Wednesday 25th Aug’10
Good day to all, family and friends,
I am cheating as this letter will be a few days late and will cover 2 weeks.
The weather has been playing cat and mouse with us, Moments go by and you think AaaaaaHhhhhhhhhhhh!! Summer is back and the next moment you have to run for cover as the heavens will open without notice and you will be drenched, and suddenly it is cold! You reach for the cardigan again just to remove it an hour later when the sun is bright and beautiful in the blue, blue skies!
The temperatures has been falling steadily at night time and at some stage last week it must have dropped below (7)the marker set for the thermostat to kick in at the hospital and the heaters went on full blast, we nearly suffocated and the poor patients had all a free sauna, they say you do not get cold from something like that but I definitely did as I dripped most of the night and the fan was on and you walk passed soaked in perspiration ,cool down for a while and then moments later you are so hot that your clothes are sticking to you! I was also very generous and gave this not requested cold to Barry, and as a man he was much sicker from it than me, fortunately we are both on the road to recovery!
We were ever so privileged to have Finbarr(PF) or Patrick as he is known to all in Ireland, Amanda and our grandson Lukas visiting on Sunday! I could not come near him but that took nothing away from his charm! He is a boy through and through! He knows his own mind and if you do not act quick enough he will let you know in no uncertain terms! His development is far beyond the milestones and there is surely enough gray-matter for a profession in high places!!!!He is absolutely gorgeous!
Flowers looks really not good, only waiting on the gladiolas, some of the Dahlias have opened and brought some colour! Others are drowned or dying! Tomatoes are finished and we had a good crop this year, still a few green ones hanging on the dying storks! Roses may have a second sprout of flowers but if the cold come suddenly, that will also be something of the past!
Birds, by the 100s eating the gosling crumbs and the oats giving to them by Barry, brings us great joy! The late baby swallows peep over the edge of their nest in the donkey house, always hungry and ready to be fed! Hope they make it before the winter come, they still have to leave the nest, put body weight on before they can fly to SA!!!that is another good 4 weeks or more!
The geese are like children, if you do not give attention they make sure we are aware of their existence. The noise is unreal! The teenagers cannot cackle yet but are on the way with an in between noise that can be heard for a mile! The 3 goslings are nearly a month old and will soon be introduced to the rest of the family! Prince Scruffie, keeps guard over Mary and the 3 goslings as if he gets paid to do it! He never leaves her side, he on that side of the fence and she on this side! They keep the grass short and that pleases Barry to no limits as he can omit cutting the lower field, it is a big job and he is not getting younger!
We have the Polish worker and his son who is visiting from Poland working on the extension of the shed, digging the holes for the railway sleepers, cementing them in and then the framework for the roof and the wooden fence poles as walls, it will be used for shelter for the geese and turf or wood for the winter. The older shed is just not big enough. The donkey house far too small for the geese family! 2 will be going to a friend maybe next week that leaves us with 8 young geese and 5 older ones.
We are very fortunate to be counted in at the church for the wood that will come available. The church grounds are surrounded by 60-100 year old pine trees and has grown far too high. The roots are disturbing the graves as well as the foundations of the church and has ruined the stone wall around the church, so, sad as it is, the trees have to come down! It is also a health and safety risk with high winds and storms.
At work things have improved a little after the ballot was accepted for 5% hours and pay cut instead of the less 18% we were working under for the last 2 years! Worked has picked up and means that we are now working 3+4nights in a fortnight and sometimes more, all overtime has to be paid and not given as time over!
There has also been an inquiry into the professional attitude of the Manager and Nursing Director of the Hospital who sometimes would use abusive language, raised voice and unreasonable expectations especially from the theatre staff. The woman, conducting the interviews have had experience with such disturbing behaviour in the EU and we hope sincerely that matters will improve!
Last but not least on the list are those who have received exam results and I am waiting to hear how it went with Christiaan’s leaving cert results! The SA children and students are nearing their last quarter of the year and we wish them well!
Here I am thinking of Nicole, Stephan, Nico, Elaine, Reuben, all still at school. Mieanka?, has returned to JHB and I hope she will be happy!
And off course all the students at University!
I am also thinking very specially of my friend Trish and hope sincerely that she will get this letter and know that she is always in my prayers!
Glad that Rob and Thilo are back in Saudi Safely and enjoyed their trip to the USA.
Arnolda and Garth in Australia and the big trek through the desert, enjoy the get-together with the sons!
Gerlof and Sandra are due home soon and I hope they have a safe journey back!
My friend Marthie is visiting her Mom and family in SA and I hope she enjoys every minute of it! I hope she left here with only hand luggage as the orders and requests from all of us were plentiful!!!!
Cilna looking forward to you next visit, a pity you could not come with this time!
Gerda, have not heard from you since you left but hope that you are keeping well! The rest of the SA friends I will hopefully see with our weekly coffee date sometime soon!
Birthdays! Martie R is having a birthday on the 26th, Rachelle had her birthday Yesterday and I hope that the New year will be full of wonderful surprises and good health! Rachelle’s mom has been visiting and will soon be going back, I sincerely hope that she enjoyed Ireland!
Thank you to all for the good wishes that appeared on face book ,sms(txt)and by emails! Much appreciated!
All the people not feeling so well and children that are sick, I hope you all feel better soon! Haya how are the feet and Cobus’s back?
This then, greetings from Cranleymore where we enjoy cool, no wind but sunny weather today!
Take care, all of you!
Regards from house to house
Barry & Christina
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Ierse groete!
Saterdag 14 Aug’10
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende,
( 19h20 en die hemele is blou en die son skyn! Tyd van versending!)
Bewolk maar geen reen ,dit het eintlik lank laas gereen ,ons sit net onder hierdie kombers, met baie lae en kleure, van wolk massas, wat soms vinnig deur die wind aangejaag word en soms hang hulle net.
Temperature het definitief in die teenoorgestelde rigting begin beweeg. Oggend temp is nou 12-14 en dit word selde warmer as 16, miskien 17 as die son per ongeluk ‘n gaatjie kry om deur te skyn, snags kan dit tot 7 val, dit voorspel net een ding, herfs is om die draai!
Net terug van LIDL dit is ons Supermark waar ons 99% van ons proviant koop, en ons het in die vrugte bakke vanoggend:-!
Navel lemoene uit SA
Gala Appels uit SA
Pomelos uit SA
Bananas uit Columbia
Druiwe(swartkorrels) uit Italie
Gladde perkskes-Nectarines uit Spanje
Ek leef mos van vrugte en groente weet ongelukkig nie waar die groentes vandaan kom nie, Hulle het die klawer teken op dus neem ek aan dit is Iers! Met die dat ek soos ‘n brandsiek runderpest sieke gelyk het , het ek nie ‘n voet buite die hek gesit as dit nie brood nodig was nie! Mense wat my nie ken nie sou maar net gedink het, ‘ag siestog sy lyk nie te goed nie’ maar almal wat my ken het hul asems opgetrek en met groot oë gestaar!
Ek lyk aansienlik beter en kan darem weer my neus tussen my wange bespeur, maar ek was totaal toegeswel 2 dae kon ek nie my regter oog eers oopkry nie! Gelukkig het die Dr se medisyne gehelp en ook my smeek gebede dat ek ek weer gesond sal word sodat ek kan gaan werk, en nie letsels op my gesig moet oorhou nie.
Ons is erg bevoorregt om die voëllewe van naby te bekyk.
Vanoggend hardloop die ‘blackbird’ wyfie vinnig heen en weer op die gras wat gister gesny is en draai haar koppie en sy luister en sodra die wurpie sy verskyning maak gryp sy hom gou-gou, dis te wonderlik om te sien hoe sy telke male luister! Daar is gereeld ‘n geveg aan die gang oor wie se grasperk dit nou eintlik is! Die arme ‘red robin’ word soms wreed deur die ander groter voëls verjaag. Ons het ook ‘n piep klein voëltjie opgemerk, so klein dat hy, toe hy nie die einde van einde van die heining kon kry, nie deur die ogiesdraad gewurm het,dit het na ‘n ‘fly catcher’ gelyk maar ons is nie seker nie!Letterlik 100e voeltjies besoek ons daagliks want ons het die gans kuiken kos en die oats wat hulle trek, Baie bessies is aan die ryp word en hulle het ook ons appels begin pik en ons moes noodgedwonge die 5 appels wat toe oor was pluk en ek sal hulle maar vir Barry kook en met vla opdien môre as poeding! Die swaeltjies het ‘n 2de broeisel van 4 eiers in die donkiehuis en sal eersdaags uitgebroei wees! Hoop hulle word groot voor die koue kom!
Die boere is besig om gras vir ‘n 2de keer te sny en bale te maak dus is al die paaie vol trekters en sleep waens en baal masjiene,baie gevaarlik!
Ons het hierdie jaar ons hitte verskaffende materiaal, turf, gekoop, ons het baie somme gemaak en uiteindelik het Barry ge-kwibbel tot hy die prys gehad het waar hy dit met vrymoedigheid kon betaal en ons skuur is vol! Om warm te kan bly in die winter is seker byna meer belangrik as om te eet!
Die man van wie ons die turf gekoop het, het 11 kinders waarvan 7 seuns is en hulle is almal op die ‘Doil’ Hy het nie ‘n tand in sy mond nie en is stok doof, Jy moet so hard skree dat die mense in die dorp hoor wat ons sê! Hy bring gereeld 4 van die seuns saam en omdat dit nie meer in Barry se lyf sit om 2 tons turf te pak nie doen die 4 seuns dit dan vir ‘n eksta fooitjie! Hulle is ook almal bo 35!
Sou ons dit self gedoen het word dit ‘n erge beslommernis want ons het nie ‘n sleepwaentjie nie en moet dan betaal om dit hier te kry ,alhoewel dit goedkoper is om dit van die bog(G uitgespreek soos vir ‘gold’ in Engels) te koop, te stapel en te laat droog word, styg die koste geweldig vir die vervoer daarvan! As ek nou eendag geld het koop ek ‘n trekter en ‘n groot sleep wa om alles wat ek wil verskuif of vervoer self te doen! Hahaha...
Ons het heerlik koffie gedrink by een van die Suid Afrikaanse vroue in Mullingar. Hulle wag dat hul huis klaar gebou word en intussen huur hulle ‘n enorme groot huis in ‘n baie mooi buurt! Ons het ook ‘n hekel les gehad, ek het net gekyk want ek had toe nie ‘n hekelpen nie! Heerlike melktert en sjokolade koek ge-eet wat die dogters gebak het! Nogmaals baie dankie Marna vir die gasvryheid! Ons wens ook Mathie ‘n voorspoedige reis na SA toe en dat sy die tydjie saam met haar ma baie sal geniet!
Ons gans familie is op die oomblik pragtig, die tieners is parmantig gemaklik met ons, Barry is hul bron van voedsel en hulle is baie lief vir hom, Gister het ek ‘n hele gesprek met die klomp gevoer terwyl hulle net so hard antwoord. Hul piep-piep het nou verander na wap-wap-wap net die k wat nog vermis word. Hul ogies het almal ligte rooi kringe om en die oog kleur is vinnig besig om van swart na lig blou te veranter! Hulle is nou byna so groot soos hul ma’s en tantes! Toulouse, die een tiener wat meer vreemde eieskappe as die res het is nou nie ‘n mooi gans nie maar ons het net so lief!
Die kleintjies is nou 2 weke oud en doen al die dinge wat hul boeties ,sussies ens gedoen het! Wonderlik hoe vinnig hulle groei en onafhanklik begin wei en kosbak toe hardloop! Hulle sit net soos die tieners ook in die waterbak! Die tieners is baie lief vir die water en soms is daar 4-5 in die tenk op dieselfde tyd! As hulle uitklouter moet ons omtrent die tenk weer opvul, so het die watervlak gesak!
Ons het ten spyte van die bewolkte weer tog ‘n paar heerlike ure buite deurgebring vandag! Die wind het nie gewaai nie en dit maak die wêreld se verskil!
Môre is Sondag en die beste dag van die week! Psalme en Gesange reeds goed ge-oefen en ons hoop dat ons more lekker sal sing! Ons besoekende prediker verlede week was van Monaghan en het ‘n uitstekende preek gelewer! ‘n mens loop so sielsverrykkend uit die kerk en het sommer hoop vir die ellendes wat die week mag bring! Ons Hemelse Vader is goed vir ons!
Ons dink baie spesiaal aan Isabel en kinders met oorlede broer Gerhard se verjaardag herdenking!
Paul in Australie verjaar die 20ste! Hoop jou verjaardag verloop met dawerende gejuig! Ryke seeninge jou toegebid jongman!
Ons kleinseun word ook 4 mnde oud, tog eienaardig hoe hy reeds 16weke oud is maar nog nie 4 mnde nie! Hy is ‘n oulike ,vriendelike en hoogs intellegente knapie! Ons sien hulle volgende week en kan nie wag nie!
Ons lees met weemoed van die moorde en bid vir almal se veiligheid! Ek weet daar is duisende mooi dinge wat ook in die land gebeur maar ‘n mens se hart voel tog maar baie seer!
Hoop van harte dat Nine en kleindogter hul reis geniet, Haya , hoop dat jou voete goed herstel en dat Cobus se rug beter is! Gerlof ,Sandra en MarieJanke- geniet leke moment julle tyd in SA vlieg verby!
Intussen is die dag verby en ek moet gaan opskep!
Almal wat werk soek was vandag by die deur! En die elektrisiën het nooit teruggekom nie nou moet ons maar ‘n ander een soek! Nog geen eleltrisiteit in die skuur nie!
Hiermee dan bewolte groete met die son strale wat so elke nou en dan skitterend deur breek!
Liefde groete van ons hier in Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende,
( 19h20 en die hemele is blou en die son skyn! Tyd van versending!)
Bewolk maar geen reen ,dit het eintlik lank laas gereen ,ons sit net onder hierdie kombers, met baie lae en kleure, van wolk massas, wat soms vinnig deur die wind aangejaag word en soms hang hulle net.
Temperature het definitief in die teenoorgestelde rigting begin beweeg. Oggend temp is nou 12-14 en dit word selde warmer as 16, miskien 17 as die son per ongeluk ‘n gaatjie kry om deur te skyn, snags kan dit tot 7 val, dit voorspel net een ding, herfs is om die draai!
Net terug van LIDL dit is ons Supermark waar ons 99% van ons proviant koop, en ons het in die vrugte bakke vanoggend:-!
Navel lemoene uit SA
Gala Appels uit SA
Pomelos uit SA
Bananas uit Columbia
Druiwe(swartkorrels) uit Italie
Gladde perkskes-Nectarines uit Spanje
Ek leef mos van vrugte en groente weet ongelukkig nie waar die groentes vandaan kom nie, Hulle het die klawer teken op dus neem ek aan dit is Iers! Met die dat ek soos ‘n brandsiek runderpest sieke gelyk het , het ek nie ‘n voet buite die hek gesit as dit nie brood nodig was nie! Mense wat my nie ken nie sou maar net gedink het, ‘ag siestog sy lyk nie te goed nie’ maar almal wat my ken het hul asems opgetrek en met groot oë gestaar!
Ek lyk aansienlik beter en kan darem weer my neus tussen my wange bespeur, maar ek was totaal toegeswel 2 dae kon ek nie my regter oog eers oopkry nie! Gelukkig het die Dr se medisyne gehelp en ook my smeek gebede dat ek ek weer gesond sal word sodat ek kan gaan werk, en nie letsels op my gesig moet oorhou nie.
Ons is erg bevoorregt om die voëllewe van naby te bekyk.
Vanoggend hardloop die ‘blackbird’ wyfie vinnig heen en weer op die gras wat gister gesny is en draai haar koppie en sy luister en sodra die wurpie sy verskyning maak gryp sy hom gou-gou, dis te wonderlik om te sien hoe sy telke male luister! Daar is gereeld ‘n geveg aan die gang oor wie se grasperk dit nou eintlik is! Die arme ‘red robin’ word soms wreed deur die ander groter voëls verjaag. Ons het ook ‘n piep klein voëltjie opgemerk, so klein dat hy, toe hy nie die einde van einde van die heining kon kry, nie deur die ogiesdraad gewurm het,dit het na ‘n ‘fly catcher’ gelyk maar ons is nie seker nie!Letterlik 100e voeltjies besoek ons daagliks want ons het die gans kuiken kos en die oats wat hulle trek, Baie bessies is aan die ryp word en hulle het ook ons appels begin pik en ons moes noodgedwonge die 5 appels wat toe oor was pluk en ek sal hulle maar vir Barry kook en met vla opdien môre as poeding! Die swaeltjies het ‘n 2de broeisel van 4 eiers in die donkiehuis en sal eersdaags uitgebroei wees! Hoop hulle word groot voor die koue kom!
Die boere is besig om gras vir ‘n 2de keer te sny en bale te maak dus is al die paaie vol trekters en sleep waens en baal masjiene,baie gevaarlik!
Ons het hierdie jaar ons hitte verskaffende materiaal, turf, gekoop, ons het baie somme gemaak en uiteindelik het Barry ge-kwibbel tot hy die prys gehad het waar hy dit met vrymoedigheid kon betaal en ons skuur is vol! Om warm te kan bly in die winter is seker byna meer belangrik as om te eet!
Die man van wie ons die turf gekoop het, het 11 kinders waarvan 7 seuns is en hulle is almal op die ‘Doil’ Hy het nie ‘n tand in sy mond nie en is stok doof, Jy moet so hard skree dat die mense in die dorp hoor wat ons sê! Hy bring gereeld 4 van die seuns saam en omdat dit nie meer in Barry se lyf sit om 2 tons turf te pak nie doen die 4 seuns dit dan vir ‘n eksta fooitjie! Hulle is ook almal bo 35!
Sou ons dit self gedoen het word dit ‘n erge beslommernis want ons het nie ‘n sleepwaentjie nie en moet dan betaal om dit hier te kry ,alhoewel dit goedkoper is om dit van die bog(G uitgespreek soos vir ‘gold’ in Engels) te koop, te stapel en te laat droog word, styg die koste geweldig vir die vervoer daarvan! As ek nou eendag geld het koop ek ‘n trekter en ‘n groot sleep wa om alles wat ek wil verskuif of vervoer self te doen! Hahaha...
Ons het heerlik koffie gedrink by een van die Suid Afrikaanse vroue in Mullingar. Hulle wag dat hul huis klaar gebou word en intussen huur hulle ‘n enorme groot huis in ‘n baie mooi buurt! Ons het ook ‘n hekel les gehad, ek het net gekyk want ek had toe nie ‘n hekelpen nie! Heerlike melktert en sjokolade koek ge-eet wat die dogters gebak het! Nogmaals baie dankie Marna vir die gasvryheid! Ons wens ook Mathie ‘n voorspoedige reis na SA toe en dat sy die tydjie saam met haar ma baie sal geniet!
Ons gans familie is op die oomblik pragtig, die tieners is parmantig gemaklik met ons, Barry is hul bron van voedsel en hulle is baie lief vir hom, Gister het ek ‘n hele gesprek met die klomp gevoer terwyl hulle net so hard antwoord. Hul piep-piep het nou verander na wap-wap-wap net die k wat nog vermis word. Hul ogies het almal ligte rooi kringe om en die oog kleur is vinnig besig om van swart na lig blou te veranter! Hulle is nou byna so groot soos hul ma’s en tantes! Toulouse, die een tiener wat meer vreemde eieskappe as die res het is nou nie ‘n mooi gans nie maar ons het net so lief!
Die kleintjies is nou 2 weke oud en doen al die dinge wat hul boeties ,sussies ens gedoen het! Wonderlik hoe vinnig hulle groei en onafhanklik begin wei en kosbak toe hardloop! Hulle sit net soos die tieners ook in die waterbak! Die tieners is baie lief vir die water en soms is daar 4-5 in die tenk op dieselfde tyd! As hulle uitklouter moet ons omtrent die tenk weer opvul, so het die watervlak gesak!
Ons het ten spyte van die bewolkte weer tog ‘n paar heerlike ure buite deurgebring vandag! Die wind het nie gewaai nie en dit maak die wêreld se verskil!
Môre is Sondag en die beste dag van die week! Psalme en Gesange reeds goed ge-oefen en ons hoop dat ons more lekker sal sing! Ons besoekende prediker verlede week was van Monaghan en het ‘n uitstekende preek gelewer! ‘n mens loop so sielsverrykkend uit die kerk en het sommer hoop vir die ellendes wat die week mag bring! Ons Hemelse Vader is goed vir ons!
Ons dink baie spesiaal aan Isabel en kinders met oorlede broer Gerhard se verjaardag herdenking!
Paul in Australie verjaar die 20ste! Hoop jou verjaardag verloop met dawerende gejuig! Ryke seeninge jou toegebid jongman!
Ons kleinseun word ook 4 mnde oud, tog eienaardig hoe hy reeds 16weke oud is maar nog nie 4 mnde nie! Hy is ‘n oulike ,vriendelike en hoogs intellegente knapie! Ons sien hulle volgende week en kan nie wag nie!
Ons lees met weemoed van die moorde en bid vir almal se veiligheid! Ek weet daar is duisende mooi dinge wat ook in die land gebeur maar ‘n mens se hart voel tog maar baie seer!
Hoop van harte dat Nine en kleindogter hul reis geniet, Haya , hoop dat jou voete goed herstel en dat Cobus se rug beter is! Gerlof ,Sandra en MarieJanke- geniet leke moment julle tyd in SA vlieg verby!
Intussen is die dag verby en ek moet gaan opskep!
Almal wat werk soek was vandag by die deur! En die elektrisiën het nooit teruggekom nie nou moet ons maar ‘n ander een soek! Nog geen eleltrisiteit in die skuur nie!
Hiermee dan bewolte groete met die son strale wat so elke nou en dan skitterend deur breek!
Liefde groete van ons hier in Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Greetings from the Emerald Island
Saturday 7 Aug ‘10
Good day to all, family and friends!
Met Eireann or something to that spelling promised that the heavens will open sometime today, no.... unfortunately not to let the sun in but with buckets, of rain water. Admitting that the sun did shine for 60 min when we got up this morning, it is now nearly dark inside and we have to switch the lights on to read or do something specific! According to records, I do not know who keep these records , they never consulted me, and I have records of everyday’s weather for the last 5 years, the sun shone less in July 2010 than in the last 10 Julys.
August has not started much better we are at day 7 and we have not had a full 12 hours sunshine yet in these 7 days! Summer is coming to an end and very quickly!
Vegetation flourish in the wet weather in some ways and in other they totally disintegrate, the 2 tomatoes plants standing in the rain but with leaves too dense the water does not reach the soil and in spite of all the rain we still have to water many plants and baskets!
In our garden we have one ornamental plum tree and one green plum tree entwined, or may be grafted, who will know but in the 5½ years we saw no fruit of any kind , but this year the branches are heavy with a different kind of plum , looks like cherry ,lovely red in colour when ripe and sweet! So with ladder and rake we intend to gather all the fruit from the highest branches to make jam!. These fruit is from the green tree, there are also fruit on the maroon tree but the fruit stays hard and also looks just like a cherry but tasting it , it is plum like!
The lower field was cut on Thursday and looks good, we do that only once or twice a year the geese does graze it down well but with all the rain it becomes like a forest!
Barry does most things himself and I assist just by being at his side. Last Saturday he wanted to sharpen a knife in the workshop and found the grinder not working, thought the plug fuse must be gone, { here all electrical appliances are equipped with a fuse in the plug, you just change the fuse } hoping to get back to it later but he did not! Coming back from church last Sunday he fetched food for the geese and find it smelling awful in the workshop ,looked around and saw the freezer defrosted and the whole place under water!
Quickly took the little bit left in the freezer out, still fairly frozen and moved it to the fridge in the house for cooking later, that day or Monday but then we realized that there is no electricity at all in the shed. With elementary knowledge of electricity and the DIY digest we went to the Shop and got a tester, after many hours of doing exactly as they suggest we established that all is not well and suddenly the whole house’s electricity went! After a hour I phoned ESB , wonderful, it was not the 2 of us causing it but the complete shut down over 10 -15km radius! What a relief!
A colleague of mine living 12 miles away is an electrician and he came round on our request and found that there is a break in the conduction from the house to the workshop! The cable being buried under 3ft cement for the last 5 years makes digging it up an impossibility! Typical Irish he will pitch here Monday or Tuesday afternoon with some very good excuse! He promised to be here today but the day is gone and no Cìaron......
In the mean time we also travelled to Dublin for the Nuclear Cardiac stress test which turned out to be more than a stress test for the heart but also in endurance and patience! What- ever could go wrong, did and after 50 min of lying with his arms above his head tied down in the scanning tunnel Barry went through agony as he has a shoulder held together with love and tender care as he tore most of his shoulder muscles some time ago! He also got panicky in the tunnel and vowed not to go back whatever the outcome. Lo and behold the phone rang Thursday, the cardiologist wants him back for a resting scan but he refused blankly he would have to lay for another 30 mins in the same position and he is just not able for it! That took care of the heart scanning! Disappointment but so it will be!
Last night after our evening meal i discovered that my face is covered in a red hot rash!and spreading fast over large part of my body It is still there and can get worse at any time or subside for a little while but not long! So here we go , the only thing I ate different from all week was Salmon last night and a little beetroot! I eat it at least 1x a week and never had a problem before but even the anti-histamine is not working! Will watch and see!
Our church minister is still on leave and Barry chose the Hymns like last Sunday, ones he can sing, then we know that the 10-12 people there will be able to sing it as well! All well known and well practised! Always the best day of the week!
I am not sure if I will post this letter as I suddenly wondered what on earth do you do with the letter? Delete it as it arrives in the ‘inbox’ most probably
The geese teenagers are lovely graceful young birds Monday 6 weeks old! The goslings a week old and all going according to plan!
I hope that those who are on holiday are having really a good time , those preparing for exams, study well! Those waiting for their results! Everything of the best!
Young Gerhard from Frikkie en Elmarie has a birthday on the 12th I will forward a separate birthday card!
Any-one else having a birthday Many happy returns of the day!
We were only 4 ladies drinking coffee on Friday and as always very pleasant! Marna I hope your cold has improved! Hope the other SA friends are keeping well! Gerda!!. How are you!?
Always lovely to hear from you, Trish I wonder if you get my letters, can you let me know!?
I greet ye all from Cranleymore where the sun plays hide and seeks with us!
Love and kind regards
Barry and Christina
Good day to all, family and friends!
Met Eireann or something to that spelling promised that the heavens will open sometime today, no.... unfortunately not to let the sun in but with buckets, of rain water. Admitting that the sun did shine for 60 min when we got up this morning, it is now nearly dark inside and we have to switch the lights on to read or do something specific! According to records, I do not know who keep these records , they never consulted me, and I have records of everyday’s weather for the last 5 years, the sun shone less in July 2010 than in the last 10 Julys.
August has not started much better we are at day 7 and we have not had a full 12 hours sunshine yet in these 7 days! Summer is coming to an end and very quickly!
Vegetation flourish in the wet weather in some ways and in other they totally disintegrate, the 2 tomatoes plants standing in the rain but with leaves too dense the water does not reach the soil and in spite of all the rain we still have to water many plants and baskets!
In our garden we have one ornamental plum tree and one green plum tree entwined, or may be grafted, who will know but in the 5½ years we saw no fruit of any kind , but this year the branches are heavy with a different kind of plum , looks like cherry ,lovely red in colour when ripe and sweet! So with ladder and rake we intend to gather all the fruit from the highest branches to make jam!. These fruit is from the green tree, there are also fruit on the maroon tree but the fruit stays hard and also looks just like a cherry but tasting it , it is plum like!
The lower field was cut on Thursday and looks good, we do that only once or twice a year the geese does graze it down well but with all the rain it becomes like a forest!
Barry does most things himself and I assist just by being at his side. Last Saturday he wanted to sharpen a knife in the workshop and found the grinder not working, thought the plug fuse must be gone, { here all electrical appliances are equipped with a fuse in the plug, you just change the fuse } hoping to get back to it later but he did not! Coming back from church last Sunday he fetched food for the geese and find it smelling awful in the workshop ,looked around and saw the freezer defrosted and the whole place under water!
Quickly took the little bit left in the freezer out, still fairly frozen and moved it to the fridge in the house for cooking later, that day or Monday but then we realized that there is no electricity at all in the shed. With elementary knowledge of electricity and the DIY digest we went to the Shop and got a tester, after many hours of doing exactly as they suggest we established that all is not well and suddenly the whole house’s electricity went! After a hour I phoned ESB , wonderful, it was not the 2 of us causing it but the complete shut down over 10 -15km radius! What a relief!
A colleague of mine living 12 miles away is an electrician and he came round on our request and found that there is a break in the conduction from the house to the workshop! The cable being buried under 3ft cement for the last 5 years makes digging it up an impossibility! Typical Irish he will pitch here Monday or Tuesday afternoon with some very good excuse! He promised to be here today but the day is gone and no Cìaron......
In the mean time we also travelled to Dublin for the Nuclear Cardiac stress test which turned out to be more than a stress test for the heart but also in endurance and patience! What- ever could go wrong, did and after 50 min of lying with his arms above his head tied down in the scanning tunnel Barry went through agony as he has a shoulder held together with love and tender care as he tore most of his shoulder muscles some time ago! He also got panicky in the tunnel and vowed not to go back whatever the outcome. Lo and behold the phone rang Thursday, the cardiologist wants him back for a resting scan but he refused blankly he would have to lay for another 30 mins in the same position and he is just not able for it! That took care of the heart scanning! Disappointment but so it will be!
Last night after our evening meal i discovered that my face is covered in a red hot rash!and spreading fast over large part of my body It is still there and can get worse at any time or subside for a little while but not long! So here we go , the only thing I ate different from all week was Salmon last night and a little beetroot! I eat it at least 1x a week and never had a problem before but even the anti-histamine is not working! Will watch and see!
Our church minister is still on leave and Barry chose the Hymns like last Sunday, ones he can sing, then we know that the 10-12 people there will be able to sing it as well! All well known and well practised! Always the best day of the week!
I am not sure if I will post this letter as I suddenly wondered what on earth do you do with the letter? Delete it as it arrives in the ‘inbox’ most probably
The geese teenagers are lovely graceful young birds Monday 6 weeks old! The goslings a week old and all going according to plan!
I hope that those who are on holiday are having really a good time , those preparing for exams, study well! Those waiting for their results! Everything of the best!
Young Gerhard from Frikkie en Elmarie has a birthday on the 12th I will forward a separate birthday card!
Any-one else having a birthday Many happy returns of the day!
We were only 4 ladies drinking coffee on Friday and as always very pleasant! Marna I hope your cold has improved! Hope the other SA friends are keeping well! Gerda!!. How are you!?
Always lovely to hear from you, Trish I wonder if you get my letters, can you let me know!?
I greet ye all from Cranleymore where the sun plays hide and seeks with us!
Love and kind regards
Barry and Christina
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Ierse groete!
Sondag 1 Aug’10
Goeie dag almal, familie en vriende!!!!
Die weer is baie wispelturig, ‘n baie bekende ondervinding hier in die groen groen eiland van die Iere! Ons het baie reën gehad die afgelope week maar so tussen deur het die son darem ook sy verskyning gemaak en dan met mening op die Ierse aarde geskyn! As julle na die golf kyk sal julle die groen sien waarvan ek praat!
Die klein blommetjies kan net nie al die water verwerk nie en is stadig maar seker besig om te versuip! Ons aarbeie het na baie weke nou aan hul einde gekom maar op die stoof, hierdie oomblik kook ek gemengde bessie konfyt, rasberries,swart bessies, appelliefies en die laaste aarbeie! Moet elke keer gaan kyk en roer!
Die rose se eerste drag is af en daar is orals nuwe groei en ons hoop om nog ‘n stel rose te hê voor die herfs ons oorval!
Ons dag temperature is net so onder julle laat winter temp, vir ons is dit heerlik maar ek is seker julle dra truie!Vandag is 15 gr wat eintlik lekker is , As ons nou nader aan 12 of 10 beweeg word die truie wel aangetrek!
Ons kleinseun Lukas groei met rasse skrede en is baie oulik! Hou sy eie bottel vas en steek sy tong vir jou uit as jy jou tong uitsteek!
Die spul by die werk het my met ‘n slap riem gevang verlede week ,ek het 5 nagte moes werk en toe ek die laaste nag in die saal kom word ek gou ingelig dat ek oue te huis toe moet gaan! Hulle het die hele week gehad om my intelig maar nee dit word op ‘n slinkse manier op die nippertjie aan jou meegedeel met ‘n notatjie teen die muur. Ek was woedend , nie so seer omdat ek daar moes werk nie maar vir die manier waarop hulle my ingelig het, dit was my 5 de nag en die ander nurse het net Donderdag en Vrdag nag gewerk sy kon maar regtig Vrydag nag daar gaan werk het, ek was regtig moeg teen daardie tyd, maar ek besluit toe dat ek dit positief sal hanteer en besluit dat ek in die Paradys werk en dat ek met dankbaarheid in my hart die werk na die beste van my vermoë sal doen ten spyte van my gemoed! Dit het toe ook baie goed afgeloop en die nag was verby voor ek my oe uit kon vee!
Nou is ek op die plek rus en gaan die eerste paar dae net lui wees en dan sal ek huis begin skoon maak! Ons moet eers Dinsdag Dublin toe vir Barry se Isotope X Strale van die hart en ons sal die hele dag weg wees. Ons het besluit om met die trein na Dublin toe te gaan en dan met ‘n taxi na die hospitaal! Die Luis wat ‘n deftige
tram is en loop van die stasie tot by die hospitaal maar Barry wil onderdood nie daarin klim nie! Ons hoop dat die ondersoek goed sal afloop!
Vandag is daar 2 verjaardae Gerlof wat tans op besoek in SA is en Renate van Mendel my broer.! Veels geluk aan hulle en mag dit ‘n goeie en suksesvolle jaar wees!
Ek weet nie of die jonge lui in SA nog rekord eksamen skryf nie maar in ieder geval hoop ons dat die wat hulle begin voorberei vir die jaar-end eksamen dat dit goed sal gaan! Baie begin in Sept of net daarna ‘n nuwe loopbaan of die volgende jaar op universiteit en ons hoop dat vir almal van julle dit ‘n wonderlike ervaring sal wees! Die dokters wat hul hospitaal jaar doen, (ek weet maar min van hulle af,) Attie jnr, Anneke, Sam,(Kathleen rus nog eers na die geboorte van Isabelle) ons hoop dat hulle baie geleer het so vér en dat hulle uitstekende dokters gaan wees!
Die wat nie belangstel in die gans storie nie . Wees gegroet!
Die jong ganse is môre 5 weke oud is het 18 jaar in 5 weke geleef, hulle is nou geheel-en-al selfstandig, hulle is nou jong ganse met vere en vlerke. Swem sonder toesig en vreet hulle trommeldik!. Hulle word nog so effe deur die ouer lui beskerm maar elke nou en dan waag een van hulle bietjie om weg van die groep te wei! Baie oulik!
Ons het egter baie weemoedig al die eiers van een hen en ook 7 eiers van die 2 de sittende hen verloor maar spog darem met 3 pas uitgebroeide kuikens! Ons dink die eiers was ouer as 10 dae, Ons het hulle gemerk maar volgende jaar sal ons die datum op hulle skryf en versigtig wees ,en nie uit datum eiers onder hulle sit nie!
Ons het baie geleer en verstaan dinge nou effe beter en sal volgende jaar beter ge-organiseerd wees en ook hopelik ‘n broeikas hê! Om hulle groot te maak is niks nie maar hierdie gebroeiery is ‘n konsternasie op die stasie! Ons sal hulle nou van mekaar moet skei, kom die lente,(dis nog maande weg) want die matriarg mag nie sy dogters dek nie en die seuns mag ook nie hul mammas of sussies bykom nie dus ons sal die jong henne met ‘n nuwe mannetjie moet dek , Prins Scruffie behou sy harem van 4 henne! Ons het nou altesaam15 ganse!
Ek heg’n foto aan van die 5 weke oue ganse en die nuut uitgebroeide 3! Ons het ‘n magdom voeltjies wat in die heining leef swaeltjies , tot ‘n ‘Lady Wagtail’ met ‘n poot defek maar voer haar babatjies net so goed as enige ander voëltjie! Die swaeltjies in die donkie huis het hul 2de stel eiers van 4 gelê en begin sit , hulle het dit effe laat gelos maar ons hoop dat hulle dit sal maak!
Ons het vandag ons eie predikant se pa op besoek gehad en hy het baie goed gepreek en ons het heerlik gesing. Barry het die Psalme en Gesange gekies en almal het kom sê dat die keuse wonderlik was....want..... hulle kon dit met oorgawe sing! Dit het ook goed by die diens ingepas!
Nou ja ek het nie eintlik verder nuus nie en groet dus met wense dat Nine en Nine jnr hul reis geniet, Dat Gerlof en Sandra lekker vakansie hou, dat almal wat voorbereiding tref vir troues dit met vreugde doen! Rob en Thilo in VSA geniet dit!
Baie dankie vir al die briefies, dit is altyd so lekker om van julle te hoor! Sue ek wag vir die opname!
Groete met liefde van ons in Cranleymore!
Barry en Christina
Goeie dag almal, familie en vriende!!!!
Die weer is baie wispelturig, ‘n baie bekende ondervinding hier in die groen groen eiland van die Iere! Ons het baie reën gehad die afgelope week maar so tussen deur het die son darem ook sy verskyning gemaak en dan met mening op die Ierse aarde geskyn! As julle na die golf kyk sal julle die groen sien waarvan ek praat!
Die klein blommetjies kan net nie al die water verwerk nie en is stadig maar seker besig om te versuip! Ons aarbeie het na baie weke nou aan hul einde gekom maar op die stoof, hierdie oomblik kook ek gemengde bessie konfyt, rasberries,swart bessies, appelliefies en die laaste aarbeie! Moet elke keer gaan kyk en roer!
Die rose se eerste drag is af en daar is orals nuwe groei en ons hoop om nog ‘n stel rose te hê voor die herfs ons oorval!
Ons dag temperature is net so onder julle laat winter temp, vir ons is dit heerlik maar ek is seker julle dra truie!Vandag is 15 gr wat eintlik lekker is , As ons nou nader aan 12 of 10 beweeg word die truie wel aangetrek!
Ons kleinseun Lukas groei met rasse skrede en is baie oulik! Hou sy eie bottel vas en steek sy tong vir jou uit as jy jou tong uitsteek!
Die spul by die werk het my met ‘n slap riem gevang verlede week ,ek het 5 nagte moes werk en toe ek die laaste nag in die saal kom word ek gou ingelig dat ek oue te huis toe moet gaan! Hulle het die hele week gehad om my intelig maar nee dit word op ‘n slinkse manier op die nippertjie aan jou meegedeel met ‘n notatjie teen die muur. Ek was woedend , nie so seer omdat ek daar moes werk nie maar vir die manier waarop hulle my ingelig het, dit was my 5 de nag en die ander nurse het net Donderdag en Vrdag nag gewerk sy kon maar regtig Vrydag nag daar gaan werk het, ek was regtig moeg teen daardie tyd, maar ek besluit toe dat ek dit positief sal hanteer en besluit dat ek in die Paradys werk en dat ek met dankbaarheid in my hart die werk na die beste van my vermoë sal doen ten spyte van my gemoed! Dit het toe ook baie goed afgeloop en die nag was verby voor ek my oe uit kon vee!
Nou is ek op die plek rus en gaan die eerste paar dae net lui wees en dan sal ek huis begin skoon maak! Ons moet eers Dinsdag Dublin toe vir Barry se Isotope X Strale van die hart en ons sal die hele dag weg wees. Ons het besluit om met die trein na Dublin toe te gaan en dan met ‘n taxi na die hospitaal! Die Luis wat ‘n deftige
tram is en loop van die stasie tot by die hospitaal maar Barry wil onderdood nie daarin klim nie! Ons hoop dat die ondersoek goed sal afloop!
Vandag is daar 2 verjaardae Gerlof wat tans op besoek in SA is en Renate van Mendel my broer.! Veels geluk aan hulle en mag dit ‘n goeie en suksesvolle jaar wees!
Ek weet nie of die jonge lui in SA nog rekord eksamen skryf nie maar in ieder geval hoop ons dat die wat hulle begin voorberei vir die jaar-end eksamen dat dit goed sal gaan! Baie begin in Sept of net daarna ‘n nuwe loopbaan of die volgende jaar op universiteit en ons hoop dat vir almal van julle dit ‘n wonderlike ervaring sal wees! Die dokters wat hul hospitaal jaar doen, (ek weet maar min van hulle af,) Attie jnr, Anneke, Sam,(Kathleen rus nog eers na die geboorte van Isabelle) ons hoop dat hulle baie geleer het so vér en dat hulle uitstekende dokters gaan wees!
Die wat nie belangstel in die gans storie nie . Wees gegroet!
Die jong ganse is môre 5 weke oud is het 18 jaar in 5 weke geleef, hulle is nou geheel-en-al selfstandig, hulle is nou jong ganse met vere en vlerke. Swem sonder toesig en vreet hulle trommeldik!. Hulle word nog so effe deur die ouer lui beskerm maar elke nou en dan waag een van hulle bietjie om weg van die groep te wei! Baie oulik!
Ons het egter baie weemoedig al die eiers van een hen en ook 7 eiers van die 2 de sittende hen verloor maar spog darem met 3 pas uitgebroeide kuikens! Ons dink die eiers was ouer as 10 dae, Ons het hulle gemerk maar volgende jaar sal ons die datum op hulle skryf en versigtig wees ,en nie uit datum eiers onder hulle sit nie!
Ons het baie geleer en verstaan dinge nou effe beter en sal volgende jaar beter ge-organiseerd wees en ook hopelik ‘n broeikas hê! Om hulle groot te maak is niks nie maar hierdie gebroeiery is ‘n konsternasie op die stasie! Ons sal hulle nou van mekaar moet skei, kom die lente,(dis nog maande weg) want die matriarg mag nie sy dogters dek nie en die seuns mag ook nie hul mammas of sussies bykom nie dus ons sal die jong henne met ‘n nuwe mannetjie moet dek , Prins Scruffie behou sy harem van 4 henne! Ons het nou altesaam15 ganse!
Ek heg’n foto aan van die 5 weke oue ganse en die nuut uitgebroeide 3! Ons het ‘n magdom voeltjies wat in die heining leef swaeltjies , tot ‘n ‘Lady Wagtail’ met ‘n poot defek maar voer haar babatjies net so goed as enige ander voëltjie! Die swaeltjies in die donkie huis het hul 2de stel eiers van 4 gelê en begin sit , hulle het dit effe laat gelos maar ons hoop dat hulle dit sal maak!
Ons het vandag ons eie predikant se pa op besoek gehad en hy het baie goed gepreek en ons het heerlik gesing. Barry het die Psalme en Gesange gekies en almal het kom sê dat die keuse wonderlik was....want..... hulle kon dit met oorgawe sing! Dit het ook goed by die diens ingepas!
Nou ja ek het nie eintlik verder nuus nie en groet dus met wense dat Nine en Nine jnr hul reis geniet, Dat Gerlof en Sandra lekker vakansie hou, dat almal wat voorbereiding tref vir troues dit met vreugde doen! Rob en Thilo in VSA geniet dit!
Baie dankie vir al die briefies, dit is altyd so lekker om van julle te hoor! Sue ek wag vir die opname!
Groete met liefde van ons in Cranleymore!
Barry en Christina
Saturday, July 24, 2010
July greetings from Ireland
Saturday 24 July ‘10
Good day to all, family and friends!
Not much has changed since last week weather wise as it is dripping again today, light mist rain, but warm!
Yesterday was a very good day and we cannot complain!
The grass grows and the fields where the farmers had the hay cut stands already high with green green grass!
The flowers cannot take this amount of rain and looked like drowned specimens of some distant fauna and flora planted before the great flood!
The strawberries has come to an end after many weeks of producing excellent fruit!
The rasberries and black currants are starting to ripen and I will cook some jam ! The apples 7 in all, are still hanging and growing ,we are watching them like hawks!
The rhubarb is no more as our dear geese family tramples all over them with little respect! We will have to move them to a safer spot!
I have a busy week ahead of me, work wise, as every surgeon tries to get as much done before the hospital closes for the August maintenance week!
I will have 2 weeks off and would only then have used up my accumilated leave of last year!
Some 3 weeks ago I lost all the fillings out of 1 of my molars, I say ‘all’ as the Polish dentist just keeps on patching the broken parts. But this time it is not to be saved, and I have my appointment with a proper dentist. I have never had a tooth pulled , do not like the injection as I can feel and hear it so clearly in my head,wriggling between the roots of the teeth and against the jaw bone, but without it I will not make it so at 10am on Monday morning I will have my 1st tooth pulled since childhood!
I know of a young man that will be going for an interview this coming week, Christiaan I will be thinking of you and hope it will go well!
Gerlof and Sandra are already in SA and Arnolda & kie seems to be on their way to Perth and then driving to Melbourne!Some distance and we hope that you will enjoy it and that all will go well, When is your departure date?
Nine from Kokanje and her grand daughter ,Nine from Canada are also going on a trip,every-one seems to be on the move,we, on the other hand are staying put the livestock is keeping us from leaving for much longer than 12 hours!!!!
Last Sunday we had the privilegde of having Finbarr and family visiting and we just cannot get enough of our grandson Lukas! He was 3 months old yesterday! He is such a lovely child!
Birthdays for this coming week: Oubaas(Gerhard) in Mazibuku Zambia will be a year older on the 26th,Megan Josling and Thilo on the 27th and Frik on the 31st!
Many happy returns!!!! May it be a lovely memorable day for all of you! Thilo will be somewhere in the USA! Enjoy!
Some time later!
Just back from a pleasurable attendance to our local argricultural show! Charlie is the chairman and Charlie is a member of Corboy congregation. His parents, Sam and Mabel Murphy are part of the foundation of the church, Sam (83yr)and Victor(86yr) are brothers and they went to school in the hall next to the church and it is very important to them that we attend functions like the show. Victor is the president of the Argricultural Show in the Midlands! Sam’s grand daughter studied Forensic something and work in Leeds for the Court pertaining to drugs, any kind of drugs and she rides the horses and do show jumping and we have since we attended the church made an effort to watch her jump and she was jumping today, we were just too late to see her but the show jumping is really lovely, these horses are so big and the jumps so high your heart nearly stops every time they go over an obstacle.
We bought every possible thing with apple and raisons in it! Our evening meal will consists of the ‘brack’ , a fruit loaf, we bought at the Rectory which had a sale for the Boy scouts this morning and apple strudle and raison bread! A little piece of everything!
The animals were beautiful, cows with calfs,bulls, sheep, goats. We should have had Madam and her 7 goslings there but ....we will arrange something for next year. There were enough chickens! Small and large and ducks of all kinds and colours! This is really a rural country show! Undescribable! You have to attend to appreciate it!
Tomorrow is Sunday the best day of the week and Stephen our Minister is back, Last week was somewhat of a disaster. The man who came, first used a book out of another ‘Bible’ He called it the ‘Good News Bible’ I was not so sure about it but the books name is Judith!
I do remember that when Finbarr had to attend his cathecism classes I had to buy a different Bible with 5 extra books in it and I think that was the Bible he was using which meant that no one could follow the reading , That was enough to upset the older generation and then he did not use the microphone and those with impaired hearing were totally left out and that is not on! We could rather have sung 20 Hymns for the 40 min!!!!! The lesson in itself was good but I wonder who heard it!
Stephen will surely hear about it tomorrow!
We go to church for fellowship and to hear the Word of the Lord explained and prayer but when you upset these Irish that are absolutely set in their ways it leaves little harmony although they stayed very polite! The month of August is Stephen’s holiday month and we are then entertained by 4 different preachers I sincerely hope that it will go better!
Those you are not interested in the Goose saga exit now!
The goslings are growing so fast, like mushrooms! By the hour! They are back in their own quarters and settled without problems. Wednesday morning when Barry opened the door and checked on the other 2 hens sitting on the eggs he found all the eggs in the nest of Naomi out of the nest, He could not understand it and put them all neatly back, but later in the day he checked again and she was standing at the back of the nest not sitting at all! He thought that she might like to go out and opened the partitions. Both of them went out but when they came back Mary went to sit on her eggs and Naomi also settle with her on the same nest. It was a catastrophy and we had to get her our of Mary’s nest back into her own!. A hour later we noticed that she is not sitting on the nest but standing at the back. It was now late in the day and Barry decided that he will leave it till the morning! The next morning she flew out of the nest with an egg broken! That was when we realised that she must have realised there is no life in the eggs and abandoned them. 9 eggs lost! Some just plain rotten and others never developed! Very sad! Mary is still sitting and we hold thumbs that she will make it to the end!
The goslings have now started to develop feathers and it is so wonderful to be so near to this process of growth and development! They are a bit top heavy and their tailends are pulling them down which looks very funny, but they are correcting themselves and eventually get it right !!!!
They graze now as a group, Madam, as mother Scruffie who received a few blows agains his heads when he pecks the little ones, Ruthie who lost her chicks some time ago and Naomi the last hen to loose her brood!
Looking after this lot is a fulltime job! We make notes of all the growth points and hope to properly record it for the future! Behaviour as well as problems encountered!
These birds are very strong and trying to move one of them out of a nest is no joke and another time she just flew over the fence wihtout a problem, past Barry and his stick!
The next episode in story will follow soon!
The day turned out to be wonderful! The mist were replaced by bright ,warm stinging sun shine, blue skies and some cloud but brilliant over all! 22 degrees!!!!!!!!!!
The bird population have suddenly increased triple fold and at certain times we could easily have 40 little birds on the wall outside the kitchen! Very lovely!
The Tour de France is coming to an end tomorrow and we will miss it! We followed the entire race with great interest! Headbutting and all!
The whole cabinet is on 2months holiday and all the important reports which should have received their attention have been published and they are shying away from the responsibilities brought to the front through the reports, by shining in their absence!
Parents who are arranging weddings, enjoy it ! Those who have to study, DO IT WELL! Those who are expecting, stay well! Those who are sick, or not able to move as fast as they are used to, get well quickly! Haya I am thinking of you!
I greet ye all from a lovely sunny afternoon in Cranley more!
Barry and Christina
Good day to all, family and friends!
Not much has changed since last week weather wise as it is dripping again today, light mist rain, but warm!
Yesterday was a very good day and we cannot complain!
The grass grows and the fields where the farmers had the hay cut stands already high with green green grass!
The flowers cannot take this amount of rain and looked like drowned specimens of some distant fauna and flora planted before the great flood!
The strawberries has come to an end after many weeks of producing excellent fruit!
The rasberries and black currants are starting to ripen and I will cook some jam ! The apples 7 in all, are still hanging and growing ,we are watching them like hawks!
The rhubarb is no more as our dear geese family tramples all over them with little respect! We will have to move them to a safer spot!
I have a busy week ahead of me, work wise, as every surgeon tries to get as much done before the hospital closes for the August maintenance week!
I will have 2 weeks off and would only then have used up my accumilated leave of last year!
Some 3 weeks ago I lost all the fillings out of 1 of my molars, I say ‘all’ as the Polish dentist just keeps on patching the broken parts. But this time it is not to be saved, and I have my appointment with a proper dentist. I have never had a tooth pulled , do not like the injection as I can feel and hear it so clearly in my head,wriggling between the roots of the teeth and against the jaw bone, but without it I will not make it so at 10am on Monday morning I will have my 1st tooth pulled since childhood!
I know of a young man that will be going for an interview this coming week, Christiaan I will be thinking of you and hope it will go well!
Gerlof and Sandra are already in SA and Arnolda & kie seems to be on their way to Perth and then driving to Melbourne!Some distance and we hope that you will enjoy it and that all will go well, When is your departure date?
Nine from Kokanje and her grand daughter ,Nine from Canada are also going on a trip,every-one seems to be on the move,we, on the other hand are staying put the livestock is keeping us from leaving for much longer than 12 hours!!!!
Last Sunday we had the privilegde of having Finbarr and family visiting and we just cannot get enough of our grandson Lukas! He was 3 months old yesterday! He is such a lovely child!
Birthdays for this coming week: Oubaas(Gerhard) in Mazibuku Zambia will be a year older on the 26th,Megan Josling and Thilo on the 27th and Frik on the 31st!
Many happy returns!!!! May it be a lovely memorable day for all of you! Thilo will be somewhere in the USA! Enjoy!
Some time later!
Just back from a pleasurable attendance to our local argricultural show! Charlie is the chairman and Charlie is a member of Corboy congregation. His parents, Sam and Mabel Murphy are part of the foundation of the church, Sam (83yr)and Victor(86yr) are brothers and they went to school in the hall next to the church and it is very important to them that we attend functions like the show. Victor is the president of the Argricultural Show in the Midlands! Sam’s grand daughter studied Forensic something and work in Leeds for the Court pertaining to drugs, any kind of drugs and she rides the horses and do show jumping and we have since we attended the church made an effort to watch her jump and she was jumping today, we were just too late to see her but the show jumping is really lovely, these horses are so big and the jumps so high your heart nearly stops every time they go over an obstacle.
We bought every possible thing with apple and raisons in it! Our evening meal will consists of the ‘brack’ , a fruit loaf, we bought at the Rectory which had a sale for the Boy scouts this morning and apple strudle and raison bread! A little piece of everything!
The animals were beautiful, cows with calfs,bulls, sheep, goats. We should have had Madam and her 7 goslings there but ....we will arrange something for next year. There were enough chickens! Small and large and ducks of all kinds and colours! This is really a rural country show! Undescribable! You have to attend to appreciate it!
Tomorrow is Sunday the best day of the week and Stephen our Minister is back, Last week was somewhat of a disaster. The man who came, first used a book out of another ‘Bible’ He called it the ‘Good News Bible’ I was not so sure about it but the books name is Judith!
I do remember that when Finbarr had to attend his cathecism classes I had to buy a different Bible with 5 extra books in it and I think that was the Bible he was using which meant that no one could follow the reading , That was enough to upset the older generation and then he did not use the microphone and those with impaired hearing were totally left out and that is not on! We could rather have sung 20 Hymns for the 40 min!!!!! The lesson in itself was good but I wonder who heard it!
Stephen will surely hear about it tomorrow!
We go to church for fellowship and to hear the Word of the Lord explained and prayer but when you upset these Irish that are absolutely set in their ways it leaves little harmony although they stayed very polite! The month of August is Stephen’s holiday month and we are then entertained by 4 different preachers I sincerely hope that it will go better!
Those you are not interested in the Goose saga exit now!
The goslings are growing so fast, like mushrooms! By the hour! They are back in their own quarters and settled without problems. Wednesday morning when Barry opened the door and checked on the other 2 hens sitting on the eggs he found all the eggs in the nest of Naomi out of the nest, He could not understand it and put them all neatly back, but later in the day he checked again and she was standing at the back of the nest not sitting at all! He thought that she might like to go out and opened the partitions. Both of them went out but when they came back Mary went to sit on her eggs and Naomi also settle with her on the same nest. It was a catastrophy and we had to get her our of Mary’s nest back into her own!. A hour later we noticed that she is not sitting on the nest but standing at the back. It was now late in the day and Barry decided that he will leave it till the morning! The next morning she flew out of the nest with an egg broken! That was when we realised that she must have realised there is no life in the eggs and abandoned them. 9 eggs lost! Some just plain rotten and others never developed! Very sad! Mary is still sitting and we hold thumbs that she will make it to the end!
The goslings have now started to develop feathers and it is so wonderful to be so near to this process of growth and development! They are a bit top heavy and their tailends are pulling them down which looks very funny, but they are correcting themselves and eventually get it right !!!!
They graze now as a group, Madam, as mother Scruffie who received a few blows agains his heads when he pecks the little ones, Ruthie who lost her chicks some time ago and Naomi the last hen to loose her brood!
Looking after this lot is a fulltime job! We make notes of all the growth points and hope to properly record it for the future! Behaviour as well as problems encountered!
These birds are very strong and trying to move one of them out of a nest is no joke and another time she just flew over the fence wihtout a problem, past Barry and his stick!
The next episode in story will follow soon!
The day turned out to be wonderful! The mist were replaced by bright ,warm stinging sun shine, blue skies and some cloud but brilliant over all! 22 degrees!!!!!!!!!!
The bird population have suddenly increased triple fold and at certain times we could easily have 40 little birds on the wall outside the kitchen! Very lovely!
The Tour de France is coming to an end tomorrow and we will miss it! We followed the entire race with great interest! Headbutting and all!
The whole cabinet is on 2months holiday and all the important reports which should have received their attention have been published and they are shying away from the responsibilities brought to the front through the reports, by shining in their absence!
Parents who are arranging weddings, enjoy it ! Those who have to study, DO IT WELL! Those who are expecting, stay well! Those who are sick, or not able to move as fast as they are used to, get well quickly! Haya I am thinking of you!
I greet ye all from a lovely sunny afternoon in Cranley more!
Barry and Christina
Groete uit 'n druppende Ierland
Saterdag 17 Julie ‘10
Liewe almal, familie en vriende,
Og maar ek is maar dom, het nooit geweet van die program wat my Afrikaanse brief sonder rooi strepe sal laat en ook nie die s van ‘ons’ by die volgende woord gaan aanlas nie, dit is so wonderlik, baie dankie Marthie!!!!!!
Hier gaan dit woes, ons maak op vir die 6 weke wat ons nie reen gehad het nie en alles is druip nat, As dit vir 3 ure nie gereen het nie dan jubel ons, die buie is hard en geweldadig so dat jy nie voor jou kan sien as jy op pad is nie. Ons blommetjies is vrot van al die water, ek het gister, toe daar ‘n straaltjie sonskyn deur die dik donker wolk massa breek, gou ‘n paar verpletterde blomme uit gepik maar vanoggend lyk alles weer erg bedremmeld!
Gelukkig het die boere hulle hooi gesny en gebaal voor die weer gedraai het, die slurrie is ook klaar gegooi en die gras kom reeds weer groen deur! Ons tamatie plant het te swaar vir homself geraak en takke het afgebreek met groen tamaties aan. Ons het ondersteunende stokke ingesteek maar die wind en reen verwoes alles!Eet nog steeds elke dag 5-10 heerlike aarbeie!
Almal by die hospitaal moes per geslote stembrief ons keuse gaan aangee vir die 5% korting op ure en salaris en sal onveranderd bly tot en met 2014, ek sal helaas nie die vreugde van die einde beleef nie want ek sal reeds permanenet tuis wees, daar ek op 65 moet aftree en dit is oor 3 jaar! Nogtans is ons dankbaar want die afgelope jaar was die korting 18% en dit het baie van ons sleg gevang,veral die jong gesinne!
Ek het Barry saam gesleep want ek wou nie alleen ry nie en toe sommer bietjie by Woodies gaan inloer ,dit is iets soos Dion’s of Game en uiteindelik ‘n Strimmer gekoop,ek dink dit word ‘n ‘weed eater’ in SA genoem. Alles moet altyd van die beste gehalte wees en dit is letterlik nou jare wat ons kyk en kyk en maar elke keer om draai en weg loop want die goed is net te duur maar gister was die spesifieke maak en grootte wat Barry nou al lank na kyk byna ½ prys! Ongelooflik!Nou kan ek my skaap skêr weg bêre en net vir spesiale geleenthede uithaal!
Ons was, as ‘n nasie, in geweldige verdriet gedompel nadat 7 jongmense en ‘n man van 65jr verlede Sondagaand net na die Sokker in ‘n wreede motorkar ongeluk oorlede is. Jongmense het geen begrip van die gevare wat ‘n motorkar inhou nie, dat die hoeveelheid passasiers en die spoed wat jy ry jou doodsertifikaat kan beteken nie! 8 Jongmans tussen die ouderdomme van 19-23jr het almal in ‘n Volkwagen Passat ingeklim en iewers heen gery na hulle op ‘n groot skerm na die sokker gekyk het.Volgens die polisie was alkohol nie ‘n faktor nie. Hulle het eers op ‘n draai en soliede wit lyn ‘n ou dame in haar kar getref, haar voor wiel totaal weggery, nie gestop nie en 200meter verder die volgende kar getref, 7 van die jong mans en die bestuurder van die ander kar is dood. Die jongman 22jr oud wat die Passat bestuur het lewe nog maar daar lê baie jare van groot ellende vir hom voor! As dit nou maar ‘n les vir die res van die jongmense sou wees,kan ‘n mens dit nog hanteer, maar................
Ons was 10 Suid Afrikaners bymekaar om koffie te drink gister oggend, 2 van die groep was van Kempton Park en was net op besoek, net een Dokters vrou was daar, Cynthia, en die res van ons reeds geruime jare inwoners van die eiland. Ek het Adrie Vosloo, een van die dames wat ook daar was byna 5jaar gelede gesien, hulle woon nou in Cork en sy het kom kuier. Ek ken haar die langste want ons was in dieselfde kerk in Malahide! meer as 6 jaar gelede! En daarna het ons weer by die kerk in Mullingar bymekaar gekom! Soos gewoonlik gons dit as ons almal tegerlyk praat maar ai tog, dis darem so gesellig!
Politiek en finansies is nie meer nuus nie want orals gaan dit maar beroert! Ek weet net dat Ierland seker die duurste land op aarde is om in te woon en kos intekoop!
Ons moes die gras sny en teen 8nm gisteraand het ons 5 ure reenvrye weer beleef en het gou ingespring en saam,saam het ons gou weer die grasperkke onder beheer gekry! Groot deel word nou nie gesny nie want die ganse is voorlopig daar gevestig!
Barry lees sy koerant en kyk terselfdertyd golf, gister was dit maar ‘n baie onaangename dag vir die spelers met wind sterkte van 40mpu.Oornag voorloper darem ‘n Suid Afrikaner maar arme Ernie sit nou op die rant en kyk , hy kon die afsny punt nie haal nie!Hier en in England praat hulle nog steeds van myle en ponde en voete en duime! Eendag sal hulle wel inhaal!
My week van vakansie het gevlieg en ons het darem een dag redelike weer gehad en Carrick on Shannon toe gery. Isabel hulle het dit pragtig opgeknap met ‘n ekstra voet brug oor die rivier en nou kan die verkeer tenminste oor die brug ry sonder om bang te wees dat jy ‘n voetganger gaan omry! Hulle was druk besig om alles mooi te maak vir die Netjies Dorp kompetisie. Die klein ou kerkie was vir die eerste oop, mooi skoon gemaak,en binne die die gebalsemde lyke van ‘n man en vrou. Hy het toe sy op 46jr gelede oorlede is in oneindige verdriet vir haar die kapelletjie opgerig , haar lyk laat balsem en haar daarin gebere kan jy se en toe hy oorlede is het die gemeenskap sy lyk ook gebalsem en nou is die 2 kiste daar te sien,1867!
Al die winkeltjies se straatkante is geverf in al die kleure van die reenboog met hangmandjies oral, baie baie mooi!
Vandaar is ons na Ballinamore wat naby die grens van Noord Ierland is maar ons het maar nie die noorde ingery nie want hulle is effe opgewonde raak op die oomblik en jy weet nie wanneer jy oor ‘n klein bruggie of in ‘n kronkel paaidjie paadjie veilig is nie want die dwase het reeds soveel skade aangerig deur petrol bomme te gooi en ontploffings veroorsaak dat ‘n mens liewer nie nou daar besoek afle nie!
Van Ballinamore is ons na die woud gebied van Killeshandra , pragtig,veral die tyd van die jaar, ons het middag ete in die ‘Horse Shoe’ Hotel in Belturbet genuttig, genoeg vir 3 dae ge-eet, en via Virginia en Old Castle huis toe gekom! Die pad tussen Old Castle en Castle Pollard waar die bome ‘n se oorgroei ‘n tonnel vorm was donker en sonder jou ligte aan was dit mooeilik om te sien, die groei is so ruig dat die son skaars daardeur kan skyn! Reg in die rondte!
Ons het vanwee die slegte weer nie weer rond gery nie en hoop om gedurende Augustus darem ‘n beosek aan Cork en Sligo te bring!
Môre is Sondag en ons het ‘n besoekende prediker en ek kon dus die Psalme en Gesange kies! Sal dus more weer lekker sing! Verlede Sondag moes ek Stephen, ons predikant wat baie goed kan sing, laat weet dat die ouer garde nie die moderne liedere gesing kry nie en dat ek nie eers gaan probeer om dit op die orrel te speel nie en toe kies hy gelukkig iets anders wat ons toe heerlik kon sing! As die gemeente se gemiddelde ouderdom tussen 60- en 80 is ,moet jy maar by die bekende bly!
Totsiens aan almal wat nie belangstel in die gans saga nie.
In al ons berekeninge en ons begeerte om die beste vir die gans kinders te gee , het ons vergeet van Madam wat nie van verandering hou nie. Die skuif na die pragtige nuwe kamp en die A-formaat huis word toe ‘n fiasko en Woensdag oggend is hulle weer terug in hul ou kamp!
Ons het Prins Scruffie en Ruthie toe maar in die nuwe kamp gejaag en hoop maar dat as die nader kleintjies uitbroei dinge effe makliker sal gaan! Barry was op een stadium wanhopig en ek moes mooi praat want anders was almal, ou ganse en kleintjies die hek uit! Ek het dit in storie formaat as iemand dit wil lees!
‘n Mens besef nie wat ‘n geweldige werk die versorging van gans kinders meebring nie, Ek neem aan dit veel makliker in die Vrystaat is maar hier is dit te nat en die weer te onvoorspelbaar om hulle net aan hulself oortegee!
Dit wil ook voorkom asof dit die tyd van die jaar is wat hulle vere uitval en die wêreld lê wit van die vere! Veral die ouer dames wat op die neste(klink nou erg verkeerd,(? Nes/nesse/neste) gesit het!
Die kleintjies groei vir ‘n vale en geniet die vryheid van die groot kamp maar slaap nou weer in hul ou slaapkamer in die donkiehuis!
Nog 2 weke dan behoort daar nog klein gansies te wees en 2 dae later nog! Hier is ‘n pluimvee mark wat rond gaan en ons sal maar sien of die man van hulle vir ons sal verkoop!
Gerlof en Sandra is oppad SA toe en ek hoop hulle geniet hulle besoek ter dee! Heerlik omtehoor van klein Isabelle ons kry ook môre besoek van Finbarr Amanda en klein Lukas! Kannie wag nie!
Aangetekende verjaardae is ons neef Werner die 20ste en dan onthou ons ook ons liewe tante Poppie wat die 23ste sou verjaar het!Werner ons hoop dat jy ‘n pragtige dag sal beleef en nog vele jare gesond en gelukkig sal wees!
Sommige jong mense wag vir hul jaar-end uitslae en ander is halfpad deur die jaar! Aan almal wat nog studeer , alles van die beste en ons weet dat die uitslae van die ander goed gaan wees!
Haya ons hoop van harte dat die voet opersie ‘n sukses sal wees! Vinnige beterskap! Nine wanneer is jou vertrek datum!? Hoop jy en Jong Nine ook julle reis sal geniet!
Arnolda en al die trou planne, dit hou jou goed besig ! geniet dit!
Ons groet en hoop dat dit met almal wel is
Barry en Christina vanuit Cranleymore waar die son skaam skaam deur die wolke probeer breek!
Liewe almal, familie en vriende,
Og maar ek is maar dom, het nooit geweet van die program wat my Afrikaanse brief sonder rooi strepe sal laat en ook nie die s van ‘ons’ by die volgende woord gaan aanlas nie, dit is so wonderlik, baie dankie Marthie!!!!!!
Hier gaan dit woes, ons maak op vir die 6 weke wat ons nie reen gehad het nie en alles is druip nat, As dit vir 3 ure nie gereen het nie dan jubel ons, die buie is hard en geweldadig so dat jy nie voor jou kan sien as jy op pad is nie. Ons blommetjies is vrot van al die water, ek het gister, toe daar ‘n straaltjie sonskyn deur die dik donker wolk massa breek, gou ‘n paar verpletterde blomme uit gepik maar vanoggend lyk alles weer erg bedremmeld!
Gelukkig het die boere hulle hooi gesny en gebaal voor die weer gedraai het, die slurrie is ook klaar gegooi en die gras kom reeds weer groen deur! Ons tamatie plant het te swaar vir homself geraak en takke het afgebreek met groen tamaties aan. Ons het ondersteunende stokke ingesteek maar die wind en reen verwoes alles!Eet nog steeds elke dag 5-10 heerlike aarbeie!
Almal by die hospitaal moes per geslote stembrief ons keuse gaan aangee vir die 5% korting op ure en salaris en sal onveranderd bly tot en met 2014, ek sal helaas nie die vreugde van die einde beleef nie want ek sal reeds permanenet tuis wees, daar ek op 65 moet aftree en dit is oor 3 jaar! Nogtans is ons dankbaar want die afgelope jaar was die korting 18% en dit het baie van ons sleg gevang,veral die jong gesinne!
Ek het Barry saam gesleep want ek wou nie alleen ry nie en toe sommer bietjie by Woodies gaan inloer ,dit is iets soos Dion’s of Game en uiteindelik ‘n Strimmer gekoop,ek dink dit word ‘n ‘weed eater’ in SA genoem. Alles moet altyd van die beste gehalte wees en dit is letterlik nou jare wat ons kyk en kyk en maar elke keer om draai en weg loop want die goed is net te duur maar gister was die spesifieke maak en grootte wat Barry nou al lank na kyk byna ½ prys! Ongelooflik!Nou kan ek my skaap skêr weg bêre en net vir spesiale geleenthede uithaal!
Ons was, as ‘n nasie, in geweldige verdriet gedompel nadat 7 jongmense en ‘n man van 65jr verlede Sondagaand net na die Sokker in ‘n wreede motorkar ongeluk oorlede is. Jongmense het geen begrip van die gevare wat ‘n motorkar inhou nie, dat die hoeveelheid passasiers en die spoed wat jy ry jou doodsertifikaat kan beteken nie! 8 Jongmans tussen die ouderdomme van 19-23jr het almal in ‘n Volkwagen Passat ingeklim en iewers heen gery na hulle op ‘n groot skerm na die sokker gekyk het.Volgens die polisie was alkohol nie ‘n faktor nie. Hulle het eers op ‘n draai en soliede wit lyn ‘n ou dame in haar kar getref, haar voor wiel totaal weggery, nie gestop nie en 200meter verder die volgende kar getref, 7 van die jong mans en die bestuurder van die ander kar is dood. Die jongman 22jr oud wat die Passat bestuur het lewe nog maar daar lê baie jare van groot ellende vir hom voor! As dit nou maar ‘n les vir die res van die jongmense sou wees,kan ‘n mens dit nog hanteer, maar................
Ons was 10 Suid Afrikaners bymekaar om koffie te drink gister oggend, 2 van die groep was van Kempton Park en was net op besoek, net een Dokters vrou was daar, Cynthia, en die res van ons reeds geruime jare inwoners van die eiland. Ek het Adrie Vosloo, een van die dames wat ook daar was byna 5jaar gelede gesien, hulle woon nou in Cork en sy het kom kuier. Ek ken haar die langste want ons was in dieselfde kerk in Malahide! meer as 6 jaar gelede! En daarna het ons weer by die kerk in Mullingar bymekaar gekom! Soos gewoonlik gons dit as ons almal tegerlyk praat maar ai tog, dis darem so gesellig!
Politiek en finansies is nie meer nuus nie want orals gaan dit maar beroert! Ek weet net dat Ierland seker die duurste land op aarde is om in te woon en kos intekoop!
Ons moes die gras sny en teen 8nm gisteraand het ons 5 ure reenvrye weer beleef en het gou ingespring en saam,saam het ons gou weer die grasperkke onder beheer gekry! Groot deel word nou nie gesny nie want die ganse is voorlopig daar gevestig!
Barry lees sy koerant en kyk terselfdertyd golf, gister was dit maar ‘n baie onaangename dag vir die spelers met wind sterkte van 40mpu.Oornag voorloper darem ‘n Suid Afrikaner maar arme Ernie sit nou op die rant en kyk , hy kon die afsny punt nie haal nie!Hier en in England praat hulle nog steeds van myle en ponde en voete en duime! Eendag sal hulle wel inhaal!
My week van vakansie het gevlieg en ons het darem een dag redelike weer gehad en Carrick on Shannon toe gery. Isabel hulle het dit pragtig opgeknap met ‘n ekstra voet brug oor die rivier en nou kan die verkeer tenminste oor die brug ry sonder om bang te wees dat jy ‘n voetganger gaan omry! Hulle was druk besig om alles mooi te maak vir die Netjies Dorp kompetisie. Die klein ou kerkie was vir die eerste oop, mooi skoon gemaak,en binne die die gebalsemde lyke van ‘n man en vrou. Hy het toe sy op 46jr gelede oorlede is in oneindige verdriet vir haar die kapelletjie opgerig , haar lyk laat balsem en haar daarin gebere kan jy se en toe hy oorlede is het die gemeenskap sy lyk ook gebalsem en nou is die 2 kiste daar te sien,1867!
Al die winkeltjies se straatkante is geverf in al die kleure van die reenboog met hangmandjies oral, baie baie mooi!
Vandaar is ons na Ballinamore wat naby die grens van Noord Ierland is maar ons het maar nie die noorde ingery nie want hulle is effe opgewonde raak op die oomblik en jy weet nie wanneer jy oor ‘n klein bruggie of in ‘n kronkel paaidjie paadjie veilig is nie want die dwase het reeds soveel skade aangerig deur petrol bomme te gooi en ontploffings veroorsaak dat ‘n mens liewer nie nou daar besoek afle nie!
Van Ballinamore is ons na die woud gebied van Killeshandra , pragtig,veral die tyd van die jaar, ons het middag ete in die ‘Horse Shoe’ Hotel in Belturbet genuttig, genoeg vir 3 dae ge-eet, en via Virginia en Old Castle huis toe gekom! Die pad tussen Old Castle en Castle Pollard waar die bome ‘n se oorgroei ‘n tonnel vorm was donker en sonder jou ligte aan was dit mooeilik om te sien, die groei is so ruig dat die son skaars daardeur kan skyn! Reg in die rondte!
Ons het vanwee die slegte weer nie weer rond gery nie en hoop om gedurende Augustus darem ‘n beosek aan Cork en Sligo te bring!
Môre is Sondag en ons het ‘n besoekende prediker en ek kon dus die Psalme en Gesange kies! Sal dus more weer lekker sing! Verlede Sondag moes ek Stephen, ons predikant wat baie goed kan sing, laat weet dat die ouer garde nie die moderne liedere gesing kry nie en dat ek nie eers gaan probeer om dit op die orrel te speel nie en toe kies hy gelukkig iets anders wat ons toe heerlik kon sing! As die gemeente se gemiddelde ouderdom tussen 60- en 80 is ,moet jy maar by die bekende bly!
Totsiens aan almal wat nie belangstel in die gans saga nie.
In al ons berekeninge en ons begeerte om die beste vir die gans kinders te gee , het ons vergeet van Madam wat nie van verandering hou nie. Die skuif na die pragtige nuwe kamp en die A-formaat huis word toe ‘n fiasko en Woensdag oggend is hulle weer terug in hul ou kamp!
Ons het Prins Scruffie en Ruthie toe maar in die nuwe kamp gejaag en hoop maar dat as die nader kleintjies uitbroei dinge effe makliker sal gaan! Barry was op een stadium wanhopig en ek moes mooi praat want anders was almal, ou ganse en kleintjies die hek uit! Ek het dit in storie formaat as iemand dit wil lees!
‘n Mens besef nie wat ‘n geweldige werk die versorging van gans kinders meebring nie, Ek neem aan dit veel makliker in die Vrystaat is maar hier is dit te nat en die weer te onvoorspelbaar om hulle net aan hulself oortegee!
Dit wil ook voorkom asof dit die tyd van die jaar is wat hulle vere uitval en die wêreld lê wit van die vere! Veral die ouer dames wat op die neste(klink nou erg verkeerd,(? Nes/nesse/neste) gesit het!
Die kleintjies groei vir ‘n vale en geniet die vryheid van die groot kamp maar slaap nou weer in hul ou slaapkamer in die donkiehuis!
Nog 2 weke dan behoort daar nog klein gansies te wees en 2 dae later nog! Hier is ‘n pluimvee mark wat rond gaan en ons sal maar sien of die man van hulle vir ons sal verkoop!
Gerlof en Sandra is oppad SA toe en ek hoop hulle geniet hulle besoek ter dee! Heerlik omtehoor van klein Isabelle ons kry ook môre besoek van Finbarr Amanda en klein Lukas! Kannie wag nie!
Aangetekende verjaardae is ons neef Werner die 20ste en dan onthou ons ook ons liewe tante Poppie wat die 23ste sou verjaar het!Werner ons hoop dat jy ‘n pragtige dag sal beleef en nog vele jare gesond en gelukkig sal wees!
Sommige jong mense wag vir hul jaar-end uitslae en ander is halfpad deur die jaar! Aan almal wat nog studeer , alles van die beste en ons weet dat die uitslae van die ander goed gaan wees!
Haya ons hoop van harte dat die voet opersie ‘n sukses sal wees! Vinnige beterskap! Nine wanneer is jou vertrek datum!? Hoop jy en Jong Nine ook julle reis sal geniet!
Arnolda en al die trou planne, dit hou jou goed besig ! geniet dit!
Ons groet en hoop dat dit met almal wel is
Barry en Christina vanuit Cranleymore waar die son skaam skaam deur die wolke probeer breek!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Greetings from a wet Ireland
10 July ‘10
Saturday!
Good day to all, Family and Friends!!!!
A mist rain is the forecast for today with heavier rain later in the day, although very pleasant! It comes to mind that our summer existed of 6 weeks bliss and as in ’06,’07,’08,’09 that rain might be a dominant factor for the rest of the summer!
We are just back from shopping, no, not food, that we do only every 10-14 days but to construct a new nursery for the goslings!
Also some railway sleepers as we want to change the format of the garden and best to start now and have everything ready for early spring and summer! And even have some pleasure out of it for late summer and autumn!
The garden has been a feast for the eye, the tiger lilies are in full bloom 4 on one stem and there are about 12-14 plant, just too beautiful! The petunias struggle a bit with all the rain but get new life every time the sun does make an appearance! Our tomato plants have the tomatoes but the problem is to get the tomatoes to grow bigger and get colour!!!
I just devoured 5 enormous shining strawberries picked about 1hour ago! Very delicious! The old strawberries plants which were discarded against the fence early this year are giving us a tremendous amount of pleasure once again! This is the 4th year we are having fruit from them!
The new plants we bought last year are the Garden show is even better! Excellent fruit!
The roses are still very lovely and we are enjoying the beauty of every flower! The dark blue nearly purple Clematis against the pink of the climbing rose with sweet peas in between is lovely and bright!
All the gladiolas are up and they usually provide long stems filled with flowers! Can’t wait!
About 3 years ago, for those who do not remember, I cultivated some orange trees from pips, last year we put them outside and they flourished and then something started to eat them and they all died! Diligently I started again early March with the pips from my grapefruits and oranges(I am addicted to them) the old fashioned method of germination in a saucer and cotton wool, 5 of them are now about 2 cm high and 7 germinated ones planted directly into the garden and 5 more in the saucer ! I talk them every day and encourage growth and love! Barry has declared me insane!
Garden birds consists of mothers feeding the young, we should charge them for the worms that are being removed from our garden! Great to see the young birds flap their wings begging for food!
I am on Holiday for a full 10 days!!!! Had all wonderful plans ,for if the SUN shines With the Labour relations Court intervention we are due to go back to original hours less 5% and original pay less 5% from the 19th July, in order to avoid a full scale strike.
We had it in mind to go to Sligo so that I can get my feet wet with sea water as well as a visit to one of our favourite places Carrick on Shannon!
With the soccer coming to an end the Vuvuzela’s has made their way to Ireland in full scale! For the young, the annual Pop Concert weekend called OXYGEN is on and they live in tents and plod around in the mud for fun! According to the News presenter every tent are in possession of a Vuvuzela and there are 75,000 people in attendance!!!
We are presently touring through France with the cyclists and the map! Beautiful country side! Would like to go and tour there in person one day God willing Also spending some time in Scotland, looking at the golf!
My Birthday book announces that Pauli(presently in Hoedspruit ) will be a year older on the 13th! Have a good day Pauli!!!
For those who are not interested, Exit now!
The story of our Livestock!
The goslings are 10 days old and have more than doubled in size; They eat continuously and are very cute! One of them has a black line from his eye continuing onto his/her beak which indicate a little Toulouse in him which comes from his/her father who has the black spot on the wings! We did not sex them!
They have their own personalities and follow the mother in everything and she guides them with subtle cluck noises. They will have to be moved to another pin and that was what the purchases were all about this morning! We plan to construct an A-frame house which will protect them from rain and keep them separate from the other geese! We took a chance yesterday to let them out of the ‘nursery’ in the afternoon. There was jubilation and a lot of flapping of wings and a welcome like none for the 7 goslings from Scruffie, Ruthie and Mary who got off her eggs for her daily graze and water, everything settled down and we thought, well , so far- so good and suddenly Prince Scruffie decided this is a threat and he better get rid of them quick, he grabbed one of the little ones by the head and were about to start shaking it when our screams let him go of the gosling and we quickly had to separate the little ones and their mother from the other geese, realising that they are still too small to be let out!!! The gosling was fine and they scurried as fast as their little legs could carry them back into their shelter! We have to prepare the ‘nursery’ for the next lot which will be hatching in less than 3 weeks. The geese and goslings have been occupying our whole life! You constantly have to monitor them watch for any problems, sickness or weaknesses. They are not allowed to get wet until they develop proper feathers! Also not allowed to swim yet although they do get into the drinking dish and sit there in the water sometimes 3 at a time! Any-one who wants to see these goose children of ours let me know and I forward updated pictures!
It has been the best therapy for Barry, he has no time to feel sorry for himself after the angiogram!
Our grandson Lukas grows as fast as the goslings! He is a lovely child and we hope to have them over next weekend! I get an update of what he looks like about 2x a week! I boast of course like ever grandmother does and show the pictures to all at work! They love to see how he develops!
While down in the bottom field yesterday afternoon, a ‘horse fly’ stung me this is the 3rd time in 4 weeks and every time I re-act more violently than the previous time! Erythema appears 5cm in diameter and at least 1cm in height, red, hot and very itchy as well as burning like fire! I am scared that one day I will not have enough time to get to my antihistamine in time! Or it will take too long to start working! Will have to get some Solu Cortef Injection to keep at home for the reaction I cannot cope with! Dr is too far away for such emergencies. Who else is this allergic in the family?
Suddenly the heavens opened and Barry had to rush outside to get the little ones into the shed! So that was their outing for the day!
Tomorrow is Sunday, the best day of the week nourishment for the soul and I still play the organ! All Hymns and Psalms practised well!
I have nothing more to say except that a photo of Isabelle will be appreciated!
Do take care
Lots of love and regards
Barry and Christina in Cranleymore
Saturday!
Good day to all, Family and Friends!!!!
A mist rain is the forecast for today with heavier rain later in the day, although very pleasant! It comes to mind that our summer existed of 6 weeks bliss and as in ’06,’07,’08,’09 that rain might be a dominant factor for the rest of the summer!
We are just back from shopping, no, not food, that we do only every 10-14 days but to construct a new nursery for the goslings!
Also some railway sleepers as we want to change the format of the garden and best to start now and have everything ready for early spring and summer! And even have some pleasure out of it for late summer and autumn!
The garden has been a feast for the eye, the tiger lilies are in full bloom 4 on one stem and there are about 12-14 plant, just too beautiful! The petunias struggle a bit with all the rain but get new life every time the sun does make an appearance! Our tomato plants have the tomatoes but the problem is to get the tomatoes to grow bigger and get colour!!!
I just devoured 5 enormous shining strawberries picked about 1hour ago! Very delicious! The old strawberries plants which were discarded against the fence early this year are giving us a tremendous amount of pleasure once again! This is the 4th year we are having fruit from them!
The new plants we bought last year are the Garden show is even better! Excellent fruit!
The roses are still very lovely and we are enjoying the beauty of every flower! The dark blue nearly purple Clematis against the pink of the climbing rose with sweet peas in between is lovely and bright!
All the gladiolas are up and they usually provide long stems filled with flowers! Can’t wait!
About 3 years ago, for those who do not remember, I cultivated some orange trees from pips, last year we put them outside and they flourished and then something started to eat them and they all died! Diligently I started again early March with the pips from my grapefruits and oranges(I am addicted to them) the old fashioned method of germination in a saucer and cotton wool, 5 of them are now about 2 cm high and 7 germinated ones planted directly into the garden and 5 more in the saucer ! I talk them every day and encourage growth and love! Barry has declared me insane!
Garden birds consists of mothers feeding the young, we should charge them for the worms that are being removed from our garden! Great to see the young birds flap their wings begging for food!
I am on Holiday for a full 10 days!!!! Had all wonderful plans ,for if the SUN shines With the Labour relations Court intervention we are due to go back to original hours less 5% and original pay less 5% from the 19th July, in order to avoid a full scale strike.
We had it in mind to go to Sligo so that I can get my feet wet with sea water as well as a visit to one of our favourite places Carrick on Shannon!
With the soccer coming to an end the Vuvuzela’s has made their way to Ireland in full scale! For the young, the annual Pop Concert weekend called OXYGEN is on and they live in tents and plod around in the mud for fun! According to the News presenter every tent are in possession of a Vuvuzela and there are 75,000 people in attendance!!!
We are presently touring through France with the cyclists and the map! Beautiful country side! Would like to go and tour there in person one day God willing Also spending some time in Scotland, looking at the golf!
My Birthday book announces that Pauli(presently in Hoedspruit ) will be a year older on the 13th! Have a good day Pauli!!!
For those who are not interested, Exit now!
The story of our Livestock!
The goslings are 10 days old and have more than doubled in size; They eat continuously and are very cute! One of them has a black line from his eye continuing onto his/her beak which indicate a little Toulouse in him which comes from his/her father who has the black spot on the wings! We did not sex them!
They have their own personalities and follow the mother in everything and she guides them with subtle cluck noises. They will have to be moved to another pin and that was what the purchases were all about this morning! We plan to construct an A-frame house which will protect them from rain and keep them separate from the other geese! We took a chance yesterday to let them out of the ‘nursery’ in the afternoon. There was jubilation and a lot of flapping of wings and a welcome like none for the 7 goslings from Scruffie, Ruthie and Mary who got off her eggs for her daily graze and water, everything settled down and we thought, well , so far- so good and suddenly Prince Scruffie decided this is a threat and he better get rid of them quick, he grabbed one of the little ones by the head and were about to start shaking it when our screams let him go of the gosling and we quickly had to separate the little ones and their mother from the other geese, realising that they are still too small to be let out!!! The gosling was fine and they scurried as fast as their little legs could carry them back into their shelter! We have to prepare the ‘nursery’ for the next lot which will be hatching in less than 3 weeks. The geese and goslings have been occupying our whole life! You constantly have to monitor them watch for any problems, sickness or weaknesses. They are not allowed to get wet until they develop proper feathers! Also not allowed to swim yet although they do get into the drinking dish and sit there in the water sometimes 3 at a time! Any-one who wants to see these goose children of ours let me know and I forward updated pictures!
It has been the best therapy for Barry, he has no time to feel sorry for himself after the angiogram!
Our grandson Lukas grows as fast as the goslings! He is a lovely child and we hope to have them over next weekend! I get an update of what he looks like about 2x a week! I boast of course like ever grandmother does and show the pictures to all at work! They love to see how he develops!
While down in the bottom field yesterday afternoon, a ‘horse fly’ stung me this is the 3rd time in 4 weeks and every time I re-act more violently than the previous time! Erythema appears 5cm in diameter and at least 1cm in height, red, hot and very itchy as well as burning like fire! I am scared that one day I will not have enough time to get to my antihistamine in time! Or it will take too long to start working! Will have to get some Solu Cortef Injection to keep at home for the reaction I cannot cope with! Dr is too far away for such emergencies. Who else is this allergic in the family?
Suddenly the heavens opened and Barry had to rush outside to get the little ones into the shed! So that was their outing for the day!
Tomorrow is Sunday, the best day of the week nourishment for the soul and I still play the organ! All Hymns and Psalms practised well!
I have nothing more to say except that a photo of Isabelle will be appreciated!
Do take care
Lots of love and regards
Barry and Christina in Cranleymore
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