Saturday 25 Feb’12
Good day to all , family and friends!
We are experience S P R I N G ! It is absolutely gorgeous outside, some cloud with bright sunshine and no W I N D! Temperatures between 9-11°. Why would you say is she so excited? Well if you live in Ireland the weather forecast is very much the same as Haas Das report of 1975! Wind rain and sleet in some places especially in the north and brighter spells of dry and rain forecast for the rest of the country, with strong winds at times - and if you hear that every day of your year then today is brilliant!
The Irish and the Italians are playing rugby and I can just hear the noise in the back ground- it will be somewhat of an embarrassment if Ireland loose against Italy -I would say. So far the score is in our favour!
My garden has exploded in bright yellow all over- Barry did plant over 200 daffodil bulbs and therefore the kaleidoscope of colour at the moment- I picked about 20 this morning for the lounge and there is twice that much still proudly standing and tomorrow just as many will open again! We also have a tulip or 2 open. The pruned roses are covered with new leaves and we cross cherry/plum tree is covered in blossoms- what a lovely sight. The birds are a humming choir on every note of the scale. Last Sunday it was very prominent and when Lukas got out of the car it was the first thing he said....” hear the birds”. And only after that he said Hello Oupa!
I do not feature very high in his estimation until he has been around for a few minutes: The next thing he said out of the blue was: “Hello Ouma what are you doing here?” and so he surprised us all day long with an exceptional vocabulary for 22mnths old.
He is a great joy! I am sure you can gather that we are very proud grandparents.
The rest of the garden is sopping wet and one finds it difficult to dig as it is too muddy- the onions are growing in the bag in the garage. We also have wild primroses flowering in the bottom field which give a lovely impression.
Blackie makes sure that he gets the best of the best and he hardly left here all week marking every possible tree to make sure Professor does not come near!
We noticed some different droppings in the garden and we think the Hedgehog must have woken up. We are not sure what is happening with the foxes as 2 nights went by in which they did not make an appearance! The birds are mating and we hope that some of them decide to build their nest in the hedge!
We had a very sad week as Irish people .Earlier in the week there was ?an argument between 2 brother in laws and the during the early hours of the morning the one man burned down the sheds and feeding stock of his bother in law and shot him in the chest, left and hung himself in his own shed. His wife woke up and he was not in the bed and when she got outside she saw the blaze on the a joining farm where her brother lives and when she got outside she heard that her brother was shot dead and they are looking for her husband and a few hrs later they found his body hanging in a shed. The next day a little boy of 2½yr drowned in a pool of rain water in one of the ghost estates. Since the fall of the Celtic Tiger many estates are standing half built and empty –becoming totally derelict. This family lived adjacent to one of these horrible estates and the child followed their dog, crawled through a break in the fence and a passerby found the child a few minutes later dead in the pool of rain water. Suddenly all are very sad and every possible pre-caution has been put into place to prevent such a tragedy again – somewhat late-as the people living next to these ghost estates has been complaining for years that there must be better security around these places also for vandalising attempts as they break in as steal everything that is copper in these unfinished estates. Very sad!
On the political front we are now best friends with China –heaven help us- and the Taoiseach is travelling between USA and Europe to secure bonds between the counties. The health services has crumbled to such an extent that there were on night last week 46 people lying on trolleys in Galway University Hospital –no beds, no staff, and chaos.
The planning board refused that the planned Children’s Hospital go ahead as the sky line of Dublin will be damaged and now they have to start looking for a site all over again after spending already €34million on the project.
Most of the drastic cuttings brought in by the Minister of Education had to be reversed as he has brought the wrath of the people upon him- there are an abnormal amount of Intellectually disabled children in this country and need special attention and teaching methods to get anywhere.
I paid a visit to the shoulder man on Monday and was told that work is out for the time being and that he wants to inject the shoulder and that will happen now this coming Fri in Dublin. That in itself is already stressful but to get there is a further worry as I am not allowed to drive the car after the procedure and this meant that we either have to stay over or leave very early on the train- which we have decided to do! Less stress. Barry has a free travel pass and that is then cheaper that the car and we will spent some €’s on a taxi.
Tomorrow is the best day of my week and it is my turn to provide the music and I love that as much as singing! The series of sermons are so brilliantly presented that I cannot wait for the next sermon!
We also attended the other congregation in Mullingar’s Jumble Sale to collect funds for the building of their new church! We took everything that was still in working order and delivered it on Wednesday. Most of what we brought was gone by the time we arrived this morning and that was good news! Our old scrabble was also on sale.
We bought a few things and got a bag of wool and now I have something to do again! We are master scrabble players( with the Scrabble dictionary) and had to buy a new game as you could not see the blocks on the board any- more and I had to make a new block bag as the original one gave notice!
Rugby score: Ireland 42 Italy 10! Hip- hip- hoera!
Birthdays: Laurel will be a year older on the 27th and Angie on the 28th! We hope that you both will have wonderful days and a blessed year ahead!
Any young people writing exams- everything of the best and for those who preparing to take big steps – may it go well!
Thank you to all who so wonderfully wrote letters and send photos! Wonderful!
I have nothing more to tell you!
Be always alert –behind the wheel or at home!
I include one little photo from our Lukas!
Brilliant spring greetings from Barry and Christina
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Groete vanuit 'n ysige Cranleymore
Saterdag 18 Feb’12
Goeie dag aan allemaal, familie en vriende,
Ons het so ‘n ½ uur gelede ‘n lekker klomp sneeu deur die lug gewarrel sien kom, was net betyds in van ons Saterdag inkopies, melk, brood, koerant en nogwat toe die stormpie opdaag! Gister was dit warm 12° C op ‘n stadium en vandag is dit yssig net bo 2°- ongelooflik wat aangaan en daar spog die Kanadese met hulle heerlike winter! Ek word sommer groen van jaloesie!
Nog nie gehoor hoe die Exeters die weer beleef nie!
Vanwee die ewige nattigheid is die huis groen van die alge en gister middag koop ons toe gellings ‘bleach’ hulle ken nie JIK of Javel hier nie en maak dringend die buite sement skoon en die mure veral aan die noorde kant waar ons in die winter geen son kry nie!. Vanoggend na ‘n nag van hewige reën lyk die plek toe aansienlik beter. Nog ‘n keer met ‘n groot tuin besem en die tuinslang ‘n goeie skrop gegee en nou ons hoef nie bang te wees vir gly nie.
Ons kleinseun kom môre kuier en ingeval die weer goed is en hy wil buite toe moet dit darem aanvaarbaar wees vir ‘n 21 mnde oue kleuter wat alles weet en praat en alles beklouter!.
Buite gaan daar bitter min aan- ons het wel die mooi van al die affodille wat stuk stuk blom, ek pluk ook baie af want met al die reën en koue tussen in lê hulle soggens plat! Die tulpe kom ook nou goed by – maar soos altyd met ons wonderlike nat weer eet die’ slugs’-huislose slakke alles wat hulle kan vind,ek loop gereeld rond en strooi sout maar netnou reën dit en alles was verniet!
Ons wilde diere is pragtig ,vet en gesond professor kom nou al effe nader en kruip nie meer so hewig weg nie – hy sit nou al heel kordaat in die middel van die grasperk-maak seker dat ons hom sien as ons uitkyk!
Die voëlgesang is uit ‘n ander wêreld,so mooi dit laat jou hoendervleis kry!
Op die politieke front het ons die onder president van China op besoek, hy sal erg beskerm word want geen media mag naby hom kom nie.
Hy gaan ‘n paar plekke besoek ook ‘n mooi plaas in een van die counties.
Die geldelike situasie veral in Griekeland het ons maar almal aan die benoude kant – as hulle nie Maandag met ‘n aanvaarbare plan voorendag kom nie is hulle onderdeur en dit kan baie repurkusies vir die res van Eurozone lande hê wat ook in verknorsing sit soos ons!
Ek moet die skouer spesialis Maandag per foon kontak en as hy tevrede is met my verslag kan ek terug werk toe – ek dink Barry sal ‘n sug van verligting slaak want met my hier het hy aan niks gekom nie!.
Verjaardae is min- Renate Röhrs en Garth Kruger verjaar albei Dinsdag 21 Februarie. ‘n Pragtige dag word julle toegewens!
Ek weet nie van jongelui wat eksamens skryf nie maar sou daar wel iemand wees wat hard studeer –alles van die beste.
Ons dink gedurig aan ons neef Werner en hoop dat jy daagliks beter word!
Môre is my beste dag van die week en nou gaan dit ‘n dubbel vreugde wees want ons siele sal verryk word met ons begaafde predikant se preek en natturlik die sing van Psalms en Gesange( ek sit in die kerkbank) asook ons klein Lukas se besoek!
Ek lees in die opskrifte van News24 dat moord en doodslag maar net so erg is in SA as hier by ons- die mense wat hier woon het geen waarde vir ‘n lewe nie – hulle skiet en steek iemand dood net so maklik as wat hulle roomys in die winter eet. Die ‘drug lords’ en dwelm en alkohol misbruikers kan alles want hulle weet dan kwansuis nie wat hulle gedoen het nie en daarom kan die straf nou nie so erg wees nie.
Baie dankie vir die briefies van Zambia en ook bly om te hoor dit gaan elke dag beter met Oubaas- Arnolda, Hessie en Haya se briefies was ook baie welkom Gerlof skryf gereeld en alles wat in Exeter of Telford gebeur is ook heerlik omtehoor!
Ek het niks verder om te sê nie en groet dus met ‘n ysige wind en vlae sneeu uit Cranleymore.
Wees altyd versigtig, tuis en op die pad!
Liefde
Barry & Christina
Goeie dag aan allemaal, familie en vriende,
Ons het so ‘n ½ uur gelede ‘n lekker klomp sneeu deur die lug gewarrel sien kom, was net betyds in van ons Saterdag inkopies, melk, brood, koerant en nogwat toe die stormpie opdaag! Gister was dit warm 12° C op ‘n stadium en vandag is dit yssig net bo 2°- ongelooflik wat aangaan en daar spog die Kanadese met hulle heerlike winter! Ek word sommer groen van jaloesie!
Nog nie gehoor hoe die Exeters die weer beleef nie!
Vanwee die ewige nattigheid is die huis groen van die alge en gister middag koop ons toe gellings ‘bleach’ hulle ken nie JIK of Javel hier nie en maak dringend die buite sement skoon en die mure veral aan die noorde kant waar ons in die winter geen son kry nie!. Vanoggend na ‘n nag van hewige reën lyk die plek toe aansienlik beter. Nog ‘n keer met ‘n groot tuin besem en die tuinslang ‘n goeie skrop gegee en nou ons hoef nie bang te wees vir gly nie.
Ons kleinseun kom môre kuier en ingeval die weer goed is en hy wil buite toe moet dit darem aanvaarbaar wees vir ‘n 21 mnde oue kleuter wat alles weet en praat en alles beklouter!.
Buite gaan daar bitter min aan- ons het wel die mooi van al die affodille wat stuk stuk blom, ek pluk ook baie af want met al die reën en koue tussen in lê hulle soggens plat! Die tulpe kom ook nou goed by – maar soos altyd met ons wonderlike nat weer eet die’ slugs’-huislose slakke alles wat hulle kan vind,ek loop gereeld rond en strooi sout maar netnou reën dit en alles was verniet!
Ons wilde diere is pragtig ,vet en gesond professor kom nou al effe nader en kruip nie meer so hewig weg nie – hy sit nou al heel kordaat in die middel van die grasperk-maak seker dat ons hom sien as ons uitkyk!
Die voëlgesang is uit ‘n ander wêreld,so mooi dit laat jou hoendervleis kry!
Op die politieke front het ons die onder president van China op besoek, hy sal erg beskerm word want geen media mag naby hom kom nie.
Hy gaan ‘n paar plekke besoek ook ‘n mooi plaas in een van die counties.
Die geldelike situasie veral in Griekeland het ons maar almal aan die benoude kant – as hulle nie Maandag met ‘n aanvaarbare plan voorendag kom nie is hulle onderdeur en dit kan baie repurkusies vir die res van Eurozone lande hê wat ook in verknorsing sit soos ons!
Ek moet die skouer spesialis Maandag per foon kontak en as hy tevrede is met my verslag kan ek terug werk toe – ek dink Barry sal ‘n sug van verligting slaak want met my hier het hy aan niks gekom nie!.
Verjaardae is min- Renate Röhrs en Garth Kruger verjaar albei Dinsdag 21 Februarie. ‘n Pragtige dag word julle toegewens!
Ek weet nie van jongelui wat eksamens skryf nie maar sou daar wel iemand wees wat hard studeer –alles van die beste.
Ons dink gedurig aan ons neef Werner en hoop dat jy daagliks beter word!
Môre is my beste dag van die week en nou gaan dit ‘n dubbel vreugde wees want ons siele sal verryk word met ons begaafde predikant se preek en natturlik die sing van Psalms en Gesange( ek sit in die kerkbank) asook ons klein Lukas se besoek!
Ek lees in die opskrifte van News24 dat moord en doodslag maar net so erg is in SA as hier by ons- die mense wat hier woon het geen waarde vir ‘n lewe nie – hulle skiet en steek iemand dood net so maklik as wat hulle roomys in die winter eet. Die ‘drug lords’ en dwelm en alkohol misbruikers kan alles want hulle weet dan kwansuis nie wat hulle gedoen het nie en daarom kan die straf nou nie so erg wees nie.
Baie dankie vir die briefies van Zambia en ook bly om te hoor dit gaan elke dag beter met Oubaas- Arnolda, Hessie en Haya se briefies was ook baie welkom Gerlof skryf gereeld en alles wat in Exeter of Telford gebeur is ook heerlik omtehoor!
Ek het niks verder om te sê nie en groet dus met ‘n ysige wind en vlae sneeu uit Cranleymore.
Wees altyd versigtig, tuis en op die pad!
Liefde
Barry & Christina
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Mid February greetings from Cranleymore
Saturday 11 Feb’12
Good day to you all, family and friends!
We woke up this morning with brilliant sunshine creeping past the blind! Now I have to admit it was somewhat late – in Ireland you lose the ability to be up with the birds, it was already past 08h30 , the sun rises just after 8am but being on sick leave and resting we get up when the radio stops that is 2 hours from the first announcement. The sun was só welcome as it has been raining since last Sunday- never hard but with showers in between continuous drizzle. Everything is wet. The pathway around the house is green and slippery, the outer walls of the house are green from the algae and the grass has also changed colour as the moss has taken over. Temperature 9°C . We are ever so thankful that for once we are missing the terrible weather that is coming in from the east. Large areas of England and France are really in the grip of an icy spell and it turns just before it reaches the east coast of England, missing us!
There is some joy in all of this – my daffodils are flowering and I have picked my 2nd bunch, proudly displayed in the big lounge. The crocuses are covering the ground/grass with bright dark yellow and purple flowers- everything is so new and lovely and promises of some better weather in the near future!
All plants in the garden are budding and we will hopefully have fruit blossoms shortly!
Blackie, the cat has changed his sleeping quarters to the donkey house as he most probably finds it too noisy in the shed especially when Barry starts chopping wood! We can just see where he makes himself comfortable on the straw!
We have been honoured by Professor’s presence nearly every evening this week. He loves the dry food where Blackie is very particular and will only eat the dry food if he is starving.
The foxes are ever present just much too clever and knows precisely when Barry leaves the kitchen for the last time in the evening and dash then to get whatever has been left for them!
We also are the proud human parents of the 1st starling babies in the roof of the shed- they are very verbal in their demand for food!
I wish I could record the sound of 100-200 birds singing at one time in the hedge, it is so beautiful it causes you to shiver.
Barry dug the vegetable patch over during the week, it is a big patch and he has to do it in sections, otherwise he gets some tightness in the chest- he has an appointment with the cardiologist in 3 weeks time- but other - wise he is fine. We hope to plant the rest of the onions and will soon visit the garden centres to buy veggie en flowers seedlings.
Last time I visited the physio I was a bit a edgy- I pay a lot of money for a session and all they do – I can do at home as well- after sitting in the waiting room for 20 min, I made up my mind that I will not return. It was quite obvious that they overbooked and had 2 clients for the same time-and one on the table- so when I was eventually called in I made it clear that that I am not happy and that they have not given me the treatment as requested by the specialist and what they do for me- I can do at home. The owner felt a bit stupid but that was true. So I am now my own Physio therapist and do my exercises as prescribed.
I have another 10 days and hope to be back at work then. The pain is 95% gone only some pain when I do a stupid move- and now I am working on it and have already improved- so I am holding thumbs that the shoulder man will let me go back to work! The arthritis is something I have to live with.
We have Radio and TV program one after the other about the sanitation problem of rural Ireland. The 40% of people living in rural Ireland refuse to pay the registration fee and dread the outcome of an inspection. As if that is not enough- some Australian company has obtained a license to do a survey of underground gas and found a large deposit in Co Leitrim bordering the North of Ireland and in Ireland progress, the ability to provide work, is good as long as it does not happen in “my back yard”. It is called ‘frecking’ and large groups of people started to gather in opposition to this drilling process. We will see what happens- the last time SHELL tried to drill for oil in Co Mayo there was enormous problems and it has been revealed during the week that the cost for policing and guarding the Shell works form all kinds of threats cost the country more that €14 million. Just imagine what will happen when they go ahead and try to drill for the gas?
Birthdays! Philip Josling in Dublin has his birthday tomorrow and Barry’s sister in law-Brenda, in England has her birthday on the 13th Happy birthday to you both of you Josie you will bring our best wishes to your Mom.
Any-one else that may have a birthday and I do not know about it- have a blessed day!
Hope that Werner is feeling better and on the road to recovery.
Tomorrow is the best day of my week in all circumstances and I will be in front of the organ again and I just want to remind all in the Midlands of Ireland about our Hymns Singing Service on the 29th April – 3pm- arrange your diary so that you will be able to attend. You have plenty of warning! We would also love to give you a cup of tea afterwards and show our appreciation for your attendance.
I hear Barry moaning that he seems to be the only one living in this house and are not looked after- that is my cue to greet you!
Be careful while driving –does not matter in which country you live- be always safety conscious!
Thank you for photos and letters- always enjoyed and appreciated.
We greet you from Cranleymore where the sun is trying to break through the cloud cover after this morning’s treat!
Barry & Christina
Good day to you all, family and friends!
We woke up this morning with brilliant sunshine creeping past the blind! Now I have to admit it was somewhat late – in Ireland you lose the ability to be up with the birds, it was already past 08h30 , the sun rises just after 8am but being on sick leave and resting we get up when the radio stops that is 2 hours from the first announcement. The sun was só welcome as it has been raining since last Sunday- never hard but with showers in between continuous drizzle. Everything is wet. The pathway around the house is green and slippery, the outer walls of the house are green from the algae and the grass has also changed colour as the moss has taken over. Temperature 9°C . We are ever so thankful that for once we are missing the terrible weather that is coming in from the east. Large areas of England and France are really in the grip of an icy spell and it turns just before it reaches the east coast of England, missing us!
There is some joy in all of this – my daffodils are flowering and I have picked my 2nd bunch, proudly displayed in the big lounge. The crocuses are covering the ground/grass with bright dark yellow and purple flowers- everything is so new and lovely and promises of some better weather in the near future!
All plants in the garden are budding and we will hopefully have fruit blossoms shortly!
Blackie, the cat has changed his sleeping quarters to the donkey house as he most probably finds it too noisy in the shed especially when Barry starts chopping wood! We can just see where he makes himself comfortable on the straw!
We have been honoured by Professor’s presence nearly every evening this week. He loves the dry food where Blackie is very particular and will only eat the dry food if he is starving.
The foxes are ever present just much too clever and knows precisely when Barry leaves the kitchen for the last time in the evening and dash then to get whatever has been left for them!
We also are the proud human parents of the 1st starling babies in the roof of the shed- they are very verbal in their demand for food!
I wish I could record the sound of 100-200 birds singing at one time in the hedge, it is so beautiful it causes you to shiver.
Barry dug the vegetable patch over during the week, it is a big patch and he has to do it in sections, otherwise he gets some tightness in the chest- he has an appointment with the cardiologist in 3 weeks time- but other - wise he is fine. We hope to plant the rest of the onions and will soon visit the garden centres to buy veggie en flowers seedlings.
Last time I visited the physio I was a bit a edgy- I pay a lot of money for a session and all they do – I can do at home as well- after sitting in the waiting room for 20 min, I made up my mind that I will not return. It was quite obvious that they overbooked and had 2 clients for the same time-and one on the table- so when I was eventually called in I made it clear that that I am not happy and that they have not given me the treatment as requested by the specialist and what they do for me- I can do at home. The owner felt a bit stupid but that was true. So I am now my own Physio therapist and do my exercises as prescribed.
I have another 10 days and hope to be back at work then. The pain is 95% gone only some pain when I do a stupid move- and now I am working on it and have already improved- so I am holding thumbs that the shoulder man will let me go back to work! The arthritis is something I have to live with.
We have Radio and TV program one after the other about the sanitation problem of rural Ireland. The 40% of people living in rural Ireland refuse to pay the registration fee and dread the outcome of an inspection. As if that is not enough- some Australian company has obtained a license to do a survey of underground gas and found a large deposit in Co Leitrim bordering the North of Ireland and in Ireland progress, the ability to provide work, is good as long as it does not happen in “my back yard”. It is called ‘frecking’ and large groups of people started to gather in opposition to this drilling process. We will see what happens- the last time SHELL tried to drill for oil in Co Mayo there was enormous problems and it has been revealed during the week that the cost for policing and guarding the Shell works form all kinds of threats cost the country more that €14 million. Just imagine what will happen when they go ahead and try to drill for the gas?
Birthdays! Philip Josling in Dublin has his birthday tomorrow and Barry’s sister in law-Brenda, in England has her birthday on the 13th Happy birthday to you both of you Josie you will bring our best wishes to your Mom.
Any-one else that may have a birthday and I do not know about it- have a blessed day!
Hope that Werner is feeling better and on the road to recovery.
Tomorrow is the best day of my week in all circumstances and I will be in front of the organ again and I just want to remind all in the Midlands of Ireland about our Hymns Singing Service on the 29th April – 3pm- arrange your diary so that you will be able to attend. You have plenty of warning! We would also love to give you a cup of tea afterwards and show our appreciation for your attendance.
I hear Barry moaning that he seems to be the only one living in this house and are not looked after- that is my cue to greet you!
Be careful while driving –does not matter in which country you live- be always safety conscious!
Thank you for photos and letters- always enjoyed and appreciated.
We greet you from Cranleymore where the sun is trying to break through the cloud cover after this morning’s treat!
Barry & Christina
Saturday, February 4, 2012
February Greetings
Saturday 4 Feb’12
Good day to you all, Family and friends,
In most places that I know of, the temperature drops at night but not in Ireland here the temperature rises during the night. You go to bed pretty cold and get up the next morning wondering why you were getting rid of the duvet several time during the night, just to find out that the temperature has risen at least 6 degrees! Therefore we experience after a freezing week of -4 to 0° a wonderfully mild day slightly wet, 7° a few moment ago -only a drizzle now and again nothing much- thick cloud that prevents the sun from bringing us light and brightness which was such a wonderful part of the freezing weather, we are never happy, are we?! Moan, moan, and moan, ah, it is not really moaning it is just missing the sun which sits high in the heavens now a days and shine with such brilliance that it dazzles you!
Plant growth has suffered as in Exeter, a great deal – Our daffodils in bloom have an extra-ordinary ability to pick them- selves up from the ground after being frozen stiff as soon as the sun shines on them I wish I was a photographer to capture this amazing event in slow motion!
The roses were pruned – I did that on the 1st as per gardening advice- we are trying to cover the wall and every year I cut them back well and proper but this year I had a much gentler approach and we hope that was enough to stimulate growth.
The winter garden have onions in and the rhubarb has also made a come- back after a transplant – the Brussels sprouts developed very late and what- ever the reason there were some of them more like miniature lettuce leaves they did not form a core and although tasty was a bit of a mishap. We did eat most of it –rather I ate most of it as Barry thought they looked too odd!
I am still off work and feel very guilty- unfortunately there are no facilities for work injury -to go on light duty and still be of some value to your company while not 100% well and therefore I am in my 4th week of convalescence with Physio once a week and home exercises to strengthen the muscle and repair the tear! I get regular updates from my friends Deirdre (works with me night duty) and Karen (a theatre nurse) about the situation of short staff and critical care –but I do miss the work itself – I know while doing it you feel it is not safe and unwise but I still miss it! Barry is a wonderful carer and after a good lecture he now allows me to do some things.
On the political front our Taoiseach made foolish remarks about the people of Ireland and was ridiculed well for doing so- The disastrous pay outs by Social Welfare is out of this world. We only heard during the week that families get Communion pay-out for their children having First Communion, they go absolutely mad in this country the girls are dressed as if they are getting married and arrive at the church in horse drawn carriages or white limousines, they receive enormous amounts of money from friends and relatives- have a big party afterwards and hardly ever go back to church there-after. We are in the deepest of financial mess and the Government when said they are going to cut this allowance were nearly crucified!
There will be an exodus of over 7,000 workers during the next month – an offer was made to civil servants which includes nurses, garda and other dept to go on early retirement and they will receive their full pension and will not be taxed on it- if you stay, your pension will be cut in different ways and it will be taxable in future- so- the brain drain has started at a tremendous cost to the government in the mean time over 2000 new immigrants received their citizenship yesterday and the day before- Good for them, I am really happy for them but in the mean time there is no work over 460,000 on welfare allowance and young people are struggling -with degrees , leaving the country- please do not understand me wrongly I am also one of those who are now an Irish citizen and I hope that those who are waiting will be rewarded soon with their papers- they on the other hand are those who are working very hard, paying taxes and provide for their children themselves and is not a drain on the resources but so many are provided with every possible means to live while other struggle, this is only my opinion- eat me up alive but deep in our hearts we know it is true – I just wonder how many of those who received their citizenship are tax payers? I hope and pray that they all are!
The health system is at cross roads and what is going to happen with 3000 nurses leaving?– and this is only the beginning of a country wide disaster.
Away from morbid thoughts and back to reality. Thank you Haya for the lovely photos of young Cobus He looks lovely! We will not divulge how it came about that the photos were eventually posted! The wonderful news from Australia, still in the very early stages, is great! It also means that we are all getting older and the years are starting to count.
Nine (mother, grandmother and great grandmother) is having her Birthday tomorrow and we pray and hope that her year will be healthy and with as little pain as possible! Enjoy the day!
Kathleen Cooper is having her Birthday on the 8th and so is Belinda in Jhb.
Hope sincerely that your days will be wonderful and the year blessed.
We are also hoping that Werner is getting better and that the fever he developed has been dealt with.
Tomorrow, as you all know by now, are the best day of my week and I am on organ duty all Hymns well practiced and we are ready for once again a good message! We are- God Willing- going to have another Hymn Service at the end of April, 29th, so all our SA friends from Mullingar and everywhere else mark that day to visit Corboy Presbyterian church for heavenly singing and praise!
Our grandson Lukas is our joy and delight and we will have him and parents visiting us in 2 weeks time and we cannot wait! He is as clever as you can find and very cute! He has never lost his loveliness and wonderful nature and is a charmer out and out!
Our wild animals have been here frequently during the cold weather and the birds multiplied in numbers when it is so cold- their feeding days are coming to an end as they will soon start nesting, we see the signs all around us!
I sincerely hope that those who travel will do it safely and be very alert regarding you safety!
Thank you for the lovely letters and photos are always welcome
Warm regards from us in Cranleymore
Barry and Christina
Good day to you all, Family and friends,
In most places that I know of, the temperature drops at night but not in Ireland here the temperature rises during the night. You go to bed pretty cold and get up the next morning wondering why you were getting rid of the duvet several time during the night, just to find out that the temperature has risen at least 6 degrees! Therefore we experience after a freezing week of -4 to 0° a wonderfully mild day slightly wet, 7° a few moment ago -only a drizzle now and again nothing much- thick cloud that prevents the sun from bringing us light and brightness which was such a wonderful part of the freezing weather, we are never happy, are we?! Moan, moan, and moan, ah, it is not really moaning it is just missing the sun which sits high in the heavens now a days and shine with such brilliance that it dazzles you!
Plant growth has suffered as in Exeter, a great deal – Our daffodils in bloom have an extra-ordinary ability to pick them- selves up from the ground after being frozen stiff as soon as the sun shines on them I wish I was a photographer to capture this amazing event in slow motion!
The roses were pruned – I did that on the 1st as per gardening advice- we are trying to cover the wall and every year I cut them back well and proper but this year I had a much gentler approach and we hope that was enough to stimulate growth.
The winter garden have onions in and the rhubarb has also made a come- back after a transplant – the Brussels sprouts developed very late and what- ever the reason there were some of them more like miniature lettuce leaves they did not form a core and although tasty was a bit of a mishap. We did eat most of it –rather I ate most of it as Barry thought they looked too odd!
I am still off work and feel very guilty- unfortunately there are no facilities for work injury -to go on light duty and still be of some value to your company while not 100% well and therefore I am in my 4th week of convalescence with Physio once a week and home exercises to strengthen the muscle and repair the tear! I get regular updates from my friends Deirdre (works with me night duty) and Karen (a theatre nurse) about the situation of short staff and critical care –but I do miss the work itself – I know while doing it you feel it is not safe and unwise but I still miss it! Barry is a wonderful carer and after a good lecture he now allows me to do some things.
On the political front our Taoiseach made foolish remarks about the people of Ireland and was ridiculed well for doing so- The disastrous pay outs by Social Welfare is out of this world. We only heard during the week that families get Communion pay-out for their children having First Communion, they go absolutely mad in this country the girls are dressed as if they are getting married and arrive at the church in horse drawn carriages or white limousines, they receive enormous amounts of money from friends and relatives- have a big party afterwards and hardly ever go back to church there-after. We are in the deepest of financial mess and the Government when said they are going to cut this allowance were nearly crucified!
There will be an exodus of over 7,000 workers during the next month – an offer was made to civil servants which includes nurses, garda and other dept to go on early retirement and they will receive their full pension and will not be taxed on it- if you stay, your pension will be cut in different ways and it will be taxable in future- so- the brain drain has started at a tremendous cost to the government in the mean time over 2000 new immigrants received their citizenship yesterday and the day before- Good for them, I am really happy for them but in the mean time there is no work over 460,000 on welfare allowance and young people are struggling -with degrees , leaving the country- please do not understand me wrongly I am also one of those who are now an Irish citizen and I hope that those who are waiting will be rewarded soon with their papers- they on the other hand are those who are working very hard, paying taxes and provide for their children themselves and is not a drain on the resources but so many are provided with every possible means to live while other struggle, this is only my opinion- eat me up alive but deep in our hearts we know it is true – I just wonder how many of those who received their citizenship are tax payers? I hope and pray that they all are!
The health system is at cross roads and what is going to happen with 3000 nurses leaving?– and this is only the beginning of a country wide disaster.
Away from morbid thoughts and back to reality. Thank you Haya for the lovely photos of young Cobus He looks lovely! We will not divulge how it came about that the photos were eventually posted! The wonderful news from Australia, still in the very early stages, is great! It also means that we are all getting older and the years are starting to count.
Nine (mother, grandmother and great grandmother) is having her Birthday tomorrow and we pray and hope that her year will be healthy and with as little pain as possible! Enjoy the day!
Kathleen Cooper is having her Birthday on the 8th and so is Belinda in Jhb.
Hope sincerely that your days will be wonderful and the year blessed.
We are also hoping that Werner is getting better and that the fever he developed has been dealt with.
Tomorrow, as you all know by now, are the best day of my week and I am on organ duty all Hymns well practiced and we are ready for once again a good message! We are- God Willing- going to have another Hymn Service at the end of April, 29th, so all our SA friends from Mullingar and everywhere else mark that day to visit Corboy Presbyterian church for heavenly singing and praise!
Our grandson Lukas is our joy and delight and we will have him and parents visiting us in 2 weeks time and we cannot wait! He is as clever as you can find and very cute! He has never lost his loveliness and wonderful nature and is a charmer out and out!
Our wild animals have been here frequently during the cold weather and the birds multiplied in numbers when it is so cold- their feeding days are coming to an end as they will soon start nesting, we see the signs all around us!
I sincerely hope that those who travel will do it safely and be very alert regarding you safety!
Thank you for the lovely letters and photos are always welcome
Warm regards from us in Cranleymore
Barry and Christina
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Groete vanuit 'n yskoue wintersdag in Cranleymore
Saterdag 28 Jan’12
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende!
...en toe kom die winter 3 dae voor ons amptelike LENTE!
Die ryp het wit gelê vanmôre en my pragtige affodille waarop ek so trots was lê plat op die aarde stokstyf gevries, nie wetende wat die dag inhou nie het ek die koue getrotseer en hulle gaan afpluk, nou het ek ‘n pragtige bossie affodille in my kombuis! 0° sê die barometer en dit is nat en bitter koud! Die son wat die afgelope paar dae so manjefiek die bloue hemele verwarm het is weg- skoon veld! Die sterre hemel gisteraand was oorstelpend mooi, al was dit deksels koud kon ons dit nie weerstaan om dit te bewonder nie. Die 1ste kwartier van die maan met Venus en Jupiter half skuins bo so 11 uur se kant en die ander teen 4uur. Ek wou ‘n foto neem maar kon nie lank genoeg my hande stil hou nie want die sluiter moes baie stadig toemaak en ek het niks om die kamera op te stabiliseer nie. Wat ‘n jammerte!
Ons het 2 weke gelede ‘n pragtige program vanuit Engeland gehad “ Star Gazing” met al die wetenskaplikes oral betrokke ook die planetorium? in Sutherland in die Karoo. Wat is die skepping een groot wonder!
Terug op aarde beleef ons ‘n erge onstabiele finansiële tydperk- alles is in die war- ons man in beheer betaal aan onbekende ‘Bond holders’ ‘n magtige groot som van biljoene oor gedurende die week en hy kan nie sê wie die ‘bond holders’ is nie! By die Switzerse byeenkoms van finansiers maak hy toe ‘n allamintige groot blaps en sê dat die resessie in Ierland veroorsaak is deur Iere wat ‘mal’ geword het en bo-hulle vemoeëns geleen en spandeer het en vergeet totaal en al van die paar wat dit gedoen het en nog steeds vry rond karjakker- die mense is woedned- Sy dae is getel dis verseker. Die een belasting na die ander word ingestel en soos julle sekerlik nou reeds weet ons – die Dunnes van Cranleymore gaan nie die inspeksie gelde vir die septiese tenk betaal nie en ook nie die inspekteur toelaat om intekom nie en al moet ons tronk toe dan moet dit maar ,maar ons het nie €12,000 om ‘n nuwe EU gespesifiseerde tenk te laat insit nie- dus hou die koerante dop!
Ek sal op my eie ‘n water monster neem van die fontein wat naby die septiese tenk is en kyk of daar enige goggas in woon!. Die boere se slurrie wat op die lande gesprei word en deur die reën in die riviere en mere instroom is veel meer nadelig as ‘n goed gekontroleerde septiese tenk.
Hulle het ook aangekondig dat afhangende van wanneer jy begin werk het, die staats pensioen nou met 25% en 50% gesnoei word en dit tree die 23 ste April in werking vandaar dat duisende mense die gesondheids beroep en onderwys en ander staats instansies einde Februarie verlaat –sodat hulle nog darem 98% van hul inbetaalde PRSA kan verhaal! Dinge lyk beroert! Terwyl ek werk is alles nog goed maar my aftree datum skuif stadig nader en wie weet wat die toekoms inhou!
Ons wilde wesentjies wat saans besoek aflê lyk baie gesond, Professor moet maar versigtig wees want meneer Blackie hou die tuin deeglik dop en ek wonder of hy aan iemand behoort en of hy maar oral rondgaan en kos kry. Hy eet die droë kos net as hy sterf van die hongerte, anders sit hy en miaeu vir iets lekkerder. Die magdom voëltjies bring ons groot plesier – nog ‘n pragtige program wat ons van Engeland kan sien is “ Earth Flight” ons het reeds ‘n goeie paar draaie in SA gegooi op die rug van ‘n arend of ‘n kraan voël selfs flaminke. Baie besonders.
Die dae van gesteelde TV gaan in Okt aan ‘n einde kom wanneer Engeland en Ierland -ek weet nie van die ander Europese lande nie, digitale TV sal hê en dan is ‘n lugdraad van nul en gener waarde! As ek nie nou gou plan maak nie sal ons die mooi programme verloor! Skye en derglike opsies sal moet ondersoek word.
Nou ja ek weet van studente wat hul eerste Universiteits jaar gaan begin en ons hoop van harte dat dit vir hulle ‘n groot belewenis sal wees en dat hulle die regte rigting gekies het, ander is al reeds besig om hul voorteberei vir hule eindeksamenn hier in die noordelike halfrond . Kleiner kindertjies het reeds nou ‘n week of 2 groot skool toegegaan ek weet van 2- Dimitrij en Leané. Ek het wel fotos van Dimitrij ontvang maar niks van Leané nie.
Verjaardae : Reuben verjaar 29 Jan, Veels Geluk met jou verjaardag!
Sharon ons niggie in Cork verjaar die 30ste. Happy Birthday!
Dit is ook met groot heimwee dat ons die afsterwe van my 2 broers Paul en Gerhard onthou op die 30ste in 2004.
Tjaart verjaar die 1ste Feb en Nine in Kokanje die 5de
Veels geluk!
Môre is die beste dag van my week en aangesien ek môre in die kerkbank sal sit kan ek hartlik saam sing! Ons het ‘n besoekende prediker en hoop hy praat duidelik sodat almal hom kan hoor aangesien die meerderheid van die gemeente reeds effe hardhorend is!
Barry het reeds die vuur aan die gang en dit is heerlik warm hier langs my. Daar is ‘n verwarmer aan my linker kant waar ek sit en tik!
Baie dankie aan al die skrywers van briefies met goeie wense vir herstel en ja ons is baie dankbaar dat die skouer spesialis besluit het dat die skeur in so ‘n plek sit dat dit wel kan genees met rus en fisio. Dus ek is tuis op die plek rus en het reeds my 1ste fisio behandeling gehad wat my duidelik laat besef het dat ek iets groots seergemaak het. Ek moet erken dat dit elke dag beter gaan en nou dat ek die arm mag gebruik voel dit altreeds baie beter. Ook baie bly om te hoor dat Werner die 2de bahandeling veel beter hanteer! Alle beterskap vir jou Neef!
Ons het ‘n berg hier “ The Wicklow Mountain” en in die berg is baie mense wat vermoor is, begrawe in vlak of dieper grafte- hier is bitter min respek vir mense lewens- byna elke week vind hulle die gebeendere van ‘n vermoorde! Dit is meestal iemand wat deur ‘n donkaard of drug gebruiker opgelaai en vermoor is of omdat hulle geld skuld vir die drugs! Hier is dit nie ‘n “NO_NO” om deur iemand opgelaai te word nie- en tenspyte van soveel moorde word daar nooit gewaarsku dat jong meisies nie in ‘n kar van ‘n vreemde moet klim nie maar die ellende is dat in soveel gevalle is dit iemand wat hulle wel ken! Hulle dink ook niks daarvan om laatnag in die straat te loop en duim te gooi nie! Onverstaanbaar!
Vir ‘n klein landjie is die getal moorde ontstellend hoog!
Nou ja ons tel ons seënige daagliks en leef in groot dankbaarheid vir ons veiligheid!
Ons groet vanuit ‘n yskoue winters dag in Cranleymore
Onthou die gek om die hoek en jul eie veiligheid!
Liefde groete
Barry en Christina
Goeie dag allemaal, familie en vriende!
...en toe kom die winter 3 dae voor ons amptelike LENTE!
Die ryp het wit gelê vanmôre en my pragtige affodille waarop ek so trots was lê plat op die aarde stokstyf gevries, nie wetende wat die dag inhou nie het ek die koue getrotseer en hulle gaan afpluk, nou het ek ‘n pragtige bossie affodille in my kombuis! 0° sê die barometer en dit is nat en bitter koud! Die son wat die afgelope paar dae so manjefiek die bloue hemele verwarm het is weg- skoon veld! Die sterre hemel gisteraand was oorstelpend mooi, al was dit deksels koud kon ons dit nie weerstaan om dit te bewonder nie. Die 1ste kwartier van die maan met Venus en Jupiter half skuins bo so 11 uur se kant en die ander teen 4uur. Ek wou ‘n foto neem maar kon nie lank genoeg my hande stil hou nie want die sluiter moes baie stadig toemaak en ek het niks om die kamera op te stabiliseer nie. Wat ‘n jammerte!
Ons het 2 weke gelede ‘n pragtige program vanuit Engeland gehad “ Star Gazing” met al die wetenskaplikes oral betrokke ook die planetorium? in Sutherland in die Karoo. Wat is die skepping een groot wonder!
Terug op aarde beleef ons ‘n erge onstabiele finansiële tydperk- alles is in die war- ons man in beheer betaal aan onbekende ‘Bond holders’ ‘n magtige groot som van biljoene oor gedurende die week en hy kan nie sê wie die ‘bond holders’ is nie! By die Switzerse byeenkoms van finansiers maak hy toe ‘n allamintige groot blaps en sê dat die resessie in Ierland veroorsaak is deur Iere wat ‘mal’ geword het en bo-hulle vemoeëns geleen en spandeer het en vergeet totaal en al van die paar wat dit gedoen het en nog steeds vry rond karjakker- die mense is woedned- Sy dae is getel dis verseker. Die een belasting na die ander word ingestel en soos julle sekerlik nou reeds weet ons – die Dunnes van Cranleymore gaan nie die inspeksie gelde vir die septiese tenk betaal nie en ook nie die inspekteur toelaat om intekom nie en al moet ons tronk toe dan moet dit maar ,maar ons het nie €12,000 om ‘n nuwe EU gespesifiseerde tenk te laat insit nie- dus hou die koerante dop!
Ek sal op my eie ‘n water monster neem van die fontein wat naby die septiese tenk is en kyk of daar enige goggas in woon!. Die boere se slurrie wat op die lande gesprei word en deur die reën in die riviere en mere instroom is veel meer nadelig as ‘n goed gekontroleerde septiese tenk.
Hulle het ook aangekondig dat afhangende van wanneer jy begin werk het, die staats pensioen nou met 25% en 50% gesnoei word en dit tree die 23 ste April in werking vandaar dat duisende mense die gesondheids beroep en onderwys en ander staats instansies einde Februarie verlaat –sodat hulle nog darem 98% van hul inbetaalde PRSA kan verhaal! Dinge lyk beroert! Terwyl ek werk is alles nog goed maar my aftree datum skuif stadig nader en wie weet wat die toekoms inhou!
Ons wilde wesentjies wat saans besoek aflê lyk baie gesond, Professor moet maar versigtig wees want meneer Blackie hou die tuin deeglik dop en ek wonder of hy aan iemand behoort en of hy maar oral rondgaan en kos kry. Hy eet die droë kos net as hy sterf van die hongerte, anders sit hy en miaeu vir iets lekkerder. Die magdom voëltjies bring ons groot plesier – nog ‘n pragtige program wat ons van Engeland kan sien is “ Earth Flight” ons het reeds ‘n goeie paar draaie in SA gegooi op die rug van ‘n arend of ‘n kraan voël selfs flaminke. Baie besonders.
Die dae van gesteelde TV gaan in Okt aan ‘n einde kom wanneer Engeland en Ierland -ek weet nie van die ander Europese lande nie, digitale TV sal hê en dan is ‘n lugdraad van nul en gener waarde! As ek nie nou gou plan maak nie sal ons die mooi programme verloor! Skye en derglike opsies sal moet ondersoek word.
Nou ja ek weet van studente wat hul eerste Universiteits jaar gaan begin en ons hoop van harte dat dit vir hulle ‘n groot belewenis sal wees en dat hulle die regte rigting gekies het, ander is al reeds besig om hul voorteberei vir hule eindeksamenn hier in die noordelike halfrond . Kleiner kindertjies het reeds nou ‘n week of 2 groot skool toegegaan ek weet van 2- Dimitrij en Leané. Ek het wel fotos van Dimitrij ontvang maar niks van Leané nie.
Verjaardae : Reuben verjaar 29 Jan, Veels Geluk met jou verjaardag!
Sharon ons niggie in Cork verjaar die 30ste. Happy Birthday!
Dit is ook met groot heimwee dat ons die afsterwe van my 2 broers Paul en Gerhard onthou op die 30ste in 2004.
Tjaart verjaar die 1ste Feb en Nine in Kokanje die 5de
Veels geluk!
Môre is die beste dag van my week en aangesien ek môre in die kerkbank sal sit kan ek hartlik saam sing! Ons het ‘n besoekende prediker en hoop hy praat duidelik sodat almal hom kan hoor aangesien die meerderheid van die gemeente reeds effe hardhorend is!
Barry het reeds die vuur aan die gang en dit is heerlik warm hier langs my. Daar is ‘n verwarmer aan my linker kant waar ek sit en tik!
Baie dankie aan al die skrywers van briefies met goeie wense vir herstel en ja ons is baie dankbaar dat die skouer spesialis besluit het dat die skeur in so ‘n plek sit dat dit wel kan genees met rus en fisio. Dus ek is tuis op die plek rus en het reeds my 1ste fisio behandeling gehad wat my duidelik laat besef het dat ek iets groots seergemaak het. Ek moet erken dat dit elke dag beter gaan en nou dat ek die arm mag gebruik voel dit altreeds baie beter. Ook baie bly om te hoor dat Werner die 2de bahandeling veel beter hanteer! Alle beterskap vir jou Neef!
Ons het ‘n berg hier “ The Wicklow Mountain” en in die berg is baie mense wat vermoor is, begrawe in vlak of dieper grafte- hier is bitter min respek vir mense lewens- byna elke week vind hulle die gebeendere van ‘n vermoorde! Dit is meestal iemand wat deur ‘n donkaard of drug gebruiker opgelaai en vermoor is of omdat hulle geld skuld vir die drugs! Hier is dit nie ‘n “NO_NO” om deur iemand opgelaai te word nie- en tenspyte van soveel moorde word daar nooit gewaarsku dat jong meisies nie in ‘n kar van ‘n vreemde moet klim nie maar die ellende is dat in soveel gevalle is dit iemand wat hulle wel ken! Hulle dink ook niks daarvan om laatnag in die straat te loop en duim te gooi nie! Onverstaanbaar!
Vir ‘n klein landjie is die getal moorde ontstellend hoog!
Nou ja ons tel ons seënige daagliks en leef in groot dankbaarheid vir ons veiligheid!
Ons groet vanuit ‘n yskoue winters dag in Cranleymore
Onthou die gek om die hoek en jul eie veiligheid!
Liefde groete
Barry en Christina
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Wind & rainy Greetings from Ireland
21 January’12
Saturday
Good day to all, family and friends,
My email address list has shrunk as I have decided that to clutter some-one post box with junk is not advisable!
It is freezing here today –temperature shows 6° but the wind makes you shiver. One moment the sun shines and skies are bluer than blue and the next moment the rain falls in enormous drops and wet you through if you by accident happen to be outside!
Our first daffodil is halfway open standing very brave in the cold wind and 4 more will be open tomorrow! All vegetation and new growth are very early this year because of the mild winter! I usually wait till the 1st of February to prune the roses but I might have to do it earlier.
All the pots with bulbs that were carefully put away this year into the shed were hauled out as they were all growing in darkness covered with straw and lacked sunshine- Chlorophyll is missing in the stems and all you see are these yellow points above the ground- I hope that they will recover!
Our wildlife visitors are looking very good- we are wondering if the mother fox is carrying little ones again as those visiting us were born about March last year- on the other hand so many foxes were killed in the road during the year that she might be no more!
Professor visits now regularly and somewhat earlier and he looks very good- By lack of scrap food they are now on dry cat food- and milk- Have not been to work for a while and there is very little left on our plates except may be a bone or the skin of the chicken and the carcass.
Blackie is very particular with his diet and must be very hungry before he would eat the dry food!
The hundreds of birds are an immense joy – you can watch them for hours. The hierarchy between the species are fascinating.
Well here is the news of the MRI done on Tuesday this week. Knowing what the x-ray looked like I had little hope for a good result and that was then confirmed Friday morning with the emergency Dept Dr phoning and explaining that the damage is extensive and I will need surgery.
I have been referred to a shoulder specialist that will see me Monday afternoon! They are moving quite quickly on this one and I wonder why!?
My absence on night duty meant a whole new configuration of the roster and some of the day staff now has to do a few night shifts in between. I have no idea how long I will be incapacitated if this Mr Lund decides to operate. As long as I do not move the arm away from the body all is fine but neither can I live like that for the rest of a long time!
As long as I keep it still and avoid certain moves I am fine- I have to keep the shoulder warm otherwise it causes a dull continuous ache!
Barry is fine and we thank the Lord for that!
On the political front there looms disaster, I do not understand the economical terms so well but the Austerity measures causes a lot of anguish. They are back tracking on certain things that they were going to implement in the budget as they realise that that they will have anarchy on their hands. They are bringing in a property tax- which has never been applicable to this country- and the people here has no idea what happens in other countries – If I think what our property tax were before we left and that is 8 years ago- and here a €100 per property owner is outrageous- they are boycotting it and are prepared to go to jail if needed but refuse to pay it! I do not have a problem with it as such only that in the future it will be means tested as we live in a very simple cottage with only one toilet and 2 bedrooms where some houses have 3 toilets and 5 bedrooms and they pay the same! They promised to correct that in the years to come!
There is though another problem that faces us directly and that is the upgrading of the sewerage system. The people living in rural Ireland does not connect up to municipal sewerage systems even if they live near enough to town for it- and in our case the system is very, very old although we did improve the whole system some years ago with a new French drain – big hole with 20 tons 3x3” rocks poured into it. The EU has put new guidelines in place and if we not comply we will be fined €2000. A new system will cost the average household about €12000 and there are very few that will be able to comply and we are one of those who will have to be jailed!!
It will start with an inspection of your system which will cost you €50 to register and the inspection might cost you €200 before anything has even happened. Rural Ireland is up in arms and so are we. Watch the press! We might just make the papers as ‘blown ins’ from SA that is going to be jailed as we will not be able to comply!
Well there you have it all!
To help the humour they are going to install water meters in the coming year and we will now for the 1st time have to pay for water (the people here have never paid for water consumption) Unbelievable!
Enough! Lovely to have had a letter from Arnolda and we are very sorry that you are colder than us! Those like Gerlof who are a regular writer- I always look forward to hear what is happening next door! Thank you also to Joy in Australia who writes very regular !We also think of Werner who will receive his 2nd Chemo Therapy course! Everything of the best.
Tomorrow is the best day of the week and with full capacity we will honour and praise our Lord.
Birthdays in my book: Kylie du Toit on the 23rd, Leandra in Jhb on the 24th Dimitrij the 26th who went to big school for the 1st time this week. Congratulations to you all.
I know there are students waiting for results and others who are writing exams- May it go well!
Not knowing what the future holds – I will talk to you again when I am able to type again! This may be very soon or somewhat later.
Watch every step you take- keep security as your highest priority and go well
Windy and rain-filled greetings from Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Saturday
Good day to all, family and friends,
My email address list has shrunk as I have decided that to clutter some-one post box with junk is not advisable!
It is freezing here today –temperature shows 6° but the wind makes you shiver. One moment the sun shines and skies are bluer than blue and the next moment the rain falls in enormous drops and wet you through if you by accident happen to be outside!
Our first daffodil is halfway open standing very brave in the cold wind and 4 more will be open tomorrow! All vegetation and new growth are very early this year because of the mild winter! I usually wait till the 1st of February to prune the roses but I might have to do it earlier.
All the pots with bulbs that were carefully put away this year into the shed were hauled out as they were all growing in darkness covered with straw and lacked sunshine- Chlorophyll is missing in the stems and all you see are these yellow points above the ground- I hope that they will recover!
Our wildlife visitors are looking very good- we are wondering if the mother fox is carrying little ones again as those visiting us were born about March last year- on the other hand so many foxes were killed in the road during the year that she might be no more!
Professor visits now regularly and somewhat earlier and he looks very good- By lack of scrap food they are now on dry cat food- and milk- Have not been to work for a while and there is very little left on our plates except may be a bone or the skin of the chicken and the carcass.
Blackie is very particular with his diet and must be very hungry before he would eat the dry food!
The hundreds of birds are an immense joy – you can watch them for hours. The hierarchy between the species are fascinating.
Well here is the news of the MRI done on Tuesday this week. Knowing what the x-ray looked like I had little hope for a good result and that was then confirmed Friday morning with the emergency Dept Dr phoning and explaining that the damage is extensive and I will need surgery.
I have been referred to a shoulder specialist that will see me Monday afternoon! They are moving quite quickly on this one and I wonder why!?
My absence on night duty meant a whole new configuration of the roster and some of the day staff now has to do a few night shifts in between. I have no idea how long I will be incapacitated if this Mr Lund decides to operate. As long as I do not move the arm away from the body all is fine but neither can I live like that for the rest of a long time!
As long as I keep it still and avoid certain moves I am fine- I have to keep the shoulder warm otherwise it causes a dull continuous ache!
Barry is fine and we thank the Lord for that!
On the political front there looms disaster, I do not understand the economical terms so well but the Austerity measures causes a lot of anguish. They are back tracking on certain things that they were going to implement in the budget as they realise that that they will have anarchy on their hands. They are bringing in a property tax- which has never been applicable to this country- and the people here has no idea what happens in other countries – If I think what our property tax were before we left and that is 8 years ago- and here a €100 per property owner is outrageous- they are boycotting it and are prepared to go to jail if needed but refuse to pay it! I do not have a problem with it as such only that in the future it will be means tested as we live in a very simple cottage with only one toilet and 2 bedrooms where some houses have 3 toilets and 5 bedrooms and they pay the same! They promised to correct that in the years to come!
There is though another problem that faces us directly and that is the upgrading of the sewerage system. The people living in rural Ireland does not connect up to municipal sewerage systems even if they live near enough to town for it- and in our case the system is very, very old although we did improve the whole system some years ago with a new French drain – big hole with 20 tons 3x3” rocks poured into it. The EU has put new guidelines in place and if we not comply we will be fined €2000. A new system will cost the average household about €12000 and there are very few that will be able to comply and we are one of those who will have to be jailed!!
It will start with an inspection of your system which will cost you €50 to register and the inspection might cost you €200 before anything has even happened. Rural Ireland is up in arms and so are we. Watch the press! We might just make the papers as ‘blown ins’ from SA that is going to be jailed as we will not be able to comply!
Well there you have it all!
To help the humour they are going to install water meters in the coming year and we will now for the 1st time have to pay for water (the people here have never paid for water consumption) Unbelievable!
Enough! Lovely to have had a letter from Arnolda and we are very sorry that you are colder than us! Those like Gerlof who are a regular writer- I always look forward to hear what is happening next door! Thank you also to Joy in Australia who writes very regular !We also think of Werner who will receive his 2nd Chemo Therapy course! Everything of the best.
Tomorrow is the best day of the week and with full capacity we will honour and praise our Lord.
Birthdays in my book: Kylie du Toit on the 23rd, Leandra in Jhb on the 24th Dimitrij the 26th who went to big school for the 1st time this week. Congratulations to you all.
I know there are students waiting for results and others who are writing exams- May it go well!
Not knowing what the future holds – I will talk to you again when I am able to type again! This may be very soon or somewhat later.
Watch every step you take- keep security as your highest priority and go well
Windy and rain-filled greetings from Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Saturday, January 14, 2012
groete vanuit 'n sonnige dag in Januarie in Cranleymore
14 January Saterdag
Goeie dag alle maal, familie en vriende,
Die son skyn heerlik en dit is effe koud in vergelyking met die laaste paar weke wat ons byna somer temperature gehad het. Dit was nodig dat dit koud geword het want die winter ‘vomiting bug’ het hier bloots rond gehol en almal was siek,hospitale het besoektye verbied ens., maar hopelik sal dit nou beter gaan – ons het 2 nagte gelede effe ryp gehad –die eerste in omtrent 6 weke. Vandag is dit 5 °.
Ons het die jaar paar sukkelend begin, Verlede Vrydag het ek ‘n afspraak met die SA vriendinne gehad en ons het ook ‘n skoonheidsprodukte dame gehad wat dinge ten toon gestel het en ons kon koop en bestel .
Net na ontbyt sê Barry vir my hy het snaakse golwe voor sy oë- neem dadelik sy bloeddruk, die is normaal en hy het nie hoofpyn of enige ander simptome nie, vra toe of dit goed is as ek die oggend nie daar sal wees nie, hy beloof om niks drasties soos hout kap- dis nou groot blokke- te doen nie net die klein houtjies wat vir die begin van die vuur gebruik word. Ek is hier weg- kom netso na 1nm terug en gewoonlik wag hy vir my as dit nie by die hek is nie dan sit hy by die venster. Hy is egter nêrens te sien nie ek maak die hek toe en toe ek inkom roep ek- geen antwoord nie- en dadelik weet ek daar is fout want hy is nie buite nie maar waar sou hy wees? Kry hom in die bed- so siek het ek hom nog nooit gesien nie met die vreeslikste hoofpyn wat hy ooit in sy lewe gehad het en braking daarmee saam – hy is so swak hy kan skaars by die badkamer kom as hy naar word, eers wil hy nie hê ek moet die Dr bel nie maar nadat hy 6x gebraak het en sy oë agter in die kaste sit lui ek en ja, hy sal huis toe kom! 1/2 uur later is hy hier en bevestig my ergste vermoede dat dit dalk ‘n brein bloeding kon wees- Barry weier om met die ambulans te gaan en ek neem hom per motor ongevalle toe. Met ‘n brief van jou GP word jy gou gesien en buitendien word enige iemand met hoofpyn of borspyn dadelik gesien deur die ‘Triage Nurse ‘ en sy beveel dan aan wie die siekste is en eerste gesien moet word –so word Barry toe byna dadeliik gesien en almal dink dis ‘n brein bloeding want al die ander tekens is teenwoordig- na 6 ure van alle moontlike ondersoeke en hy intussen goed gespuit met anti naar en pyn medikasie begin beter voel en wil net huis toe maar Drs maak hom bly en laat nag is die resultaat van die CT Scan uit- sovêr skoon maar hulle wag op die offisiële verslag van die radioloog want hulle mog dalk iets gemis het- die volgende oggend toe die skool van dokters rondte doen is sy kardioloog aan die hoof van die span en herken hom dadelik van 2 jaar gelede en hy kry ekstra aandag! Nog ‘n baie nuwe spesiale bloedtoets word nog gedoen en as die normaal is hoef hulle nie lumbale punksie te doen nie en hy kan huis toe gaan. 4nm kry hy die OK en ons is weg – ek het nou nie juis kon slaap die vorige nag nie want my gedagtes was maar heeltyd by Barry en ek was weer by hom toe die deure oop maak! Maar my skof van 5 nagte lê voor die deur en nadat ek seker gemaak het hy is gemaklik en die foon langs hom is ek weg werk toe . Dit was ‘n wilde nag en ek het my ‘n ongeluk gewerk met net helper en 14 pasiënte- ek was byna dood, kom tuis en vind Barry met bietjie meer kleur in sy gesig en ‘n glimlag en ek voel sommer beter. Hulle het gesê hy moet ‘n gloukoom toets kry wat ek sal reël. Intussen gaan my nagte voort en Woensdagoggend vroeg bring ek ‘n Parkinsons pasient wat skeef terug geval het op die bed reguit en hoor iets skeur in my skouer en die pyn laat my sommer bewe- daar is nie tyd om te stop nie en ek werk klaar- Tuis drink ek 2 panados en slaap- beweeg niks, dus die skouer rus en voel nie te erg nie, Woensdag nag was erg 22 pasiente en 2 verpleegsters en geen helper – soos die nag ouer word so word my skouer seerder totdat ek dit nie meer kon beweeg nie- . laat die huis dokter kyk en sê ongevalle toe- maar ek werk eers die nag klaar en Donderdag sien ek die Dr in ongevalle – X strale wys dat die die skouer nie sit waar hy moet nie - ? die tendons wat die skouer knop aan die sleutelbeen vas heg het geskeur- Nou is ek ook ‘n ongevalle- tuis en sal Dinsdag MRI scan kry om te sien hoe erg die skade is!
Die arm is nou in ‘n slinger en dit bring groot verligting!
Genoeg van ons ellendes - ons is net baie dankbaar dat Barry nie ‘n brein bloeding gehad het nie maar ? virus infeksie- hulle sluit ‘n migrane uit- dag later arriveer ‘n brief wat afspraak gee vir Barry om die kardioloog te sien dus hy is in goeie hande!
Op die politieke front gaan dit vrot verby die nuwe regering is 100x slegter as die een wat uit gestem is en ons val verder en verder in die moeras in- besighede maak toe elke dag 200-500 mense wat werkloos word en die getal van welsyns betalings gaan op! Hulle ploeter in die modder rond en het geen idee wat aangaan nie! Die Minister van gesondheid maak een glips na die ander en het geen idee wat hy doen nie en die onderwys minister het al die studente in die harnas ingejaag. ...en so gaan dit aan! Die ergste van alles is dat die wat die ellende veroorsaak nog skot vry rond karjakker!
Terug by die goeie en mooie! Groot was my blydskap toe Barry laat weet dat lang verlore Professor die vorige nag sy verskyning gemaak het- en hy is spek vet – hy en die klein – nou groot jakkalsies leef in simbiose saam- dus eet hy saam met hulle en dit is gewoonlik laat nag- tot Barry ander aand net na 10 nm die buite lig aanskskel om tesien of die jakkalsies alles opge-eet het en daar is professor hard besig om saam met hulle aan alles te smul- Ons het hom laat gisteraand weer gesien – dit was wonderlik en ek is so bly- het regtig gedink hy is dood – intussen het hy maar net sy tye verander en saam met sy vriende kom eet -laat nag! Blackie is nog steeds die baas op die plaas en kom sit op die vensterbank en mieau! Honderde voeltjies eet hier by ons en die voëlgesang is soos ‘n vroeg oggend danklied vol dankbaarheid- as ek soggens stop bly ek eers ‘n oomblik sit en luister na die pragtige sang!
Die affodille sal seker in so 7 dae oop wees en die kroukusse is reeds oop! Alles is baie vroeg vanwee die vreemde weer.
Môre is die beste dag van die week vir my en dit sal in groot dankbaarheid wees dat ons kerk toe gaan!
Verjaardae het by my verby gegaan want ek het gewerk en nie naby die komper gekom nie. Maandag het Corli van Elmarie en Frikkie verjaar- ek hoop dat dit ‘n pragtige dag vir haar was en dat alles goed afgeloop het met die verjaardag!
Marie-Janke , die student wat verlief is op die Duitser verjaar eerkomende Maandag en my kerk vriendin in Florida Park- Dorothy, verjaar Dinsdag – ek hoop dat jy ‘n gesonder jaar sal hê! Veels geluk aan almal! As ek iemand uitgelaat het – Verjaar lekker!
Almal wat in Kanada gekuier het is nou tuis en ons verneem van Hessie dat dit ‘n goeie vakansie was! Hoop om ook van die ander te hoor! Joy gaan neiw zeeland toe vir ‘n par weke – Geniet dit Joy en stuur groete aan Bekendes!
Ons klein mannetjie Lukas herhaal alles wat sy ouers sê en vanmôre praat ek met hom oor die foon en skielik is hy stil en Finbarr sê in die agtergrond- hy praat aanmekaar en skielik ‘shut up’ hy en skielik klip hard oor die foon sê hy vir my ”shut-up” dit was baie snaaks- maar hy wil net met sy Oupa praat ek is nou nie eintlik belangrik nie!
Verder lees ons maar van die gruwel dade orals – hier en in SA dinge is besig erg verkeerd te loop in die wêreld. Hoop ook dat Werner goed aansterk tuis en sal graag wil hoor hoe dit gaan!
Nou ja, ek groet en glo dat julle veiligheid as prioriteit op jul lysie het!
Ry versigtig en Gerhardus in Dallas geniet die Rodeo vertoning vanaand!
Liefde groete vanuit ‘n sonnige maar koue Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Goeie dag alle maal, familie en vriende,
Die son skyn heerlik en dit is effe koud in vergelyking met die laaste paar weke wat ons byna somer temperature gehad het. Dit was nodig dat dit koud geword het want die winter ‘vomiting bug’ het hier bloots rond gehol en almal was siek,hospitale het besoektye verbied ens., maar hopelik sal dit nou beter gaan – ons het 2 nagte gelede effe ryp gehad –die eerste in omtrent 6 weke. Vandag is dit 5 °.
Ons het die jaar paar sukkelend begin, Verlede Vrydag het ek ‘n afspraak met die SA vriendinne gehad en ons het ook ‘n skoonheidsprodukte dame gehad wat dinge ten toon gestel het en ons kon koop en bestel .
Net na ontbyt sê Barry vir my hy het snaakse golwe voor sy oë- neem dadelik sy bloeddruk, die is normaal en hy het nie hoofpyn of enige ander simptome nie, vra toe of dit goed is as ek die oggend nie daar sal wees nie, hy beloof om niks drasties soos hout kap- dis nou groot blokke- te doen nie net die klein houtjies wat vir die begin van die vuur gebruik word. Ek is hier weg- kom netso na 1nm terug en gewoonlik wag hy vir my as dit nie by die hek is nie dan sit hy by die venster. Hy is egter nêrens te sien nie ek maak die hek toe en toe ek inkom roep ek- geen antwoord nie- en dadelik weet ek daar is fout want hy is nie buite nie maar waar sou hy wees? Kry hom in die bed- so siek het ek hom nog nooit gesien nie met die vreeslikste hoofpyn wat hy ooit in sy lewe gehad het en braking daarmee saam – hy is so swak hy kan skaars by die badkamer kom as hy naar word, eers wil hy nie hê ek moet die Dr bel nie maar nadat hy 6x gebraak het en sy oë agter in die kaste sit lui ek en ja, hy sal huis toe kom! 1/2 uur later is hy hier en bevestig my ergste vermoede dat dit dalk ‘n brein bloeding kon wees- Barry weier om met die ambulans te gaan en ek neem hom per motor ongevalle toe. Met ‘n brief van jou GP word jy gou gesien en buitendien word enige iemand met hoofpyn of borspyn dadelik gesien deur die ‘Triage Nurse ‘ en sy beveel dan aan wie die siekste is en eerste gesien moet word –so word Barry toe byna dadeliik gesien en almal dink dis ‘n brein bloeding want al die ander tekens is teenwoordig- na 6 ure van alle moontlike ondersoeke en hy intussen goed gespuit met anti naar en pyn medikasie begin beter voel en wil net huis toe maar Drs maak hom bly en laat nag is die resultaat van die CT Scan uit- sovêr skoon maar hulle wag op die offisiële verslag van die radioloog want hulle mog dalk iets gemis het- die volgende oggend toe die skool van dokters rondte doen is sy kardioloog aan die hoof van die span en herken hom dadelik van 2 jaar gelede en hy kry ekstra aandag! Nog ‘n baie nuwe spesiale bloedtoets word nog gedoen en as die normaal is hoef hulle nie lumbale punksie te doen nie en hy kan huis toe gaan. 4nm kry hy die OK en ons is weg – ek het nou nie juis kon slaap die vorige nag nie want my gedagtes was maar heeltyd by Barry en ek was weer by hom toe die deure oop maak! Maar my skof van 5 nagte lê voor die deur en nadat ek seker gemaak het hy is gemaklik en die foon langs hom is ek weg werk toe . Dit was ‘n wilde nag en ek het my ‘n ongeluk gewerk met net helper en 14 pasiënte- ek was byna dood, kom tuis en vind Barry met bietjie meer kleur in sy gesig en ‘n glimlag en ek voel sommer beter. Hulle het gesê hy moet ‘n gloukoom toets kry wat ek sal reël. Intussen gaan my nagte voort en Woensdagoggend vroeg bring ek ‘n Parkinsons pasient wat skeef terug geval het op die bed reguit en hoor iets skeur in my skouer en die pyn laat my sommer bewe- daar is nie tyd om te stop nie en ek werk klaar- Tuis drink ek 2 panados en slaap- beweeg niks, dus die skouer rus en voel nie te erg nie, Woensdag nag was erg 22 pasiente en 2 verpleegsters en geen helper – soos die nag ouer word so word my skouer seerder totdat ek dit nie meer kon beweeg nie- . laat die huis dokter kyk en sê ongevalle toe- maar ek werk eers die nag klaar en Donderdag sien ek die Dr in ongevalle – X strale wys dat die die skouer nie sit waar hy moet nie - ? die tendons wat die skouer knop aan die sleutelbeen vas heg het geskeur- Nou is ek ook ‘n ongevalle- tuis en sal Dinsdag MRI scan kry om te sien hoe erg die skade is!
Die arm is nou in ‘n slinger en dit bring groot verligting!
Genoeg van ons ellendes - ons is net baie dankbaar dat Barry nie ‘n brein bloeding gehad het nie maar ? virus infeksie- hulle sluit ‘n migrane uit- dag later arriveer ‘n brief wat afspraak gee vir Barry om die kardioloog te sien dus hy is in goeie hande!
Op die politieke front gaan dit vrot verby die nuwe regering is 100x slegter as die een wat uit gestem is en ons val verder en verder in die moeras in- besighede maak toe elke dag 200-500 mense wat werkloos word en die getal van welsyns betalings gaan op! Hulle ploeter in die modder rond en het geen idee wat aangaan nie! Die Minister van gesondheid maak een glips na die ander en het geen idee wat hy doen nie en die onderwys minister het al die studente in die harnas ingejaag. ...en so gaan dit aan! Die ergste van alles is dat die wat die ellende veroorsaak nog skot vry rond karjakker!
Terug by die goeie en mooie! Groot was my blydskap toe Barry laat weet dat lang verlore Professor die vorige nag sy verskyning gemaak het- en hy is spek vet – hy en die klein – nou groot jakkalsies leef in simbiose saam- dus eet hy saam met hulle en dit is gewoonlik laat nag- tot Barry ander aand net na 10 nm die buite lig aanskskel om tesien of die jakkalsies alles opge-eet het en daar is professor hard besig om saam met hulle aan alles te smul- Ons het hom laat gisteraand weer gesien – dit was wonderlik en ek is so bly- het regtig gedink hy is dood – intussen het hy maar net sy tye verander en saam met sy vriende kom eet -laat nag! Blackie is nog steeds die baas op die plaas en kom sit op die vensterbank en mieau! Honderde voeltjies eet hier by ons en die voëlgesang is soos ‘n vroeg oggend danklied vol dankbaarheid- as ek soggens stop bly ek eers ‘n oomblik sit en luister na die pragtige sang!
Die affodille sal seker in so 7 dae oop wees en die kroukusse is reeds oop! Alles is baie vroeg vanwee die vreemde weer.
Môre is die beste dag van die week vir my en dit sal in groot dankbaarheid wees dat ons kerk toe gaan!
Verjaardae het by my verby gegaan want ek het gewerk en nie naby die komper gekom nie. Maandag het Corli van Elmarie en Frikkie verjaar- ek hoop dat dit ‘n pragtige dag vir haar was en dat alles goed afgeloop het met die verjaardag!
Marie-Janke , die student wat verlief is op die Duitser verjaar eerkomende Maandag en my kerk vriendin in Florida Park- Dorothy, verjaar Dinsdag – ek hoop dat jy ‘n gesonder jaar sal hê! Veels geluk aan almal! As ek iemand uitgelaat het – Verjaar lekker!
Almal wat in Kanada gekuier het is nou tuis en ons verneem van Hessie dat dit ‘n goeie vakansie was! Hoop om ook van die ander te hoor! Joy gaan neiw zeeland toe vir ‘n par weke – Geniet dit Joy en stuur groete aan Bekendes!
Ons klein mannetjie Lukas herhaal alles wat sy ouers sê en vanmôre praat ek met hom oor die foon en skielik is hy stil en Finbarr sê in die agtergrond- hy praat aanmekaar en skielik ‘shut up’ hy en skielik klip hard oor die foon sê hy vir my ”shut-up” dit was baie snaaks- maar hy wil net met sy Oupa praat ek is nou nie eintlik belangrik nie!
Verder lees ons maar van die gruwel dade orals – hier en in SA dinge is besig erg verkeerd te loop in die wêreld. Hoop ook dat Werner goed aansterk tuis en sal graag wil hoor hoe dit gaan!
Nou ja, ek groet en glo dat julle veiligheid as prioriteit op jul lysie het!
Ry versigtig en Gerhardus in Dallas geniet die Rodeo vertoning vanaand!
Liefde groete vanuit ‘n sonnige maar koue Cranleymore
Barry & Christina
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
