Saturday 15 Oct’11
Good day to you all, family and friends!
It is beyond miserable outside, it is raining, not misty or a soft drizzle, it is raining, continuously. There was some relief on Thursday afternoon when the sun came out the wind lied down the clouds disappeared and the temperatures rose to 21°. We were outside picking berries for another bottle of jam, having coffee in the back yard, looking over the fence at all the new cattle Jimmy, the neighbour bought!!! That was then- but unfortunately today is like the days before Thursday and since! I have to admit it is not cold and that is a blessing.
Very unusual - the flowers starts to flower all over again and there is new growth everywhere the roses are plentiful and the dahlias we thought were dead and gone are absolutely lovely , we also have a ‘stokroos’ in flower, never thought we will ever experience that in this country!
All my promulgated stems seem to have taken and I will do some more especially of the wonderful dahlias!
We cut the grass quickly last Thursday a week ago when the wind dried out the grass but could not get into the ground since. When you walk on the grass it is like a sponge, sucking you in.
The cabbages and cauliflowers are out of this world- also a trial as we have never planted winter veggies before .There is a promise of some dry weather coming around Monday and then we hope to plant our winter onions, Anemones, and wonderful varieties of Tulips discovered yesterday! After 7 years of extremely hard work the lawn mower is in dire need of replacement and as always the prices drop tremendously over the winter months and we were out shopping for one yesterday, did not buy one yet but will watch the prices and maybe in the next month we hope to have a new lawnmower!
Our visiting animals have become less. The grey cat with his wonderful Professor expression has not been seen for 2 weeks or more and I hope that he is well. The foxes are big and bold, with shining coats from the good food they get from the Dunnes.
The little hedgehog has not been seen but with all the new cattle in the field behind the house it is possible that he feels threatened! The boss of the place Blackie thinks he belongs to us now! He has become quite tame and miaau for his milk and food!
I got some orchids from my friend Marthie earlier in the year that were drowned by their carer but I have, with good care revived them and they stand in full flower, The big orchid has 2 stems growing at alarming speed and all going well we might have flowers on there for Easter.
I spoke to Lukas a few minutes ago- who is really just too good to be true. At nearly 18mnths old, he is at least 6 mnths ahead in his milestones and perception. Using both hands equally well and talks! All going well, God willing, they will be over at the end of the month when we have a bank holiday on the 31st- cannot wait. Haya enjoy the grandmother feeling – it is something that grows!
At work things are moving fast- the Emergency department has been quite busy and that means extra work for us in the ward. The principle of patient safety is still in question as we have to look after 16- 20 surgical cases as well as at least 6 high dependency medical cases at present – only 2 nurses and no carer. The new Lamina Flow theatres will soon be ready and also the High Care Unit for hip and knee replacements. The hospital was built a good few years ago before there was piped oxygen and suction- all these facilities had to be installed to pass accreditation for the HCU. We still use oxygen cylinders in the wards.
The staff is working very hard with many extra hours which are given back in ‘Time Owing’ rather than getting paid! The accreditation is behind us and we seemed to have done very well.
Official report will be available in 2 weeks.
Birthdays for the following week!
Rina Herbst’s birthday is tomorrow 16th We hope and pray that the year ahead will bring good health and many wonderful hours with your flowers! Paul Eloff, son of Oubaas & Gerda, who most probably do not have a clue who I am, has his birthday on the 18th! Study well young man and every success with the exams!
Marthie Potgieter, my dear friend here in Longford is a year older on the 20th! Happy Birthday- may this year bring you great joy!
Tomorrow , as always is the best day of my week. I am in front of the organ and I am looking forward to the Praise we will bring our Lord! We enjoy the wonderful preaching from a very gifted minister and look forward to tomorrow’s sermon!
Thank you for all the lovely letters I received and especially to Joy in Brisbane who writes so regularly!
Now that Wales is out of the World cup we have not decided who we favour- I am not fond of the French but they are now all that is left from this side of the world!
We read the SA news and are sometimes very saddened by the murders and rape reports- not that it is any better anywhere else- but just because it is my homeland.
Therefore, be diligent in your safety procedures and take good care of yourselves!
I greet you from a very wet Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Groete vanuit 'n warm dag in Cranleymore
Saterdag 8 Oktober’11
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende!
Die son het laat( na 8.45) deur die wolke gebreek maar toe dit gebeur was dit asof daar kristal glas klink in die sontrale, dit het suiwer ‘geping’ so ‘n stralende oggend en vroeg middag was dit- byna nie te glo nie.
Ons kom nou net van buite in waar ons een van die potplante wat nou reeds 5 jaar in sy pot is, moes uitplant want so mooi as vandag is so verpletterend was die reën en die wind van tussen 90-110m/p/u. Die pot was groot en die boombos ook- maar die wind se krag het dit soos ‘n veertjie van die stoep rand afgeveeg,te pletter op die aarde wat 3vt weg was, geval. Stukke het afgebreek wat ons vinnig by ander goed ingesteek het maar ons kon van weë die reën nie lank genoeg buite bly om ‘n gat te grawe en die groot bosboom te plant nie.
Met heel party stukke af staan hy nou ewe trosts en veilig in die aarde geplant- ons hoop dat die skok nie te groot sal wees nie.
Omdat die weer regtig nie te koud is nie bly daar nog baie blomme oor wat steeds pragtig lyk- die hanekamme floreer op die oomblik en so ook die dalias wat ons gedog het, is dood. Die begonias bly ‘n treffer hierdie jaar!
Ek was baie besig gedurende dieweek en het stiggies gesny van rose en klim plante ook van die peer boom en dit in groei stof gesteek en in spesiaal voorgbereide potte geplant en ons hoop van harte dat dit gaan groei.
Temperature vandag 20-22° ligte windjie – die son wat so helder geskyn het,nou, tenspyte van sy enorme krag, weg. Hy kan net nie die wolke uit sy pad gebrand kry nie en dit het reeds vandat ek kom sit het so donker geword dat ek die lig moes aanskakel en dit sal seker nounou giet!
Ons dieretuin het bietjie skade gelei want met dié dat die jakkalsies nou tieners is en baie sku is, kom hul heelwat later eet- hulle het seker nie gehou van die spreilig wat hulle so pragtig tentoon gestel het nie.
Die krimp varkie het ons ook lanklaas gesien maar ons weet hy is hier want sy gangetjies wat hy deur die lang gras in die onder veld loop gee sy teenwoordigheid weg!
Blackie, die swart kat verbeel hom nou dat hy reg het op ons agterplaas en is so te sê die baas! Sit op die vensterbank en tjank vir melk en kos sommer enige tyd van die dag!
Professor is skoon veld- het hom seker 10 dae gelede laas gesien- my hart trek sommer saam as ek dink dat hy dalk iets oorgekom het.
Die voeltjies was vir ‘n lang ruk weg – seker op konferensie en begin nou stadig maar seker terug keer na die groen wei velde van Cranleymore.Die swaeltjies is oppad SA toe!
Ons het vanmore gaan inkopies doen vir die voeltjies maar vind dat die emmer met grondboontjies half is en die prys byna dubbel.Kosbolletjies is darem nog redelik! moet nou plan maak om ‘n paar ton te koop en self te verpak en te verkoop!
Nou ja, daar is natuurlik slegte nuus ook op hierdie dag en die waters in die Ierse see het aansienlik gestyg van al die trane wat deur die Engelse en die Iere gestort is in die vroeë môre ure! Om darem so wakker te word is darem nie lekker nie, uiteindelik is dit die beste span wat wegloop as die wenners en die nabetragting en post mortems is deurtrek met verwyte en wat hulle moes gedoen het! Hulle kan nou sommer geld spaar en met dieselfde vliegtuig huistoe kom!
Ons het gister gaan kyk na ‘n veiling wat in Virginia Co Cavan môre middag gaan plaasvind! Die oorspronklike huis moes ‘n goeie
300 jr gelede gebou gewees het, stukkies is met die tyd aanglas en dit maak dit baie interesant! Die voorkant is op die straat en moes op een of andertyd ook as winkel gedien het. Die kombuis se vuurhert is nog net soos dit eeue terug was met die yster stang wat uitdraai, ketel wat daaraan hang en dan oor die vuur kook! Die ou dame was 94 toe sy oorlede is en sy het in die huis groot geword wat aan haar grootouers behoort het. Sy het hulle tot hul dood versorg en is toe later self daar oorlede ‘n maand of twee gelede nooit getrou nie. Die ou Ysterkatel beddens, meubels wat baie baie jare oud is, regtige antieke goed, ‘n klavier wat later jare bygekom het met ingelegte hout en die kandelare nog met die kers druppels steeds daarin!. Sommige van die boeke dateer uit die jaar 1850 met hofsake wat opgeskryf is,’n werklike belewenis!
Sielig was ook die geraamte van ‘n kat wat in die agterplaas in ‘n val gevang was en seker daar van hongerte gesterf het. Alles net soos dit was, vir baie jare.‘n Ou Pennyfarnum(spelling????) fiets en die ‘pony trap’ met al die bybehore!
Die pad na Virginia is baie mooi, kronkel deur boomtonnels en plekplek moet jy jou ligte aanskakel anders sien jy niks! Daar is ook ander paaie maar ons hou baie van die een wat by Old Castle verby gaan.
Dit is nie regtig vêr maar neem tog baie langer as wat dit sou neem om in die Vrystaat van dorp na dorp te ry want die pad is maar nou en as ‘n vragmotor van voor kom staan jy maar geduldig eenkant en wag dat hy by jou verby skuur en dan kry natuurlik die boer met trekker en sleepwa wat vir niks en niemand uit die pad sal draai of plek maak nie!tog is dit heerlik en pragtig om alles so van naby te beleef!
Hier is die spektakel van President kandidate, van wie die pers en radio mense met groot genoeë, elkeen se vuilwasgoed na buite krap en oopvlek vir die publiek, aan die gang. Dit maak jou naar. Integriteit bestaan dood eenvoudig nie. Die TV debat was duidelik ‘n modderslingende geveg en het my laat skaam voel dat iemand wat eendag ons President moet wees hulle so sleg kan gedra!Daar was wel een wat erg deurgeloop het en volgens my , hom die beste van die ellende gekwyt het en dit was die “ verskriklike terroris” soos wat hulle hom beskryf het, Martin McGuinness. Hierdie land se mense het geen benul van ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ nie. Genoeg gesê- voor ek gestenig word
Môre is die beste dag van die week en ek sal in die bank sit en luister en sing! Mag dit vir almal ‘n baie geseënde Sondag wees.
Verjaardae:Hildegard van Br Mendel verjaar die 12de, Jaco van Marle die 14e. Beste wense julle toegewens.
Ek begin weer Maandagaand werk en dan is die tyd van rus en niks doen ook verby! Die skof gaan lank en moeilik wees want ons is aangesê om geen verlof te neem oor Kers en Nuwejaar nie want met die Noodgevalle wat oop is moet ons gereed wees om te verpleeg en te versorg! Die teaters sal net gebruik word vir noodgevalle gedurende daardie tyd!
Baie dankie vir al die briefies wat ek ontvang het – wonder net waar Paul in Vanderbijl is , sy pos kom terug, Tjaart miskien kan jy vir my by Br Mendel uitvind? Ek moet ook ‘n ander adres vir Arnolda kry sy is ook nie op kantoor nie!
Onse Lukas is die punt van ons harte- gisteraand praat ek met hom oor die foon en hy sing toe vir my saam met sy pa ‘Baba black sheep’ en Twinkle twinkle little Star. Sy geliefde uitdrukking is:” O no! O dear!”” Okay, wat hy lank uitrek.Oookaaaaayyyyy!” Hy sê dit met soveel emosie , jy moet dit waardeer. – Haya en Gerlof , laat my maar toe om bietjie te spog!
Soos altyd is julle almal altyd in ons gebede vir veiligheid en seën.
Hou deure gesluit, ry versigtig!
Groete vanuit Cranleymore waar dit ‘n wonderlike dag in laat herfs is.
Barry & Christina
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende!
Die son het laat( na 8.45) deur die wolke gebreek maar toe dit gebeur was dit asof daar kristal glas klink in die sontrale, dit het suiwer ‘geping’ so ‘n stralende oggend en vroeg middag was dit- byna nie te glo nie.
Ons kom nou net van buite in waar ons een van die potplante wat nou reeds 5 jaar in sy pot is, moes uitplant want so mooi as vandag is so verpletterend was die reën en die wind van tussen 90-110m/p/u. Die pot was groot en die boombos ook- maar die wind se krag het dit soos ‘n veertjie van die stoep rand afgeveeg,te pletter op die aarde wat 3vt weg was, geval. Stukke het afgebreek wat ons vinnig by ander goed ingesteek het maar ons kon van weë die reën nie lank genoeg buite bly om ‘n gat te grawe en die groot bosboom te plant nie.
Met heel party stukke af staan hy nou ewe trosts en veilig in die aarde geplant- ons hoop dat die skok nie te groot sal wees nie.
Omdat die weer regtig nie te koud is nie bly daar nog baie blomme oor wat steeds pragtig lyk- die hanekamme floreer op die oomblik en so ook die dalias wat ons gedog het, is dood. Die begonias bly ‘n treffer hierdie jaar!
Ek was baie besig gedurende dieweek en het stiggies gesny van rose en klim plante ook van die peer boom en dit in groei stof gesteek en in spesiaal voorgbereide potte geplant en ons hoop van harte dat dit gaan groei.
Temperature vandag 20-22° ligte windjie – die son wat so helder geskyn het,nou, tenspyte van sy enorme krag, weg. Hy kan net nie die wolke uit sy pad gebrand kry nie en dit het reeds vandat ek kom sit het so donker geword dat ek die lig moes aanskakel en dit sal seker nounou giet!
Ons dieretuin het bietjie skade gelei want met dié dat die jakkalsies nou tieners is en baie sku is, kom hul heelwat later eet- hulle het seker nie gehou van die spreilig wat hulle so pragtig tentoon gestel het nie.
Die krimp varkie het ons ook lanklaas gesien maar ons weet hy is hier want sy gangetjies wat hy deur die lang gras in die onder veld loop gee sy teenwoordigheid weg!
Blackie, die swart kat verbeel hom nou dat hy reg het op ons agterplaas en is so te sê die baas! Sit op die vensterbank en tjank vir melk en kos sommer enige tyd van die dag!
Professor is skoon veld- het hom seker 10 dae gelede laas gesien- my hart trek sommer saam as ek dink dat hy dalk iets oorgekom het.
Die voeltjies was vir ‘n lang ruk weg – seker op konferensie en begin nou stadig maar seker terug keer na die groen wei velde van Cranleymore.Die swaeltjies is oppad SA toe!
Ons het vanmore gaan inkopies doen vir die voeltjies maar vind dat die emmer met grondboontjies half is en die prys byna dubbel.Kosbolletjies is darem nog redelik! moet nou plan maak om ‘n paar ton te koop en self te verpak en te verkoop!
Nou ja, daar is natuurlik slegte nuus ook op hierdie dag en die waters in die Ierse see het aansienlik gestyg van al die trane wat deur die Engelse en die Iere gestort is in die vroeë môre ure! Om darem so wakker te word is darem nie lekker nie, uiteindelik is dit die beste span wat wegloop as die wenners en die nabetragting en post mortems is deurtrek met verwyte en wat hulle moes gedoen het! Hulle kan nou sommer geld spaar en met dieselfde vliegtuig huistoe kom!
Ons het gister gaan kyk na ‘n veiling wat in Virginia Co Cavan môre middag gaan plaasvind! Die oorspronklike huis moes ‘n goeie
300 jr gelede gebou gewees het, stukkies is met die tyd aanglas en dit maak dit baie interesant! Die voorkant is op die straat en moes op een of andertyd ook as winkel gedien het. Die kombuis se vuurhert is nog net soos dit eeue terug was met die yster stang wat uitdraai, ketel wat daaraan hang en dan oor die vuur kook! Die ou dame was 94 toe sy oorlede is en sy het in die huis groot geword wat aan haar grootouers behoort het. Sy het hulle tot hul dood versorg en is toe later self daar oorlede ‘n maand of twee gelede nooit getrou nie. Die ou Ysterkatel beddens, meubels wat baie baie jare oud is, regtige antieke goed, ‘n klavier wat later jare bygekom het met ingelegte hout en die kandelare nog met die kers druppels steeds daarin!. Sommige van die boeke dateer uit die jaar 1850 met hofsake wat opgeskryf is,’n werklike belewenis!
Sielig was ook die geraamte van ‘n kat wat in die agterplaas in ‘n val gevang was en seker daar van hongerte gesterf het. Alles net soos dit was, vir baie jare.‘n Ou Pennyfarnum(spelling????) fiets en die ‘pony trap’ met al die bybehore!
Die pad na Virginia is baie mooi, kronkel deur boomtonnels en plekplek moet jy jou ligte aanskakel anders sien jy niks! Daar is ook ander paaie maar ons hou baie van die een wat by Old Castle verby gaan.
Dit is nie regtig vêr maar neem tog baie langer as wat dit sou neem om in die Vrystaat van dorp na dorp te ry want die pad is maar nou en as ‘n vragmotor van voor kom staan jy maar geduldig eenkant en wag dat hy by jou verby skuur en dan kry natuurlik die boer met trekker en sleepwa wat vir niks en niemand uit die pad sal draai of plek maak nie!tog is dit heerlik en pragtig om alles so van naby te beleef!
Hier is die spektakel van President kandidate, van wie die pers en radio mense met groot genoeë, elkeen se vuilwasgoed na buite krap en oopvlek vir die publiek, aan die gang. Dit maak jou naar. Integriteit bestaan dood eenvoudig nie. Die TV debat was duidelik ‘n modderslingende geveg en het my laat skaam voel dat iemand wat eendag ons President moet wees hulle so sleg kan gedra!Daar was wel een wat erg deurgeloop het en volgens my , hom die beste van die ellende gekwyt het en dit was die “ verskriklike terroris” soos wat hulle hom beskryf het, Martin McGuinness. Hierdie land se mense het geen benul van ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ nie. Genoeg gesê- voor ek gestenig word
Môre is die beste dag van die week en ek sal in die bank sit en luister en sing! Mag dit vir almal ‘n baie geseënde Sondag wees.
Verjaardae:Hildegard van Br Mendel verjaar die 12de, Jaco van Marle die 14e. Beste wense julle toegewens.
Ek begin weer Maandagaand werk en dan is die tyd van rus en niks doen ook verby! Die skof gaan lank en moeilik wees want ons is aangesê om geen verlof te neem oor Kers en Nuwejaar nie want met die Noodgevalle wat oop is moet ons gereed wees om te verpleeg en te versorg! Die teaters sal net gebruik word vir noodgevalle gedurende daardie tyd!
Baie dankie vir al die briefies wat ek ontvang het – wonder net waar Paul in Vanderbijl is , sy pos kom terug, Tjaart miskien kan jy vir my by Br Mendel uitvind? Ek moet ook ‘n ander adres vir Arnolda kry sy is ook nie op kantoor nie!
Onse Lukas is die punt van ons harte- gisteraand praat ek met hom oor die foon en hy sing toe vir my saam met sy pa ‘Baba black sheep’ en Twinkle twinkle little Star. Sy geliefde uitdrukking is:” O no! O dear!”” Okay, wat hy lank uitrek.Oookaaaaayyyyy!” Hy sê dit met soveel emosie , jy moet dit waardeer. – Haya en Gerlof , laat my maar toe om bietjie te spog!
Soos altyd is julle almal altyd in ons gebede vir veiligheid en seën.
Hou deure gesluit, ry versigtig!
Groete vanuit Cranleymore waar dit ‘n wonderlike dag in laat herfs is.
Barry & Christina
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Autumn Greetings from a wet Cranleymore
Saturday 1st October’11
Good day to you all, family and friends.
Two letters in one week is slightly much therefore just a Memo today!
Just back from Northern Ireland where we attended an Antique Auction in Enniskillen- As the auction took place at 18h00 last night we decided to have less stress and booked into the hotel where the Auction was going to take place. Viewing was earlier in the day at the old Georgian house of a Vet who‘s wife is still living there until the house is sold!
Three stories high with a basement, narrow staircase and how they got the furniture to the top floor must have asked some muscle and patience!
We now have to arrange transport for a chest of drawers which we had hoped will fit into the car but was too heavy and large! The small things came home with us! As hot as it is in England and Wales – so miserable and wet is it with us! We had 2 lovely days out of the Indian Summer which was promised but being at the end of every weather system we always just get the last lick!
On Thursday morning I noticed a fox at the side of the road which must have been killed during the night! It could be one of ours but maybe not, we have not seen them this last week, we think they are getting clever and know that we watch them and are tired of the show! The hedgehog is not bothered and he stands still while Barry crumbles the bread around him! They were all very neglected yesterday and last night but not to worry Blackie was on the windowsill waiting when we arrived. Professor has to check the field carefully before approaching the eating area! The swallows have left!!!!
They called me from the hospital to help out tomorrow night so I will do a stint in the middle of my holidays. It is only one night and I do not mind!
Thought I picked the last of my sweet peas but the more I pick the better they look! The winter veggies are beautiful in the garden and we are watching the Brussels sprouts forming on the storks and cannot wait to eat our own sprouts!
The rugby fever has waned slightly here as the Irish have not been playing, only until tomorrow morning, then we will have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and supper.
The presidential candidates, seven in all are having a month of canvassing to be elected as the President of Ireland. There are a few dubious characters partaking and we can only hope and pray that the one with the most integrity gets there in the end!
On the financial front doom and gloom in sight! How Europe is going solve the problems stays a riddle! I think that everything should close for a week. Everything that trades, banks, shops and then start from the beginning. Forget everything that happened before, have a clean slate and get on with it! Would that not been wonderful, but unfortunately it does not work like that and we have to keep on struggling until we are no more. There will always be the gambler, the optimist and the pessimist and between them you have to make your way! The hardworking middleman becomes the backbone of the economy- paying taxes and keeps the wheel turning over!
Birthdays for this week! Derek Duvenhage in PMB hope you have good day and year on the 4/10! SarahJane Starnes will also be a year older on the same day! Have a wonderful day!
To those of whom I have no record- I hope that your days will be good as well!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and after the successful Harvest Service of last week we are back to normal. I am playing the organ and all is well!
Hope that the new parents in Reitz are coping well with Cobus Jnr!
Haya, we are sorry to hear about your dog- yes and I do feel like you that there should be a dog/animal/pet heaven!
Your safety is always a concern to us and we hope that you all drive safely and lock the doors!
Take care!
From us in Cranleymore where the first day in October brings us one step nearer to late autumn.
Barry & Christina
Good day to you all, family and friends.
Two letters in one week is slightly much therefore just a Memo today!
Just back from Northern Ireland where we attended an Antique Auction in Enniskillen- As the auction took place at 18h00 last night we decided to have less stress and booked into the hotel where the Auction was going to take place. Viewing was earlier in the day at the old Georgian house of a Vet who‘s wife is still living there until the house is sold!
Three stories high with a basement, narrow staircase and how they got the furniture to the top floor must have asked some muscle and patience!
We now have to arrange transport for a chest of drawers which we had hoped will fit into the car but was too heavy and large! The small things came home with us! As hot as it is in England and Wales – so miserable and wet is it with us! We had 2 lovely days out of the Indian Summer which was promised but being at the end of every weather system we always just get the last lick!
On Thursday morning I noticed a fox at the side of the road which must have been killed during the night! It could be one of ours but maybe not, we have not seen them this last week, we think they are getting clever and know that we watch them and are tired of the show! The hedgehog is not bothered and he stands still while Barry crumbles the bread around him! They were all very neglected yesterday and last night but not to worry Blackie was on the windowsill waiting when we arrived. Professor has to check the field carefully before approaching the eating area! The swallows have left!!!!
They called me from the hospital to help out tomorrow night so I will do a stint in the middle of my holidays. It is only one night and I do not mind!
Thought I picked the last of my sweet peas but the more I pick the better they look! The winter veggies are beautiful in the garden and we are watching the Brussels sprouts forming on the storks and cannot wait to eat our own sprouts!
The rugby fever has waned slightly here as the Irish have not been playing, only until tomorrow morning, then we will have it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and supper.
The presidential candidates, seven in all are having a month of canvassing to be elected as the President of Ireland. There are a few dubious characters partaking and we can only hope and pray that the one with the most integrity gets there in the end!
On the financial front doom and gloom in sight! How Europe is going solve the problems stays a riddle! I think that everything should close for a week. Everything that trades, banks, shops and then start from the beginning. Forget everything that happened before, have a clean slate and get on with it! Would that not been wonderful, but unfortunately it does not work like that and we have to keep on struggling until we are no more. There will always be the gambler, the optimist and the pessimist and between them you have to make your way! The hardworking middleman becomes the backbone of the economy- paying taxes and keeps the wheel turning over!
Birthdays for this week! Derek Duvenhage in PMB hope you have good day and year on the 4/10! SarahJane Starnes will also be a year older on the same day! Have a wonderful day!
To those of whom I have no record- I hope that your days will be good as well!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and after the successful Harvest Service of last week we are back to normal. I am playing the organ and all is well!
Hope that the new parents in Reitz are coping well with Cobus Jnr!
Haya, we are sorry to hear about your dog- yes and I do feel like you that there should be a dog/animal/pet heaven!
Your safety is always a concern to us and we hope that you all drive safely and lock the doors!
Take care!
From us in Cranleymore where the first day in October brings us one step nearer to late autumn.
Barry & Christina
Monday, September 26, 2011
Groete vanuit Cranleymore
26 September’11
Goeie dag, familie en vriende,
Die briefie is ‘n paar dae laat maar so baie het gebeur dat dit regtig nie saak maak nie. Via Gerlof se brief verneem ons dat die Van Marles nou ook groot ouers is en nou sal hul die vreugdes van Ouma en Oupa beleef! Veels geluk aan Jaco en Stenelle met aankoms van jul baba en dan ook veels geluk aan al die nuwe Oupas en Oumas! Ons hoop om volle besonderhede eersdaags te ontvang!
Gerlof se weermanne en ons weervroue voorspel eienaardige dinge soos vroeë sneeu maar ook ‘n Indiese somer voor die sneeu kom! Temperature van bo 25° word vir die suide van Engeland voorspel en hier by ons netso bo 20° maar as ons moet oordeel aan vandag se temperatuur dan sal daar ‘n wonderwerk in die werkinge moet wees want dit het nie vandag hoër as 12° gestyg nie. Reën as afwisseling is doodgewoon. Die wind is geniepsig en jou hande word sommer gou koud as jy hulle buite los! Die blare val nou vinnig en die kleur skemas is besonders soos dit altyd gedurende herfs is, alle kleure vanaf donker roesbruin tot warm geel.
Ons hanekamme lyk nou mooier as gedurende die hele somer en die helder rooi bring pragtig kleur in die afbrekende somer blomkleure. Die begonias het ons totale bewondering nodig want hulle blom nou 6 mnde en lyk nog steeds mooi! Die rose het so iets van ‘n laat drag rose wat pragtig lyk en ek het seker nou die laaste van die pronkertjies gepluk!
Gister was ons Oes gedenk diens en die hele kerk was vol dalias van wit tot donker rooi byna pers en alles tussenin- ongelooflik mooi! Die kerk het pragtig gelyk en natuurlik was dit die beste dag van my week! Elke hoekie en lysie was gevul met vrugte en groente uit die gemeentelede se tuine-,gerwe van koring gebind soos in die jare her! 110 in getal miskien dink julle dat dit nie juis baie mense is nie maar vir ons gemeente wat hoofsaaklik uit ouer lui bestaan en miskien 20 in getal bereik, is dit ‘n allamintige groot klomp mense. Die orgel diens is deur Joy en myself gehanteer- 4 van my 12 voorgestede Psalme en Gesange was gesing en ek was baie in my skik! Barry het die skrifvoorlesing gedoen en soos altyd word hy vreeslik geprys omdat hy baie duidelik en helder lees-en al die hardhorendes kan hom goed hoor en die feit dat hy deel is van die Protestante kerk bring groot dankbaarheid en maak my baie trots!
Ons het die dankdiens met sang en musiek gevier.Die besoekende predikant het ‘n baie moderne boodskap gebring maar baie indrukwekkend-maar die kersie op die koek naas die heerlike klank wat uit die kerk opgestyg het was die eetgoed! Die ou skool gebou waar meeste van die ouer mense skool gegaan het in die laat 1920’s is gerestoureer in die afgelope 5 mnde met geld wat nagelaat is deur die buurplaas se eienaar-nie eers ‘n lid van die kerk nie maar hulle het altyd na die oes gedenkdiens toe gekom. Nou ja ons het koek vir die res van die jaar maar ek vrees die voeëls sal meeste daarvan verorber!
Ons het ook die wonderlike ervaring gehad van klein voetstappies in die huis,”Opa” soos Lukas, Barry noem, is ‘n diebare klein seuntjie volstreke en slimmer as die houtjie van die galg-skielik klink die uitdrukking baie snaaks, nietemin hy is nie op sy ‘bek’ geval nie en praat aanmekaar, elke woord duidelik uitgespreek bitter min baba woorde en herhaal wat hy foneties hoor. Dit was die eerste keer dat hulle oorgeslaap het en hy het sonder probleem in sy kamp kot gaan slaap en eers die volgende oggend ¼ voor 7 wakker geword! Finbarr kon nie gaan slaap nie want een van hul klante se webblad het die geesgegaf en hy moes deur die nag werk om alles weer in orde te kry- en om nader aan die ellende tewees is hulle toe maar na ‘n vol Ierse ontbyt, huis toe. Dit was nogtans baie lekker om hulle hier te hê. Jy moet oë in jou agterkop hê want alles word ge-inspekteur ,elke kas word oopgemaak en uitgepak- en die wasmasjien het ‘n groot aantrekkinskrag gehad en die klein vingertjies kan so maklik in die knyp kom! Sy ‘Opa’ is die mees wonderlikste ding en as hy hom nie kan sien nie roep hy luid ‘Opa’!!!
Nou ja, die naglewe in Cranleymore het met rasse skrede vergroot. Blackie, Professor, die 2 katte en die 2 jakkalsies het ‘n maatjie bygekry ‘n krimpvarkie-hy is te pragtig en eet alles wat hy as oorskiet op die gras kan vind. Professor en die jakkalsies sit langs mekaar en eet ,dis nou die grys strepies kat maar Blackie is die koning en as hy in die nabyheid is bly al die ander op ‘n afstand!
Die swaeltjies het nog gister deur die lug geswiep en hulle vertrek datum is seker baie naby! Die ander deurdiejaar voëltjies begin nou soek na hulle grondboontjies maar hulle sal eers volgende Maandag begin ekstra voedsel kry!
Die verkiesing van ‘n nuwe President vir Ierland is besig om momentum te kry- alles wat onguur is word nou uit die klosset gegrawe en elkeen moet net verdedig- dit is ongelooflik dat ons ‘n verkiesing gehad het en ‘n nuwe politieke party is aan bewind maar, oo weë! Dit is moeilik om te besluit wie is slegter! Sowat van geld mors is ongelooflik! Die gesondheidsdienste is in Chaos. Geld sake dwarsoor die Europese gebied is in groot gevaar en nog steeds gaan hulle voort met ‘gravy train’ salarisse.
Ek is vir 2 weke met vakansie en is dankbaar vir ‘n kans om weer kragte te herwin-net ‘n akkreditassie vergadering môre middag ,net om dinge effe te vertraag- ons beplan om Vrydag Enniskillen toe te gaan , NI, daar is ‘n groot antieke veiling en omdat dit altyd ‘n baie gesellige uitstappie is doen ons dit alles ineen-besigtig die goedere en indien daar iets is waar ons in belangstel sal ons oorbly!
Nou ja ek het geen verdere nuus nie.
Jul veiligheid is altyd vir ons van groot belang!
Hou die deure gesluit en wees altyd versigtig!
Liefde groete vanuit Cranleymore waar die winter met ‘n ompad, nader kruip.
Barry & Christina
Goeie dag, familie en vriende,
Die briefie is ‘n paar dae laat maar so baie het gebeur dat dit regtig nie saak maak nie. Via Gerlof se brief verneem ons dat die Van Marles nou ook groot ouers is en nou sal hul die vreugdes van Ouma en Oupa beleef! Veels geluk aan Jaco en Stenelle met aankoms van jul baba en dan ook veels geluk aan al die nuwe Oupas en Oumas! Ons hoop om volle besonderhede eersdaags te ontvang!
Gerlof se weermanne en ons weervroue voorspel eienaardige dinge soos vroeë sneeu maar ook ‘n Indiese somer voor die sneeu kom! Temperature van bo 25° word vir die suide van Engeland voorspel en hier by ons netso bo 20° maar as ons moet oordeel aan vandag se temperatuur dan sal daar ‘n wonderwerk in die werkinge moet wees want dit het nie vandag hoër as 12° gestyg nie. Reën as afwisseling is doodgewoon. Die wind is geniepsig en jou hande word sommer gou koud as jy hulle buite los! Die blare val nou vinnig en die kleur skemas is besonders soos dit altyd gedurende herfs is, alle kleure vanaf donker roesbruin tot warm geel.
Ons hanekamme lyk nou mooier as gedurende die hele somer en die helder rooi bring pragtig kleur in die afbrekende somer blomkleure. Die begonias het ons totale bewondering nodig want hulle blom nou 6 mnde en lyk nog steeds mooi! Die rose het so iets van ‘n laat drag rose wat pragtig lyk en ek het seker nou die laaste van die pronkertjies gepluk!
Gister was ons Oes gedenk diens en die hele kerk was vol dalias van wit tot donker rooi byna pers en alles tussenin- ongelooflik mooi! Die kerk het pragtig gelyk en natuurlik was dit die beste dag van my week! Elke hoekie en lysie was gevul met vrugte en groente uit die gemeentelede se tuine-,gerwe van koring gebind soos in die jare her! 110 in getal miskien dink julle dat dit nie juis baie mense is nie maar vir ons gemeente wat hoofsaaklik uit ouer lui bestaan en miskien 20 in getal bereik, is dit ‘n allamintige groot klomp mense. Die orgel diens is deur Joy en myself gehanteer- 4 van my 12 voorgestede Psalme en Gesange was gesing en ek was baie in my skik! Barry het die skrifvoorlesing gedoen en soos altyd word hy vreeslik geprys omdat hy baie duidelik en helder lees-en al die hardhorendes kan hom goed hoor en die feit dat hy deel is van die Protestante kerk bring groot dankbaarheid en maak my baie trots!
Ons het die dankdiens met sang en musiek gevier.Die besoekende predikant het ‘n baie moderne boodskap gebring maar baie indrukwekkend-maar die kersie op die koek naas die heerlike klank wat uit die kerk opgestyg het was die eetgoed! Die ou skool gebou waar meeste van die ouer mense skool gegaan het in die laat 1920’s is gerestoureer in die afgelope 5 mnde met geld wat nagelaat is deur die buurplaas se eienaar-nie eers ‘n lid van die kerk nie maar hulle het altyd na die oes gedenkdiens toe gekom. Nou ja ons het koek vir die res van die jaar maar ek vrees die voeëls sal meeste daarvan verorber!
Ons het ook die wonderlike ervaring gehad van klein voetstappies in die huis,”Opa” soos Lukas, Barry noem, is ‘n diebare klein seuntjie volstreke en slimmer as die houtjie van die galg-skielik klink die uitdrukking baie snaaks, nietemin hy is nie op sy ‘bek’ geval nie en praat aanmekaar, elke woord duidelik uitgespreek bitter min baba woorde en herhaal wat hy foneties hoor. Dit was die eerste keer dat hulle oorgeslaap het en hy het sonder probleem in sy kamp kot gaan slaap en eers die volgende oggend ¼ voor 7 wakker geword! Finbarr kon nie gaan slaap nie want een van hul klante se webblad het die geesgegaf en hy moes deur die nag werk om alles weer in orde te kry- en om nader aan die ellende tewees is hulle toe maar na ‘n vol Ierse ontbyt, huis toe. Dit was nogtans baie lekker om hulle hier te hê. Jy moet oë in jou agterkop hê want alles word ge-inspekteur ,elke kas word oopgemaak en uitgepak- en die wasmasjien het ‘n groot aantrekkinskrag gehad en die klein vingertjies kan so maklik in die knyp kom! Sy ‘Opa’ is die mees wonderlikste ding en as hy hom nie kan sien nie roep hy luid ‘Opa’!!!
Nou ja, die naglewe in Cranleymore het met rasse skrede vergroot. Blackie, Professor, die 2 katte en die 2 jakkalsies het ‘n maatjie bygekry ‘n krimpvarkie-hy is te pragtig en eet alles wat hy as oorskiet op die gras kan vind. Professor en die jakkalsies sit langs mekaar en eet ,dis nou die grys strepies kat maar Blackie is die koning en as hy in die nabyheid is bly al die ander op ‘n afstand!
Die swaeltjies het nog gister deur die lug geswiep en hulle vertrek datum is seker baie naby! Die ander deurdiejaar voëltjies begin nou soek na hulle grondboontjies maar hulle sal eers volgende Maandag begin ekstra voedsel kry!
Die verkiesing van ‘n nuwe President vir Ierland is besig om momentum te kry- alles wat onguur is word nou uit die klosset gegrawe en elkeen moet net verdedig- dit is ongelooflik dat ons ‘n verkiesing gehad het en ‘n nuwe politieke party is aan bewind maar, oo weë! Dit is moeilik om te besluit wie is slegter! Sowat van geld mors is ongelooflik! Die gesondheidsdienste is in Chaos. Geld sake dwarsoor die Europese gebied is in groot gevaar en nog steeds gaan hulle voort met ‘gravy train’ salarisse.
Ek is vir 2 weke met vakansie en is dankbaar vir ‘n kans om weer kragte te herwin-net ‘n akkreditassie vergadering môre middag ,net om dinge effe te vertraag- ons beplan om Vrydag Enniskillen toe te gaan , NI, daar is ‘n groot antieke veiling en omdat dit altyd ‘n baie gesellige uitstappie is doen ons dit alles ineen-besigtig die goedere en indien daar iets is waar ons in belangstel sal ons oorbly!
Nou ja ek het geen verdere nuus nie.
Jul veiligheid is altyd vir ons van groot belang!
Hou die deure gesluit en wees altyd versigtig!
Liefde groete vanuit Cranleymore waar die winter met ‘n ompad, nader kruip.
Barry & Christina
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Mid September greetings
Saturday 17 Sept’11
Good day to all, family and friends!
Rugby takes the prime spot in my letter today with SA beating Fiji and then the news of all news
Ireland show Australia how to do it 15-6 Wow!
The Irish will do post mortem of their performance for the next 72 hrs intensely and then less frequent for the next 5 days or until the next game.
We have sudden showers with sun in between and when the sun shines it is lovely we cannot complain- the temperatures may drop at night below 10 but overall an average of 15-17 during the day. The nights have become much darker and longer and of course days much shorter. The leaves of some trees have turned within a week’s time into gorgeous autumn colours a feast for the eye. In between the dark green of the other trees are still very vibrant. Most of the fields have been cut for a 2nd time and the grain fields are now only stopples on the ground.
The wind blew last week at some horrific speed, settled a little this week but as we are in the pathway of every tail-end of most weather systems we experienced a very “unsettled” weather patron at present. We also have to get ready for the possible snow predicted for early October.
The chimney has been swept and the fire-lighters have been bought. The shed is full to the brim with natural fuel, turf and wood as well as the oil tank. We are ready for whatever is thrown our way! Have to say I love the sun! But on the other hand the winter has its own beauty!
Garden news. I still picked some sweet-peas yesterday and rescued a few roses from the rain and wind. Some of our flower pots were blown over and off the wall which broke branches off some of our bushes and the poor begonias got hit the hardest as they came tumbling down.
The roses are still in flower and have been now for a good month, for the 2nd time this year. The vegetable garden looks very good, the cabbages are filling out and the Brussels sprouts are forming –so are the cauliflowers.
Our animal visitor population brings us great joy! Blackie and Professor cannot stand each other and every now and again they arrive at the same time- an authoritive Blackie make sure that Professor leaves pretty quick and then remarked the whole territory, while the foxes stay hidden until the boss takes his leave! Hours are spent watching the foxes- you have to have excellent night sight to distinguish these animals from the background vegetation- they arrive usually minutes before darkness fall and their ritual stay the same- we were very surprised as we thought one of the young ones were killed on the road but on Wednesday night both of them arrived- may- be it was the mother that died. They are in peak condition, their fur is shining and their tails magnificent. We feed them with scraps from the table and what- ever is available- while we have changed to tinned cat food for the other two. They used to get tuna but it has become a bit expensive- so they eat the tin food just as happy!
At the hospital the Emergency Dept has taken off and we have had every possible admission under the sun from overdoses to 95yrs olds that stopped eating and drinking with the earnest wish to die! In between the 50 cases for theatre a day continues and the staff works very hard, my last 3 nights were out of this world. I cannot even get out of the car when I eventually arrives home at 09h30 in the morning as I am so stiff after a night full of events-trying to keep an Alzheimer patient who had a prostatectomy from getting out of bed and pulling his catheter out to haughty tauties who thinks they own the hospital- we work without a carer at night and you have to do everything and I mean everything. From doctors rounds to giving them their tea and everything in between! Another 2 years maybe three then I will call it a day! The last night I was on my own with 8 patients- I kicked up some mud but there is no-one that can come and help as we run on short staff as normal.
I still have a job and enjoy my work just sometimes you realize that things could have gone wrong – thank the Lord nothing has so far but still patient safety becomes an issue. There are many people who has no work and I gladly do my share- hopefully for as long as I can!
The Presidential election is near but the nomination of candidates is a circus!
The lots seems to be so ignorant of the fact that the President is the 1st Citizen of the country and should be a person of good standing and integrity able to meet any-one and every-one. Some of the candidates make me shiver- I dread the outcome of this election, instead of being proud of your President we might like to dig our heads into a bog! I just hear the voice of Martin Mc Guinness the 1st Minister of NI who has become Sinn Fein’s candidate- now there is hope!
We are both well and enjoy our little estate in the country! The Lord has blessed us in so many ways that my moaning is really not fair. The grass when cut looks like a carpet- the birds sing and the berries are red what more can I say! Last week Barry picked every blackberry and raspberry along the hedge and I cooked jam- there was just a little too much fluid left and I said to Barry when I sat down I must get up in 5 min to check the jam but I started reading my book and the next thing the fire alarm went off! Needless to say - I turned the jam into stone! It took us 3 days to get the pot clean and the stone was given to the birds and bees.
The next lot I treated with great respect and stood over the stove until ready to go into the jam jars! This time we are enjoying our own blackberry jam!
The swallows left their nest and has departed from the donkey house, they have been gathering for some time in great numbers and will soon leave!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and I will sit in a pew far away from every-one so that I can sing and praise the Lord. Joy is playing the organ and we have tea afterwards. Next week is the event of the year when we have our Harvest Thanksgiving Service. As it will be in the form of Hymns singing Joy and I will share the duty of organ playing. Afterwards we will give tea and cake to all the visitors!
Three of the Potgieter family will be in South Africa in the next couple of weeks and we wish them a safe journey and Christopher that is there since end August- enjoy the hot weather!
Every-one of you are always in our prayers and especially those who are having birthdays. Adelbert on the 20th and any-one else who I do not have a record of! Enjoy your day! Congratulations to Bianca and her husband with their Irish citizenships.
Remember your safety and those of your families.
Take care in every way!
Autumn regards from us in Cranleymore!
Barry & Christina
Good day to all, family and friends!
Rugby takes the prime spot in my letter today with SA beating Fiji and then the news of all news
Ireland show Australia how to do it 15-6 Wow!
The Irish will do post mortem of their performance for the next 72 hrs intensely and then less frequent for the next 5 days or until the next game.
We have sudden showers with sun in between and when the sun shines it is lovely we cannot complain- the temperatures may drop at night below 10 but overall an average of 15-17 during the day. The nights have become much darker and longer and of course days much shorter. The leaves of some trees have turned within a week’s time into gorgeous autumn colours a feast for the eye. In between the dark green of the other trees are still very vibrant. Most of the fields have been cut for a 2nd time and the grain fields are now only stopples on the ground.
The wind blew last week at some horrific speed, settled a little this week but as we are in the pathway of every tail-end of most weather systems we experienced a very “unsettled” weather patron at present. We also have to get ready for the possible snow predicted for early October.
The chimney has been swept and the fire-lighters have been bought. The shed is full to the brim with natural fuel, turf and wood as well as the oil tank. We are ready for whatever is thrown our way! Have to say I love the sun! But on the other hand the winter has its own beauty!
Garden news. I still picked some sweet-peas yesterday and rescued a few roses from the rain and wind. Some of our flower pots were blown over and off the wall which broke branches off some of our bushes and the poor begonias got hit the hardest as they came tumbling down.
The roses are still in flower and have been now for a good month, for the 2nd time this year. The vegetable garden looks very good, the cabbages are filling out and the Brussels sprouts are forming –so are the cauliflowers.
Our animal visitor population brings us great joy! Blackie and Professor cannot stand each other and every now and again they arrive at the same time- an authoritive Blackie make sure that Professor leaves pretty quick and then remarked the whole territory, while the foxes stay hidden until the boss takes his leave! Hours are spent watching the foxes- you have to have excellent night sight to distinguish these animals from the background vegetation- they arrive usually minutes before darkness fall and their ritual stay the same- we were very surprised as we thought one of the young ones were killed on the road but on Wednesday night both of them arrived- may- be it was the mother that died. They are in peak condition, their fur is shining and their tails magnificent. We feed them with scraps from the table and what- ever is available- while we have changed to tinned cat food for the other two. They used to get tuna but it has become a bit expensive- so they eat the tin food just as happy!
At the hospital the Emergency Dept has taken off and we have had every possible admission under the sun from overdoses to 95yrs olds that stopped eating and drinking with the earnest wish to die! In between the 50 cases for theatre a day continues and the staff works very hard, my last 3 nights were out of this world. I cannot even get out of the car when I eventually arrives home at 09h30 in the morning as I am so stiff after a night full of events-trying to keep an Alzheimer patient who had a prostatectomy from getting out of bed and pulling his catheter out to haughty tauties who thinks they own the hospital- we work without a carer at night and you have to do everything and I mean everything. From doctors rounds to giving them their tea and everything in between! Another 2 years maybe three then I will call it a day! The last night I was on my own with 8 patients- I kicked up some mud but there is no-one that can come and help as we run on short staff as normal.
I still have a job and enjoy my work just sometimes you realize that things could have gone wrong – thank the Lord nothing has so far but still patient safety becomes an issue. There are many people who has no work and I gladly do my share- hopefully for as long as I can!
The Presidential election is near but the nomination of candidates is a circus!
The lots seems to be so ignorant of the fact that the President is the 1st Citizen of the country and should be a person of good standing and integrity able to meet any-one and every-one. Some of the candidates make me shiver- I dread the outcome of this election, instead of being proud of your President we might like to dig our heads into a bog! I just hear the voice of Martin Mc Guinness the 1st Minister of NI who has become Sinn Fein’s candidate- now there is hope!
We are both well and enjoy our little estate in the country! The Lord has blessed us in so many ways that my moaning is really not fair. The grass when cut looks like a carpet- the birds sing and the berries are red what more can I say! Last week Barry picked every blackberry and raspberry along the hedge and I cooked jam- there was just a little too much fluid left and I said to Barry when I sat down I must get up in 5 min to check the jam but I started reading my book and the next thing the fire alarm went off! Needless to say - I turned the jam into stone! It took us 3 days to get the pot clean and the stone was given to the birds and bees.
The next lot I treated with great respect and stood over the stove until ready to go into the jam jars! This time we are enjoying our own blackberry jam!
The swallows left their nest and has departed from the donkey house, they have been gathering for some time in great numbers and will soon leave!
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and I will sit in a pew far away from every-one so that I can sing and praise the Lord. Joy is playing the organ and we have tea afterwards. Next week is the event of the year when we have our Harvest Thanksgiving Service. As it will be in the form of Hymns singing Joy and I will share the duty of organ playing. Afterwards we will give tea and cake to all the visitors!
Three of the Potgieter family will be in South Africa in the next couple of weeks and we wish them a safe journey and Christopher that is there since end August- enjoy the hot weather!
Every-one of you are always in our prayers and especially those who are having birthdays. Adelbert on the 20th and any-one else who I do not have a record of! Enjoy your day! Congratulations to Bianca and her husband with their Irish citizenships.
Remember your safety and those of your families.
Take care in every way!
Autumn regards from us in Cranleymore!
Barry & Christina
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Groete vanuit 'n windverwaaide Ierland
Saterdag 10 September’11
Goeie dag allemaal! Familie en vriende!
Eerste die goeie nuus, net soos dit soms by Leopold in N Holland/Belgie gaan, ervaar ons vandag sonskyn en effense warmte ongelukkig waai die wind baie onplesierig en kan jy dit nie waag om buite te sit nie, moenie eers praat van koerant lees nie! Ons vat nou maar elke dag soos hy kom, soms heerlike sonskyn wat dan vinnig afgewissel word met ‘n bui stort reën ,of grys en donker en onheilspellend,geen gewaarwording van enige son in die ruimte nie of sommer net blou kolle in die lug met wit opgestappelde wolk lae wat soms ‘n donker onderlagie het en jou heeltyd laat op kyk maar niks gebeur nie- so al asof die lug ruimte jou terg! Die temperature is eintlik baie goed- vandag het ons opgestaan met 12° wat reeds teen 10vm na 16° opgeskuif het en nou is dit naby 19° wat glad nie sleg is vir ons herfs nie!
Nog goeie nuus, wel vir my was dit in elk geval - en dit is die feit dat ek hierdie allamintige ACLS- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Kursus geslaag het. Daar was 2 dokters saam met ons en een het dit nie gemaak nie- ‘n sjirurg, neem hom nie kwalik nie want dit is nou regtig nie sy area van eksperteuse nie solank hy sy snywerk en toewerk goed doen is daar ander wat na die pasient se welsyn omsien. As hy knoei is daar ‘n probleem maar steeds is daar iemand anders wat die pasient aan die lewe hou!
Dit is die allerlaaste keer wat my in so-iets sal begewe. Ek het my hele lewe aangehou studeer, ek hou nooit op nie maar nie eksamen en prakties nie- nee-nee-nee, My stres vlakke het die hoogte in geskiet en ek dit nie nodig nie!
Tuis gaan dit goed ons het die plesier van ons besoekende katte Professor en Blackie. Lg is die baas- selfs die jakkalsies is bang vir hom. Hy het intussen baie astrant begin raak en sit nou op die vensterbank vir ons en wag, gee niks om vir Barry nie sit by die kos bakkie en wag vir sy melk en wat nogal terwyl Professor met sy wit snorbaarde baie versigtig is, hy kruip weg en dink ons kan hom nie sien nie,sy kleure is so dat hy heeltemaal saam smelt met die grasse en ou takke van die heining. Die jakkalsies het minder geword. Ons verneem van een van die SA dames wat so ‘n week of wat gelede hier verby is dat hulle ‘n jakkalsie dood opgemerk het in die pad. Nou is daar net een oor en hy hardloop nog groter draaie as in die begin om seker te maak niemand sien hom nie! ons staan digby die venster in die kombuis met die lig natuurlik af en hou hom dop- ‘n uur kan sommer verby vlieg op die manier. Hy lyk goed sy jas blink en sy stert is te pragtig!
Ons swaeltjies het hul nes eergister verlaat en vlieg nou rond . Hulle slaap nog in die donkiehuis maar is besig om sterker te word elke dag! As ons buite is swiep hulle graag netso by ons koppe verby!
Die tuin lyk nog besonder goed ,die rose het hul 2de drag en lyk mooier as vroër in die somer. 5 jaar gelede het ons ‘n variasie van
Honeysuckle geplant en dit het vir die eerste keer hierdie jaar geblom en lyk te pragtig!
Die pronkertjies het nou die gees gegaf, terwyl die begonias nog pragtig lyk. Die allerhande soort kole in die groente tuin het ongelooflike groei getoon ons hoop dat ons heerlike groente sal he in die winter. Gepraat van die winter- een of ander weervoorspeller het gesê dat ons vroë sneeu gaan hê- dis nou in die eerste 2 weke van Okt en ‘n erger winter as verlede jaar- as ek hom in die hande kry draai ek sy nek om-mense raak al morbied net as hulle so-iets hoor!
By die hospital gaan dinge hulle gang! Die noodgevalle afdeling was baie besig die afgelope week van mense wat moeg gewag was op trollies en iemand het selfs vanaf Cork noorde toe gery –is hier by ons dadelik gesien, gediagnoseer en behandel binne 3 ure ,was opgeneem en is baie gelukkig met die bahandeling. Baie van die gevalle is ouer mense met mediese probleme en dit beteken dat die werklading nou verdubbel het!
Op die politieke front gaan dit vrot verby ,Waterford waar die Kristal fabriek was en toegmaak het, het ‘n 2de groot knou gekry toe een van die telefoon maatskappyeTALK TALK die oproep en diens sentrum aangekondig het dat hulle in 30 dae die plek gaan toemaak en 675 mense sal sonder werk sit!
Intussen vlek hulle almal wat op die ‘gravy’ trein was se verlede oop en vind uit hoe hulle die mense besteel en bedrieg het!
Hulle loop vry rond en die res van die land moet die ellende verduur! Onverstaanbaar!
Hoop dit gaan goed met al die jongelui wat voorbereidings eksamen vir matriek skryf! Nico, Stefan,Nicole! Veels geluk aan die pragtige prestasie van Elaine Kruger met skiet vermoë!
Verlede week het ek totaal en al vergeet van Verjaardae tot my skaamte.
Barend Bornman het die 1ste verjaar.Die 2de het Leané Eloff verjaar, 5de Michael Knight, en Cobus van Marle die 6de.
Veels Geluk aan julle almal! Hoop dat die dag vir elkeen van julle goed afgeloop het!
Volgende week verjaar Finbarr die 13de Ron Starns die 14de saam met Jennifer de Lange. Gwynneth Staples die 15de. Ook aan almal van julle ‘n baie aangename verjaardag jul toegewens!
Ek kry ‘n ekstra kans om hierdie Sondag die orgel te bespeel want dit is katkesasie vir die jonges en Joy help uit met die klas gee.
Ons Oes Dank Fees is die 25ste wat die vorm van ‘n sang diens sal aanneem met heerlike koek en tee daarna! Die kinders kom vir die naweek van die 25ste en ons is baie opgewonde. Ons klein kind is nou ‘n regte klein seuntjie en alte pragtig!
Byna wou ek groet sonder om te vertel van my orgideë wat 8 plante gemaak het in die 2 jaar wat ek die plant gekoop het met totale ander blommetjies aan as wat hulle nou dra! Gister het ek die hele klomp opgedeel en uitplant in spesiale orgideë mengsel. Die 2 de plant moet ook nog onder verdeel word maar die grond is klaar en ek sal eers nog moet gaan koop. Die vensterbank in die gang is nou vol orgideë en my 7 lemoen bome groei ook goed. Die orgideë wat ons gered uit Home Base staan in volle blom in die groot sitkamer! Baie mooi! Dankie MArthie!
Ons pluk elke dag tamaties van die 2 plante wat 7 vt hoog gegroei het en toe dubbel gevou het van swaarheid. Hulle leef nog en produseer die heerlikste tamaties denkbaar!
Ons was vanoggned na ‘n MONSTER VEILING waar die nasionale voetbal en hurling assosiasie geld bymekaar maak – ons is daar weg met 20 boeke onder andere ‘n splinternuwe wêreld atlas wat nog nooit eers oopgemaak is nie. Ons het ook besoek afgelê by Marthie waar sy haar stalletjie in die opemark in Longford het – baie interessant maar ondankbare werk en soms gaan dit goed en ander kere minder goed- ons wens haar alles van die beste toe!
O ja die rugby het begin en nou is alles in rep en roer! Weet nie so mooi van die Iere nie maar ek glo die Springbokke behoort goed te vaar!
Nou het ek alles kwytegeraak wat ek opgegaar het in die onthou boksie!
Ek kan nie genoeg op jul harte druk dat julle tog altyd versigtig moet wees nie! Vertrou niemand nie- en sluit julle deure.
Ek groet uit Cranleymore waar die son skyn en die wind waai.
Liefde
Barry en Christina
Goeie dag allemaal! Familie en vriende!
Eerste die goeie nuus, net soos dit soms by Leopold in N Holland/Belgie gaan, ervaar ons vandag sonskyn en effense warmte ongelukkig waai die wind baie onplesierig en kan jy dit nie waag om buite te sit nie, moenie eers praat van koerant lees nie! Ons vat nou maar elke dag soos hy kom, soms heerlike sonskyn wat dan vinnig afgewissel word met ‘n bui stort reën ,of grys en donker en onheilspellend,geen gewaarwording van enige son in die ruimte nie of sommer net blou kolle in die lug met wit opgestappelde wolk lae wat soms ‘n donker onderlagie het en jou heeltyd laat op kyk maar niks gebeur nie- so al asof die lug ruimte jou terg! Die temperature is eintlik baie goed- vandag het ons opgestaan met 12° wat reeds teen 10vm na 16° opgeskuif het en nou is dit naby 19° wat glad nie sleg is vir ons herfs nie!
Nog goeie nuus, wel vir my was dit in elk geval - en dit is die feit dat ek hierdie allamintige ACLS- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Kursus geslaag het. Daar was 2 dokters saam met ons en een het dit nie gemaak nie- ‘n sjirurg, neem hom nie kwalik nie want dit is nou regtig nie sy area van eksperteuse nie solank hy sy snywerk en toewerk goed doen is daar ander wat na die pasient se welsyn omsien. As hy knoei is daar ‘n probleem maar steeds is daar iemand anders wat die pasient aan die lewe hou!
Dit is die allerlaaste keer wat my in so-iets sal begewe. Ek het my hele lewe aangehou studeer, ek hou nooit op nie maar nie eksamen en prakties nie- nee-nee-nee, My stres vlakke het die hoogte in geskiet en ek dit nie nodig nie!
Tuis gaan dit goed ons het die plesier van ons besoekende katte Professor en Blackie. Lg is die baas- selfs die jakkalsies is bang vir hom. Hy het intussen baie astrant begin raak en sit nou op die vensterbank vir ons en wag, gee niks om vir Barry nie sit by die kos bakkie en wag vir sy melk en wat nogal terwyl Professor met sy wit snorbaarde baie versigtig is, hy kruip weg en dink ons kan hom nie sien nie,sy kleure is so dat hy heeltemaal saam smelt met die grasse en ou takke van die heining. Die jakkalsies het minder geword. Ons verneem van een van die SA dames wat so ‘n week of wat gelede hier verby is dat hulle ‘n jakkalsie dood opgemerk het in die pad. Nou is daar net een oor en hy hardloop nog groter draaie as in die begin om seker te maak niemand sien hom nie! ons staan digby die venster in die kombuis met die lig natuurlik af en hou hom dop- ‘n uur kan sommer verby vlieg op die manier. Hy lyk goed sy jas blink en sy stert is te pragtig!
Ons swaeltjies het hul nes eergister verlaat en vlieg nou rond . Hulle slaap nog in die donkiehuis maar is besig om sterker te word elke dag! As ons buite is swiep hulle graag netso by ons koppe verby!
Die tuin lyk nog besonder goed ,die rose het hul 2de drag en lyk mooier as vroër in die somer. 5 jaar gelede het ons ‘n variasie van
Honeysuckle geplant en dit het vir die eerste keer hierdie jaar geblom en lyk te pragtig!
Die pronkertjies het nou die gees gegaf, terwyl die begonias nog pragtig lyk. Die allerhande soort kole in die groente tuin het ongelooflike groei getoon ons hoop dat ons heerlike groente sal he in die winter. Gepraat van die winter- een of ander weervoorspeller het gesê dat ons vroë sneeu gaan hê- dis nou in die eerste 2 weke van Okt en ‘n erger winter as verlede jaar- as ek hom in die hande kry draai ek sy nek om-mense raak al morbied net as hulle so-iets hoor!
By die hospital gaan dinge hulle gang! Die noodgevalle afdeling was baie besig die afgelope week van mense wat moeg gewag was op trollies en iemand het selfs vanaf Cork noorde toe gery –is hier by ons dadelik gesien, gediagnoseer en behandel binne 3 ure ,was opgeneem en is baie gelukkig met die bahandeling. Baie van die gevalle is ouer mense met mediese probleme en dit beteken dat die werklading nou verdubbel het!
Op die politieke front gaan dit vrot verby ,Waterford waar die Kristal fabriek was en toegmaak het, het ‘n 2de groot knou gekry toe een van die telefoon maatskappyeTALK TALK die oproep en diens sentrum aangekondig het dat hulle in 30 dae die plek gaan toemaak en 675 mense sal sonder werk sit!
Intussen vlek hulle almal wat op die ‘gravy’ trein was se verlede oop en vind uit hoe hulle die mense besteel en bedrieg het!
Hulle loop vry rond en die res van die land moet die ellende verduur! Onverstaanbaar!
Hoop dit gaan goed met al die jongelui wat voorbereidings eksamen vir matriek skryf! Nico, Stefan,Nicole! Veels geluk aan die pragtige prestasie van Elaine Kruger met skiet vermoë!
Verlede week het ek totaal en al vergeet van Verjaardae tot my skaamte.
Barend Bornman het die 1ste verjaar.Die 2de het Leané Eloff verjaar, 5de Michael Knight, en Cobus van Marle die 6de.
Veels Geluk aan julle almal! Hoop dat die dag vir elkeen van julle goed afgeloop het!
Volgende week verjaar Finbarr die 13de Ron Starns die 14de saam met Jennifer de Lange. Gwynneth Staples die 15de. Ook aan almal van julle ‘n baie aangename verjaardag jul toegewens!
Ek kry ‘n ekstra kans om hierdie Sondag die orgel te bespeel want dit is katkesasie vir die jonges en Joy help uit met die klas gee.
Ons Oes Dank Fees is die 25ste wat die vorm van ‘n sang diens sal aanneem met heerlike koek en tee daarna! Die kinders kom vir die naweek van die 25ste en ons is baie opgewonde. Ons klein kind is nou ‘n regte klein seuntjie en alte pragtig!
Byna wou ek groet sonder om te vertel van my orgideë wat 8 plante gemaak het in die 2 jaar wat ek die plant gekoop het met totale ander blommetjies aan as wat hulle nou dra! Gister het ek die hele klomp opgedeel en uitplant in spesiale orgideë mengsel. Die 2 de plant moet ook nog onder verdeel word maar die grond is klaar en ek sal eers nog moet gaan koop. Die vensterbank in die gang is nou vol orgideë en my 7 lemoen bome groei ook goed. Die orgideë wat ons gered uit Home Base staan in volle blom in die groot sitkamer! Baie mooi! Dankie MArthie!
Ons pluk elke dag tamaties van die 2 plante wat 7 vt hoog gegroei het en toe dubbel gevou het van swaarheid. Hulle leef nog en produseer die heerlikste tamaties denkbaar!
Ons was vanoggned na ‘n MONSTER VEILING waar die nasionale voetbal en hurling assosiasie geld bymekaar maak – ons is daar weg met 20 boeke onder andere ‘n splinternuwe wêreld atlas wat nog nooit eers oopgemaak is nie. Ons het ook besoek afgelê by Marthie waar sy haar stalletjie in die opemark in Longford het – baie interessant maar ondankbare werk en soms gaan dit goed en ander kere minder goed- ons wens haar alles van die beste toe!
O ja die rugby het begin en nou is alles in rep en roer! Weet nie so mooi van die Iere nie maar ek glo die Springbokke behoort goed te vaar!
Nou het ek alles kwytegeraak wat ek opgegaar het in die onthou boksie!
Ek kan nie genoeg op jul harte druk dat julle tog altyd versigtig moet wees nie! Vertrou niemand nie- en sluit julle deure.
Ek groet uit Cranleymore waar die son skyn en die wind waai.
Liefde
Barry en Christina
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Early September greetings from Cranleymore
Saturday 3 Sept’11
Good day to all, far and near, family and friends!
You had a good break from me and this is just a short reminder that I still exist even though it is just about........
As Spring arrived in SA with temperatures above 20° so we came to end of our summer which in the 3 months only reached temperatures higher than 24° on 6 occasions and as it is the 3rd day into Autumn we have once again been deprived of a proper summer. The sun is struggling to break through the clouds and it is 5pm here! The sun sets now much earlier and it is dark at 9pm, it is still dark at 6 am and I predict that we are on an express metrological train speeding towards winter with no stops ahead!
Lovely to have read Gerlof’s holiday review, Botswana, the Boskamp and Zebula all included. You must have had a tremendous time all together! Arnolda’s photo album was wonderful! Back to school for teachers and new faces everywhere! The young people in SA are preparing themselves for their Prelims – everything of the best for you! Here the Leaving cert pupils are getting ready for university or college. Many very young ones went to school for the 1st time on Thursday and the parents were very brave! Other had to put night hours in to get presentations ready for job interviews, and herewith congratulations to Jeanne who will start as Assistant Manager in LIDL soon!
I envy any-one that is young and full of grey matter which is still functioning superbly- it is extremely hard to accept ,that as you get a bit older the ability of the remember cell to reproduce has slowed down. Things I learnt 40 years ago is as clear as a bell in my head even stupid things like telephone numbers pop up in my head but the facts of last week seems far removed. I am still trying to get this ACLS under my belt.
We have had the tremendous joy of watching the 2 little foxes grow up – yes I know that they could be a menace to some farmers but there is no sheep or lambs, chickens, ducks, geese or any other kind of fowl in the vicinity and they are lovely!
The 2 cats had a show down on Sunday night which lasted nearly an hour. Fascinating to watch their postures during this display of power the tails slap every now again the ground- just like a lion, the front paw in the air for long periods and they open and close their mouths like they are gasping for air! The hair on their backs up in the air, staring at each other from under their eyebrows! The black cat seems to have the upper-hand and the grey stripe cat slips away eventually without a sound. Blackie and Professor – our names for them have developed beautiful shiny coats since frequenting the Dunne’s residence.
Then I think of Retha and family who lost their 2 dogs in 4 days time! Hope that you have replaced them by now with 2 new little pups!
The baby swallows are slow in their effort of leaving the nest and we doubt if they will be able to fly even to Capistrano never mind to Africa!
The flower section of the garden is now nearly something of the past although the sweet-peas are still doing well and the begonias have been wonderfully resilient in their effort to keep out garden colourful!
The baskets have been emptied only one still hanging! The roses have their 2nd doss of flowers and look lovely!
The daffodils and tulips have been put to ground and we hope that we will have a good display of beauty in Feb!
The vegetable garden has winter cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli and Brussels sprouts in and is growing well! We are enjoying our own potatoes and onions.
Just back from taking in some fresh autumn air and enjoy a bit of sun shine picking some raspberries which will turn into jam after supper!
Tomorrow-Sunday the best day of my week gives me a turn at the organ- many weeks I did not play as work demanded my attention.
Our harvest Festival is coming up and we hope to have the children here in full force! Staying the weekend as we have to accommodate 2 birthdays 13 days apart!
I lost track of the countries politics as they( The
parlimentarians) were on holiday
while the facts of the fat cats, past and present, livings, are
exposed on a daily base
and causes severe nausea.
The priests and the Vatican deny all wrong doing in child abuse cases and makes me miss the news when ever I can! I get so mad- and it is not good for the blood pressure!
I have to return to the books and will not linger any longer in my fare-wells!
Hope you are all well, thank you Althea for your lovely letter!
Keep safety uppermost in your minds!
Autumn regards from us in Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Good day to all, far and near, family and friends!
You had a good break from me and this is just a short reminder that I still exist even though it is just about........
As Spring arrived in SA with temperatures above 20° so we came to end of our summer which in the 3 months only reached temperatures higher than 24° on 6 occasions and as it is the 3rd day into Autumn we have once again been deprived of a proper summer. The sun is struggling to break through the clouds and it is 5pm here! The sun sets now much earlier and it is dark at 9pm, it is still dark at 6 am and I predict that we are on an express metrological train speeding towards winter with no stops ahead!
Lovely to have read Gerlof’s holiday review, Botswana, the Boskamp and Zebula all included. You must have had a tremendous time all together! Arnolda’s photo album was wonderful! Back to school for teachers and new faces everywhere! The young people in SA are preparing themselves for their Prelims – everything of the best for you! Here the Leaving cert pupils are getting ready for university or college. Many very young ones went to school for the 1st time on Thursday and the parents were very brave! Other had to put night hours in to get presentations ready for job interviews, and herewith congratulations to Jeanne who will start as Assistant Manager in LIDL soon!
I envy any-one that is young and full of grey matter which is still functioning superbly- it is extremely hard to accept ,that as you get a bit older the ability of the remember cell to reproduce has slowed down. Things I learnt 40 years ago is as clear as a bell in my head even stupid things like telephone numbers pop up in my head but the facts of last week seems far removed. I am still trying to get this ACLS under my belt.
We have had the tremendous joy of watching the 2 little foxes grow up – yes I know that they could be a menace to some farmers but there is no sheep or lambs, chickens, ducks, geese or any other kind of fowl in the vicinity and they are lovely!
The 2 cats had a show down on Sunday night which lasted nearly an hour. Fascinating to watch their postures during this display of power the tails slap every now again the ground- just like a lion, the front paw in the air for long periods and they open and close their mouths like they are gasping for air! The hair on their backs up in the air, staring at each other from under their eyebrows! The black cat seems to have the upper-hand and the grey stripe cat slips away eventually without a sound. Blackie and Professor – our names for them have developed beautiful shiny coats since frequenting the Dunne’s residence.
Then I think of Retha and family who lost their 2 dogs in 4 days time! Hope that you have replaced them by now with 2 new little pups!
The baby swallows are slow in their effort of leaving the nest and we doubt if they will be able to fly even to Capistrano never mind to Africa!
The flower section of the garden is now nearly something of the past although the sweet-peas are still doing well and the begonias have been wonderfully resilient in their effort to keep out garden colourful!
The baskets have been emptied only one still hanging! The roses have their 2nd doss of flowers and look lovely!
The daffodils and tulips have been put to ground and we hope that we will have a good display of beauty in Feb!
The vegetable garden has winter cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli and Brussels sprouts in and is growing well! We are enjoying our own potatoes and onions.
Just back from taking in some fresh autumn air and enjoy a bit of sun shine picking some raspberries which will turn into jam after supper!
Tomorrow-Sunday the best day of my week gives me a turn at the organ- many weeks I did not play as work demanded my attention.
Our harvest Festival is coming up and we hope to have the children here in full force! Staying the weekend as we have to accommodate 2 birthdays 13 days apart!
I lost track of the countries politics as they( The
parlimentarians) were on holiday
while the facts of the fat cats, past and present, livings, are
exposed on a daily base
and causes severe nausea.
The priests and the Vatican deny all wrong doing in child abuse cases and makes me miss the news when ever I can! I get so mad- and it is not good for the blood pressure!
I have to return to the books and will not linger any longer in my fare-wells!
Hope you are all well, thank you Althea for your lovely letter!
Keep safety uppermost in your minds!
Autumn regards from us in Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
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