Sonnige maar baie koue groete

‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar jul toegewens! 28 Desember 2013 Goeie dag aan allemaal ,familie en vriende! Net ‘n kort skrywe om seker te maak dat julle weet dat dit winter is in die Noordelike Halfrond en dat storm sterkte winde ons nou al geruime tyd teister! Die laaste sneeu wat geval het was Dinsdag en ons het ‘n heerlike sonnige Kers dag gehad- koud! Maar blou lug was aan die orde van die dag! Nou lê Nuwe Jaar voor en vandag skyn die son heerlik en daar is ‘n nuwe glans in die lig van die son strale maar die storms is alweer op pad! Arme Engeland! Die weste van die Eiland kry die swaarste en ons hier in die middel van eiland kry ‘n swiep van die storm se stert elke nou en dan! 140mm in minder as ‘n week in reenval! Gelukkig het ons nie krag onderbrekings gehad nie maar baie bome is omgewaai en oral sien jy boere besig om bome uit die klein paadjies te verwyder en optesaag! Ons is baie baie bevoorregt om heerlik beskut en warm in ons huisie te verkeer- Ek gaan alleen buite toe as die son skyn –gepantser teen die koue- en loop my loop anders bly ek binne! Die vuur brand elke dag van 1nm en ons is baie dankbaar vir al die seeninge! Die katte Spottie en Patches was baie stout vanmôre- hulle dink hulle kan vlieg en sit onder al die voel kos hangers en het toe tog dit reggekry om een voeltjie te vang Barry het hom gou gered! Ons kan dit nie stop nie en die katte is so deel van ons lewe nou ! Patches loop elke tree saam met my – as ek nie genoeg met hom praat nie begin hy tjank – Spottie is te lui hy loop so 3x saam en dan roep hy halt – dink seker ek is mal om so al in die rondte te loop! 20x 200meter is 4000 meter en dit is goed genoeg vir my! Ek kry dit nie leke dag gedoen nie maar loop dan binne – die draaie is net baie nader aan mekaar en ek moet elke nou en dan bietjie stop! Op politieke front is daar redelike stilte want alles het tot stilstand gekom oor Kers en hulle het nog nie mooi bygekom na die groot maaltye nie en volgende week het hul gelukkig net een dag af! Ons hoop dinge sal dan na normaal begin terug keer! Die arme man wat genooi is om die verskil punte in Noord Ierland optelos het net voor Kers byna deur die nag berading gehou met die klomp – afgevaardigers van elke party om die ellende van onmin en verskille op te klaar! Drie dinge bly ‘n doring in die vlees! Vlae wat sekere dae van die jaar waai, die parades wat plaas vind en om vrede te maak met die verlede! Hy is huis toe en het vanmôre weer terug gevlieg! Hy het werklik baie deursettingsvermoë! Niemand wil ingee nie en niemand wil iets verloor van hul oerstaande ordes nie- Plaas dat almal saam stem – laat die wat wil parades hou – gaan voort en loop net waar julle wil, laat alle vlae waai elke dag van die jaar en dit wil voorkom of hulle nooit van “reconciliation” gehoor het nie – net nou die dag het hulle weer ‘n bom laat ontplof in Belfast- Vir wat? Dit gaan my verstand te bowe! Hier maak hulle mekaar dood met messe – bendes wat veg – iemand wat ‘n ander te na gekom het word met ‘n mes dood gemaak sonder enige probleme- ek dink meer mense is dood aan steek wonde as op die paaie! Môre is weer die beste dag van my week en ek sit nog in die bank en sing heerlik terwyl Joy die orgel speel! My beurt sal kom –hopelik na my volgende besoek aan die Fisioterapeut- toestemming om te bestuur en om sonder krukke te loop – ek loop buite net met een –vir ingeval maar binne in die huis al lank nie meer nie! Oefeninge neem baie van my tyd in beslag en daar is byna geen tyd vir iets anders in my lewe nie! Die tuin is kaal en bruin, en tog staan die daisy bos reg om ooptebars in ‘n geel dos van blommetjies- die affodille groei verwoed! Die heide staan ook in volle blom! Ons dink baie spesiaal aan die wat alleen is- die wat miskien alleen voel, almal wat geliefdes gedurende die jaar verloor het, almal wat nog besig is om te herstel, die wat in diepe verdriet is oor dinge wat nie wou uitwerk nie! Ouers wat probleme het met kinders! Onthou dat daar versekering opgeskryf staan in die boek van God, jy is tot alles instaat met God aan jou sy! Ons dink ook aan almal wat kinders op besoek het! Geniet elke minuut! Baie dankie vir la die heerlik leesstof wat via die lug gearriveer het! Alles word verslind –waar dit ook al vandaan kom SA, Rusland Australia, Kanada, Engeland! Verjaardae! Ons onthou Br Mendel en al die kinders en klein kinders met Anke† wat die 30ste sou verjaar het! Wees altyd versigtig veral die wat op die pad gaan wees- onthou die gek om die hoek! Hou Veiligheid tuis en ook waar julle met vakansie is altyd in gedagte! Groete vanuit ‘n sonnige maar baie koue Cranleymore! Barry & Christina

Wet winter greetings

Saturday 21 December ‘13 We wish you a Blessed Christmas Good day to all, family and friends! We experience proper winter and somehow it does not matter that it is pouring with rain, that there is no sun and just dark clouds- it is the shortest day of the year and soon the days will grow longer and the looking forward to spring will be in the air! Our hopes for this festive season is that every-one where ever he or she may be will experience the Wonder of the Saviour that was born for us! We have our Carol Service tomorrow – always something to look forward to! Those who are not well, those who are in recovery, those are lonely, those who feel desperate- KNOW - the great Healer is there to take care of you! We put up our little Fibre Optic tree this morning and the front room has been changed into a kaleidoscope of colours! The country side is bleak and wet- with the wind blowing most of the time at storm strength- a sad time of the year for some families – murders and accidents. Freak accidents that take lives and others who have no respect for another human being! On the political front you look at a beautiful shiny red apple and when you cut it open it is alive with worms! There are daily a discovery of the most terrible financial crimes thinkable, being exposed in our island which brings great sadness ! On a more festive note! The cats are fascinated by the lights on the tree! As they are estate cats they live in the shed- they are well protected from wind and rain and have been put on a diet as from this morning! Spottie loves to come and look where I am . He slips pass Barry till he finds me- wait for his head to scratched and then I pick him up and carry him out – he weighs a good few kilos! Patches is not that greedy but it has to come to an end! Just now his heart stops! Their coats are magnificent and I know they are not cold! Loves the snow and try to catch the snow flakes! We hope to have the children over on the 26th or there about! As always we have food for the whole of Africa and we will be eating cold meats till long after New year! Birthdays: Paul & Jacob the 24th, Nine from Haya 26th! Happy birthday to you! Only the very best wishes for the year to come! Congratulations to Gerda & Louis on there wedding! Many of you are away on holidays and we hope that you will enjoy it and drive safely! Take good care of yourselves –remember safety at home and away! Wet winter greetings from us here in Cranleymore! Barry & Christina

Wet and windy greetings

Saturday 14 December ‘13 Good day to all, family and friends! It has been a very mild December until yesterday at 2pm when out of the blue a hail storm passed over us and since then the temperatures have been a bit lower than all week! One of the funny things about this Island is that the temperatures goes up during the night and down during the day and that has been the most of the last 10 days the case! It was dry until that hailstorm and the rain has not really stopped since then! It gave me a gap to walk yesterday between 3.30-4pm but that was it! Fields are still green but the trees are bare and brown, not a pleasant sight as we are very spoiled with the very special colouring of this place! I noticed still a few roses flowering and the chrisanthenyms! The daisy bushes looks as if they are about to burst into flower and the daffodils are a good 2 inches above the ground! We were very spoiled by the visit from our niece and nephew Anette and Michael from SA- two family members in one month! Hillie was here earlier on! It was a short visit but still got a short drive in just to show off a bit! Barry is now not just Estate manager but also Kitchen boss and chef! He has become an excellent cook and we eat well! My day is taken up by time for rest with an ice pack on the knee and then the endless exercise regime with the walk following! Every day a little further as in 4 weeks I will be walking 4km a day without my crutches! The circus with the week of Mandela is nearly at an end and we have become the laughing stock of the world! You all know the wonderful sign language man with previous convictions and all and the garbage he signed! Now the people of the East Cape are furious because they did not have the privileges of those in Gauteng! O dear, will I be glad to see something else on TV! Our local radio station invited people who have had dealings or even have met Mr Mandela to come on air and tell their stories- - in some cases it was so embarrassing as they gave wrong facts and spoke pure tripe! We Skype regularly with the grandchildren and they are growing up beautifully! Very cute! Tomorrow we officially exit the TROIKA and only the future will tell what that holds! May we survive! I sincerely hope to get to church tomorrow- but only be able to do it if it stops raining- the world gets very slippery and when it rains continually you have to dodge quite big pools and to try and get through them with crutches and a wind that is blowing storm strength is a bit difficult! So I do pray and hope that the wind will lie down and the sun make an appearance with dry skies –so that I can get to church! Barry is very patient and has now qualified as physio and nurse as well!. We think of those who are going to get married! Congratulations! Unfortunately I have no date but our wishes are that you will be very happy! Birthdays!: Marie Reynecke has had her Birthday today, Helene van Gerda and Oubaas on the 17th and Karen du Toit on the 21st! Happy birthday to you all! To those who are not well and in recovery –you are always in our prayers! Our cats Patches and Spottie has grown up to be 2 enormous big cats and Barry is now in charge of their diet and they are spoilt rotten! We have a big ginger cat visiting and you can just hear the growls from our 2 cats when he comes too near! Only birds present but nothing else at present! To those who are packing to travel either to come home or to go home we pray that you will have a safe journey! Those who are going to use the roads please be careful and do not speed! Continually remember your own safety at home and away! With wet and windy regards Regards from Cranelymore Barry & Christina

Lekker winter groete

7 Desember ‘13 GOEIE DAG AAN ALMAL FAMILIE EN Vriende! Ek sit met ‘n handdoek om my nek om die sweet druppels aftevee na my kilometer loop op die krukke wat net regtig daar is om my balans te behou en te verhoed dat ek struikel! Ek moet baie aandag gee aan die buig van die knie en die manier waarop ek my voet neer sit en dit verg deksels baie! Dit is blikskottles koud 4°-6, daarbuite maar na so ‘n sessie hardloop die sweet my af! Eintlik het ons die hele week goeie weer gehad –dit is bewolkd maar ons kan nog alles verdra want dit is droog ! Die son kom so nou en dan deur en dan skrik jy byna! Gister was dit 14 dae en die Dr en Fisioterapeut dink ek is ‘n briljante pasient! Ek doen alles reg en genoeg van en nou het ek sedert gister my kilometer loop opgeskuif na 1.5 per dag vir 3 dae en dan word dit 2km per dag. Ek moes die afstand mooi afmeet –liewer verder loop as minder. Dus elke keer wat my regtervoet vorentoe gaan is dit ‘n telling en so het ek ‘n roete uitgewerk al om die parkeer area en voor die huis om! Barry was woendend vir my vanmore want ek het besluit ek kan nie ndie vuil huis meer aanskou nie! Hy is baie goed en vee elke dag – die enigste mens wat ek ken wat net met een hand die besem vas hou en so die huis gougou elke oggend vee! Alles word in ‘n spesiale hoekie in gevee en as dit te hoog raak sal hy dit met die skoppie weg neem! Ongelukkig maak dit nie die matte skoon nie en waar ek nou in die gaste kamer ingetrek het omdat alles daar gerieflik is en die bed die regte hoogte is, word daardie mat ontsettend vuil! Ons het klippies regom die huis –gruis en dit kom in met ons dik rubber sole! Die katte is mal oor die gelopery en as ek ophou tel begin hulle mieau tot ek weer begin tel! Hulle hardloop saam tot vervelens toe! Op n stadium roep hulle halt en begin wegkruipertjie met mekaar speel! Die tuin is dood en , leeg en lelik, die enigste ding wat nog mooi lyk is die pers en donker rooi krissante – hulle verdra die koue en ryp baie goed! Nou ja die afsterwe van Nelson Mandela het die hele wêreld in ‘n greep Ek weet nou meer van die man as wat ek ooit geweet het –van soggens vroeg tot laat aand is daar deurentyd hulde blyke en lewens programme- sommige laat jou tjank en ander maak jou boos! Ons harte is tog seer oor die ‘great and gentle giant’ en so jammer dat die verandering wat hy in gedagte gehad nie tot werklikheid gekom het nie- sommige wel maar ander het byna gedegenereer! Van hier gaan ons Taneaste Mr Gilmore vir die gedenk diens en dan die President( Lepricorn) D Higgins sal na die begrafnis gaan! Ander aand luister ons een of ander BBC program en die man met wie hulle die onderhoud voer beweer toe dat die Sjimpanzee nou as ‘mens’ verklaar gaan word- ongelooflik ( wat van die mens geskape na die ewe beeld van God) maar as hy so dink wonder ek of ons in die toekoms ‘n chimp gaan hê wat vir ons die nuus gaan lees! Ek weet hulle is baie slim –dit is nie te berwyfel nie maar om ‘n onderhoud te voer is darem regtig iets anders. Môre is soos altyd die beste dag van my week! Ons sal sake heroorweeg in die oggend , ek wil bitter graag kerk toe gaan maar sal ek kan stil sit vir so lank?- wat doen ek as ek MOET opstaan? Barry sterf liewer van skaamte as om my bietjie te laast regop staan terwyl die predikant preek! Baie dankie vir die 2 stelle fotos van die meneer gebore in Melbourne – pragtige kind!- die opvolg fotos van Evie en die fopspeen was te pragtig! Waar is klein Otto dan? Verjaardae!: My boekie is leeg tot en met volgende Saterdag – sou iemand wel verjaardag hou – geniet dit en alles van die beste vir die volgende jaar! Marie Reynecke is jarig op die 14de Veels Geluk! Goeie gesondheid en vele mooi dae jou toegewens! Daar is ‘n paar mense wat baie stil geraak het – ek hoop dit is nog wel daar? Nanette?? Martie Redelinhuys??? Ek Het darem vir Leandra opgespoor! Baie dankie vir al die briefies – geniet elke stukkie nuus! Ons bid steeds vir Attie en Hessie en Nine en Stefan! Ons sien ontsettend uit na ons Niggie Anette en haar man Michael se besoek Donderdag! Heerlik ook om weer van Hillie te gehoor het terwyl sy op die Euro-trein op pad Parys toe was! Seker al lankal daar! Nou moet ek sê ons dae is bitter kort en as dit bewolkt is ,nog korter as dae wanneer die son skyn dus met die gedagte dat dit net nou donker gaan wees wens ek julle almal ‘n goeie week toe – onthou veiligheid! Ry asb versigtig! Die vuur brand en my knie skree! Lekker winter groete vanuit Cranleymore Barry en Christina

Chilly winter greetings

Saturday 30 November 13 Good day to all, family & friends, far away and near! The Sun shines – there is no wind and it is the last day of November – tomorrow is officially WINTER! Blue skies and birds singing! Odd to hear them sing! In my life it is not only the sun that shines but I count my blessings one for one with every step I take! In fact it is winter already for a few weeks but you must not confuse the issue and nights are very cold and days very pleasant! May be you know, maybe not, but I am now BIONIC. The new knee works well –I comply with all regulations and have just been outside for my walk which takes place 4x every day. These are followed by exercise regime and little rests in between- I became very desperate the first few days – the antibiotic made me so nauseous and being allergic to every possible thing on earth the Paracetamol was not giving me enough cover- In hospital I received at Night a Morphine injection with anti-emetic which were great but the last night I refused it and that was the night I had them all on their toes. I will write this in sections as I cannot sit that long without a stretch!! The operation went well, to avoid breathing problems I received a spinal anaesthesia which was excellent I went into theatre at 10 am , everything state of the art. I was back in the ward awake and compus mentus 2 ½ hrs later. You get up with the physio the same afternoon and take your first walk. Pain control was tricky with only Paracetamol and Morphine as a choice –Eventually It was agreed I am good enough with all my exercises to go home on Tuesday. The last night, and as your whole body go into state of confusion with change of diet and strange surroundings, I had to visit the toilet @ about 2am ( By now I would be getting up all by myself but at night they hook you to Cryocuff and AVPulses to you feet–I had to call the nurse! I had no Morphine so you cannot blame the drugs. When I got back to the bed, I parked the crutches neatly against the wall I stood one step away from the bed and turned to take the step .When I eventually came round a few seconds later I sat on my bum 2meters away from the bed! The lovely lady in the bed beside me had the fright of her life and so the rest of the staff, 2 Doctors, and about 3 nurses one a male ,otherwise I would still have been on the floor, standing over me! When you fall in hospital it becomes a big thing, observations are done every few minutes until all has settled but with this flying backwards I must have hit my head somewhere and my Blood pressure which was perfect throughout the stay in hospital went through the roof. I fell asleep and woke ½ hr later with all these people around me again as I experienced a bad broncho spasm –with nebulizer and oxygen pumping from everywhere –all I wanted to do was to lift my arms above my head because that is the only way that I can breathe and all of them telling me to drop my arms! I asked for my Ventolin and another ½ hr later I am breathing again normally. 2 reports for the house doctor to write. The nurse in tears because they are all so scared of the consultant because he is so particular. I re-assured them that I was fine and that he knows me and will not be cross with them which turned out to be the case but he wanted x-rays etc, I thought I caught my right big toe , in the fall on the corner of the bed –very swollen and extremely painful, he ordered Xrays! The Lord carried me through the fall as my knee was fine – a miracle I did not fall forward because that might really have been a disaster. Finbarr came to fetch me and I am now home since Tuesday afternoon I groaned and made noises and poor Barry was a wreck after the first few hours –I explained that these noises are normal and he does not have to jump when he hear any of them I will call HELP if it is serious. During the first night I nearly succumbed to the pain in my toe – It must have dislocated in the fall? Just wake up the next morning after about 2 hours sleep and Barry exhausted, realizing I had GOU! Dead scared that Constipation will set in with all the tablets I ate only prunes for every breakfast and they problem solved! Started with anti-inflammatory ointment and felt better eventually also knowing what it was, causing the pain was a great relief! I have improved tremendously and every hour I make an effort to do something more than the previous hour. The only exercise I cannot perform is my cycling but I have to improvise. From Monday I will be visit the physio 3x a week until I am well. Have to see the Consultant on Thursday after an x-ray and hope to get the ok! I am very thankful that the Dr decide to rather do the operation in Dublin, it meant better facilities although Barry was far away- he came on Sunday by train which was brilliant- I travel to Dublin also by train and Finbarr picked me up at the station and all worked out well! In the end the Medical Insurance covered every cent! All wonderful blessings! The cats are gorgeous, fat, big and so cute! They are fascinated by the crutches and I have to fight my way between the 2 of them when taking my walk which I take outside – The car park is the least slippery and The safest! The church minister has been visiting which is highly appreciated! I will not be in church tomorrow as , 10-15 minutes is the limit for sitting in that pew position and I can hardly get up every 10 minutes and take a walk!!! Well every-one that has had an operation in last few months you all have my sympathies and hope you have recovered as well as I did! To all who had birthdays and will have a birthday in the next week –Just the very best wishes for the year ahead- I do not have my birthday calendar nearby! Congratulations to all the new babies, their parents and grandparents and great grandparents. I met 3 more SA in the hospital x-ray dept. It was lovely! I also saw my dear friend Rachelle, the first friend since the day I arrived in Ireland with her Mom who was visiting! That was a most wonderful experience sick and all! I think that is enough for the time being! Thank you for all the sms’e and well wishes, emails and calls and visits. Please look after your selves, be careful on the roads and lock your doors! It is just after 3pm and dusk is setting in! The fire is burning and my knee is frozen from my ice pack! May the Lord be with you all! Winter darkness and chilly greetings Barry & Christina

Heerliek weer

Saterdag 16 November’13 Goeie dag aan almal, familie en vriende! Die hele wêreld is om vér gegooi- die vreeslike dinge in die Fillipyne , die oorvoed reen en ellendes in die Kaap en instede van koud wees hier , is dit vandag 13° met heerlike sonskyn! Hulle het gewaarsku dat ons volgende week gaan bibber! Ek is nou net deur 72 uur van moedelose woede vir my onkunde met hierdie skoot rekenaar wat ons lewens beheer! Dit is totaal onaanvaarbaar dat ‘n mens in ‘n koue sweet kan uitbreek omdat die ding nie wil doen wat jy vra nie- dit was so hittete of die skootrekenaar was op pad Sligo toe op die vlerke van ‘n groot kraai want ek het genoeg gehad – Finbarr het gehelp maar hy sit vér en ek is dom en nog steeds wou dit nie saam werk nie – uiteindelik na my dreigement doen ek toe alles wat die rooi vlae beveel en nou kan ek darem my brief skryf! Ons harte is seer vir al die ellendes in die Fillipyne – ek ken baie Fillipynse verpleegsters wat saam met my gewerk het en hulle is almal erg ontsteld! Eienaardig dat hulle so lank geneem het om nood kos en water by hulle te kry mens sou dink dat die Fillipynse regering tog lank genoeg geweet het dat ellende op pad is maar hulle het geen voorbereiding getref nie!...maar ons dink mos altyd –ag nee wat dit gaan nie met ons gebeur nie! Vanmôre soek ek die kleiner kat en toe ek hom vind weet ek dadelik waar hy ‘n draai gemaak het gedurende die nag- ‘n kar het hom seker ‘n veeg gegee- geen bene gebreek nie maar tog orals baie seer en hy loop effe mank! Ook nie lus vir sy kos nie en lê maar net in die son- ek troos maar elke nou en dan – wou Calpol koop om vir hom te gee maar Barry wou nie – nou moet hy maar self beter voel! Hy het dus 1 van sy 9 lewens gisternag verloor! Dit was ‘n baie interesante week vol dinge en gebeure! Uiteindelik het die mediese fonds ingestem om my knie vervanging te doen maar ons moet 20% inbetaal intussen is die hospitaal waar ek gewerk het en die operasie sou hê deur die bank oorgeneem en ons weet nie of dit die paal gaan haal nie-! Ek sal dan na ‘n Dublinse kliniek toe moet gaan! Voor enige reelings getref kan word moet ek eers uitvind wat die 20% in die ander kliniek behels! Ons het gister gou die gras vir die laaste keer die jaar gesny en dit lyk pragtig – die wind het die hele week gewaai en daar was geen reen nie dus die gras was droog maar oneindig lank!- Die heining,aan die pad se kant, is ook gesny en ons is nou reg vir die winter! Ek is so siek vir die politici dat ek gedurig sooibrand van hulle het en het effe afgeskakel ten opsigte van hulle toneelopvoerings! Hulle is seker maar soos in elke land, absolute kriminele- steel van hul eie mense om seker te maak dit gaan goed met hulself! Môre is dit die beste dag van my week en ons gaan met dankbare harte kerk toe! Dit is ook my beurt voor die orrel en dit bring groot vreugde in my hart! Ek weet nie hoelank ek dit nog sal kan volhou nie maar intussen gaan ons voort! Buite het ek nog ‘n paar rose en my chrissante wat blom die res het erg deurgeloop met die ryp van vorige week! Ek het my een lemoen boom wat ek oor het (die ander is verruil of weggegee) ingebring vir die winter! Al die druiwe is op en die pere is gepluk en word nou sag in die kas! Die kleure van herfs en winter is hierdie jaar besonder mooi en gryp jou aan die hart! Hildegard se kuier was briljant- ons is so verwen met lekkernye , biltong en tydskrifte – dit was soos 3 Kersfeeste bymekaar! Veels geluk aan die ouerpaar in Melbourne met die koms, enige dag nou van die baba ! Laat ons asb weet! Ek weet nou nog nie wat die kleinding in Kanada se geslag is nie of hoe die baba lyk nie! Is daar niemand wat vir ons ‘n ou fototjies kan stuur nie! Die trek petalje van Arnolda sal ‘n goeie storie uitmaak – skryf alles neer en ons stuur dit dan vir die Rooi Rose ! Hulle soek goeie stories en hierdie een kry ‘n medalje! Verjaardae!Attie (snr) verjaar vandag- ons beste wense Attie en voortdurende beterskap! Hanlie die 19de- ons hoop ook dat jou jaar baie beter gaan wees en geen pyn insluit nie! Paul en Mendel die 21ste – Heerlike verjaardag vir julle twee! Bianca Carstens, klein Renate van Hanlie en Paul, as ook Jeanne Potgieter! Veels geluk aan julle almal! Aan almal wat aansterk na operasies. Hanlie en Karin –alles van die beste! Julle het albei nek operasie gehad? Baie dankie aan almal wat sulke lekker briefies gestuur het en al die fotos! Georg – ons lees lekker aan al jou eskapades! Baie dankie ook an Dr Tertius Venter vir sy nuusbrief! Fluit-fluit my storie is uit! Effe bewolkte lug met son verskuilde strale vergesel ons groete! Wees tog altyd versigtig, wees gereed vir alle onverwagte gebeure en sluit jul deure! Barry & Christina

Sunny winter greetings

Saturday 9 November’13 Good day to you all far and near , family and friends! Winter is here , no doubt about it ,the frost has been present many a morning and the temperatures stay about 6-8° during the day! The sun does shine but very feeble and also very low on the horizon , move very quickly from east to west and by 4pm dusk falls and by 5pm it is dark! There is some hope because the 21- 22 of December the whole lot turns around again and the days get longer and the nights shorter! That is not too fat away! The frost burnt my dahlia and the begonias to pulp, the nasturgiums , where protected are still flowering and the Chrisanthenims are quite lovely! Purple and dark red! I picked my last bunch of grapes and 2 pears fell - we still have 7 on the tree and hope that they will grow a bit bigger and stay put! The trees are shedding their leaves now in droves and at places you drive over carpets of brown and rust coloured leaves. The summer is upon you in the southern hemisphere and enjoy the privilege of having good weather- I know there are places where it is very dry and we hope is will rain there but the pleasure of sunshine is surely a wonderful thing! It has been raining here on and off for the last 2-3 weeks everywhere is wet and there is even algae growing on the front of my car! Needs a wash but the water is too cold!! On the political front the TROIKA said good-bye and wished us well, the IMF is a little sceptical about Ende Kenny’s hope to call it a day on the 15th of Dec and has advised that the government should consider postponing the exit from the IMF until next year. The interest rate has dropped and they hope that people will spend more this festive season as borrowing will be a bit easier on the pocket! Those who have savings can just as well draw the money and put it in the ground – it will grow there better than in the bank! The woman found in a distressed state in the streets of Dublin thought to have been 14 yrs of age ( It is still a very strange thing for people to have thought that she was 14 yrs old –when they showed her picture you could immediately see that she was much older) and was under the care of the HSE should be in Australia by now! How she got here and what she was doing here is a bit of a riddle! There is something else that has been in the news and for me and my Christian back ground and present beliefs very difficult to swallow-it the ‘Same sex marriage’ business on which Ireland is now going to have a referendum on, in 2015! If the Lord was distressed about the way the Israelites were living then I do not know how painful all these happening must be to the Lord in this age! We are extremely privileged to have Hildegard from my Br Mendel visiting us tomorrow! It is going to be so exciting! Even more good news is that her sister Anette and husband Michael will be with us in December! Wonderful! What a wonderful happening to look forward to! We Skype with the grandchildren and They are as ever very cute and lovely! Birthdays! It has come to light that there are quite a few people who I do not have on my birthday calender and one of them is Mrs Ingrid Scholtz from Belgium/Holland who had a birthday on the 3rd! Many congratulations and may you have a good and healthy year ahead! Happy Birthday also to: Rob Harding on the 12th, Annalize Verasamy the 14th, Attie (snr) the 16th ! best wishes to you all! Thank you to all who so diligently and with great humour keep the contact alive! It is wonderful , News letters from all over the world! Many thanks, every- one is read with enthusiasm and eagerness! I have not been back to work again since last week and still enjoy being at home- the Manager keeps me busy(Barry) I am forever tidying up and discarding things- fortunately we have our own incinerator which helps a lot- We also brought big bags of clothes and shoes to the charity shop and hope some-one will have joy in wearing it! This brings me to the end of my story and we hope that all who are sick and in recovery mode, Karin after her neck operation on 7th,Attie en Hanlie and all the others that I am not aware of- get better, be patient and enjoy the spoiling! Be careful in all your doings and conduct- drive safely and do not take a chance- lock the doors and be alert! Sunny winter greetings from us in Cranleymore Barry & Christina