Disappointed Spring Greetings

27 April 13 Good day to you all, family and friends, Hope you are all well! I am afraid to say –we are nearly back into winter especially during the nights and early mornings with ground frost and very low temperatures of 2-4 °. The sun makes a very brave effort every morning but come 11o’ clock the clouds move in and that is the end! Day temperatures rose to 14° 2 weeks ago but this last week has been very unfair- we would like to think about summer but spring has not arrived yet! I should not complain, we just had our cup of coffee outside in the sun until the first drops chased us inside. I heard this morning on the farmer’s programme that bales of hay has been sourced from France and England to help the farmers feed their cattle! Good news! Our swallow arrived yesterday and we saw him again today- he sweeps over us with flair, quite a few times, to greet us – it brings us great pleasure! The other birds are still being fed as there is nothing else for them to eat- the insects that is supposed to be their staple diet, is missing from the skies! Siskin’s, gold finches, black caps, and our usual garden birds-chaff-finches, hedge-sparrows, house sparrows, red robins and the black birds are our daily delight! The baby cat Jet is back feeding at night time –he is thin and very clever- he makes sure that we cannot watch him – I am not sure if his leg is fully healed. But he is there as soon as the evening starts turning to dusk- we do have these wonderful long evenings and with the moon in full shine we have great bright nights. I just moved the computer from the kitchen table back into the office/music/piano room as Lukas calls it- as the painting of the ceiling with varnish will commenced on Monday morning. After anxious moment described in a letter to my ‘Niggie’-which will be posted onto my ‘tawwetienie blog’where the Afrikaans readers can enjoy all the disasters and I will not bore you with the details in this letter. I am on leave and just as well the 1st week of work was difficult enough with me sleeping during the day- at least now the work gets done without worrying about me. We had a very exciting weekend gone by, first with the visit to Dublin for Lukas’s 3rd birthday which was on the 23rd and the Songs of Praise service at church. Both events turned out to be wonderful in its own way! I am at rest this Sunday as I did all the playing last week and as always something has to go wrong 2nd Hymn so well known to me- when I start playing it – did not sound right- eventually I hear Stephen calling my name – telling me I am playing the wrong Hymn for the words on the wall! It took me a good part of an hour to get rid of the redness in my face and to face every-one afterwards with confidence telling them I that I had a senior moment! I heard that Garth’s father is not well and we hope and pray that his suffering will not be prolonged. Any-one else who finds them not on the ‘well’ side of health we wish you a speedy recovery and if it is ongoing that you will have the courage to bear your pain and discomfort! Birthdays: My calendar seems to be very empty for this coming week- if there is some-one I do not have a birth date for, hope you have a lovely day! On the political front there looms dark and thundery times ahead, the abortion question and the stupidity of our Min of Health- much the same as when? Pres Zuma or some-one in SA’s government said you will be cured of Aids if you eat beetroot! A 20 year debate about the state of a suicidal pregnant women will have to discussed by 6 people majority of them Psychiatrists, in different stages to determine if her state of mind requires an abortion never- mind id she is standing on the cliff edge or the woman who is in premature labour and in the process of aborting- rather let her die of sepsis because there is still a faint heart beat present than do an abortion and save the woman’s life -then on the other hand they allow same sex marriages, no problem with that – now somewhere is something drastically wrong- is it like the maths exam I had to do in Std 8 and my symbol were xxx and my very wonderful diplomatic father made me feel better by saying:” Do not worry your answers were above their comprehension” That is exactly where I stand in this –their reasoning is above MY comprehension. May-Lou from Sinn Fein is the best and most outspoken woman in Parliament- , she is my heroine for this week when she said that the bank managers earn in 2 weeks as much as a nurse earns in a whole year! How can that be acceptable? The tragedies in the world is so sad, the bombing of the Boston Marathon, the Bangladesh building that collapsed and the Syrian’s? use of weapons of mass destruction but the slaughtering that is taking place there in any case- Reading the Bible so regularly with explanations and sermons every Sunday to proclaim the Good News – one wonders where and when the turning point will come- The Islam religion is now so overwhelming that Christianity seems to be falling more and more behind. In spite of that we know that our Redeemer LIVES! and that is what me going in all this doom and gloom. Thank you to all those who wrote letters and answered mine – it is with great delight that I read every word! Well with darkness descending upon us here in Cranleymore because of a enormous dark and ominous cloud over the house, I want to wish you well- be always alert- drive safely and care for one another –you never know when it is your time to leave your loved-ones behind! A bit of disappointed spring greetings with the promise of Arctic winds next week with plenty of rain, I bid thee farewell........... Barry and Christina

Improved greetings

19 April ‘13 Good day to you all, family and friends, I am not sure when I will be able to get near the computer again and therefore an early letter this week! Itinerary so full that I feel squeezed to juice! The weather has improved a 100% and now the farmers sit with flooded lands! From the one extreme to the other! The wind is still blowing but the storminess has left it! Temperature has risen and we are observing the new growth with joy and admiration for the work of our Lord and Master of creation! The roses are slow but there are minute little buds on each of them the daffodils are suddenly beautiful and the tulips glow with colours out of this world- there for us to admire! All my apple and orange trees have survived the transplant and the weather. There were so many I could only leave them outside against the wooden wall of the open shed! Kitty cat Jet, got out of the donkey house, this morning, which meant that he could jump again and that he has mended! Great Joy for the boss who diligently took him food and gave him shelter – he stays as wild as the wildest cat you can imagine! Barry is so busy with the renovations in the house that the vegetable garden has been neglected but we will get there! I am officially on leave and cannot wait to do things! 1st the cleaning of the kitchen every nook and cranny, cupboard and shelf will have to be washed down – this will really be a proper ‘spring clean’! I have to draw up the plan for the half- conservatory-like building we plan, to protect the front door from the elements-at present it is exposed to the rain and wind from the south and you cannot stop water....do I have to say more?...... The wooden ceilings from Canadian pine looks wonderful and already the house feels warmer, The kitchen, the lounge and the living room will receive this treatment 2 are done and only the living room left! Painting of the entire house and then the outside! Tomorrow we will be visiting Finbarr and family, - Amanda had her birthday yesterday and Lukas will be 3yrs old on Tuesday and then we have to wait patiently for the arrival of no: 2! Adolf Bosman also has a birthday on the 22nd, and Trish Starnes on 24th! Happy Birthday to you all! Danie Bosman on the 26th, the son of Adolf! May the year ahead be very good! To those who are not well, who had operations and are in recovery stage- we wish you well! All those who are studying- do your best and you will pick the fruits! Thank you, as always, to those who answer my letter – it means so much to me! Sunday is our Songs of Praise Service with an Irish guest singer – a small choir from The Church of Ireland and we we- Tea afterwards and I invited every-one that I thought would like to come! Those of you who live nearby and are looking for some good soul entertainment on Sunday afternoon- Please come along and join us in Hymn singing and praise! Tea will be served afterwards. You can also look at us on the web! Presbyterian church Corboy!Ireland! Please be careful, in your homes, on the roads and where ever you may find yourselves! Surprisingly improved, bright and sunny good wishes to you all! Barry and Christina

Koue groete vanaf warm harte

Saterdag 13 April’13 Goeie dag allemaal, Familie en vriende! Daar kom ‘n stadium in jou lewe, elke nou en dan, wanneer jy ‘n besluit moet neem wat jy liewer nie sou wou neem nie maar....dit moet. So kom dit toe dat Barry gedurende die week besluit het om die bal aan die rol te sit en ons het verlede week Plafon hout gesoek en Kanadese ingevoerde hout gekry teen ‘n baie goeie prys en omdat jy dit kontant oor die hek doen betaal jy geen VAT nie wat hier teen 23.5% gereken word. Ure nadat ons bevestig het dat ons wel die hout sal neem bel die vervoerders op -Hulle is op pad met die hout ! Gou bank toe want ons het nie daardie soort kontant by ons nie en hier mag jy net €400 op ‘n slag uit die bank neem , hulle sal moet terugkom vir die res! Die hout is Donderdag laat middag, na 6nm afgelaai en is nou in ons voorhuis! Eintlik ons sitkamer! Die Poolse werker wat ons altyd uitgehelp het is nêrens te vinde , en marthie se kontakte kon nie dadelik begin nie en so Barry lui sy ou vriend ( hahaha) geen tand in sy mond en so maer soos ‘n riet met 4 seuns wat almal op die Doll is. Hulle hande staan vir niks verkeerd nie en het ‘n vorige keer uitgehelp en Barry betaal hulle met dinge- ou wasmasjiene ens. Hierdie keer sal hulle vir geld werk en bevestig dat hulle Maandag 9vm hier sal wees. Barry moes intussen uitvind waar die hout planke in die dak is en begin om die rante afte haal –skieliik verander my kombuis in ‘n stofkamer met sement stukkies en rubbish orals! Hy is steeds besig om presies te merk waar die planke loop want die nuwe plafon van hierdie spesiale hout word nou ‘n werklikheid. Hy werk met sy hande bo sy kop en dit maak hom baie moeg maar van hoor is min! Hy stop darem so elke nou en dan!O Ja die kardioloog het hom amptelik ontslaan –hy is so goed as wat hy ooit sal wees en moet maar die pilletjies drink! Intussen waai die wind en is bitter koud- dit wil reen maar weet ook nie meer hoe om dit te doen nie want in 6 weke het ons 15 mm reen gehad en bevind ons nou in ‘n droogte tydperk wat angswekkende afmetings begin aanneem! Die beeste se winter voorraad is op want die winter het vir ewig aangehou en omdat dit die koudste winter sedert 1962 is was daar geen grondhitte vir groei nie! Die velde staan bruin en almal en alles kry swaar- In die land waar water inoorvloed is heers daar nou droogte.Die vee-arts het vanmôre verduidelik wat die effek van min sonskyn op die diere het veral die beeste en melkkoeie!Dit is ‘n wrede kringloop van die boer wat nie geld het nie- die korporasie wat byvoeding op krediet moet voorsien en die vee-arts ! Die dag temerature is nie te sleg nie moet net nie in die wind kom nie! Die nagte is nog bitter koud! Ons het ook vandag besluit dat gisteraand die laaste aand was wat ons vuurgemaak het en sal as ons baie koud kry die olie verwarmer aansit anders sit ons maar met ons kombersies oor ons voor die TV. Ons baba kat verdwyn en ons dag sy ma het hom kom haal maar toe hy die 2 de aand nie opdaag nie begin Barry soek en jou werklikwaar hy kry hom in die veld van die buurman waar hy met groot oë baie benoud vir Barry aanstaar- Duidelik het hy pyn en kannie beweeg nie- altans nie maklik nie! Dit is koud en ons hoop dat hy op ‘n manier tog beskerming vir die nag sal opsoek! Laat aand gaan kyk Barry weer en hy is nie meer daar nie! Gister middag vind hy hom in die oop skuur- ek wou kyk waar die besering is maar hy hinkepink met seer geskreeu agter alles in! Hy ken Barry beter want hy gee hom kos maar ek is nie in sy goeie boekies nie! Kon wel sien dat hy glad nie die regter agterbeen gebruik nie en die sleep! Ek was bang dat dit dalk inwendige beseirngs is en dat ons die IRSPA moet bel. Maar hy kan wel beweeg en ‘n kat het 9 lewens en nou is een op! Vanoggend kry Barry hom in ons onderveld en baie versigtig en stadig het ons nou die katjie in die donkiehuis met kos en warmte. Daar was ‘n dringende versoek van die ‘Bird Watchers’ en Fauna en Flora dat die mense asb tog nie moet ophou om die voëls te voer nie- baie van die voëls wat gewoonlik gedurende Maart /April arriveer het dood gegaan op pad hier na toe! Ons moes vinnig na die hardeware winkel maar het eers vir Karin ,een van ons SA vroutjies gewag wat vir my ‘n persentjie vir Lukas gebring het en baba wol van SA waar hulle vir ‘n paar weke op besoek was! Die groot slang rooi warm is baie indrukwekkend en die kleiner een pragtige kleure – ek hoop hy sal daarvan hou- hy is slang gek op die oomblik! Toe ons die hek uitry Longford toe was dit 9 grade –terwyl ons weg was het die weer ‘n U draai gemaak en toe ons terug kom reen dit en dit is 7 grade en ’n bitter koue wind het begin waai! Net sodra jy dink ‘nou gaan dit beter’ verwar die natuur jou hele gedagte gang en plons jou weer terug in die lang uitgerekte winter. Moes vinnig hardloop om die ¾ droeë wasgoed –nou natuurlik papsopnat van die lyn af te kry en in die droeër te plaas- Die Iere laat die wasgoed net daar hang tot dit eendag droog is! Ek is nog nie iers genoeg nie! Br Mendel ver jaar vandag en ek het reeds met hom in aanraking gewees via sms maar wil nogtans vir hom ‘n goeie jaar toewens! Amanda verjaar die 18de en ons nuwe baba word die 4de verwag . Lukas word 3jr die 23 ste en ons sal Dublin toe gaan die Saterdag van tevore want op die dag is dit vir die 3-4jariges en Sondag het ons ‘Songs of Praise’ diens by die kerk! Aan almal wat studeer , wat hard werk en wat swaar kry op allerhande wyses, siektes en pyne- ons dink aan julle en hoop dat Dit gou verby sal wees en dat alles vinnig na normaal sal terugkeer. Ons predikant is terug môre en ek is baie dankbaar –sal liewer niks sê oor verlede Sondag se fiasko nie! Ek kies die Psalme en Gesange met die gedagtes en die wete dat dit die 1ste Sondag na die opstanding van Chrustus is , maar nee hy praat oor David en Batsheba- .....................*******************. Terug in my tuin vir ‘n wyle – ek moet darem noem dat ek die dapperste affodille in Europa het- hulle begin nou uiteindelik blom Middel April!!!! Hulle waai verwoerd rond met die geniepsige wind en ten spyte van droogte en ellende bly hulle pragtig en vrolik! Dit was ook met groot opgewondenheid dat ek vanoggend die eerste teken van lewe in my druiwe stok gewaar het! As dit goed gaan plant ek 20 appel boompies uit Maandag en ook die 12 lemoen bome hulle moet nou stamme ontwikkel en begin groei vir uitruil skema by my tuin winkel-alles groei van pitte!!! By die werk gaan dit erg rustig- hulle onderhandel nog die tekening van die volgende kontrak vir duisende pasiente wat van die Noorde af geopereer moet word, intussen gaan dinge baie rustig en ons kan almal asem haal! Die ding met die Indier vrou wat dood is aan sepsis nadat die Dr en Hospitaal geweier het om ‘n aborsie toetelaat op 17 weke ,tenspyte van die feit dat haar vrugwater gebreek het en sy al sieker geword het- en toe die foetus dood is –is sy inderhaas teater toe geneem en vandaar na die intensiewe eenheid want toe is sy al baie siek – maak groot opslae orals. Die arme verpleegster wat in ‘n gesprek die waarheid aan die pasient meegedeel het staan nou beskuldigd aan ’ Your remark went all over the world’! maar.....Die waarheid maak seer! “ It is a Catholic Country......’Hulle het so drooggemaak met haar verpleeging dit is skrikwekkend! Ek het nou genoeg gesels- Lees altyd lekker aan Gerlof se beleweninge, ook hopende dat Arnolda en Garth hul besoek aan SA sal geniet!baie dankie ook aan isabel wat gereeld van haar laat hoor en ons hoop dat die groot avontuur wat op Georg wag ‘n wonderlike ervaring vir hom gaan wees- Die eerste Eloff in Rusland!!!!Hoop dat dit ook goed gaan met Nine – baie dankie vir jou lekker lees briefies! Baie dankie ook aan almal wat so gereeld op my skrywe antwoord- dit word opreg waardeer. Ek groet vanuit ‘n nat , koue bedremmelde Cranleymore waar die harte warm klop! Wees altyd versigtig en gereed! Ry versigtig! Barry en Christina

Warm and sunny greetings

Saturday 6 April’13 Good day to you all, family and friends, We are rejoicing, singing, dancing with great enthusiasm and thankfulness as the wind stopped blowing, the S U N is shining for the last 4 days, and we are at last reaching out to S P R I N G! Morning temperatures still below freezing but by 1pm we are well into the 8’s and 9’s! Absolutely glorious! We did a bit of travelling and the green, green grass that is so familiar to Ireland has turned into brown fields. In this morning’s agricultural talk they explained that usually during the month of Feb the ground temperature starts to rise and growth is present in the grass and blossoms are forming B U T not 2013 it had to be different! It was the coldest MARCH ever and nothing grew- the grass in fact half died because it was so dry and cold! Where- ever you look you see only brown fields and we travelled quite a distance yesterday as well as today and we were amazed that the dullness of nature, there is no shine in the trees and the cherry blossom that usually loses its flowers with the April winds,l has not even blossomed yet! I plan to enter the dark domain of my poor frost bitten garden this afternoon just to see what can be saved and what will have to be taken out! The daisies which was at the point of flowering there beginning February is gone I will have to cut them right back! There not a bud on anything and the leaves that tries to come out on the fruit trees are all shrivelled up! Very sad! I worked last week and part of this week 8 days out of 11 and suddenly it came to a standstill We are being evaluated by the Northern Ireland Health trusts to see if they are going to continue with a 4 yr contract to send the overflow of patient to us. We did do +/- 900 patients during, just longer that 2 months and it took its toll! So many nurses became sick - it was difficult the cover shifts! This weekend the hospital will be open for 4 patients where we have had more than 30 on a Saturday night for the last 2 months! Barry cut the grass on Thursday and it looks good with brown patches every- where but they did forecast rain for the week to come, then we will be able to start planting- the ground temperature is still too low and late frost might do more damage! Jet , the baby cat has been a great joy until we noticed another black cat 2 nights ago- very wild and looks the same as baby Jet, we think it might be the mother she has got the gait of a female cat! Blackie is no more, I have a lovely photo of him where he was ‘titivating’ grooming himself a week before his disappearance. The birds are getting less and with the notice in the paper that the swallows actually died on their way to Ireland this year because of the cold we anxiously awaiting the arrival of our own swallows that has been coming to us now for the last 7 years. On the political front –the story goes on- corruption is at the order of the day- if you were here the President of the Medical Association in Ireland or whatever you were assured of a pension of 250 Million per year! What on earth do you do with so much money! I cannot understand it and where has been coming from? House tax, water charges, septic tank charges and inspection are all on the cards- Ireland is the country on earth with surely the most water available for use B U T they have water restrictions in place in some suburbs of Dublin where they ran out of water!!!! Also above my comprehension! Our church minister is away on school holidays and we have a guest preacher – unfortunately there is a personality clash between him and me –going on for years now- and when I heard that he was going to preach I told Stephen I will not be playing! He knows about it- Joy is out of the country also on holiday and in spite of the fact that I was not going to entertain this man tomorrow I would not leave the parishioners in the lurch and will have to be there to play – at least I will be playing to the glory of God and not to please this man he reminds me very much of the N T Pharisees. It is all about himself ........... I will say nothing further! Birthdays: I did send congratulations to the lot who had their birthdays on the 4th Kayla, Devlin, Florrie, Marika. Yesterday was Gerda Fosrter and Nine Paula. Die 10de is Gerda in Zambia, the 12th Paul of Haya. Belated and new wishes for a good year ahead! Thank you to Sam for the lovely photos of Evie having her bath! Precious! To those who had operations- Jaco I believe has had an appendisectomy- hope you are feeling much better- other had more serious problems Brandon and Nanette, and we hope that Joy in Brisbane will soon be well again best wishes for recovery soon! Those who are going to travel have a safe journey by bus, car or aeroplane! Please keep security a priority and be careful on the roads Thankful, sunny greetings from Cranleymore- Barry and Christina

Ysige winter groete

Saterdag 23 Maart Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende! Dit is kouer as wat dit ooit was die hele winter – ons is behoortlik ontstig met die weerspatroon wat ons hele lewesomstandighede om vér gooi! Die vloede, die sneeu, die koue, die ysige winde! Onsis net in van inkopies, koerant, brood melk en bietjie groente maar Siberië is ‘n mooi en warm plek invergelyking met ons! My klawer bord wil vadnag nie die ‘n’ tik nie – ek hoop ek kry hulle almal later terug in plek! Die ooreekoms was dat dit die laaste sak grondboontjies is wat ons koop vir die voeltjies maar ons kon dit nie oor ons harte kry ie en in die verskriklikste weer is ons gister hier uit om vir die voeltjie kos te gaan koop! Die affodille is baie dapper en swaai en swiep maar geduldig in die koue wiond! Ek het verlede week heel party gepluk en sal maar seker weer moet gaan pluk wat hulle lê bya almal plat van die koue en die wind! Die swart kat het nooit ooit weer sy verskyning gemaak nie en ek reken so – hy het darem die baba kat gebring sodat nos nie so alleen moet voel nie! Die vossies lyk goed en blink in die jas! Die krimpvarkies durf nie na buite kom nie wat hy sal dit nie maak nie! Baie van die boere se beeste wat reeds mid Februarie buite toe moes kom staan nog steeds op stal! Op die politieke front gaan ons gebuk onder ‘n klomp skurke- wat my betref- maar dit gaan nie veel beter iewers anders nie! Die arme mense in Ciprus kry baie swaar en die ellende wat hulle in die gesig gestaar het het byna groot makietie hier ook veroorsaak! Ons kry nie eers 3% vir lang belegging op spaargeld nie en as ons dan nog 6.5% moes betaal omdat jy per ogeluk geld in die bank het- is daar iets drasties verkeerd! Ek voel heelwat beter maar wonder baie of rumatiek ‘n mens so siek kan maak – my gewrigte is daarmee hee –ek kannie eers die teepot vashou nie- moenie nog praat van die ketel self nie! Hulle is sulke poffertjies geswel en elke kneukel is spierwit en rooi tergerlykertyd en die pyn is onbeskryflik! Ek gaan terug werk toe volgende week en hoop van harte dat die naarheid gesak het teen daardie tyd – hoe is dit moontlik dat ‘n mens vir ‘n week lank naar kan wees! Dit gaan my verstand tebowe! Ek is naar as ek nie eet nie – ek is naar as ek wel eet! Met Barry gaan dit goed – hy kry bietjie swaar met die koue- hy moet uit skuur toe om vuurproviant te kry en alhoewel dit net eenmaal ‘n dag is ,want ons los die kruiwa voor die agterdeur met die turf,verwoes die besoek nog steeds die bietjie hitte wat jy hier binne bymekaar maak! Ons het die week nuwe matte in die kerk gekry – na 300 jaar!!!!!! Dit lyk goed en ek glo die hitte sal nou beter gekontroleer kan word! Ek speel môre die orgel maar ek is eerlik dat ek van die ouerlui is en die liewe Vader het my nooit met onreëlmatige maatslag toegereken nie en elke keer wanneer daar een van die nuwe liedere gespeeel moet word waarvan die ritme uit die bose is – krap dit my om- Daar is ‘n duisend ander gesange en Psalme om te sing –hoekom moet ons nou die een sing wat nie een van die gemeentelede gesing kan kry nie en ek kan dit ook nie speel nie!!! Die preek sal moet opmaak vir my gemoed! Baie dankie vir al die briefies wat ek ontvang het met beterskap wense- dit was ‘n riem onder die hart! Verjaardae: Isabel verjaar die 28ste en Br Mendel se oudste dogter Anette, die 30ste Veels Geluk en mag die jaar goed wees! Met onse klein seun gaan dit goed –tenspyte van die feit dat hy sy groot kiestande op die moment deurstoot en hy soms kwaad word omdat sy ore seer is gaan hy aan soos ‘n dapper soldaat! Aan almal wat nie wel voel nie- ons hoop dqt dit gou beter sal gaan! Vir die wat op die paaie is –wees tog dubbel versigtig! Tuis maak seker dat alles veilig is! Nou ja behalwe vir die weer is daar geen verdere nuus nie! Die wat in SA vakansie hou geniet elke moment! Ysige winter groete vanuit Cranleymore Barry en Christina

Koue vingers maar warm groete

9 Maart 2013 Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende, Dit is 6° maar ons beef behoorlik van die koue- ‘n Siberiese wind knou ons gruwelooslik af – na byna 3 weke geen reën nie ervaar ons nou sedert Donderdag ysige nat weer- Gewoonlik is dit redelik gematig as dit reen maar hierdie keer is ons met ‘n kort riem gevang- DIE WIND! Die affodille lyk te pragtig en bring sommer dadelik vreugde in jou hart as jy buite kom – al is dit koud is die helder geel klokkies ‘n wonderlike gesig! Ek was veronderstel om al my lemoen boompies uitteplant en die orgideë reg te sien, die groot plant het ‘n knol in die middel wat doodgegaan het en ek moet die hele spul opbreek wanneer die plant nie in blom is nie maar elke keer as ek sovér kom is daar reeds ‘n nuwe uitloopsel! Vanoggend is ons met die stank der stanke begroet want ‘n buurman het sy lande met slurrie bespreoi- hulle beweer dat die mense in die plateland die water besoedel met hul riool tenke maar nie een van daardie EU mense ervaar wat ons vandag moet ervaar nie – die spul beesmis wat vir maande in ‘n tenk gevrot het word nou as bemestting oor die velde gesprei – die reen kom en alles word in die riviere en stroompies in gespoel en nou kry die riool stelsels die skuld! Die dame van Frankryk wat aan bewind van die Mf staan het gister hier besoek afgelê en hierdie klomp ape al die lof toegeswaai vir die vordering wat Ierland gemaak het- niemand het haar vertel dat die helfte van ons jong mense die land verlaat het omdat daar nie werk is nie en die wat agtergebly het staan almal op die randjie van die afgrond- Sommige mense kan die drukking nie verwerk nie en neem hul en hul families se lewens en die banke leen jou nie ‘n sent nie- absoluut niks nie en die wat werklik hard werk moet vir die pensioene van die vorige regering se parlementslede betaal, hulle kry enorme pensioene en doen nog steeds ander werk ook – die onregverdigheid wat hier seëvier is hartverskeurend! Ek praat baie en moet liewer stilbly want ek het nog werk en word darem nie deur die staat betaal nie maar deur ‘n privaat maatskappy wat sy eie reels maak! My aftrede kom nader en ek sal moet aansoek doen om langer te bly werk want as jy nie ‘n volle 10 jaar PRSI betaal het nie kwalifiseer jy nie vir die bydraende staats pensioen nie! Ek sal 8 maande kort wees! My eerste salaris het ek in Maart 2004 ontvang –voor die tyd het ek net gewerk sonder vergoeding omdat ek in opleiding was! By die werk gaan dit hals oor kop- sommige nagte lyk dit of Noag die ark se deur oopgelos het en al die diere uitgekom het en sonder rigting rondmaal! Daar is glo 4 TRUSTs betrokke by die onderneming om die Noord Ierse mense te opereer teen ‘n spesiale aanbod wat MG ( die baas)uitgewerk het- ek wonder of hy regtig ‘n koste berekening gedoen voor hy hom hierin begewe het – die pasiente is veronderstel om hoogstens 2 nagte oortebly maar waar daar probleme was moes sommige vir meer as week oorbly. Die direkteur van Verpleging het uitgeloop! Ons dank die Vader dat ons albei gesond is en dat ek nog my nagtaak kan doen. Ek het ‘n probleem en ek werk daaraan om dit te oorkom maar telkens gee ek in en dit iswanneer hulle oplui en met ‘n benoude stem vra of ek kan help – dat ek elke keer ‘JA’ sê. Ek sou nou ‘n week afgewees het omdat ek 6 nagte gewerk het maar ek was nognie mooi wakker nie toe lui die foon en ek werk ‘n nag reg in die middel van my aftyd! Ek is ‘n idioot – ek weet, maar dit is nou maar so-ek kan nie NEE’ sê nie. Ons voëltjies sing so mooi in die heining soggens vroeg tot laat aand – die ‘black birds’ sing saans as dit donker word- ongelooflik mooi! Ons baba kat wat Lukas oor die foon as JET gedoop het kruip ook in die heining rond –hy is wilder as wild en kom eet saans as alles stil is – eet sommer die kos wat ons vir die Jakkalsies uitgooi- eintlik is hulle nie jakkalsies nie maar by die gebrek van ‘n ander woord noem ons hulle maar so? Vossies? Nee tog- maar in ieder geval hulle lyk uitstekend, pelse blink en hulle is spek vet- so ook die katte Pa en Kind! Ons het ‘n MINK( die woordeboek sê- Nerts-haha ) maar hierdie een was nog lewendig toe ‘n vragmotor hom voor ons hek tot die dood veroordeel het- hulle is byna, in die omgewing meer gevreesd as die jakkalsies want hulle byt die lammertjies dood. Elke boer is op die uitkyk vir die gevaarlike karnallie –hulle woon naby stroompies en riviere waarvan hier in ons omgewing genoeg is. Die gedoente met die Pous is ook aan die gang in die agtergrond – nie dat dit ons enigsins hinder nie maar dit het tog na vore gebring die kardinaal wat vir jare in Engeland op ongepaste wyse sy lewe gelei het! Môre is Sondag en ek sit in die bank- en nie voor die orggel nie- dit is Joy se beurt en ek het haar darem nou so vér dat sy helfte vinniger speeel as vantevore- soms moes ek 2x asemhaal voor die einde van die frase. Ons predikant soos gewoonlik ‘n uitstekende spreker en ‘n wonderlike siels voeder! Die foon het gelui en ek werk vanaand- dus moet ek nou my skrywe kort knip, Die kinders kom ook more nou weet ek nie of ek in die kerk sal kom sonder ‘n slapie nie! Verjaardae!Die 11de Nicola Josling, en die 14 de Jaco in Roodepoort ook klein Paul van Tweeling Paul en Hanlie Veels geluk aan julle . Ek weet nie of die posduif die nuus reg oorgedra het nie maar – ek dink daar is nog ‘n Oupa en Ouma naby die Limpopo in wording! Veels geluk! Ek moet nou vinnig groet! Al is my vingers nou bevrore die groete is warm! Bly versigtig, wees bedagsaam en ry veilig! Liefde groete Barry en Christina

Spring and sunny greetings

Sunday! Dear family and friends far and near! We have had dry weather now for more than 2 weeks- a record to all Irish standards, the fields are drying out and most days we have had some sunshine, so deeply appreciated. The temperatures are still not up to Spring weather but we are getting there. It is some time since my last writings and apart from our wonderful protected lives living in the country between wild-life(only small variety), cats, minks, foxes and birds there were a few things worth mentioning. The wonder of prayer is heavy on my heart, just 10days ago the Lord put into my hands the life of a man that was refused surgery in the County Hospital and the surgeon decided to do the replacement of his peg tube and catheter in our hospital, The patient also suffered from Motor Neuron disease and were not well. He breathes at home with the help of a C-pap machine to improve the oxygen intake which the family left at home and never mentioned to the staff. Back from theatre where he has already been in difficulty and a tube was placed in his nose to assist with a few things- I will leave the detail out- he got through the night . I was suppose to be on duty with another nurse, but, when I came on duty I was alone, only with a carer to assist me with 12 patient of which this very sick man was one! At 05.25 the hair on the back of my neck suddenly caused me to get up and look in on this man- I have been with him most of the night but had to do some writing and was in the office, just to find him in severe distress- I prayed and prayed and with adrenalin pumping at speed through every vein, my carer assisting me , later the Doctor ,the ambulance men, all summond in the minutes that felt like hours while I performed CPR. Eventually we got a heart beat and he showed signs of recovery but only for seconds- he was practically dead but with the grace of God he eventually, with airway access through the tube in his nose and ambu-bag assistance we got him over to the County where the Respiratory team took over- He regained some consciousness and recognised the family but died 24hrs later. It has been the most traumatic experience since my arrival in Ireland. But I got him through with the help of God so that he could still see his family! In the meant time I worked over 100 hrs in 2 weeks and hardly hads time to enjoy the sunshine! The horse meat debacle has now taken over the main news after Oscar and the killing of the Taxi man! Our Government are playing games – scaring people into disaster management and suicide, just to turn around when the workers are threatening to withdraw their services. The rich stays rich and even get richer to the detriment of the hard, middle class worker- a disgrace! I played the organ this morning after a heavy night with a lot of sick women whohad hysterectomies and more, but stayed awake and the singing was great- all to the glory of God! The daffodils are blooming and every morning there has been another one opening- such a wonderful way creation works. Thank you to all who wrote letters in the past 2-3 weeks, I sometime read them late at night and sometimes days later but every bit of news and experiences is treasured. To all those who are preparing to write exams, we wish you good papers and bright minds. Birthdays- happy returns to all! It has been wonderful to experience the longer days and shorter nights. The children will be, God willing, here next weekend and we are looking forward to it! Take care, be careful and alert With sunny greetings from Cranleymore Barry & Christina