Autumn greetings from Cranleymore

26 August ’12 Sunday Good day to all, family and friends, This morning we had our first experience of autumn with temperatures below 10°. It did warm up to 18° later in the day but we were well and truly reminded that our summer was just an illusion. The days we had good weather does not include all our fingers and since the rain meter has been installed we have had more than 100mm rain in 4 weeks. In fact it has been fairly dry the last 48 hrs. Last night we had another slug suicide session and the advice that I receive from Liza some weeks ago has been put into practice. My dear friend, Marthie Potgieter, realizing that Barry is definitely not going to buy the beer we need for the experiment; she gave me 2 tins of bear as part present for my birthday. That same night we put things into practice and have a photo to proof it, 20 slugs per saucer x 5 suicide on a large scale. The unpleasant devouring creatures for which I have a true revulsion, love beer and drink themselves into a stupor and drown! Cilna we do not have to pick them by hand anymore! After a strole through the garden before a nippy wind send us inside we inspected everything in detail. The tomatoes are starting to colour and there are many hanging on the tomato trees. We will have a few grapes with a bit of sunshine to ripen them. The few apples left, as 3 fell during the last week, looks good. We are still eating potatoes from the garden and tomorrow if the weather permits we will harvest some peas. The carrots are not very big but most delicious. The roses are going down fast but I will cut out drastically tomorrow in the hope there will be another spurt of growth. The nasturtiums planted from seed I gathered have overshadowed every plant bought in the garden centre and I am very proud! Our animal life consisting of hundreds of birds, 2 grey collard doves, Blackie the cat and the foxes as well as those we do not always see give us continuous joy and great entertainment. The swallows are now 2 weeks old –a late hatch and we hope they are going to be ok –there is still a long road ahead before they can even think of taking the air streams to Africa. Today, as always the best day of my week. After last week’s disappointing sermon , I should not criticize, but all meant well but he lost track of the critical point and lost track of time –we could not even sing our last Hymn as he has to rush on to Mullingar. Today we were so privilege to have an inspiring sermon, excellent food for our souls and great enthusiasm to praise the Lord with word and song! I worked last night, gave over report and left in good time to be able to attend the service. The attendance was good and the noisy children were not there-everyone could hear every word! Great were the thanks he received greeting the members at the door! We sang with the roof lifting, praising the Lord. At work things were difficult, I was called in to do a day shift on Tuesday which was more than a torture session. I was so tired I could not walk from the car to the front door, every joint was aching and every muscle in spasm! Why do I say yes to these special favours- every time I say I will not do it again, but when the call comes, I always yes. Stupid, I know! I also completed 3 nights with the ward filled to capacity each night. This week ahead I will have my other week of leave which were cancelled as it was going to be a heavy week and it was. Finbarr Amanda and Lukas were in Sicilia and returned on Monday evening and he has been working since! We had hoped to see them this weekend or maybe next weekend but that fell in a wave and was shattered against the rocks and now we will hope for a future date to see the little man in our lives as well as his parents. It started raining and the weather report for tomorrow is not good. We had hoped to make a few day trips but ...it does not seems if it will materialise. The schools are due to open Wednesday and all will return to normal. Birthdays: Martie Redelinhuys is a year older this day, Happy birthday! I have no other names in my book for August but on the 1st it is Barend Bornman’s birthday, 2nd Sept Leané Eloff in Roodepoort will turn 7yrs old. Happy birthday 5th Sept we remember Maryke- and Michael Knight will be a year older.. Cobus van Marle’s birthday is on the 6th and Nanette and Brandon Pienaar will be having their Birthday on the 8th Many happy returns! If there is some-one having a birthday and I have omitted to mention you it is because I do not know about it! Have a lovely day in any case! I have been working so much that I lost track of the doing of the politici but you can be sure that the action will commence very soon. The Paralympics will start and we hope it will go as smoothly with them as the other Olympics. Thank you to all for the lovely messages and letters I received on Monday. I had a wonderful day and felt very special! We have been watching with interest the Marikana Mines disaster and the follow-up. SA was continually in the head lines all over Euro news. Hope sincerely that those who were visiting SA and are on their way home will have a safe journey and those that are still on safari that they will enjoy a very enjoyable time. Remember that safety on the roads and at home is of utmost importance! I greet you all from a Cranleymore where Autumn has arrived.! Barry and Christina

Heerlike warm groete vanuit Cranleymore

18 Augustus ‘12 Goeie dag aan almal, familie en vriende, Ons beleef ‘n 2de week van somer, natuurlik reën dit gereeld en gedurende die laaste 2 weke het ons 40mm reën gehad. Die temperature was meestal tussen 13-15 soggens en ‘n paar dae het die temperatuur tot 23 gestyg en ons vergaan van die hitte! Die sweet drup behoortlik van jou af en snags het ek ‘n handdoek om my nek om gereeld my gesig aftevee want vanweë my ouderdom werk die hormone nie meer so goed nie en instede van warm gloede hardloop die water in strome van my kop af, dit is nie baie lekker as jy op ‘n pasient se arm drup nie en dan om verskoning te vra nie. My ouderdom daar gelaat,ek moet lag vir die feit dat julle bibber as dit 13 grade is en ons loop dan buite rond met ‘n onder hempie en kortbroek en flipflops! Heerlik! As die grade bo 18 is kry ons baie swaar! Almal blaas en swoeg van die hitte! Ek het geskryf van ons baba krimpvarkie wat verdwyn het en ons vrese was bewaarheid toe ons die ou klein diertjie se oorblyfsels in die onderveld gekry het waar die ‘magpie’ korte miete van hom gemaak het. My hart was baie seer en het ook weereens besef hoe wreed die natuur kan wees. Blackie lyk heelwat beter en is die prins van die wilde diere wat besoek by ons aflê. As hy arriveer spring ons om hom kos te gee en hy kry net die beste,glo my!Die voëltjies in hul 100de leef ‘n koningslewe met saad en grondboontjies as voedsel byvoeding. Die jakkalsies blink en is steeds baie sku-kan die geringste beweging agter die glas raaksien en hardloop teen groot spoed die veld in om dan later weer terug tekom! Die tuin en die beslommernis van die huislose slakke –baie ongure kreature en gladnie aanbevelinswaardig vir proteien inname nie- vreet alles op, ongelooflik, ons was op ‘n moord tog vanmiddag en het elke blom en pot omgekeer en seker 20 dood gemaak maar kom die nag, kruip hulle uit die grond en verorber alles-enige nuwe groei word summier opgevreet. Ek is jammer maar ek hou nie van die ellendige goed nie. Ek het al my nat sout, pakkies en in houers om die plante leeg gemaak –net om dan in die nag weggereen te word! 3 Appels het geval in die stormwinde van verlede week en die 1 peer sit nog, wonderbaarlik. Die tamatie boom het baie tamaties aan en ons hoop daar is genoeg hitte oor om die tamaties te laat ryp word. Ons eet gereeld groente uit ons tuin. Aartappels, wortels en uie. Die ertjies begin nou lyf kry en een van die dae sal ons ook ons eie ertjies kan eet. Die swartvoel’blackbird’ het elke appelliefie opgevreet- die enigste ding wat hoog en gesond staan is my rubarber. Op ‘n eiland wat water in oorvloed het is daar ongelukkig geen sorg beskikbaar om seker te maak dat ons goeie drinkwater het nie- Daar is altyd iewers ‘n plek op die eiland waar mense gewaarsku word om water te kook en soms help dit nie eers nie-die kwaliteit van die water is so swak dat jy dit nie eers gekook mag drink nie! Sedert ons hier woon het ons nog nooit water uit die kraan gedrink nie en ander water word altyd gekook. Ons koop water om te drink, altyd! Die einde van die 3 maande skool vakansie is byna op ‘n einde en skole begin die 30 Aug. Die matriek ‘Leaving Cert’ uitslae is uit en die dogters het die seuns uitgestof –gelukkig is daar darem nog slim kinders op aarde – 10 of meer het 9 A1’s gekry! Enigiemand wat ‘n A vir die Ierse taal kry moet ‘n wonderwerk wees. Dit is seker die moeilikste taal opgemaak deur mense wat nie geweet het wat om te se nie- voor die Vikings en toe ‘n konglommerasie van letter bymekaar gegoei het en dit Iers genoem Dit maak geen sin nie en om dit uittespreek is byna onmoontlik. Nou net op die nuus gehoor dat jy selfs nie in die see mag swem nie wat die see water is besoedel met E Coli! Dit is nou aan die kus van Cork, 3de wêreld is ‘n mooi plek! Aan die anderkant kant leef ons nog 100% veiliger as ander op aarde. Die dood van mense wat in die see verdrink is baie erg-5 in 3 dae se tyd en natuurlik ongelukke op die paaie is oneindig hoog! Ons leef ‘n baie veilige lewe en ons is erg dankbaar daarvoor, ons lees op die rekenaar nuus van die moorde en ons harte bloei vir die mense wat agter bly! Ons weet ook dat die wat daar woon nie so bewus is van wat in die land aangaan as die wat daar buite bly nie- ons lees ook mooi nuus as dit verskyn! Huidiglik maak SA se myn opstande en die polisie wat die myn werkers doodgeskiet hoof opskrifte ooral op die nuus en in elke koerant! Mamela se toespraak was byna in sy totaal op CNN en BBc uitgesaai! By die werk, werk ons teen ‘n geweldige spoed en onder geweldige druk- temin personeel en onmoontlike omstandighede en soos ons altyd verwag het, het die ellende toegeslaan toe een van ons ‘respite ‘ pasiente Woensdagnag geval het en haar heup gebreek het en terselfdertyd ‘n pasient wat aan dimensia ly op soek geraak het! Die narkotiseur vir die Oor-neus-en-keel gevalle het nie genoeg anti -naar medikasie in teater gegee nie en 14 kinders en groot mense het gebraak- dit was C H A O S!!!! Elke stukkie van my was getoets gedurende daardie nag. Nou ja die politici hou nog vakansie en ons vrees hulle terugkeer,want ons weet nie of hulle aldag weet wat hulle doen nie! Die Olimpiese Spele is oor en veby en ons raak nou weer gewoond aan die normale programme op die TV. Die Para Olimpiese Spele kom 29ste aan die beurt. Die egpaar moet teen hierdie tyd reeds getroud wees en ek hoop dat dit ‘n pragtige dag vir hulle was en vir almal wat dit met hulle gedeel het. Veels geluk aan Pauli en Mader. Verjaardae, Nicholas and Christopher in Cork verjaar 19e, SJP Kruger in Australie verjaar die 20ste en Rachelle Josling die 24ste. Veels geluk aan almal Mag die jaar ‘n goeie een wees en al jul drome bewaarheid word! Môre is die beste dag van my week en dit is my beurt om die orrel te speel en die keer is ek nie moeg nie en hoop dat my oë my nie weer in die steek sal laat nie. Dit is seker een van die vreeslikste dinge vir my om daar te sit en niks te kan sien nie net wit en swart stepe vir note en al die note op die bladsy onleesbaar! Die oogkundiges het opgegee-ek moet daarmee saam leef. Die prediker is steeds elke Sondag ‘n verrassing, ons eie predikant is aan die beter word en ons hoop en bid dat hy eersdaags sy herderskap sal kan hervat! Baie dankie aan alaml wat gereeld van hulle laat hoor! Dit is heerlik om die briefies te lees! Hiermee dan ons warm groete vanuit Cranleymore waar my wasgoed nou vir die laaste 2 weke op die draad droog geword het!. Wees tog altyd versigtig op die paaie en tuis! Barry en Christina

Warm greetings from Cranleymore

Sunday 12 Augustus’12 Good day to family and friends, We experienced the long awaited summer since Tuesday the week gone by. Wonderful sunshine, temperatures to cause severe perspiration. 25° Most days – today it rained for the first time in 7 days and that is a record. 25° equals about 36° in SA ! July was the coldest in Decades!!! The Olympics is nearing the last hours and although it was fantastic I have had enough! Great disappointment about the 800m for women last night-I could not see it but Barry looked! I worked last night, rushed home this morning, changed and went off to church immediately and were privilege that our minister’s father was the preacher for today! I was very tired but it was my turn to play the organ as Joy thought they might be away but in the end did not go. I have a condition where when tired my focus is delayed and during the service I sit in the pew next to Barry writing down the service and move during the last prayer back to the organ. Disaster struck when I realised that I could not see the notes – because you do not expect it, the confusion causes me to play nearly by feeling as the key board becomes blurry as well! Only at verse 3 my sight improved and the last verse all the notes were correct! It is the most terrible sensation when you look at the book and back to the keyboard and you see nothing, the eye specialists can do nothing for the condition but it is very embarrassing and frustrates me greatly – I will have to refrain from playing the organ when I have worked the night before! The garden does not look too bad and has been photographed by Cilna from corner to corner. Some SA friends had coffee with us on Wednesday( invitations went out but few responded because of previous engagements) and although we were few it turned out to be very pleasant with 50 protection screen we enjoyed the refreshment in the garden! Dr Gert Maritz, Cilna’s husband joined us and it was lovely! They are from Memel. At work there has been a surge in theatre cases and my leave for the week of the 20 August has been postpone I sincerely hope that I will get it back before the end of our delayed summer. The snow in SA has really been an experienced- with us something quite normal! When the snow lasts for weeks on end the fun disappears from it, hope it stays a novelty and not a burden. On the political front all is quiet- we expect an eruption as soon as this lot return from their summer vacation-which is nearing an end. The financial state of the country is in a state of total disarray and the fear the Budget in 4 months time! The good news of Baby Christiaan is wonderful and we thank the Lord for every little bit of improvement! We wish the Ohlmesdal couple who are on their way to Canada a good experience for the next 2 years. We had a baby hedgehog with us since Sunday last but on Tuesday evening I fear the magpies must have picked him up as we have not seen the beautiful little animal again, had a chance to take some lovely photos though but feel very sad for its disappearance. The vegetable garden provides us with potatoes, carrots and onions, the apples, 11 of them are still on the tree and the 1 pear still hangs. The grapes are filling out and we might just be able to tastes a grape in a few months time before the cold comes! The tomatoes are coming on as well The snails persists and in spite of their protein value as, I was so politely been informed, they do not look very appetising as they have no shells, are very slimy and rather dark and unfriendly. They devoured nearly every dahlia in the garden of which there were quite a few originally. Birthdays. Yesterday the 11th was Marjorie’s happy day and today it is Gerhard from Frik and Elmaie- Happy birthday to them! Next Saturday the wedding of Pauli and Mader is taking place and our best wishes to them! Thank you to those who regularly let us know how they are, there are a few people on my address list that has been very quiet lately, I hope they are keeping well! I GREET YE ALL WITH A WARM HEART FROM A WARM CRANLEYMORE! TAKE CARE on the roads and at home. Barry and Christina

Groete vanuit 'n deurmekaar Cranleymore

Sondag 5 Augustus’12 Goeie dag aan almal tuis en met vakansie, Finbarr het my ‘wireless’ ingestel en ek kan ongestoord nou op my skoot die briefie skryf en stuur. Die weer is gevaarlik verkeerd- die koudste Julie in dekades. Dit reen nog steeds-so nou en dan is daar ‘n breek in die wolke en die son maak ‘n verskyning en ‘n mens is so honger vir die son dat jy elke druppel indrink soos iemand wat by ‘n oases in die woestyn kom! Ek dink die weer buro het ‘n klap van die windmeule weg want hulle kan nie die weer voorspelling reg kry nie- Haas Das se weervoorspelling is werklik hier van toepassing! Ons eet en leef Olimpiese spele en ek moet sê, ons harte bars van trots elke keer as ‘n SAfrikaner ‘n medalje kry- was doods benoud dat Chad se pa ‘n hartaanval gaan kry! Die Iere het nie genoeg disipline om iewers te kom en dit met respek gesê- deursettingsvermoeë is skaars! Usain Bolt is ‘n buitegewone atleet en hy vlieg deur die lug so gemaklik as wat kan kom. Nou het ons gister ons eerste 2 knie vervangings gehad- vir ons as ‘n klein privaat hospitaaltjie ‘n groot prestasie, die ortopeet, die teater personeel en natuurlik die splinternuwe ‘clean air laminaflow’ teater. Die heup vervanging is al reeds ou nuus! Vir ons as verpleeg personeel uiteraard ‘n uitdading en soos met die heup vervanging was dit weer my beskore om te werk die nag na die operasies! Tuinwaarts – die ellendige slakke –dis nou nie dat ek die werk van ons liewe Vader wil kritiseer nie maar ek kan met die beste wil in die wêreld , nie ‘n goeie rede vind vir hulle bestaan nie. Hulle verwoes alles maar alles! Onderdood wil Barry nie bier koop om in pierinkies uittesit en hulle te laat verdrink nie-dus hou hulle elke nag ‘n fees in my tuin. Ons eet nou gereeld uit die groente tuin aartappels, uie, wortels en rubarber. Die voëls verorber al die appeliefies en ek glo nie ek gaan kans kry om hulle eens te pluk nie. Daar sit een misrable peer aan die boom en 11 appels aan die ander boom, ons is so teleurgesteld-het regtig gehoop dat ons die jaar bietjie vrugte gaan pluk maar helaas begin ek glo dat ons maar die goed moet koop! Die enigste ding wat goed gaan is my pit plantery- maak nie saak wat ek in die grond druk nie, 6 weke later kom die plantjie deur die grond! Pomelos, lemoene en naartjies. My orgideë, gegroei van stiggies begin nou blom en is ‘n mooi gesig!.Die rose hou nog koers en lyk redelik ten spyte van die baie reen. Blackie kom ander oggend vir sy ontbyt en terwyl hy aan sy Whiskas smul en ons hou hom dop om te sien of hy begin beter lyk, kyk hy skielik op, ons volg die rigting waarin hy staar.Skielik hardloop die kat na die heining en Barry wat in die rigting gestaar het sien die beweging en roep die kat terug die kat verwilderd, stop sy aantog en gee ons die kans om die krimpvarkie raak te sien en te beskerm , nie dat hy homself kan beskerm nie maar omdat ons hom nog nooit so naby kon sien nie- die pratige diertjie was besig om vir wurms te grawe en het nie eers besef dat ons daar is nie- teen die tyd dat ek terug is met die kamera is hy in ‘n bolletjie – ons het hom veilig onder ‘n bos geplaas en later gaan kyk en hy was weg,gisteraand toe ek werktoe ry kry Barry ‘n baba krimpvarkie by die hek- 2 gesien in 24 uur! Ek weet nie of krimpvarkie die regte benaming in Afr is vir ‘hedgehog’ nie? DIE ‘FOXIES’ blink in hul mooi jassies en verorber alles elke nag maak nie saak of dit droeë brood of bene is nie. Was kerk toe van môre en het gesing en nie gespeel nie-was moeg na die nag en die eerste gesang totaal onbekend –teen vers 3 het ek die wysie en toe gaan ons aan! Predikant van Belfast en ‘n wonderlike preek gelewer Ps 84- ‘n openbaring! Verjaardae: Die boekie is baie ver en ek het vanmôre vergeet om te kyk wie verjaar vandag – aan almal wat die volgende week ‘n jaar ouer gaan word-. Baie Geluk! Ons dink aan almal wat heerlik met vakansie is- aan die wat gereed maak om ‘n egpaar te word en die wat kinders gaan bykry! Mag die voorbereidings goed gaan! Die politici hou vakansie en is vir die oomblik rustig- Banana Republiek is ‘n mooi ding! Die Quinn saga gaan aan- sommige vir hulle en ander teen hulle, sal maar sien of die waarheid eendag na vore sal kom. Ek groet vanuit ‘n deurmekaar Cranleymore met die hoop dat die wat reis dit voorspoedig sal doen en die wat tuis bly altyd versigtig sal wees. Ons dink ook aan die wat nie gesond is nie en hoop dat hulle beter sal voel en dat babatjie Christiaan goed vorder Liefde groete Barry en Christina

Sunshine greetings from Cranleymore

30 July ‘12 Good day to all, family and friends! I am late in writing a few lines but I have a good reason, I worked, not like most of the people I know that are all on holiday! The sun shone here today and is surely the most important aspect of the 2nd last day of July. I can recall about 4 good days during this month and may be 2 very good days that is now with temperatures above 20° C but still lower than 25! The rain meter has been installed and we will do a weekly rainfall reading and record same. The satellite dish has brought great viewing to our TV lounge and a picture out of this world! The Olympics are great entertainment. The underwater camera work is really good and I have to admit that the facilities are of the highest standard- has to be of course but never thought that the English will achieve it in time! While watching the swimming there was a glitz with the starter – a technical problem which did not make it any easier on the swimmers! The garden does not look too bad in spite of the continuous rain, the only problem is that the weeds grow just as fast as the shrubbery. Our tomato tree has tomatoes on and it seems as if the bunches of grapes will reach a stage where they will ripen. The pip-grown apple tree is doing well outside and I have about 20 orange and grape fruit trees in different stages-I have had such success with pushing the pips of sweet grape fruit and oranges into the ground- it is quite unreal. If they all grow I might just think about marketing them I, in all fairness need a hothouse but a good one costs money and that tree I have not found yet! Foxies and birds are in good shape- Blackie is thin and in spite of eating well he seems to stay under weight. He does not mind Barry but I must not come near- we thought we could catch him and take him to the vet but neither do we want to frighten him, so – we keep on feeding him and as long as he comes, we are happy! The saga with the Quinn family continues, very sad, but...greediness will eventually get the better of you if you indulge in it! On the political front they are fairly well behaved and the excitement of a few weeks ago of Ministers involved in money making schemes are settling down with the Olympics across the waters taking most of the attention. We had a surprise visit from Finbarr with the family-he bought in bulk some cosmetics which Amanda will be marketing on facebook- The smell in the outside room is heavenly. Little Lukas is a real treat! The boxes were delivered here with us as we have the space! The Eloff’s from Exeter is already in the ‘boskamp’ and the young couple are getting ready for the big day! Pauli and Mader- hope you enjoy the preparations! Birthdays: Frik in Vryburg- I have no email address for them but if there is some-one in touch with them please convey my best wishes to him for the 31st. Gert Maritz, our visiting SA doctor fin MIDOC will also be a year older on the same day! Gerlof will have his birthday in the ‘boskamp’ and Renate Br Mendel’s daughter in the Cape-Happy birthday for the 1st. Annarie in Ballymahon’s birthday is on the 4th ! May you have a lovely day! Any-one else Happy birthday if you have a birthday in this coming week! We specially think and pray for little Christiaan in Pretoria! I greet ye all from Cranleymore where the sun shone today Take care on the roads and at home Barry and Christina

21 Julie’12 Goeie dag almal, ver en naby! Dit is droog! Dit het vir 36 uur nie gereën nie! Ongelooflik! Dis nou nie baie warm nie maar jy kan darem sonder ‘n trui buite toe gaan! Ek dink die hele wêreld se weer patroon is in die war. Het fotos ontvang van die vloede in Port Elizabeth en sneeu op ander plekke in SA. Iets wat hier by ons natuurlik dood gewoon is-ook die vloede veral in laag liggende gedeeltes en naby die kus, arme Cork kry baie swaar! Die mense daar kan nie eers meer versekering vir hul huise kry nie! Die gras is gesny met die nuutste aankope , ‘n groot enjin- ek is seker ons kan met die ding op vlug gaan moet net vlerke kry! Al die dooie rose en blomme is uitgesny – ons het voëlsaad gaan bestel en gedurende die week het ons die wonderwerk beleef van Barry wat self die man gebel het om die sateliet kom te kom opsit –en nou kan hy heerlik na ‘n goeie skerm kyk met geen sneeu nie –natuurlik GOLF die Britse Ope! Daar sal darem sekere items wees wat ons sal na kyk met die Olimpiese spele en hy kan nou al die nuus kyk op BBC en RTE! Daar is heel party ander kanale ook beskikbaar ,nie dat hy ooit daarna sal kyk nie – maar ...... Die jakkalsies is pragtig ons het hulle nou die aand gesien! Blackie die kat was in ‘n oorlog maar is besig om te heel! Die rose lyk goed en die begonia hang mandjies lyk pragtig die petunias hou nie van al die reen nie en daardie mandjies het reeds hul fleur verloor! Die appelboom van pit gegroei skiet die hoogtes in en die tamatie plant het vanself sy takke gebuig en groei nou horisontaal saam met die skuur se dak! Mendel ons wou die stam onder oprol maar dit wou nie! Ons het net 11 appels oor en 1 peer! Elke jaar dryg Barry om die bome uittehaal want so vér het ons nog net die bloeisels geniet! Die aartappels word soos nodig gelig uit die grond en die wortels en ertjies lyk goed. Ek het gister my eerste bossie pronk-ertjies gepluk! Die aarbeie gee my elke dag sowat 10 aarbeie vir ontbeit-heerlik! By die werk is dit bedags besig met dag pasiente en minder groot gevalle wat oorslaap dus was die nagte heel rustig! Ek is nou af tot volgende Vrydag wat my byna laat voel asof ek met verlof is! Die kinders was hier Sondag en groot gedeelte van die dag was droog maar ‘n paar buie het ons ingejaag en ons het maar die vleis binne gaar gemaak -ek het ‘n kontrapsie wat byna netso goed soos ‘n vuur werk en binne 15 mintue was die T been stukke vleis gaar asof dit op die vuur was net die rook smaak was nie daar nie!. Lukas praat vlot en hy en sy Oupa het die plante 3x met die gieter water gegee!. Hy was effens olik want 4 groot kiestande was besig om hul verskyning te maak! Ons moes ook inderhaas van buite na binne verhuis vir die eet en het toe sommer in die kombuis ge-eet! Niks deftigs nie! Een van die besigheids mense wat goed bekend was en groot industrieë uit niks opgebou het nie het gedurende die Celtic tier die klits kwyt geraak en aandele gekoop met geld wat hy by die bank geleen het en toe val al die markte plat en alles is in sy peetjie. Hy skuld die bank Biljoene! Hy het intussen die geld in ander lande belê en toe hy bangkrot verklaar is het hy ooral nes eiertjies gehad om hom aan die gang te hou- nie gedink die klomp stom Iere sal hom uitvang nie maar nou braai sy kieringtjies goed en propper want sy seun sit nou in die tronk en ‘n nefie is aan die hardloop –glo siek -en het nie in die hof gister verskyn nie en die ou man moet praat binne 3 maande –dis nou die waarheid praat, anders gaan hy ook tronk toe! Almal is hier met vakansie –meestel oorsee want hulle soek die son en hitte na 10 mnde van reën en koue! Ons sal heerlik met Jan tuisbly se karretjie ry en heel gelukkig in Cranleymore ons somer dae wat nog moet kom, verwyl! Ons is nou ook so bevoorregt want Cilna het vir ons ‘n ordentlike reënmeter gebring van SA en ons sal van nou af ook ‘n korrekte reënveslag kan gee! Môre is die beste dag van my week en ek het weer ‘n kans voor die orgel en het Pslame en Gesange reeds gekies – ons predikant is nog met siek verlof en ons het geen idee wanneer hy weer sy beroep sal kan hervat nie! Intussen het ons besoekende predikers, nie almal opgelei nie, word evangeliste genoem met ‘n paar jaar onderrig! Hulle kwyt hulle heel goed van hul taak- onder die omstandighede en ons is dankbaar dat daar elke Sondag wel iemand opdaag!. Verjaardae: Herrie Cooper verjaar die 24ste as ek dit reg het, 1 volle jaar Veels Geluk! Oubaas verjaar die 26ste- lekker verjaar! En die 27ste verjaar Thilo in Saudi, en Megan Josling in Dublin Veels Geluk en mag die jaar voorspopedig wees! Nou ja ek groet met ‘n ligter hart vanuit Cranleymore met die waarskuwing dat julle almal baie versigtig moet wees! Barry en Christina( aangeheg ‘n foto van die T been stuk!)

Upside down summer greeting from Cranleymore

Saturday 14 July ‘12 Good day to all, family and friends They promised we will have some sunshine today and tomorrow but they forgot to tell us that is just a dream! The clouds are layer upon layer -you can cut it with a knife and will need a real good carving knife with a long blade to get through all the layers. One thing I have to admit there is water in the air but it is not raining! Many things happened this past week. Tuesday we brought the front wheel driven lawn mower back to the shop where they graciously gave us a refund. Then the search for another lawn mower started-in Home Base we could not find what Barry wanted and after visiting 3 more places we still could not make up our minds. After a cup of African tea we felt more refreshed and returned to a provider that we promise we will not entertain again as we previously found their spares dept for our stove (boiler) unreliable but if they now have the best machine then you overlook and forget. The washing mashing has been making the most terrible noise when it starts spinning- 7 years later one would expect something to give notice and I imagine it must be a bearing somewhere in the deepest part of the machines’ digestive system. It would cost more to get some-one to come and have a look, quote and fix than a new one- that we also established. So with that in mind we did a double deal and got the lawn mower and washing machine at the same place with a discount on top of the discount already on the washing machine- all in all a good Tuesday. Delivery will take place the next day which suites us fine and no delivery charge as we did buy 2 items which is not something that happens every day in any shop now a days. We could do it as we got the refund for the other machine and we planned for the washing machine for some time! Every cent before spending it, is turned over and over to make sure that what you spend it on is value for money! Wednesday just before my rest period the lot arrived and the man was very good he brought the washing machine right into the kitchen for Barry! It stood there until this morning –and now it is installed and the first wash was done! Perfect- noiseless! I am very happy! The sun came out for a while on Thursday and Barry took this opportunity to make mincemeat of the grass in the garden, the lower field’s pathway and outside in the road! It looks good again! I worked 2 extra nights 2 weeks ago and instead of payment I got it back in time owing and worked only one night this week – that was a bonus! Barry eventually decided that a dish on the roof will improve his TV life and leave him with fewer headaches- as we have to look through a thick layer of mist to the BBC channels. The digital viewing which comes into operation 24 October provides us with 8 channels in Ireland but nothing more and we have been spoiled with the BBC channels and he will not be able to watch the OPEN next week in the mist- I tuned the lot to the best of my ability according to direction for analogue channels but my knowledge is not enough for complicated new world equipment. None of my working though but thanks to GOLF!.We will be able to enjoy a better picture, Just hope the man arrives before Thursday! The children are visiting tomorrow and we are looking forward to it. The plan is to have a braai and we had to laugh at the butcher in town’s face when we asked him if he does not have bigger T –bone steaks than those on the tray. He then produced a proper piece of meat and we told him 1” thick please! X4. Wow it looked good and I hope it will braai well! Lukas has also got a sandpit which can close with a lid to prevent rain and animal intruders to spoil it. Last time he played in the building sand that was left –not very hygienic and left him unpleasantly dirty and he is not fond of dirty hands! On Thursday with the sun shining the farmer behind us Jimmy O’Shaughnessy started cutting the grass and so my suffering started- No amount of anti-histamine tables, inhalers, nose drops/sprays and tissues could assist me in the sneezing sessions that followed and still continues! I hope they will finish today as the sneezing is very tiring and at time 4 sneezes come at once and there is no time to breathe in between! Dangerous for older people – I thought one outgrows things like Hay-fever! The only thing that helps is to drink very cold water- but that means I drink an enormous amount of water during the sneezing times> Blackie stayed away for a few days and we got worried but yesterday he arrived. Eating so fast that he nearly choked!. Our visiting grey doves are timid birds and very peaceful. The foxies are cute! Professor we have not seen now for 3 months or longer and we suspect that he is no more. The swallows took their time and fledged after 3 weeks in the nest also on Thursday they return there every night and still sleeps in the nest! They do not all fit in anymore- and it is very funny! The tomato plants were reaching the ceiling and had to be moved they are now parked outside next to the grapevine and the apple tree. Still looking good and we might have to get on the roof of the shed to pick the tomatoes! My orchids that I divided a year ago started to flower during the week and I feel good about the product! Birthdays: Leandri du Toit has a birthday on the 21st, Hope you will have a lovely day! We remember Werner in the 20th, who sadly passed away earlier in the year! Never a dull moment in Irish politics! The Min. Of Health’s name appeared in the gazette of people owing money – bad debts- he was away and on his arrival here had to please explain what, how, why and what is next? Could become very interesting. The outcome of the murder case in Mauritius last year of the Irish girl Mc Creevey was very sad- People here do not understand the mentality of other races as I think we do who come from SA.. We watch the dilemmas unveil there in London with the Olympics about 2 weeks away! They had 8 years to prepare and still all is not in place! I am back in front of the organ tomorrow after 2 weeks of absence and a need to praise the Lord with song and music! My best day of the week. We think also of Jeanne who has nearly 3 weeks behind her in SA-hope you are getting used to the cold! To those who have to travel please be careful and never forget safety at home! Summer in hiding greetings from Cranleymore Barry & Christina