het die 1ste tamaties vanmiddag gepluk!
Ons het kerk gemis want ek het geslaap- groot verlies vir sielskos maar ons sal opmaak met ekstra Bybel studie!
Verjaardae: Die nuwe lede van my adreslys word versoek om verjaardae deurtestuur sodat goeie wense julle kan bereik op jul belangrike dag ook die van kinders. Hier die week stuur ek gelukwensinge aan Esther Kroon Veels Geluk vriendin- mag dit ‘n pragtige jaar vir jou wees! Pauli Eloff in Engeland- ook goeie wense vir jou! Geniet jou besoek aan SA.
Nou ja my nuus is op en as ek die brief wil uitstuur voor die nag my oorval moet ek nou end kry! Gerlof vertrek môre na SA veilige reis en geniet! Baie dankie vir al die lekker lees briefies- dit is so welkom!
Hierdie keer groet ek vanuit Cranleymore waar daar tans geen reën val nie en die son besig is om onder te gaan en waar dit lekker warm was vir die hele dag!
Wees altyd versigtig!
Liefde groete
Barry en Christina
NS : Ons het ook ‘n Nuwe TV gekoop om by tehou met tegnologie want die ou TV sou obsoluut gewees het aan die einde van die jaar! Na groot ellende het ek uiteindelik toe al die Analog kanale ook ingstel gekry!(die digitale kanale was ‘self-tuning’) Daarvoor moet ek gelukwensinge ontvang!( Hoe klap ek myself nou op die rug!)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Greetings from Cranleymore
Saturday 2 July’11
Good day to all Family and friends,
At least it is not cold today and yesterday was hot, but I could not enjoy it as I was teaching CPR, although this period of time is called summer and you expect it to be warm, sunny, with bright skies, it does not apply to Cranleymore. We have our own weather here which differs from that in the town of Edgeworthstown as well as that of the county Longford and even of that of the Midlands.
The day started perfectly, gorgeous and we were so excited- it is now 11.30 and the clouds have made space for shadows where you do not want it and the possibility of rain is not far off!
Just back from outside as I wanted to hang to washing on the line but..... I am not Irish enough to do that-they leave the washing on the line for days until it eventually is dry , through the showers and whatever may happen in between- and it looks dark and ominous outside.
I always try to preserve energy but decided against it and have put the washing in the drier as it is my day off and I do not want to run in and out with the washing until.......!
The vegetable garden is totally overgrown and the goose manure has caused the plants to grow extra big and high.
We enjoyed broccoli and cauliflower during the week from our own garden and that was very special. The tomato plants on the porch are now 1.5 m high.
The roses are lovely and a rose that never grew and was really thrown out and put into the corner is now the most beautiful, dark red and sweet smelling rose thinkable. The sweet-peas are colourful and the petunias lovely- the baskets are passed their flowering time and are going down quickly now, maybe another 2 weeks and they will be gone.
The lower field is divided into 2, the pathway Barry cut for us to walk round and the inner part where the grasses were left growing for the enjoyment of the small birds and insects as well as the bees! The baby swallows do not fit into the nest anymore and reside now on the rafters of the donkey house until they depart.
Suddenly we have 3-4 cats visiting. The old cat that was coming to us for the last 2 years must be dead but the children now frequent the Dunnes hospitality. Two of her children visits now, as well as 2 black cats- the one is surely from a house around here as it sits and wait on the wall at the back door for Barry to bring something out! We recognise him as the one with the white spot on his chest. He does not even run away any-more. The other black cat does not look as well fed and is pitch black and very frightened.
The children of the matriarch arrives any time of the day and wait patiently under the hedge until Barry eventually bring something out- carefully check the surroundings out for danger and crawl then to the wall and devour all in no time everything that is available! We just love our visitors! The birds are also off course fed but only with old bread and oats! Mamma black bird is doing the feeding of the young all by herself, we have not seen the male for over 2 weeks- might have been killed as they would both be picking up worms to feed the young and he is no more.
The country itself is as beautiful as ever, lush green foliage on the trees and the farmers are cutting hay- very busy time of the year and our neighbour cut his fields behind is on Thursday evening – it has to lie for a couple of days and then the bailing starts, which he said he hope to do this afternoon- Ray, who does the cutting and bailing is from our church and he always have a minute to say good day to us which is lovely! The whole procedure has to be observed from inside the walls of our house where I am concerned as I get bad hay-fever from all the pollen- red watery eyes and non-stop sneezing, 20-30x in one go is nothing.
My knee gave final notice and I cannot walk on my treadmill at all anymore and we have decided to sell it- and buy a new TV we still have an old fashioned TV and hopefully we will now fit into the modern times.
At work the morale is low and this man MG as I call him may be a good businessman but there it ends! The new Emergency department is opening on the 18th and the Cardiology Dept on the 11th. There is a tremendous backlog of National Health patients waiting for operation for over 3 years and the hospital did a deal with the HSE and the consultants will work through the backlog at a lesser price and the hospital will give a special tariff- the package must be good as there is no money in the health sector and for the HSE to accept the deal means that it must be to their advantage. With that in mind the ENT surgeons are going to work like mad and the theatre staff as well as us in the ward for the next 3 weeks, we have been scheduled for extra shifts, instead for 3 nights a week we will be working 4 nights and then have the 1st week in August off- as the theatres will be closed for revamping and the installation of a clean air theatre where hip and knee replacements will be done!
I also did some teaching yesterday BLS (CPR) basic Life Support and another 40 still needs to be trained.
I lost track of what the politicians are up to accept for the one TD (member of parliament) who won a celebrity contest in 2007 for charity and now it came to the front that over 3,600 calls were made from the government building to vote for him and to prevent him being asked to resign, he decided to pay the account. They, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste (Prime minister and deputy with the Min of Finance) are still trying their best to get the interest rate down for the bailout moneys from the IMF but who knows what goes for what- I doubt if they themselves know what they are doing!
Birthday! Annemaria (Haya) on the 5th and Hester her sister the 6th, Happy Birthday to both of you! May it be a joyful year full of wonderful experiences and surprises.
Some results of exams have been coming forth and Jeanne Potgieter my friend Marthie’s daughter passed her year doing Law with Cum Laude! Wonderful and congratulations!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and as I have to work next weekend Joy will play for me and I will do her Sunday-tomorrow! Soul food and Praise is at the order of the day.
Sincerely hope that every-one will have a blessed Sunday and week!
Finbarr, Amanda and Lukas should be at their destination in the Canary Islands where they will spend the next 7 days!
They both worked extremely hard and deserve a rest- we will just miss talking to Lukas!
We read about the many farm murders and would just like to re-iterate the importance of being diligent with your own safety.
It started to rain and I greet you then from Cranleymore where things are always different than anywhere else!
Barry and Christina
Good day to all Family and friends,
At least it is not cold today and yesterday was hot, but I could not enjoy it as I was teaching CPR, although this period of time is called summer and you expect it to be warm, sunny, with bright skies, it does not apply to Cranleymore. We have our own weather here which differs from that in the town of Edgeworthstown as well as that of the county Longford and even of that of the Midlands.
The day started perfectly, gorgeous and we were so excited- it is now 11.30 and the clouds have made space for shadows where you do not want it and the possibility of rain is not far off!
Just back from outside as I wanted to hang to washing on the line but..... I am not Irish enough to do that-they leave the washing on the line for days until it eventually is dry , through the showers and whatever may happen in between- and it looks dark and ominous outside.
I always try to preserve energy but decided against it and have put the washing in the drier as it is my day off and I do not want to run in and out with the washing until.......!
The vegetable garden is totally overgrown and the goose manure has caused the plants to grow extra big and high.
We enjoyed broccoli and cauliflower during the week from our own garden and that was very special. The tomato plants on the porch are now 1.5 m high.
The roses are lovely and a rose that never grew and was really thrown out and put into the corner is now the most beautiful, dark red and sweet smelling rose thinkable. The sweet-peas are colourful and the petunias lovely- the baskets are passed their flowering time and are going down quickly now, maybe another 2 weeks and they will be gone.
The lower field is divided into 2, the pathway Barry cut for us to walk round and the inner part where the grasses were left growing for the enjoyment of the small birds and insects as well as the bees! The baby swallows do not fit into the nest anymore and reside now on the rafters of the donkey house until they depart.
Suddenly we have 3-4 cats visiting. The old cat that was coming to us for the last 2 years must be dead but the children now frequent the Dunnes hospitality. Two of her children visits now, as well as 2 black cats- the one is surely from a house around here as it sits and wait on the wall at the back door for Barry to bring something out! We recognise him as the one with the white spot on his chest. He does not even run away any-more. The other black cat does not look as well fed and is pitch black and very frightened.
The children of the matriarch arrives any time of the day and wait patiently under the hedge until Barry eventually bring something out- carefully check the surroundings out for danger and crawl then to the wall and devour all in no time everything that is available! We just love our visitors! The birds are also off course fed but only with old bread and oats! Mamma black bird is doing the feeding of the young all by herself, we have not seen the male for over 2 weeks- might have been killed as they would both be picking up worms to feed the young and he is no more.
The country itself is as beautiful as ever, lush green foliage on the trees and the farmers are cutting hay- very busy time of the year and our neighbour cut his fields behind is on Thursday evening – it has to lie for a couple of days and then the bailing starts, which he said he hope to do this afternoon- Ray, who does the cutting and bailing is from our church and he always have a minute to say good day to us which is lovely! The whole procedure has to be observed from inside the walls of our house where I am concerned as I get bad hay-fever from all the pollen- red watery eyes and non-stop sneezing, 20-30x in one go is nothing.
My knee gave final notice and I cannot walk on my treadmill at all anymore and we have decided to sell it- and buy a new TV we still have an old fashioned TV and hopefully we will now fit into the modern times.
At work the morale is low and this man MG as I call him may be a good businessman but there it ends! The new Emergency department is opening on the 18th and the Cardiology Dept on the 11th. There is a tremendous backlog of National Health patients waiting for operation for over 3 years and the hospital did a deal with the HSE and the consultants will work through the backlog at a lesser price and the hospital will give a special tariff- the package must be good as there is no money in the health sector and for the HSE to accept the deal means that it must be to their advantage. With that in mind the ENT surgeons are going to work like mad and the theatre staff as well as us in the ward for the next 3 weeks, we have been scheduled for extra shifts, instead for 3 nights a week we will be working 4 nights and then have the 1st week in August off- as the theatres will be closed for revamping and the installation of a clean air theatre where hip and knee replacements will be done!
I also did some teaching yesterday BLS (CPR) basic Life Support and another 40 still needs to be trained.
I lost track of what the politicians are up to accept for the one TD (member of parliament) who won a celebrity contest in 2007 for charity and now it came to the front that over 3,600 calls were made from the government building to vote for him and to prevent him being asked to resign, he decided to pay the account. They, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste (Prime minister and deputy with the Min of Finance) are still trying their best to get the interest rate down for the bailout moneys from the IMF but who knows what goes for what- I doubt if they themselves know what they are doing!
Birthday! Annemaria (Haya) on the 5th and Hester her sister the 6th, Happy Birthday to both of you! May it be a joyful year full of wonderful experiences and surprises.
Some results of exams have been coming forth and Jeanne Potgieter my friend Marthie’s daughter passed her year doing Law with Cum Laude! Wonderful and congratulations!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and as I have to work next weekend Joy will play for me and I will do her Sunday-tomorrow! Soul food and Praise is at the order of the day.
Sincerely hope that every-one will have a blessed Sunday and week!
Finbarr, Amanda and Lukas should be at their destination in the Canary Islands where they will spend the next 7 days!
They both worked extremely hard and deserve a rest- we will just miss talking to Lukas!
We read about the many farm murders and would just like to re-iterate the importance of being diligent with your own safety.
It started to rain and I greet you then from Cranleymore where things are always different than anywhere else!
Barry and Christina
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Verwarde Somer Groete vanuit Ierland
26 Junie 2011
Sondag
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en viende,
Die weerburo is nie in my boekies nie- hulle het snik hete dag voorspel 20-24°. Nou moet ek erken dat die temperatuur lees wel 20 grade maar dis ‘n aaklige wind wat waai en die wolk bedekking is soos ‘n laag koek, met jam en versiersuiker tussen in- en waar ons veronderstel is om heerlik in die son te sit en warm moet kry sit ons binne want die wind waai jou deurmekaar ,met truie aan onder ‘n kombersie oor die knieë in die middle van somer- ai, ai, ai,.......dissie fêrrie!(pragtige Afrikaans).
Noudat julle weet wat in die lug aangaan sal ek julle op hoogte bring met dinge op ons stukkie aarde.
Die groente tuin is soos ‘n oerwoud-tussen die vuilgoed groei die groente met mening- die spring uitjies is heerlik en die spinasie word weekliks gepluk en voorsien kos aan my en die huislose slakke ‘slugs’ grillerige diertjies wat ‘n slym streep los waar hulle was- was alles maar 4x voor ek dink ek het die blare nou skoon. Die wortels is soet maar effe gekronkel- ons dink dat die gans mis wat ingewerk is nie oral in klein stukkies gebreek het nie en as die wortel nie kan deur nie dan krul dit maar om die obstruksie-gelukkig neem dit niks van die smaak weg nie net die skoonheid van die wortels is geskend! In die blomtuin staan sake effe hartseer-een van my mandjies het iewers ‘n luis siekte opgetel en die hele mandjie se plantjies is by die grond oppervlakte afgevreet- Elke dag sien ek die mandjie huil- gee water maar omdat hulle effe hoog hang is dit nie maklik om te sien wat binne aangaan nie maar uiteindelik het ons die mandjie na benede laat daal en ontdek toe die microluis derduisende van hulle besig om elke plantjie te verwoes. Nou is daar net 12 Mandjies oor-klink baie soos die liedjie van die tien groen botteltjies.
Die rose wat oorgebly het na die brandwonde van die wind lyk mooi en ruik heerlik! Die kappertjies is pragtig en gee pragtig kleur aan al die blombakke- die pronkertjies sal seker in volle blom wees gedurende die week.Tier lelies wat verlede jaar pienk was met wit in die middel is die jaar geel ek kannie verstaan hoe dit kan wees nie maar om te sien is om te glo-dinge hier in die eiland kan verander sonder dat jy gewaarsku word.
Die velde is groen, die bome is swaar belaai met ‘n vrag blare wat vir niks stuit nie- en die water is min- die opgaar dam in Dublin is 30% laer nou as verlede jaar die tyd en nou mag die Dublinners nie meer hulle gras nat gooi nie- dis een ding wat ons nog nooit gedoen het om die gras nat temaak nie! Die arme waterwese en water ingineurs van die eiland weet niks (dis nou my mening) van water bewaring nie – hulle mors water en weet nie wat dit beteken om regte droogte te ervaar nie.
Terug by die werk het sake gevorder, die parkie met ‘n grasperk in die middel is omgeskep in ‘n parkeer area- die hele omtrek van die hopsitaal is uiteindelik klaar geteer. Die fasade van die hospital self is mooi gemaak met hout panele en liggrys geverf,nuwe vensters oral in met wit rame en ek moet erken dit begin al beter lyk,die nonne het nooit enige skoonheidsonderhoud aan die hospitaal geskenk nie en dit het na 40 jaar effe afgetakel voorgekom. Die nuwe scanners is geinstalleer en ons sal eersdaags oop wees vir Ongevalle van 8vm tot 8nm.Omdat dit meestal mediese assuransie gevalle sal wees en mense wat bereid is om kontant te betaal ,behoort ons nie oorlaai te word met dronkaards wat net die nag hulle babbelas wil afslaap nie. ‘n SA radiografis gaan in die X-strale dept werk en een van die kosmetiese sjirurge gaan sy eie kliniek van die hospital hanteer en Harleystreet sal moet spook om die hospital te behou –hulle pasiente gee ons baie ellende en die Nuwe eienaar is moeg vir hulle nonsens
Ons uniforms is nou ‘scrubs’ en ons verteenwoordig nou die reenboog nasies- kleure wissel van maroon tot lig pink met donker blou , vloot blou en lig blou vir die verskillende verpleeg personeel. Ek sal dus van môre-aand in vlootblou geklee wees- sit met ‘n kas vol wit uniforms en donker blou lang broeke wat nou van geen waarde is nie. Dit alles vir vooruitgang. Ongelukkig is die eienaar heelwaarskynlik ‘n uitstekende besigheids man maar van met mense werk het hy geen idée nie- die een huisdokter het opgemerk dat hy’obnoxious and unprofessional’ is in sy optrede teenoor sy werksmense. Ons weet hy hou nie van verpleegsters nie en as hy kon sou ons verruil het vir ape of bobbejane maar dan sal hy teveel moet betaal aan assuransie. Hy het defenetief oë agter sy kop want hy sien alles- die CCTV sal ook in die maand van Julie aangebring word en dan hoop ons hy hoef ons nie meer dop te hou nie –hy kan dan net die films terug draai elke oggend as hy klaar gehardloop het.
Klaar gekla-ek is baie dankbaar dat ek werk het en dit gedurende die nag doen want ek hou nie van ongeskikte mense nie en ek sal sommer ‘n opmerking maak dus bid ek maar hard vir ‘n wag voor my mond en ‘n sward oor my tong!
Al die eksamens is nou agter die rug en nou word daar in spanning gewag vir uitslae en ons hoop van harte dat almal baie goed gedoen het. SA studente en skoolkinders is nou halfpad deur die jaar en die hele wêreld is byna nou met vakansie! Gerlof en Sandra byna op pad
Verjaardae:Karin van Niekerk in Florida Park verjaar saam met Joleen in PMB Dinsdag die 28ste –aan albei van julle Veels Geluk! Mag die jaar groot verrassings inhou.leopold verjaar 30ste- Mooi jaar vir jou toegewens.
Ons was vandag geseën met ‘n uitstekende preek deur ons eie predikant- ons is erg bevoorregt om hier in die katolieke land so ‘n ‘Gereformeerde’Presbyteriaanse predikant te hê. Onglukkig het hulle vandag by die kerk stadiger as stadig gesing en ek het maar opgehou speel want ek was al byna klaar met die Psalm toe hulle iewers in die middel was- wat ‘n fiasco- ek het na die tyd hard met Stephen gepraat –die ou mense volg hom en nie die orrel nie en ‘n begrafnis stoet beweeg vinniger as wat ons gesing het.
Finbarr en Amanda is so besig dat ons klein Lukas lank laas gesien het en moet nog 4 weke wag voor ons hom gaan sien hy sal seker al rond hardloop teen daardie tyd! Hy sê ongelooflik baie woorde wag nou net vir die eerste sinnetjie! Kathleen se 2de is naby en Isabelle net ‘n jaar- ons dink aan jou!
Ek het nou genoeg gesê. Die langste dag is verby en reeds is ons dae korter-dis nou vir die wat wakker is om 4vm soos ek.
Wees tog asb versigtig op die paaie en moenie jul veiliheid vergeet nie!
Baie groete van ons in ‘n totaal verwarde Ierse somer
Barry en Christina
Sondag
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en viende,
Die weerburo is nie in my boekies nie- hulle het snik hete dag voorspel 20-24°. Nou moet ek erken dat die temperatuur lees wel 20 grade maar dis ‘n aaklige wind wat waai en die wolk bedekking is soos ‘n laag koek, met jam en versiersuiker tussen in- en waar ons veronderstel is om heerlik in die son te sit en warm moet kry sit ons binne want die wind waai jou deurmekaar ,met truie aan onder ‘n kombersie oor die knieë in die middle van somer- ai, ai, ai,.......dissie fêrrie!(pragtige Afrikaans).
Noudat julle weet wat in die lug aangaan sal ek julle op hoogte bring met dinge op ons stukkie aarde.
Die groente tuin is soos ‘n oerwoud-tussen die vuilgoed groei die groente met mening- die spring uitjies is heerlik en die spinasie word weekliks gepluk en voorsien kos aan my en die huislose slakke ‘slugs’ grillerige diertjies wat ‘n slym streep los waar hulle was- was alles maar 4x voor ek dink ek het die blare nou skoon. Die wortels is soet maar effe gekronkel- ons dink dat die gans mis wat ingewerk is nie oral in klein stukkies gebreek het nie en as die wortel nie kan deur nie dan krul dit maar om die obstruksie-gelukkig neem dit niks van die smaak weg nie net die skoonheid van die wortels is geskend! In die blomtuin staan sake effe hartseer-een van my mandjies het iewers ‘n luis siekte opgetel en die hele mandjie se plantjies is by die grond oppervlakte afgevreet- Elke dag sien ek die mandjie huil- gee water maar omdat hulle effe hoog hang is dit nie maklik om te sien wat binne aangaan nie maar uiteindelik het ons die mandjie na benede laat daal en ontdek toe die microluis derduisende van hulle besig om elke plantjie te verwoes. Nou is daar net 12 Mandjies oor-klink baie soos die liedjie van die tien groen botteltjies.
Die rose wat oorgebly het na die brandwonde van die wind lyk mooi en ruik heerlik! Die kappertjies is pragtig en gee pragtig kleur aan al die blombakke- die pronkertjies sal seker in volle blom wees gedurende die week.Tier lelies wat verlede jaar pienk was met wit in die middel is die jaar geel ek kannie verstaan hoe dit kan wees nie maar om te sien is om te glo-dinge hier in die eiland kan verander sonder dat jy gewaarsku word.
Die velde is groen, die bome is swaar belaai met ‘n vrag blare wat vir niks stuit nie- en die water is min- die opgaar dam in Dublin is 30% laer nou as verlede jaar die tyd en nou mag die Dublinners nie meer hulle gras nat gooi nie- dis een ding wat ons nog nooit gedoen het om die gras nat temaak nie! Die arme waterwese en water ingineurs van die eiland weet niks (dis nou my mening) van water bewaring nie – hulle mors water en weet nie wat dit beteken om regte droogte te ervaar nie.
Terug by die werk het sake gevorder, die parkie met ‘n grasperk in die middel is omgeskep in ‘n parkeer area- die hele omtrek van die hopsitaal is uiteindelik klaar geteer. Die fasade van die hospital self is mooi gemaak met hout panele en liggrys geverf,nuwe vensters oral in met wit rame en ek moet erken dit begin al beter lyk,die nonne het nooit enige skoonheidsonderhoud aan die hospitaal geskenk nie en dit het na 40 jaar effe afgetakel voorgekom. Die nuwe scanners is geinstalleer en ons sal eersdaags oop wees vir Ongevalle van 8vm tot 8nm.Omdat dit meestal mediese assuransie gevalle sal wees en mense wat bereid is om kontant te betaal ,behoort ons nie oorlaai te word met dronkaards wat net die nag hulle babbelas wil afslaap nie. ‘n SA radiografis gaan in die X-strale dept werk en een van die kosmetiese sjirurge gaan sy eie kliniek van die hospital hanteer en Harleystreet sal moet spook om die hospital te behou –hulle pasiente gee ons baie ellende en die Nuwe eienaar is moeg vir hulle nonsens
Ons uniforms is nou ‘scrubs’ en ons verteenwoordig nou die reenboog nasies- kleure wissel van maroon tot lig pink met donker blou , vloot blou en lig blou vir die verskillende verpleeg personeel. Ek sal dus van môre-aand in vlootblou geklee wees- sit met ‘n kas vol wit uniforms en donker blou lang broeke wat nou van geen waarde is nie. Dit alles vir vooruitgang. Ongelukkig is die eienaar heelwaarskynlik ‘n uitstekende besigheids man maar van met mense werk het hy geen idée nie- die een huisdokter het opgemerk dat hy’obnoxious and unprofessional’ is in sy optrede teenoor sy werksmense. Ons weet hy hou nie van verpleegsters nie en as hy kon sou ons verruil het vir ape of bobbejane maar dan sal hy teveel moet betaal aan assuransie. Hy het defenetief oë agter sy kop want hy sien alles- die CCTV sal ook in die maand van Julie aangebring word en dan hoop ons hy hoef ons nie meer dop te hou nie –hy kan dan net die films terug draai elke oggend as hy klaar gehardloop het.
Klaar gekla-ek is baie dankbaar dat ek werk het en dit gedurende die nag doen want ek hou nie van ongeskikte mense nie en ek sal sommer ‘n opmerking maak dus bid ek maar hard vir ‘n wag voor my mond en ‘n sward oor my tong!
Al die eksamens is nou agter die rug en nou word daar in spanning gewag vir uitslae en ons hoop van harte dat almal baie goed gedoen het. SA studente en skoolkinders is nou halfpad deur die jaar en die hele wêreld is byna nou met vakansie! Gerlof en Sandra byna op pad
Verjaardae:Karin van Niekerk in Florida Park verjaar saam met Joleen in PMB Dinsdag die 28ste –aan albei van julle Veels Geluk! Mag die jaar groot verrassings inhou.leopold verjaar 30ste- Mooi jaar vir jou toegewens.
Ons was vandag geseën met ‘n uitstekende preek deur ons eie predikant- ons is erg bevoorregt om hier in die katolieke land so ‘n ‘Gereformeerde’Presbyteriaanse predikant te hê. Onglukkig het hulle vandag by die kerk stadiger as stadig gesing en ek het maar opgehou speel want ek was al byna klaar met die Psalm toe hulle iewers in die middel was- wat ‘n fiasco- ek het na die tyd hard met Stephen gepraat –die ou mense volg hom en nie die orrel nie en ‘n begrafnis stoet beweeg vinniger as wat ons gesing het.
Finbarr en Amanda is so besig dat ons klein Lukas lank laas gesien het en moet nog 4 weke wag voor ons hom gaan sien hy sal seker al rond hardloop teen daardie tyd! Hy sê ongelooflik baie woorde wag nou net vir die eerste sinnetjie! Kathleen se 2de is naby en Isabelle net ‘n jaar- ons dink aan jou!
Ek het nou genoeg gesê. Die langste dag is verby en reeds is ons dae korter-dis nou vir die wat wakker is om 4vm soos ek.
Wees tog asb versigtig op die paaie en moenie jul veiliheid vergeet nie!
Baie groete van ons in ‘n totaal verwarde Ierse somer
Barry en Christina
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Greetings from a wet Cranleymore
Saturday 18 June’11
Good day to all, family and friends
I would like to have a chat to that weatherman that promised that June and July will be sizzling- we are waiting patiently for it to happen, in the mean time it has been raining hour on, hour off, at least it is not freezing like last week but still no summer yet. Between 4am and 8am is the best weather, clear skies and beautiful sun rises and then the wind comes up and blow the clouds in from either side east or west and all promise of a lovely day falls through a big hole.
It has been ASCOT week in England and we were entertained on TV by every possible kind and form of hat possible, clothes that fits well and other that needs definite attention and in the interim we look at the horses running. Mostly ‘different’ kind of people involved in the fashion and then the horsy people which is a breed on their own. We just love to look at the movement and beauty of these well bred horses. We do not like it when the jockeys whip the horses and the officials are very strict on this point and many a jockey has been suspended for using the whip to much or in the wrong place. The Queen and dignitaries arrive everyday in a carriage and she looks like a new sixpence, every outfit looks inherently the same but differ in detail and colour, quite an experience.
We do not have Sky and will not be able to watch the golf, USA open where one of our young golfers are presently leading the field and we hope he holds his nerve. There was a very lovely article about Ernie in our main newspaper last week – the heart ache being parents to a child with autism.
We have been eating produce from our own garden and found that the taste is different to the vegetables you buy. The carrots are sweet and taste like carrots. The spring onions are crisp and sharp, the spinach the best! The peas have started flowering and yes we tasted that the radishes are not as sharp as the red ones, Nine, and lovely that you have heard a cuckoo calling, even though it was long ago.
Our baby swallows are growing fast and furious they are a week old and the parents are very busy feeding. Our own little swallow that has been having conversations with Barry arrived late but he made sure that we take notice of his presence.
The roses that were not injured by the wind are gorgeous and smell wonderful- the petunias and sweet peas are flowering, tiger lilies, and nasturtiums are very colourful. The hanging baskets are still very lovely but require constant attention, picking out the old flowers.
The strawberries are big and sweet- lovely, the apples are growing and we hope to have a few this year.
We bought a melon at LIDL which looks like a ‘spanspek’ from the outside, very tasty, I kept some of the pips and hope to get something growing from them and I have been promised ‘skorsie’ seeds from Bianca – the tomato plants are 4 feet high few flowers on and wonder what will happen- saw 3 tomatoes hanging, they are protected against the elements of the weather on the porch but I am not sure if it is the best thing to do.
I am also back at work which is always a good thing- I have to admit that the atmosphere at work is not conducive to morale- just lost its spark of happiness, the joy to be at work is missing-you are not allowed to laugh because that is not professional! I go to bed having conversations with this new owner in my mind telling him how wrong his attitude is....but that is where it stays in my mind!
Tomorrow is the best day of the week and we are really looking forward to soul food- last week turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as there was a guest speaker from TEARFUND which in our minds is a sales talk for collecting money and we were very upset- he should not substitute a sermon for people like that.
I understand that his time is limited and that he has to be on his way not a minute later than 11am but to with held our soul’s food is not on! Not for people begging for money and they do that very well in this country.
I will be member of the congregation and will be able to bring my praises with a singing voice.
Birthdays: Isabelle Cooper will be 1yr old tomorrow and may this birthday be a joyful occasion for Oupa Gerlof and Ouma Sandra as well as for Tim and Kathleen.
Sue Parsons in Canada has her birthday the 20th! Hope your day will be lovely!
Our little Lukas is nearly 14 months old and is very cute- a great joy to his Oupa and Ouma.
It was also wonderful to hear Thilo’s voice on Skype- did not know what I did wrong but could not get the video going but we had a great chat.
It is with concern that we read about Malema and his utterings, it does not seem if any-one minds that he has this idea that ‘apartheid taught the whites racism’ . I just wondered what the South of Africa would have looked like now, in 2011, if Jan van Riebeeck never landed there in 1652
Ireland’s new government was in power for 100 days yesterday and have to admit that nothing really changed- we are still in a financial crisis with unemployment souring, in the mean time the bank managers are prospering and the share holders who lost all their life savings are furious and I do not blame them, fortunately we were never rich and were never affected by the Celtic Tiger and crash there-off- life goes on as it has since the time of arrival in spite of the fact that I lost 15% of my salary since 2008. We thank the Lord for all his blessings.
Thank you for all the lovely letters- it was so lovely to receive so much mail!
I have come to the end of my story and hope that all will be careful on the roads and keep safety uppermost in their minds
Keel well
Regards from us in a wet Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Good day to all, family and friends
I would like to have a chat to that weatherman that promised that June and July will be sizzling- we are waiting patiently for it to happen, in the mean time it has been raining hour on, hour off, at least it is not freezing like last week but still no summer yet. Between 4am and 8am is the best weather, clear skies and beautiful sun rises and then the wind comes up and blow the clouds in from either side east or west and all promise of a lovely day falls through a big hole.
It has been ASCOT week in England and we were entertained on TV by every possible kind and form of hat possible, clothes that fits well and other that needs definite attention and in the interim we look at the horses running. Mostly ‘different’ kind of people involved in the fashion and then the horsy people which is a breed on their own. We just love to look at the movement and beauty of these well bred horses. We do not like it when the jockeys whip the horses and the officials are very strict on this point and many a jockey has been suspended for using the whip to much or in the wrong place. The Queen and dignitaries arrive everyday in a carriage and she looks like a new sixpence, every outfit looks inherently the same but differ in detail and colour, quite an experience.
We do not have Sky and will not be able to watch the golf, USA open where one of our young golfers are presently leading the field and we hope he holds his nerve. There was a very lovely article about Ernie in our main newspaper last week – the heart ache being parents to a child with autism.
We have been eating produce from our own garden and found that the taste is different to the vegetables you buy. The carrots are sweet and taste like carrots. The spring onions are crisp and sharp, the spinach the best! The peas have started flowering and yes we tasted that the radishes are not as sharp as the red ones, Nine, and lovely that you have heard a cuckoo calling, even though it was long ago.
Our baby swallows are growing fast and furious they are a week old and the parents are very busy feeding. Our own little swallow that has been having conversations with Barry arrived late but he made sure that we take notice of his presence.
The roses that were not injured by the wind are gorgeous and smell wonderful- the petunias and sweet peas are flowering, tiger lilies, and nasturtiums are very colourful. The hanging baskets are still very lovely but require constant attention, picking out the old flowers.
The strawberries are big and sweet- lovely, the apples are growing and we hope to have a few this year.
We bought a melon at LIDL which looks like a ‘spanspek’ from the outside, very tasty, I kept some of the pips and hope to get something growing from them and I have been promised ‘skorsie’ seeds from Bianca – the tomato plants are 4 feet high few flowers on and wonder what will happen- saw 3 tomatoes hanging, they are protected against the elements of the weather on the porch but I am not sure if it is the best thing to do.
I am also back at work which is always a good thing- I have to admit that the atmosphere at work is not conducive to morale- just lost its spark of happiness, the joy to be at work is missing-you are not allowed to laugh because that is not professional! I go to bed having conversations with this new owner in my mind telling him how wrong his attitude is....but that is where it stays in my mind!
Tomorrow is the best day of the week and we are really looking forward to soul food- last week turned out to be a bit of a disappointment as there was a guest speaker from TEARFUND which in our minds is a sales talk for collecting money and we were very upset- he should not substitute a sermon for people like that.
I understand that his time is limited and that he has to be on his way not a minute later than 11am but to with held our soul’s food is not on! Not for people begging for money and they do that very well in this country.
I will be member of the congregation and will be able to bring my praises with a singing voice.
Birthdays: Isabelle Cooper will be 1yr old tomorrow and may this birthday be a joyful occasion for Oupa Gerlof and Ouma Sandra as well as for Tim and Kathleen.
Sue Parsons in Canada has her birthday the 20th! Hope your day will be lovely!
Our little Lukas is nearly 14 months old and is very cute- a great joy to his Oupa and Ouma.
It was also wonderful to hear Thilo’s voice on Skype- did not know what I did wrong but could not get the video going but we had a great chat.
It is with concern that we read about Malema and his utterings, it does not seem if any-one minds that he has this idea that ‘apartheid taught the whites racism’ . I just wondered what the South of Africa would have looked like now, in 2011, if Jan van Riebeeck never landed there in 1652
Ireland’s new government was in power for 100 days yesterday and have to admit that nothing really changed- we are still in a financial crisis with unemployment souring, in the mean time the bank managers are prospering and the share holders who lost all their life savings are furious and I do not blame them, fortunately we were never rich and were never affected by the Celtic Tiger and crash there-off- life goes on as it has since the time of arrival in spite of the fact that I lost 15% of my salary since 2008. We thank the Lord for all his blessings.
Thank you for all the lovely letters- it was so lovely to receive so much mail!
I have come to the end of my story and hope that all will be careful on the roads and keep safety uppermost in their minds
Keel well
Regards from us in a wet Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Groete vanuit 'n omgekeerde Ierland
11 Junie 2011 Saterdag
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende,
Guns, ek weet nie waar om te begin nie! Goeie dinge eerste. Ons is vandag 34 jr getroud en ons dank ons hemelse Vader vir al sy genade, liefde en seën.
Vanoggend terwyl ek besig was om deur die Psalme te speel hoor ek Barry se dringende roep, met verkeerde bril en al spring ek op en hardloop vir ‘n vale( vorige kere het ek dinge gemis omdat ek te lank draai) en daar sien ek Barry by die agterste heining staan en hy sê ewe streng ‘’ Listen” en jou waarlikwaar daar hoor ek dit ook, die geroep van die Koe-koe. Die eerste keer vir my in die natuur. Dit het in die laaste jare ‘n baie skaars roep geword en net vanoggend met die boere se program het hulle ‘n deskundige aan die woord gehad oor die Koe-koe.
Sy lê mos hul eier in ‘n ander voël se nes en so maak die pleegouers die voëltjie groot. Hulle is laat die jaar ,en daar is maar min koe-koe’s gehoor.
Ook skyn die son met rukke en stote. Vanaf Maandag het dit gereën, aanmekaar, en ons moes weer ons winter wolklere uithaal om nie te verkluim nie. Dit was net soos iemand wat Ierland in ‘n vullissak opgetel het en buite gaan gooi het. Plonk in die koue en nat weer! Wat het van somer geword waaroor ek so gespog het verlede week? – eintlik moet ons nie verbaas wees nie want dit gaan nou so vir die laaste 7½ jaar. Arme Engeland wat nie eers vér van ons af is nie, is nou ‘n droogte geteisterde gebied verklaar, die grond bars van die droogheid veral sekere gedeeltes waar geen reën van noemenswaardige gehalte geval het sedert die lente begin het nie.Ons lees ook op die SA Nuus dat julle daar in SA ook nie ‘n wonderlike winter beleef nie! Jammer julle, maar nou weet julle hoe ons die hele jaar deur voel! Erg afgeskeep.
Ek het ook my eerste aarbei gepluk en gesmul daaraan-dit smaak net anders as die wat jy in die winkel koop seker omdat dit jou eie aarbeie is.
Verjaardae: Elaine Kruger in Linden verjaar môre ek kan haar nog as klein ou dogtertjie onthou. Veels geluk Elaine ,ek het na jul familie fotos gelyk en dit was pragtig.
Anneke, die dokter in PMB verjaar die 15de! Haya jy sal maar ons geluk wensinge moet oordra want ek het haar maar miskien 1x in my lewe gesien. Lekker verjaar Anneke!
Die 16e is dit ons Niggie Retha in Vryheid se beurt. Ons het saam groot geword en word nou vér vanmekaar oud,‘n baie goeie jaar jou toegewens.
Buite floreer die groente tuin, so ook die onkruid. Ek probeer byhou maar dit wil die oorhand neem. Ons het nou al ‘n paar keer van my Duitse spinasie ge-eet ook ‘n paar wortels getoets hulle is nog nie baie groot nie maar suiker soet. Met al die reën het die half-lyf hoogte aartappels omgeval- ons het een uitgetrek omtesien of daar al aartappeltjies is maar heelaas is dit nog te vroeg. Ek ken nie die siklus van aartaapels baie goed nie maar Barry het nou die stingels afgesny,want ons kon hulle nou nie juis opbind nie maar nou is daar geen blommetjies nie,sal hulle nou nog aartappels maak, die wat nou sonder blare en blomme sit?
Die radyse is goed aan die groei-Duitse radyse dié- en hulle is pers, nie rooi soos ons gewoond is nie, sal maar sien wat word.
Ek het uiteindelik die ertjies opgelei en hoop hulle vind nou rigting. Daar is geen pere nie maar 2 appelbome het mooi vrugte aan. Die appel-liefie boompies het honderde vruggies aan en ek sal lekker konfyt kan kook. Die blomkole en so-aan het maar baie swaar gekry met die wind en reën ,ek weet nie of ons enig-iets daarvan sal kan eet nie.
Ek moes al die verbrande takkies van die rose afsny sodat nuwe groei na vore kan kom en dit lyk darem of daar weer iets gaan gebeur, my hart is baie seer oor my rose en ek was so trots op hulle! So gaan dit en ons het geen beheer oor die weer nie,behalwe as jy nou ‘n tonnel het soos Bianca- hoop jou ouers kuier nog lekker! Toni het Melbourne glo plat geloop sonder om te verdwaal. Mooi so! Alles van die beste vir jou daar in die suide so sonder die man en kinders.
My vakansie kom te vinnig tot ‘n einde en ek werk weer Maandagaand. Ek het my reis joernaal klaar en as daar iemand is wat dit wil lees laat maar weet ,ek stuur dit net aan die wat belangstel en tyd het, dit is maklik om op ‘n kaart die pad te volg of dit te Google!
Baie dankie aan almal wat moedige pogings aangewend het om ‘n briefie te skryf, dit word hoog gewaardeer. Die wat gereeld skryf, baie dankie ook aan julle- elke stukkie nuus word hier soos ‘n stofsuier opgeslurp. Nine, jou skrywe van die roete van die Voortrekkers moes baie interesant gewees het en dankie ook dat julle by Mendel en Anke besoek afgelê het. Jou pryse van R900 per nag vir ‘n 2 slaap-hut kom baie ooreen met ons pryse hier vir ‘n dubbel hotelkamer in ‘n 3* hotel. Isabel geniet jou kuier by Joleen en die dae word al minder vir die Eloffs van Exeter vir hul SA’se besoek.
Aan die wat eksamen skryf, Christiaan in Longford wat ek van weet( ek het deur die 1ste Engelse vraestel gelees en sou dit baie geniet het) en Christopher in Garretstown- Alles van die beste.
Môre is soos altyd my beste dag van die week en daar dit my beurt is om die orgel te speel asook ons dankbaarheid dat ons eie predikant terug is- sien ons baie uit na ons samesyn, voeding vir die siel en lof pryssinge.
Wees tog altyd versigtig op die paaie, jul eie veiliheid tuis ook.
Ek groet vanuit Cranleymore waar jy die reën kan sien aankom en gou kan duik, of waar die son helder skyn met heerlike hitte wat stoom op die aarde bring, blou kolle hemel tussen die dik, donker gelaaide wolke( Ons het eendag erge donderweer gehad-was baie eienaardig).
Baie liefde
Barry en Christina
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende,
Guns, ek weet nie waar om te begin nie! Goeie dinge eerste. Ons is vandag 34 jr getroud en ons dank ons hemelse Vader vir al sy genade, liefde en seën.
Vanoggend terwyl ek besig was om deur die Psalme te speel hoor ek Barry se dringende roep, met verkeerde bril en al spring ek op en hardloop vir ‘n vale( vorige kere het ek dinge gemis omdat ek te lank draai) en daar sien ek Barry by die agterste heining staan en hy sê ewe streng ‘’ Listen” en jou waarlikwaar daar hoor ek dit ook, die geroep van die Koe-koe. Die eerste keer vir my in die natuur. Dit het in die laaste jare ‘n baie skaars roep geword en net vanoggend met die boere se program het hulle ‘n deskundige aan die woord gehad oor die Koe-koe.
Sy lê mos hul eier in ‘n ander voël se nes en so maak die pleegouers die voëltjie groot. Hulle is laat die jaar ,en daar is maar min koe-koe’s gehoor.
Ook skyn die son met rukke en stote. Vanaf Maandag het dit gereën, aanmekaar, en ons moes weer ons winter wolklere uithaal om nie te verkluim nie. Dit was net soos iemand wat Ierland in ‘n vullissak opgetel het en buite gaan gooi het. Plonk in die koue en nat weer! Wat het van somer geword waaroor ek so gespog het verlede week? – eintlik moet ons nie verbaas wees nie want dit gaan nou so vir die laaste 7½ jaar. Arme Engeland wat nie eers vér van ons af is nie, is nou ‘n droogte geteisterde gebied verklaar, die grond bars van die droogheid veral sekere gedeeltes waar geen reën van noemenswaardige gehalte geval het sedert die lente begin het nie.Ons lees ook op die SA Nuus dat julle daar in SA ook nie ‘n wonderlike winter beleef nie! Jammer julle, maar nou weet julle hoe ons die hele jaar deur voel! Erg afgeskeep.
Ek het ook my eerste aarbei gepluk en gesmul daaraan-dit smaak net anders as die wat jy in die winkel koop seker omdat dit jou eie aarbeie is.
Verjaardae: Elaine Kruger in Linden verjaar môre ek kan haar nog as klein ou dogtertjie onthou. Veels geluk Elaine ,ek het na jul familie fotos gelyk en dit was pragtig.
Anneke, die dokter in PMB verjaar die 15de! Haya jy sal maar ons geluk wensinge moet oordra want ek het haar maar miskien 1x in my lewe gesien. Lekker verjaar Anneke!
Die 16e is dit ons Niggie Retha in Vryheid se beurt. Ons het saam groot geword en word nou vér vanmekaar oud,‘n baie goeie jaar jou toegewens.
Buite floreer die groente tuin, so ook die onkruid. Ek probeer byhou maar dit wil die oorhand neem. Ons het nou al ‘n paar keer van my Duitse spinasie ge-eet ook ‘n paar wortels getoets hulle is nog nie baie groot nie maar suiker soet. Met al die reën het die half-lyf hoogte aartappels omgeval- ons het een uitgetrek omtesien of daar al aartappeltjies is maar heelaas is dit nog te vroeg. Ek ken nie die siklus van aartaapels baie goed nie maar Barry het nou die stingels afgesny,want ons kon hulle nou nie juis opbind nie maar nou is daar geen blommetjies nie,sal hulle nou nog aartappels maak, die wat nou sonder blare en blomme sit?
Die radyse is goed aan die groei-Duitse radyse dié- en hulle is pers, nie rooi soos ons gewoond is nie, sal maar sien wat word.
Ek het uiteindelik die ertjies opgelei en hoop hulle vind nou rigting. Daar is geen pere nie maar 2 appelbome het mooi vrugte aan. Die appel-liefie boompies het honderde vruggies aan en ek sal lekker konfyt kan kook. Die blomkole en so-aan het maar baie swaar gekry met die wind en reën ,ek weet nie of ons enig-iets daarvan sal kan eet nie.
Ek moes al die verbrande takkies van die rose afsny sodat nuwe groei na vore kan kom en dit lyk darem of daar weer iets gaan gebeur, my hart is baie seer oor my rose en ek was so trots op hulle! So gaan dit en ons het geen beheer oor die weer nie,behalwe as jy nou ‘n tonnel het soos Bianca- hoop jou ouers kuier nog lekker! Toni het Melbourne glo plat geloop sonder om te verdwaal. Mooi so! Alles van die beste vir jou daar in die suide so sonder die man en kinders.
My vakansie kom te vinnig tot ‘n einde en ek werk weer Maandagaand. Ek het my reis joernaal klaar en as daar iemand is wat dit wil lees laat maar weet ,ek stuur dit net aan die wat belangstel en tyd het, dit is maklik om op ‘n kaart die pad te volg of dit te Google!
Baie dankie aan almal wat moedige pogings aangewend het om ‘n briefie te skryf, dit word hoog gewaardeer. Die wat gereeld skryf, baie dankie ook aan julle- elke stukkie nuus word hier soos ‘n stofsuier opgeslurp. Nine, jou skrywe van die roete van die Voortrekkers moes baie interesant gewees het en dankie ook dat julle by Mendel en Anke besoek afgelê het. Jou pryse van R900 per nag vir ‘n 2 slaap-hut kom baie ooreen met ons pryse hier vir ‘n dubbel hotelkamer in ‘n 3* hotel. Isabel geniet jou kuier by Joleen en die dae word al minder vir die Eloffs van Exeter vir hul SA’se besoek.
Aan die wat eksamen skryf, Christiaan in Longford wat ek van weet( ek het deur die 1ste Engelse vraestel gelees en sou dit baie geniet het) en Christopher in Garretstown- Alles van die beste.
Môre is soos altyd my beste dag van die week en daar dit my beurt is om die orgel te speel asook ons dankbaarheid dat ons eie predikant terug is- sien ons baie uit na ons samesyn, voeding vir die siel en lof pryssinge.
Wees tog altyd versigtig op die paaie, jul eie veiliheid tuis ook.
Ek groet vanuit Cranleymore waar jy die reën kan sien aankom en gou kan duik, of waar die son helder skyn met heerlike hitte wat stoom op die aarde bring, blou kolle hemel tussen die dik, donker gelaaide wolke( Ons het eendag erge donderweer gehad-was baie eienaardig).
Baie liefde
Barry en Christina
Monday, June 6, 2011
Warm Summer Greetings from Ireland
Saturday 4 June’11
Good day to you all, family and friends.
Summer has arrived!
We left in overcast and drizzling weather for our holiday and as the journey progressed so did the weather, every 20km we could see a difference.
What a wonderful 5 days did we have. I know people say we are mad to have a holiday in Ireland but it was breath taken beautiful and the sun shone 90% of the time.
I am near completion with my journal of our travels and those who are interested can let me know and I will forward it. We took 227 photos. A pity I could not keep record of everyone but time did not allow me to fit that in as well.
Also just back from a very enjoyable afternoon with Finbarr Amanda and little Lukas. He is so adorable it is nearly unbelievable that a child can be so happy.
On the way back my eye fell on M50 and N3 and that spells ‘HOME’ but as usual I took the wrong route and we landed on a new highway going north before turning back to go home. Barry eventually got a turn off on the map and we landed once again on the ‘scenic route’ It was beautiful but a little time consuming because instead of travelling 120km/h we travelled at 40-60km/h and got home a little later than planned but thankfully safely.
Summer arrived while we were away and with our arrival we found the grass in a wild state of growth and all the flowers in pots and basket lying down.
Barry forgot that he was still on holiday and got the lawn mower going and turned the field in the back garden back into a beautiful manicured lawn. I pulled the hose-pipe to its utmost length in order to reach every corner. On the barometer it showed 22 ° in the shade
The window boxes were so dry that the block of ground was swimming as a solid piece of earth in the box and only after the 3rd watering turn it began to absorb the water and settled back into position. At the same time I did some washing and we decided after the delicious meals we enjoyed every evening and the perfect breakfasts that we will stay on water at least for 2 days. Therefore no cooking for a while and it was good after 8pm before we settled for the evening the sun still bright in the sky!
The vegetable garden was a sight the potatoes stood as high as our waistlines, the carrots showing body under the ground and the German spinach were ready to pick. While it was raining the slugs must have had a grand time devouring them, and if we wanted anything for ourselves I will have to pick quickly. Yesterday morning we entered the work zone with vigour and enthusiasm. Barry started to paint the shed roof which he had to abandon a previous time. The temperature started to rise as the day got older and shortly it was as hot as you have never felt it in years. In the shade the temp rose to 24 so I have no idea what it was in the baking sun. Barry was getting scorched on the iron and had to give up at 11h30. Sizzling hot.
We both had sunscreen cream on but this time it had no effect and we look now like beetroots. Fortunately we both are blessed with enough melanin and turn brown quickly.
The growth on the trees and bushes everywhere is so lush and rich that you cannot help to admire it. Many trees form arches across the road which let you pass through a tunnel of green peace!
We do not know how long summer is going to last but while it does we have to enjoy it to the full. It might just pour tomorrow.
I have still one week vacation left and if the weather holds we will be visiting the big garden show at Belvedere House commencing Thursday. Isabel was with us there 2 years ago.
Birthdays None in my book, But if I missed some-one, Many happy retuns!
Many have finished their exams and some are still busy. Everything of the very best! Warm congratulations to Paul in Canada and to his parents Arnolda and Garth for acquiring such a wonderful result. I agree Australia should have paid for his ticket!!!
I am just a congregation member tomorrow at church, the best day of the week. SUNDAY! Our own minister is away on leave and we have visiting preachers bringing us the Good News. We are very spoilt with Stephen and find it difficult to always understand and grasp the essence of their sermons. Joy is playing and I can sing. I do not know if the other members enjoy it as much as I do but it is just tough. I sing to the Lord and not to them.!
Well, on political front the lot of ministers are not liaising properly with each other and they are giving contradicting statements about bailouts and economic affairs. What a pity- it causes anguish among those already 3 years on social welfare. I thank the Lord daily that I do have a job!
The new strain of E Coli has caused a lot of anger amongst the farmers also the early statement from Germany that it was cucumbers and whole crops had to be destroyed. It is very sad that people had to die from it- in this modern world of medicine and research it is nearly unbelievable.
I have to say thank you to all of you who wrote letters after my hint last week. Much appreciated! Hester and spouse must enjoy their tour to Greece. All others who are waiting to go to Botswana, collections of peoples all over the world together- hope all arrangements go well!
Just wanted to mention we have had a few days of warm weather and they are talking about water restrictions! Out of this world, they have no idea what drought means.
Gerlof you forgot to say in how many days you are leaving.
My story has come to an end and I hope that you will all enjoy the SA winter, which is in places corresponding with our summer.
Regards from A summer day in Cranleymore.
Barry & Christina
Good day to you all, family and friends.
Summer has arrived!
We left in overcast and drizzling weather for our holiday and as the journey progressed so did the weather, every 20km we could see a difference.
What a wonderful 5 days did we have. I know people say we are mad to have a holiday in Ireland but it was breath taken beautiful and the sun shone 90% of the time.
I am near completion with my journal of our travels and those who are interested can let me know and I will forward it. We took 227 photos. A pity I could not keep record of everyone but time did not allow me to fit that in as well.
Also just back from a very enjoyable afternoon with Finbarr Amanda and little Lukas. He is so adorable it is nearly unbelievable that a child can be so happy.
On the way back my eye fell on M50 and N3 and that spells ‘HOME’ but as usual I took the wrong route and we landed on a new highway going north before turning back to go home. Barry eventually got a turn off on the map and we landed once again on the ‘scenic route’ It was beautiful but a little time consuming because instead of travelling 120km/h we travelled at 40-60km/h and got home a little later than planned but thankfully safely.
Summer arrived while we were away and with our arrival we found the grass in a wild state of growth and all the flowers in pots and basket lying down.
Barry forgot that he was still on holiday and got the lawn mower going and turned the field in the back garden back into a beautiful manicured lawn. I pulled the hose-pipe to its utmost length in order to reach every corner. On the barometer it showed 22 ° in the shade
The window boxes were so dry that the block of ground was swimming as a solid piece of earth in the box and only after the 3rd watering turn it began to absorb the water and settled back into position. At the same time I did some washing and we decided after the delicious meals we enjoyed every evening and the perfect breakfasts that we will stay on water at least for 2 days. Therefore no cooking for a while and it was good after 8pm before we settled for the evening the sun still bright in the sky!
The vegetable garden was a sight the potatoes stood as high as our waistlines, the carrots showing body under the ground and the German spinach were ready to pick. While it was raining the slugs must have had a grand time devouring them, and if we wanted anything for ourselves I will have to pick quickly. Yesterday morning we entered the work zone with vigour and enthusiasm. Barry started to paint the shed roof which he had to abandon a previous time. The temperature started to rise as the day got older and shortly it was as hot as you have never felt it in years. In the shade the temp rose to 24 so I have no idea what it was in the baking sun. Barry was getting scorched on the iron and had to give up at 11h30. Sizzling hot.
We both had sunscreen cream on but this time it had no effect and we look now like beetroots. Fortunately we both are blessed with enough melanin and turn brown quickly.
The growth on the trees and bushes everywhere is so lush and rich that you cannot help to admire it. Many trees form arches across the road which let you pass through a tunnel of green peace!
We do not know how long summer is going to last but while it does we have to enjoy it to the full. It might just pour tomorrow.
I have still one week vacation left and if the weather holds we will be visiting the big garden show at Belvedere House commencing Thursday. Isabel was with us there 2 years ago.
Birthdays None in my book, But if I missed some-one, Many happy retuns!
Many have finished their exams and some are still busy. Everything of the very best! Warm congratulations to Paul in Canada and to his parents Arnolda and Garth for acquiring such a wonderful result. I agree Australia should have paid for his ticket!!!
I am just a congregation member tomorrow at church, the best day of the week. SUNDAY! Our own minister is away on leave and we have visiting preachers bringing us the Good News. We are very spoilt with Stephen and find it difficult to always understand and grasp the essence of their sermons. Joy is playing and I can sing. I do not know if the other members enjoy it as much as I do but it is just tough. I sing to the Lord and not to them.!
Well, on political front the lot of ministers are not liaising properly with each other and they are giving contradicting statements about bailouts and economic affairs. What a pity- it causes anguish among those already 3 years on social welfare. I thank the Lord daily that I do have a job!
The new strain of E Coli has caused a lot of anger amongst the farmers also the early statement from Germany that it was cucumbers and whole crops had to be destroyed. It is very sad that people had to die from it- in this modern world of medicine and research it is nearly unbelievable.
I have to say thank you to all of you who wrote letters after my hint last week. Much appreciated! Hester and spouse must enjoy their tour to Greece. All others who are waiting to go to Botswana, collections of peoples all over the world together- hope all arrangements go well!
Just wanted to mention we have had a few days of warm weather and they are talking about water restrictions! Out of this world, they have no idea what drought means.
Gerlof you forgot to say in how many days you are leaving.
My story has come to an end and I hope that you will all enjoy the SA winter, which is in places corresponding with our summer.
Regards from A summer day in Cranleymore.
Barry & Christina
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