Desperate greetings.......

26 May 2013 Sunday Good day to all family and friends, I first read all the correspondence- I worked most of the week and had little chance to get updated! The weather is like a teenager, totally unpredictable, there are no instructions included and you honestly have to improvise as far as you are exposed! As with Gerlof in England, here it has been the most awkward spring ever recorded and I think the weather prophets have been silenced by the events, we may experience a good day now and then and by that I mean that you can go outside and may be have time to have your cup of tea outside before the hail comes down or dodge the freezing winds. The Tornado in Oklahoma and the snow in Scotland and in Italy and strong winds in Australia predicts severe changes for the future. We still wear all our winter clothes. Flannel sheets and sitting under blankets at evening time! Some trees that usually are known for their flowers went straight into leaves and no flowers at all, the Cherry blossom is now in full flower nearly 2 months late! There are very few bees around and I fear that we will have no or very little fruit. I enjoyed all the letters it is great to hear about the Ouma’s and Oupa’s around the world and their grandchildren, what a wonderful gift they are! We were very privileged to spend last Sunday afternoon and early evening with our newest addition Eli, the spitting image of his father and older brother , a wonderfully well behaved baby, he stole our hearts and now we have divided hearts between our 2 grandsons!. Eli seems to be born wise and at this stage he follows you and has a sweat little grin on his face, as if he takes great pleasure in being here on earth and loves the attention dearly! Lukas took to his brother like he took to his JCB front loader with great enthusiasm and interest! Today ,the best day of the week for me was again a wonderful experience as Stephen our Church Minister is continuing with the wonder of the ‘cloud’ and the representation of God within the cloud! From Genesis to Revelations. I sat in front of the organ and enjoyed it thoroughly. Hymns speaking to your soul! Last Sunday was Children Service and brilliant, the two congregations had a combined service and the church was so much richer for the many souls congregated in it! At work we were busy after a frightening period of quietness, few procedures and many cancelled working hours. My retirement date is nearing fast and although I requested to stay on –it might never materialize as all ‘bank’ staff has been cancelled. I do not have enough ‘stamps’ for contributory pension as I have to work a full 10 years to qualify and if I leave in August I WILL BE SHORT 8 MONTHS. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE a MEETING WITH THE PENSION PEOPLE IN Citizen’s Information to hear what I have to do and how the whole retirement thing works; maybe I can buy ‘stamps’ to cover me! Our wildlife is in the process of feeding their young, how the fledglings sit and wait giving a special cry for the parents to feed them-sadly many of the young animals have no road sense and this morning there were three little rabbits dead in the road as well as a pheasant. We have 4 swallows that have started to fix up the nests in the donkey house, and we are ever so glad to have any, as many died because of the prolonged cold spell in the north. We planted 18 Lupines avoiding flowers that the slugs love- although in great lack of knowledge we got hold of some beer to drown the lot! The tulips have been the best we have ever had and the Rhododendrons the two who is still alive –looks wonderful! My seeds I planted have all been stunned by the icy nights. To all who are studying- have a good time, those who will meet in Holland have a safe journey, those in SA visiting, enjoy! The children going places to bring joy to grandparents with their off-spring, may you all have a blessed time. We think of those who are not well Hennie, Brandon and Nanette, any-one in constant pain and discomfort- endure bravely and rejoice! Birthdays: Gerhardus in Roodepoort had his birthday yesterday and I am late ! Hope your day was extra blessed! The events in England with the horrific attack on a soldiers saddens me greatly and I cannot help to wonder if the Lord is not speaking to the Governments to bring their soldiers out of the countries where they are being used to kill and be killed it is so unnecessary! Thank you to all who so wonderfully shared some of their daily lives with us- it is great to hear and we rejoice with you in the good things and you have our prayers when things are not going so well! I greet you each and every-one with some hope that one day we will get a bit warmer and that there will be summer in store for us! Take care, watch out, keep safety at home and on the road, your priority! Barry and Christina

Sonnige groete

Sondag 19 May ‘13 Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende Vandag was seker die beste dag hierdie jaar in meer opsigte as een. Ons het Dublin toe gery net na kerk, om Eli James Dunne te gaan besigtig- daar is egter geen twyfel oor wie die pa is nie en as baba’s van 7 dae oud lyk hierdie 3 menere skrikwekkend na mekaar – hulle kon een en dieselfe baba gewees het, Fotos van Finbarr en Lukas langs Eli het bevestig dat die gene oorweldigend Dunne is. Die tweede rede is dat dit ‘n briljante dag was- hier in die middel van die land was dit betrokke weer maar soos ons oos ry het die wolke minder geword en ons het in volle sonskyn en 18° die hoofstad ingery. Dit was warm-regtig warm , ons het nog nie sulke hitte beleef sedert verlede jaar toe ons 3 dae van die somer beleef het met temperature hoër as 21°. Bloue hemele ,geen wind en net son, son, son! Ons 2de kleinseun is ongelooflik soet, ‘n lange knaap maar baie maer, gelukkig het hy alreeds begin gewig optel. Hy was verlede Sondag oggend ¼ voor sewe gebore gesond en pragtig! Daar is net iets wonderliks onbeskryflik anders om jou kleinkind vas tehou, volmaak geskape, bloed van jou bloed maar nie jou sorg nie- Om daardie bondeltjie vas te hou vandag was ‘n grootse belewenis! Met die dat ons net ‘n maand gelede in Dublin was ken en die pad nou goed en die rit gaan nou stressloos verby en neem ons presies 90 minute.Ons het 12 tulpe gepluk as blomme vir die ma en koek vir die res is saam geneem. Ten spyte van reelings dat ons net vir tee kom het Amanda ‘n heerlike maaltyd voorberei en ons was baie verwen. Ons huis se reperasie werk and verjongingskuur is nou agter die rug en ons het weer die huis tot ons gebruik, baie pragtig, en vir altyd! Die werk buite het begin en met die kragwas van die mure het die blomme bietjie seergekry maar lyk nog mooi. Een muur was net klaar geverf en die onderlaag van die volgende muur net klaar gedoen toe die hemel oop maak met hael korrels soos groot soos duif eiers en al die verf lê nou langs die muur! Sal maar weer wag vir ‘n droeë dag om die verfwerk aan te pak! Ek het verlede jaar baie sade gebere maar op een of ander manier het die papierjie met wat dit was verlore gegaan ,ek het nogtans die sade geplant en wag nou in spanning om te sien gaan opkom! Een Rhododendron het gevrek maar ek het tog lewendige stiggies geplant en hoop daar kom iets van. Die sade vir die groete tuin staan goed hoog, blomkool, wortels, blaarslaai en spinasie, met die volgende afdag sal ek die ertjies en beet plant. Die blaartjies van die druiwestok is uit en my appelboom groei pragtig! Die ander bome het uiteindelik begin bloei en ons hoop dat daar bevrugtig gaan plaas vind want ons het ‘n groot gebrek aan bye. So met die toer na Dublin wat ‘n maand gelede bruin en onooglik was, is nou groen en elke boom het blare en die furr bosse staan orals in volle blom met donker geel blomme, die sier kersie bome lyk pragtig alles omtrent 6-7 weke laat. Die arme boere probeer hulle beeste aan die lewe hou met voer van Engeland en Frankryk teen groot koste! In ‘n normale jaar sou die beeste reeds vanaf Februarie op die velde wei en ander lande sou teen einde Mei gesny word vir voer maar omdat dit so bitter koud was vir so oneindig lank, was daar geen groei nie. Ons diere lewe is wispelturig en die klein kat is soms hier en soms nie- maak ‘n mens net wonder waar hy heen verdwyn en ons elke keer laat sug van verligting as hy arriveer om te eet. Die ‘black bird’ sing soggens vroeg en laat aand die pragtigste liedjie en die gekoer van die duiwe begroet ons verskeie kere gedurende die dag. Die ander voeltjies is besig om nes te bou en ander voer kleintjies – ons kombuis venster is gelyk aan ‘n voelwag stalletjie- dit is wonderlik om alles os van naby waarteneem! Ek is terug by die werk en die eerste week was baie stil maar hierdie week het opgemaak vir die rus periode wat my nog 2 dae verlof gekos het. Ek vrees daar is iets in my wat moeilikheid soek –ek kan dit nie verstaan nie- Vrydagnag staan daar langs my naam dat ek die 2 heup vervangings en groot rug operasie met spesiale sorg moet verpleeg- dit is opsigself baie harde werk ,sonder probleme maar met een dame 79jr en die ander 86jr spel dit PROBLEME , alles het goed gegaan tot ½ 12 die nag toe dinge drasties begin verkeerd loop en weereens, in net 3 weke moes ek CPR doen, om my pasient aan die lewe te hou! Ek het haar met bid en oneindig vinnig dink, terug gekry en sy is oorgeplaas na die algemene hospitaal waar ‘n intensiewe eenheid is met alles tot ‘n mens se beskikking – hier by ons verpleeg jy in goedertrou en die seën van die Hemelse Vader op jou werk. Weereens was Hy oneindig goed vir my en die ou tannie is reeds besig om beter te word. Ons was ook vandag bevoorregt om deel te hê aan ‘n spesiale kinder diens wat wonderlik was, die 2 gemeentes het vadag saam kerk gehou en dit was ‘n belewenis. Ons nuwe sjirurg van Bfn het ook met sy seuntjie opgedaag en ek was so bly om hom te sien. Ongelukkig was daar geen ander Suid Afrikaners by die kerk nie en kon ek hom nie aan die ander , met wie ek nogal gespog het, voorstel nie! Ons was baie jammer om te hoor van die heengaan van Garth se pa! Ons innige simpatie. Ook bid ons vir Hennie en wonder hoe dit met hom gaan! Enig iemaand wat nie gesond is nie, die wat moedeloos is –ons hoop dat daar gou verbetering sal kom! Die wat eksamen skryf – alles van die beste! Verjaardae: Sandra en Gerhardus, Net die beste jul toegewens! Dit was heerlik om van so baie van die familie te hoor, ook baie dankie aan almal wat so gereeld laat weet hoe dit gaan! Die fotos was pragtig! Nine, Gerlof en Sandra, ons hoop jul Holland reis is goed,en Isabel se besoek aan Zambie -‘n belewenis. Dit bring my aan die einde van my skrywe en ek vra tog dat elkeen van julle versigtig moet wees. Op die pad en tuis. Verheugde groete van ‘n sonnige Cranleymore Barry & Christina

Wet Greetings

Saturday 11 May 2013 Good day to you all, family and friends, Just to make sure that recipients of this letter understand that they are in no way obliged to read it! The weather is most atrocious and very disappointing we are nearly halfway through May and we are still in the terrible grip of winter-some days it is colder than what it was in mid winter. Temperatures are hovering around 9-11° with strong winds, rain, hale ,sleet and I think the sun is also getting fed-up because it just breaks through the clouds to be overshadowed by ominous dark boulders of approaching clouds. I drove underneath the rainbow- if that is at all possible-but last night you could very clearly see where the prism starts and of course as you near it, it disappears but still, as I looked back- it was behind me! Magical moments! All my little plants orchids and alike were taken outside when the work in the TV room started as the old porch was my dedicated hot-house, so were all the big windowsills At present I do not have the courage to go outside and check what is left of them after the hail storm we had earlier in the day- I was asleep and did not know about it but according to reports it was B A D! My poor orange seedlings which I took care of for a whole year was burnt by the frost 10 days ago but the apple seedlings stood firm and strong next to them! Great was my joy when I discovered that one of my grape pips started to grow and it is so amazing to see the handiwork of God in nature! The weeding has been done and the garden looks quite empty without all the lush growth of the weeds- the slugs are hard at work and when we go shopping again we will have to invest into some cheap beer as a treat for the slugs! All the roses are growing after I became quite desperate- I did severe pruning in Feb + the long winter – they took their time to come to life! Thank you to all who answer my letter and those who so diligently and wonderfully share their experiences with me! On the political front we are waiting for Bus Eiran, the Garda en the nurses to make up their minds on strike action this coming week! Here it works exactly like those who have will have more and those who have little that will be taken from them! It if you an artist , in the performing arts, or just plain rich because you own hundreds of racing horses or you are a head of the bank – you are not to be touched! We idiots who are working and paying the taxes of this country and who are in desperate need themselves are pushed to the outer limits of endurance- 6 farmers committed suicide during the last month! Nothing is ever said about these tragic events and those are just farmers – who know what is going on else-where? The feeding programme for the desperate cattle farmers has a vicious circle –they have to contact the RSPCA to avail of the fodder coming from oversees for the cattle but as soon as they contact the RSPCA they go and investigate why you need it and may confiscate your cattle if they have been starving- there- for the farmers refrain from trying to get the fodder in case they lose their livelihood! Admitting that the fields are starting to look good and there are leaves on all the trees this week- there has been no growth and the farmers cannot cut the grass or even send the cattle into the fields because of overgrazing! Now the news that our newest grandchild is on the move – but is taking its time Amanda went to the hospital this morning just to be send back home and enjoy some more hours of waiting, but we hope that it will be over sooner than later! I have no birthdays in my calendar and wish every-one who needs a bit of love and tender care God’s blessing upon them! I am in the pew tomorrow which is a bonus because I was supposed to be in bed! Look forward to another good and nourishing soul-food sermon and great singing! I think of those who are not well, who are receiving treatment and we think of Hennie Redelinghuys and pray that the Lord will be with him every hour as well as with his family. I hope that you will all have a wonderful weekend filled with the nearness of our heavenly Father and experience all His goodness. Be careful in all you do, at home and on the roads. Wet greetings mixed with all sorts Barry & Christina

Bewolkte groete

Saterdag 4 Mei ‘13 Gegroet allemaal, familie en vriende, As ek die weer buro in Ierland is maak ek my deure toe en gaan swem want ek dink hulle kyk na die isobare, hoog en lae druk stelsels met ‘n donkerbril op. As hulle iewers vandag in Ierland korrek voorspel het is dit defenetief nie hier nie- dit is koud , die wind waai, die wolke is so dig dat ons die ligte moet aansit en hulle het voorspel, sonskyn in die oggend gematigede wind en droog,later sal daar wolke van die weste en noorde inkom en miskien reen maar temperature sal tussen 13-16° wees- dit was 8° toe ons netnou gaan inkopies doen het-hahaha vertel my nog-een. Die ander moontlikheid is dat ons nie deel is van Ierland nie- hierdie kol waar ons woon is duidelik meer blootgestel aan alles wat in die buitenste ruim aangaan as iewers op aarde! Gelukkig het die son lekker gedurende die week geskyn en die groen kom deur – splinternuwe groen en ‘n verdwaalde sier-kersie bloeisel is hier en daar te siene. Omdat daar geen groei was vroeër in die jaar nie kry die boere en die beeste baie swaar! Ons het ook eendag in die groente tuin kon werk –die aartappels is geplant en honderde uitjies is ook in die grond. My saad bakke is vol met spinasie, blomkool,wortels en ertjies. My appelboompies –van pitte gegroei het die ryp oorleef maar die lemoen boompies het groot skade gely- sal maar sien wat word. Gelukkig het ek ‘n paar binne gehou en sal hulle maar vertroetel tot hulle dik stamme het- die druiwestok loop orals uit en ons is erg opgewonde oor verloop van sake. Ek is veronderstel om die sitkamer skoon te maak – maar die vloer moet eers geskraap word van die vernis en verf wat hier en daar geval het –dan moet dit gestofsuig word en dan kan ek dit met ‘Flash’ ‘n goeie skrop gee! Die skraap werk is Barry se deel – die swaarste- en hy het intussen die TV aangeskakel en kyk snoeker- 2 idiote wat speel en ek kan nie begryp hoe hulle in die halfeind rondte geland het nie. Ronnie O’ Sullivan en Jud speel later ,dit geniet ek nogal maar en ons het uitgevind dat ons ‘n ‘red button’ op ons kontrole het en nou hoef ons nie terugtegaan ‘w e r k ‘ toe nie- dis nou skoonmaakwerk,toe nie! My storie oor die huis en veranderinge kon ek toe nie op tawwetinie geblog kry en nie en as iemand tog daarin belangstel dit is nou op dit werk nou in tru-rat en ‘n mens moet nou terug gaan na vorige skrywe om in orde te lees! Die voëls het ander dinge wat hulle besig hou en die duiwe koer te pragtig in die heining- verlede jaar wou hulle nes maak maar om een of ander rede het die wyfie die spul verwerp en is hulle weg, maar hierdie jaar het sy die arbeid van die mannetjie aanvaar en ons geniet die gekoer! Ons het so baie voëltjies op besoek dat dit soms nie moontlik is om hulle almal met aandag te aanskou nie! Jet die baba kat was nou vir 2 aande al weer nie hier nie- en al weet ek , dat dit nie my kat is nie, nie bekommer ek my tog! Die onderveld is oortrek met botterblommetjies en wilde primrose so mooi dat ons nie die gras daar wil sny nie! Ons eie gras om die huis is gehul in Dandelines wat totaal uitgeroei was verlede jaar en nou is dit net een geel plaat vol vuilgoed blommetjies- sodra jy die gras gesny het is alles weg en die volgende oggend staan hulle asof hulle vanvooraf weer geplant is! Die rose loop uit en al die meerjarige plante in die tuin is aan die groei- groot skoffel lê voor maar met die huis se dinge het dit egter bietjie agterwee gebly. Ons dink aan almal wat hul voorberei op eksamens lekker leer! Aan die wat binnekort SA toe gaan vir vakansie ander wat Holland toe gaan vir ‘n reis, geniet dit! Verjaardae: Gister was dit Gerda van Hessie – vandag is dit Miana in Randfontein ,Lee en Christiaan! Veels geluk aan julle almal ‘n pragtige jaar word julle toegewens! Ek gaan volgende week terug werk toe en sal maar sien hoe sake staan- dit is nie baie besig nie en ons wag om te hoor of die hospitaal die kontrak van die Noorde afgekry het! Ons wag in spanning op ons 2de kleinkind, slaap nou met die foon langs my oor! Klein Lukas is nou moedeloos gewag!” I am tired of waiting Ouma” sê hy gisteraand vir my oor die foon! Ek wil byna nie eers oor die politiek praat nie – want die KERK wil seker maak dat die STAAT Katoliek bly en die argument van aborsie is nou in wetlike taal omgesit en bring baie besware- Aborsie word nie toegelaat nie maar met die Indiese vrou wat hier oorlede is omdat sy sepsis ontwikkel het toe haar vrugwaters gebreek het en dood is op 17 weke swangerskap – asook 20 jaar gelede se vrou wat selfmoord gepleeg het of wou pleeg moet daar nou ‘n weg oopgeskiet word vir ‘n dokter om die besluit teneem of liewer dokters- eers sou dit 6 gewees het maar nou is dit net 3. Intussen gaan die wat dit nodig vind vanweë voorgeboorte afwykings en die feit daar daar geen hoop is vir die baba om te leef nie – Noorde toe of Engeland toe om die prosedure telaat doen. Môre is my beurt voor die orgel en ek sien uit daarna! Ek het my hart uitgepraat oor my ‘personality clash’ met die besoekende prediker( net ‘n ouderlin) teenoor ons eie predikant toe hy op besoek gekom het, en ek voel baie beter – kan nou weer met ‘n geruste hart kerk toe gaan –hy sal nie daar wees nie! Alles wat mooi is , alles wat goed is, alles wat van jou ‘n beter mens maak word julle toegewens. Wees altyd versigtig op die pad en tuis- neem niks as vanselfsprekend aan nie! Bewolkte groete Barry en Christina

Klippe in jou pad..

Goeie dag Liewe Niggie, Woensdag 24 April ek wou sommer net vertel van die dinge wat hier om my aangaan! Barry en die skrynwerkers wat die plafonne in sit en hy met sy perfeksionisme- sluip daar tog foute in en hy raak diep omgekrap daaroor veral as hulle weet hulle het geknoei en maak dit toe met iets -nou wonder ‘n mens of hulle dink hy sal dit nie sien nie! Daar is nie 'n mens hier in Ierland wat nie 'n kans vat nie - veral as dit by die soort van ding kom nie!. Die elektrisiën is ook tussendeur besig - hy kry nie meer werk as eletrisiën nie en doen soggens 'n diploma in webblad en programmering. Ons ken hom as elektrisiën. en nou is hy hier vanaf 4uur tot Barry moeg is en hom dan vertel hy moet nou huis toe! Die ligte in die sit kamer het gekalf -die een lig werk maar die ander een het blykbaar 'n skroef of iets deurgekry of in die gewerkery het daar iewers ‘n draad uit een of ander konneksie-boks gekom en nou is daar geen krag na die drade waaraan die lig gekopper moet word, nie.Dit is nou onherstelbaar vernietig maar die ergste is jy kannie daar inkom nie want dit is 'n plat dak en vol veselglas- vir hitte daar in gestop en die ou huis muur is te hoog en nie een hierdie klomp kan oor die muur kom in die dak nie nou moet 'n boer 'n plan maak- en die Iere is nou nie boere nie en dit gaan regtig broekskeur. John die elektrisiën is self omtrent 6vt lank en Barry is nou nie petitie nie en jy moet omtrent die lyf van ‘n 8jr oud hê om oor die muur te seil deur die veselglas tot by die gat waar die nuwe draad nou vandaan gelei gaan word. Hierdie 2 groot mans probeer toe om so naby as moontlik te kom sonder maskers aan –want hulle weet mos beter en beide van hulle kom proesende , verstikkende uit die dak! Ek dag ek moet CPR op hul albei toepas –so hoes hulle! Kon glad nie eers naby kom nie! en die poging verniet! ‘n Besluit moet nou geneem word – sal ons nou maar net een lig gebruik in die sitkamer en die ander net vir vertoning daar hang, want die plafon kannnie uitgehaal word nie en die dak se teels kan nie gelig word nie. Die probleem is byna onoorkombaar- ek het ‘n idee maar hulle wil nie luister nie! Barry laat John huistoe gaan en verseker hom dat as hy terug is vir die volgende sessie die drade op die regte plekke sal wees. Ek wag in spanning om sien hoe hy dit gaan bewerk. Miskien oorreed hy Frank die skrynwerker wat regtig van klein formaat is om oor die muur te probeer kom ,deur die veselglas te kruip tot by die nuwe draad, later in die dag as hulle klaar is met die TV kamer. Sal maar moet wag en kyk! 2 Dae later Gister net na middag-ete is dit tyd vir die ekspedisie die dak in. Om nie totaal aan die stof en ander dinge daarbo , omtekom nie haal Barry liefs sy tande uit want as jy daar-bo begin hoes en proes en sukkel om asem te haal is ‘n stel bo tande wat maklik kan uitvlieg nie die aangewese aanhangsel in jou mond nie. Gewapen met ‘n stof masker is hy boontoe – onthou nou net Barry is byna 77jr oud en nie meer vandag se kind nie – hy weet egter presies wat gedoen moet word en hoe dit gedoen moet word, hy is ook boon-op ‘n perfeksionis, Jy hoor net doef doef soos hy oor die balke in die dak klim. ‘n gehammer uit ‘n ander wereld en skielik hoor jy ‘n gil –ek dag hy het seergekry- Frank die skrynwerker,ook met sy stof masker aan , is die dak in. Die probleem was dat die gaping wat BArry gehamer het-en hy kan dit nie groter maak nie- te klein was en Barry kon sy skouers nie deur die opening kry nie! Frank is kleiner en meer manipuleerbaar. Daar is twee ligte in die sitkamer een met krag en die een sonder krag. Nou sal dit so werk dat die lig wat wel krag het moet gekonneteer word met die lig sonder krag-hierdie konneksie draad moet bo die plafon loop want dit kan nie soos ‘n tuislang buite hang nie- ons is verby daardie tyd en era!. Noel moes toe die draad van onderaf op stoot sodat Frank dit in die hande kan kry en dan met die punt deurkruip na die ander gat waar die 2de lig is- aangedui met ‘n stuk riet en die draad moet dan deur daardie lig, waarvan die gat reeds geboor is, gedruk word. Jy hoor net hoe hoes die 2 daarbo en ek is maar bly Barry is sonder sy tande want as hy die nou daarbo verloor spel dit onheil. Soos dit is het Frank sy foon daarbo verloor en moes terug in die veselglas om die klein instrumentjie te soek wat dringend lui om sy ligging weggetegee.. Uit einedelik is albei uit die dak en die draad is deur! Wat ‘n wonderwerk! Die twee van hulle staan buite en hoes en skep groot teue skoon lug om net weer normaal te kan asemhaal. Barry kon gladnie daarbo met die masker asem kry nie en die masker sommer daar gelos vir die volgende ou! Uit eindelik bedaar hulle en na baie vloestof en iets te suie is hulle weer piekfyn en terug aan die werk. Minute later lui my sel foon- dit is John – hy kom nie want iets het voorgeval en hy sal dit nie kan maak nie- al die ellende en nou kom hy nie eers nie- Gelukkig beteken dit dat hulle dit nie vandag hoef te doen nie- dit is reeds in plek! Intussen loop die gemoedere maar hoog want die twee manne begin nou moedeloos raak en hul vertbeelding begin duidelik daaronder ly- Barry neem dus oor en hulle doen nou wat hy sê!. “ it is my way or no way” Hoor ek hom herhaal elke nou en dan! Nou lê die afrondings werk voor en dit moet reg gedoen word anders maak dit afbreek aan die ander houtwerk. Moeilik so saam met die 2 Iere en die een ‘BOER’. Vanoggend word die hele plek uitgevee en ek dank die sterre dat ek geen matte iewers het nie en dat ek uiteindelik net teels sal hoef te was en droog te kry. Eers goed stofsuig en dan die groot was! John is hier en al die elektriese lospunte word aangepak – die skakelaar vir die verwarmer in die badkamer wat buite aan ‘n draad hang, want daar mag geen kontak punt natuurlik in ‘n badkamer wees nie- die ligte in die TV kamer wat nuwe drade en omhulsel moet kry en dan uiteindelik die 2de lig wat gekoppel moet word aan lig nommer een!. Intussen was die berekening vir die lysies veels te kort en sal ons more meer moet gaan koop. Intussen het ons die verf gaan koop en nadat ons weke na die boek gestaar het en aantekeninge gemaak het besluit ons op ‘n ander kleur in die winkel- want die was beskikbaar in 20 liter houers wat dinge soveel makliker maak! Die kleur is nie soveel verskillend van die 3 oorspronklike kleure wat ons uiteindelik gekies het nie maar nou word alles een kleur en basta met ander kleure!. Barry het ook aan ‘n draad geruk wat hy gedink het is asboluut en intussen was dit ‘n draad wat belangrik was vir die telefoon konneksies in die dak! Ek het my eie stelsel in die komputer kamer en kombuis uitgewerk maar die dinge bo in die dak weet ek min van. Toe ek hulle in kennis stel vertel hulle my as die fout aan my kant is betaal ek vir die herstel maar anders sal die ingineur of vandag of Maandag kom. Nou, om sonder my kompiter vir 4 dae te wees is soos tronkstraf- en ek is in sak en as! Terwyl ons die verf koop lui my foon –dit is die telefoon herstel man(inggineur) hy is in die omgewing en sal binne ½ uur by die huis wees. Vinnig word die verf op ‘n trollie gelaai en deur die bedieningspunt gedruk –gelukkig ry ons met ‘n ‘BY-Pass ‘ verby die dorp en is ons net na hom, die telefoonman, daar. ‘n Vriendelike gemoedelike man wat saam koffie drink en my konneksies so bekyk en se, as dit werk is dit goed- hy herstel toe die probleem –een of ander draad was uit- die het hy toe weer geduldig terug gesit ook in die dak en Whalla- ek is weer gekonnekteer ! groot was my vreugde! Intussen – met die dat ek nie gister by my internet bank kon in kom nie het ek die foon gebruik en wat ek ook al gedoen het- , het veroorsaak dat ek myself totaal afgesny het en finaal gediskonnekteer het van internet bank. Vanmôre toe ek nou, nadat ek weer op die lug gekom het – wou terug gaan internet bank toe – is dit ‘n hopelose saak, na 15 keer se probeer slae gee ek moed op en skakel hulle ‘ You are not connected to Internet Banking at present’ vertel Charlie die bankman vir my en met baie vrae en antwoorde en nuwe sekuriteits nommers ens is ek toe weer uiteindelik terug op Internet bank- ag mens ek begin nou half ongemaklik raak met alles wat so verkeerd gaan. Wens die naweek wil nou kom- as ons die week se vergoedingpakette uitbetaal het sal ons omtrent arm wees- glo my!

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