Landing back in Johannesburg made us realise our time in Africa was virtually at an end. We wouldn’t normally want to spend time in this disorientating city where we easily get lost we had dear family and friends we wanted to see AND our most hospitable brother-in-law Bernd, was very ready to share his little cottage in Modderfontein with us. Bernd collected us from the airport, and as we drove the 15minutes home he was able to show us his work sites – a tight schedule of road building in preparation for the World Cup Football (soccer) next year. The absolute curse of road users he was a scapegoat in a no win situation, poor fellow. His office have set him up in a delightful spot on an Estate overlooking parkland and in Bernd’s off hours he has many feathered friends to keep him company.
Waking in the morning we could be forgiven for thinking we were on a farm with all the honking ducks awaiting breakfast on the front lawn. The local supermarket gives Bernd all their vrot fruit and used by bread – a veritable feast for the birds.
Seven days counting down… Scottie, Lea’s close friend from the end of her junior school days and reunited at Teacher’s College, arrived with her husband Alan to take us back to their home for the day. Traffic lights in all South Africa cities attract a captive market in the waiting… for informal sales and begging. The elderly, handicapped or mothers move steadily up and down the rows of cars while young children dart around trying to catch any eye within a vehicle. Drawing up at a busy intersection, Lea was idly looking out of the window watching some road side sellers chatting together when their body language alerted her to something happening further along from them? Curiously, she looked ahead and promptly spotted a nude man. No, couldn’t be. Yes! Definitely….He was sauntering around on the left side of the junction waiting for cars to stop on the red light. Winter in Johannesburg and we were jolted into witnessing the desperation of a man’s plight. Scottie couldn’t believe this was happening in an upmarket suburb and yet it could have been for that very reason. Other than that unexpected incident our day with the Boland family disappeared in constant chatter along with meeting their little grandson.
Jan and Jean de Wall came round for dinner the following night. It was their 43rd wedding anniversary and we were happy to cook for the working folk despite the bachelor abode having the mere basics. Our friendship dates back to Kariba days when Jean was the terrible typist for the terrible biologist at Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute. Jan taught Lea to drive when she was a nervous mother of two!
Waking in the morning we could be forgiven for thinking we were on a farm with all the honking ducks awaiting breakfast on the front lawn. The local supermarket gives Bernd all their vrot fruit and used by bread – a veritable feast for the birds.
Seven days counting down… Scottie, Lea’s close friend from the end of her junior school days and reunited at Teacher’s College, arrived with her husband Alan to take us back to their home for the day. Traffic lights in all South Africa cities attract a captive market in the waiting… for informal sales and begging. The elderly, handicapped or mothers move steadily up and down the rows of cars while young children dart around trying to catch any eye within a vehicle. Drawing up at a busy intersection, Lea was idly looking out of the window watching some road side sellers chatting together when their body language alerted her to something happening further along from them? Curiously, she looked ahead and promptly spotted a nude man. No, couldn’t be. Yes! Definitely….He was sauntering around on the left side of the junction waiting for cars to stop on the red light. Winter in Johannesburg and we were jolted into witnessing the desperation of a man’s plight. Scottie couldn’t believe this was happening in an upmarket suburb and yet it could have been for that very reason. Other than that unexpected incident our day with the Boland family disappeared in constant chatter along with meeting their little grandson.
Jan and Jean de Wall came round for dinner the following night. It was their 43rd wedding anniversary and we were happy to cook for the working folk despite the bachelor abode having the mere basics. Our friendship dates back to Kariba days when Jean was the terrible typist for the terrible biologist at Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute. Jan taught Lea to drive when she was a nervous mother of two!
We love reunions – George, Jean, Jan and Lea
Sean Pattrick and his friend Sue flew into Joburg from London and kept us waiting anxiously for their arrival due to a number of wrong turns. Never the less, there is nothing to beat catching up face to face and enjoying Sean’s company however brief. We were even stunned by a phone call from Keith’s other close friend Brendan within the same hour and as time never stands still, Bernd was shortly to deliver Holly into our hands. Talya was teaching in her place down in the Cape to allow her Mum to come and spend a last weekend with us and hear about Mozambique, particularly Ella and Finn FIRST HAND! Life is always a party with Holly around, she even brought our favourite Greek Lamb up from Somerset West to slow cook in the oven to ensure we didn’t lose a moment of talking time.
We were horribly caught in a traffic jam en route to Cousin Penny and Rob Mills which upset George, who was all for turning back so we distracted him by eating the chocolate brownies we were taking to Pene. Gave her the empty packet to show our good intentions
Many years passing made for a particularly special gathering with the Mills Bombs - , Jenny, Pene, Patrick, and Rob.Rod and Gill Zank were excitedly awaiting news on “Our four in the bush”. Gill had also prepared morning coffee in readiness for our arrival and a table for lunch booked locally, so that not one word would we lost during our precious time together.
Two Bumpas Two Gogos and two Cape Town surrogate ones…Rod & George, Lea & Gill , Holly & Bernd.
Holly’s last night with us and our wedding anniversary next day required a night out. We joined up with the de Waal’s, their eldest daughter Lynne and granddaughter Janine at a restaurant nearby. It was fitting to have Lynne present as she was the foetus that moved in her mum’s tummy for the first time in the middle of George’s wedding speech! A noisy night indeed with lights flashing and cameras clicking madly that others must have wondered what the devil was going on….
Les Gals - Jean, Holly, Lynne, Janine and Lea Culminating our visit to Joey’s was a visit from Joan Macartney, Lea’s special “other mother” from Bulawayo Teachers’ College days. She had specially wanted time in Johannesburg to see her and felt very miserable when she phoned to say- not only did we not know where Highlands North was within this massive city we didn’t have a vehicle. FATE was on our side - Joan lived a stones throw from Modderfontein, knew the church and bowling greens close by and hats off to her, she was still driving, within familiar territory, at 88 years of age. A wonderful reunion took place – They both arrived early at the little church, too excited to wait the scheduled time. Lea directed her back to Bernd’s cottage and there they gabbled non stop, filling in all the gaps that letters never tell!
Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other gold –Joan Mac and Lea- who could have tidied her hair!
Although our nomadic lifestyle produces the constant sadness of saying goodbye to family and friends – we are rarely left behind to face the empty gap. We are the fortunate ones who move on to new excitements… Dulling the pain of farewell to Africa we flew onto LONDON next…
Waiting at the airport for us was our daughter Justine, Dan and our three - Otto, Roo and Kiki. Whether departing or arriving - tears flow. That’s the emotive cycle of our life.
They whisked us home to Tetney in their new VW T5 Camper, having travelled down in the early hours of the morning while the kids slept. Returning – the familiarity was if we had never been away other than our grandchildren had grown, as had all the trees and hedges. We arrived in winter garb and found wonderful sunshine. How lucky for us we’d arrived to an unexpected ‘Indian summer’. An invitation to lunch at Moat Farm alongside the heated pool required the glass roof being drawn back so that we didn’t expire from heat stroke! This was entertainment at its best; a magnificent day, a large crowd of family and friends and John Ramsden at his hospitable best, with food and wine flowing. George and Lea took a walk around the grounds enjoying all the development and changes that had taken place in their absence. We were able to share the last couple of weeks of the summer holidays with the grandchildren before they began the new school year. Kiki was eager to have Lea sort out the massive pile of hand me downs uniforms - all like new, that had be hoarded away over years until she started ‘big’ school. Day trips took us to Sheffield to see MAGNA, an excellent Science Exhibition built within a massive old steelworks and Scarborough for a day on the beach. George refrained from family trips preferring his workshop making knives or the computer writing up his baboon notes. He finds it difficult to change focus!
Waiting at the airport for us was our daughter Justine, Dan and our three - Otto, Roo and Kiki. Whether departing or arriving - tears flow. That’s the emotive cycle of our life.
They whisked us home to Tetney in their new VW T5 Camper, having travelled down in the early hours of the morning while the kids slept. Returning – the familiarity was if we had never been away other than our grandchildren had grown, as had all the trees and hedges. We arrived in winter garb and found wonderful sunshine. How lucky for us we’d arrived to an unexpected ‘Indian summer’. An invitation to lunch at Moat Farm alongside the heated pool required the glass roof being drawn back so that we didn’t expire from heat stroke! This was entertainment at its best; a magnificent day, a large crowd of family and friends and John Ramsden at his hospitable best, with food and wine flowing. George and Lea took a walk around the grounds enjoying all the development and changes that had taken place in their absence. We were able to share the last couple of weeks of the summer holidays with the grandchildren before they began the new school year. Kiki was eager to have Lea sort out the massive pile of hand me downs uniforms - all like new, that had be hoarded away over years until she started ‘big’ school. Day trips took us to Sheffield to see MAGNA, an excellent Science Exhibition built within a massive old steelworks and Scarborough for a day on the beach. George refrained from family trips preferring his workshop making knives or the computer writing up his baboon notes. He finds it difficult to change focus!
September was ushered in with a fine party hosted by Sue and Matthew Ramsden next door, in celebration of John Ramsden becoming a septuagenarian. (2009 has seen a good few of our friends being added to this rank – Mona Skehel, Ann Smook and in days to come John Pattrick). Surrounded by his family and in-law off-shoots – all the family dogs included as well, we joyously toasted in John’s milestone birthday. It was all the sadder when the evening ended with John’s dog Tigger being hit by a passing car and Matthew badly bitten on the hand as he tried to help the badly injured dog. Dashing off to Vets and hospital was a sorry note to end on.
With the Government offering money back on second hand cars in turn for new, the sale of a good run-a-round old was proving difficult until Dan spotted a car for sale that was perfect.
With wheels we began catching up with our friends. We drove up Lincoln way to spend a couple of days with Joe and Mona Skehel. Discovering we all had invitations to The Ceremony of the Hoisting of the Flag down in Norfolk we made arrangements to travel down together a few days later, to attend.
Pioneer Day or the Sunday closest to 13 September is a Remembrance Day at Southrepps Hall, the home of Peter and Eve Sladden. This ceremony commemorates the Pioneer Column’s raising of the Union flag, unfurled, at Fort Salisbury back in 1890. George and Lea first attended in 2003 when unexpectedly Lea, a pioneer descendent was asked to raise the flag. This time round she was keen to enjoy the ceremony without nervous tension.
Eve and Peter Sladden lived on a neighbouring hill to Lea’s parents in Salisbury/ Harare and were close friends as their children grew up together. Their beautiful home in Norfolk has become a wonderful monument to the past or as the invitation says “Proudly guarding our inheritance of the British Empire” although no doubt there will be many arguments to that! More simply it is an historic memory – The manor house looks out upon a rolling meadow that drops away to infinity. Lining either side is a double rows of trees, each planted to the memory of Rhodesian people or organizations. Way in the distance and central to this can be seen the Southrepps Church tower just peeping above and somewhat reminiscent of the squared stone Monument to the Shangani Patrol in the Matopos – where Cecil John Rhodes himself, chose to be buried.. This is Southern Rhodesia Memorial Avenue, a beautiful and restful avenue to the eye and memories of people, amongst whom are Lea’s parents whose ashes were scattered at the foot of a tree planted by her father Roger, in honour of his father E.G. Howman, an 1896 pioneer.
With the Government offering money back on second hand cars in turn for new, the sale of a good run-a-round old was proving difficult until Dan spotted a car for sale that was perfect.
With wheels we began catching up with our friends. We drove up Lincoln way to spend a couple of days with Joe and Mona Skehel. Discovering we all had invitations to The Ceremony of the Hoisting of the Flag down in Norfolk we made arrangements to travel down together a few days later, to attend.
Pioneer Day or the Sunday closest to 13 September is a Remembrance Day at Southrepps Hall, the home of Peter and Eve Sladden. This ceremony commemorates the Pioneer Column’s raising of the Union flag, unfurled, at Fort Salisbury back in 1890. George and Lea first attended in 2003 when unexpectedly Lea, a pioneer descendent was asked to raise the flag. This time round she was keen to enjoy the ceremony without nervous tension.
Eve and Peter Sladden lived on a neighbouring hill to Lea’s parents in Salisbury/ Harare and were close friends as their children grew up together. Their beautiful home in Norfolk has become a wonderful monument to the past or as the invitation says “Proudly guarding our inheritance of the British Empire” although no doubt there will be many arguments to that! More simply it is an historic memory – The manor house looks out upon a rolling meadow that drops away to infinity. Lining either side is a double rows of trees, each planted to the memory of Rhodesian people or organizations. Way in the distance and central to this can be seen the Southrepps Church tower just peeping above and somewhat reminiscent of the squared stone Monument to the Shangani Patrol in the Matopos – where Cecil John Rhodes himself, chose to be buried.. This is Southern Rhodesia Memorial Avenue, a beautiful and restful avenue to the eye and memories of people, amongst whom are Lea’s parents whose ashes were scattered at the foot of a tree planted by her father Roger, in honour of his father E.G. Howman, an 1896 pioneer.
Guests begin gathering outside Southrepps Manor for the 27th Hoisting of the Flag, in Norfolk.
A chilly wind gusting around the Manor house outbuildings and hedges wasn’t the best for this outdoor occasion never the less, we stepped back into a time warp …as the fanfare of trumpets by members of The Cromer and Sheringham Brass Band, who annually play the music for this special occasion, opened the ceremony.
Peter Sladden, a week short of 90 years, welcomes the guests
The hymns and prayers evoked so many memories of the past that Lea almost jumped out of her skin as the first shot from the Twenty-One Gun Royal Salute thundered out. Up in the meadow a flock of sheep ran round in circles not quite sure where to go, in the panic of the moment… A piece of history brought back to life in these peaceful surrounds, we were glad to bear witness to it all once more in view of Eve and Peter’s advanced ages. Aside from Eve and Peter Sladden, their daughter Evelyn - over from Sydney and Barbara Risely a close family friend of the Sladden’s as well as being Lea’s tennis team coach at Arundel School, neither we nor the Skehels recognised anyone else from our old home country.
In to-days world concern for obesity amongst children has raised its head and eating habits are registering high within school education programs. Justine received an invitation to try out
School lunches at Signhills, the school attended by our grandchildren. Lea and Justy duly set off to join Otto for his sitting. A healthy choice was available and all a far cry from overcooked veggies and fatty foods from the past. Everyone tucked into lunch with gusto.
Before we knew another month was drawing to a close and as the sun was shining up in Scotland we drove up to Fife to spend a few days with our old friends Eileen and Jim Bailey- only we didn’t realise they were quite so old! They certainly don’t look or act it…
Our little car took the seven hour journey without a hitch through the rolling countryside via the historic town of Jedburgh, the outer ring road of Edinburgh, over the Firth of Forth Bridge to Cupar and the Bailey’s bungalow. Our time with them flew by as we caught up on news of family and mutual friends. When we did plan an outing to explore nearby countryside, the day dawned to thick mists and plenty of drizzle – the first wet weather in weeks and we were more than content to stay home looking at old film and photos as we trawled Kariba’s history together, one thought triggering another- our brains being exercised in many different directions. With life stories steadily being written up all this reminiscing proved an ideal forum for cross checking events.
We drove across to Kirkcaldy to spend the day with Mandy Cameron, the widow of Bob Cameron who worked with George at Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute. Mandy is battling with macular degeneration in her remaining eye which has curbed her lifestyle in many ways. Rarely getting out we took Mandy on a rather damp drive along the coastline to Anstruthers where we stopped for lunch in a place recommended to her, “Sally”. We were all amazed by the tasty fruit that garnished our plates – not just the wide selection, the amount too. It was as if we’d all ordered a fruit salad! Especially as George had ordered a BLT with chips, Lea was having soup and Mandy fish cakes. Never seen that before- must be a Scottish touch!
The day had brightened up considerably by the time lunch was over and we found the attractive harbour side full of people enjoying the sun while licking ice-creams. We were delighted to take a stroll along the cobbled sidewalk out onto the quay before returning Mandy home. Good weather makes such a difference to the landscape
In to-days world concern for obesity amongst children has raised its head and eating habits are registering high within school education programs. Justine received an invitation to try out
School lunches at Signhills, the school attended by our grandchildren. Lea and Justy duly set off to join Otto for his sitting. A healthy choice was available and all a far cry from overcooked veggies and fatty foods from the past. Everyone tucked into lunch with gusto.
Before we knew another month was drawing to a close and as the sun was shining up in Scotland we drove up to Fife to spend a few days with our old friends Eileen and Jim Bailey- only we didn’t realise they were quite so old! They certainly don’t look or act it…
Our little car took the seven hour journey without a hitch through the rolling countryside via the historic town of Jedburgh, the outer ring road of Edinburgh, over the Firth of Forth Bridge to Cupar and the Bailey’s bungalow. Our time with them flew by as we caught up on news of family and mutual friends. When we did plan an outing to explore nearby countryside, the day dawned to thick mists and plenty of drizzle – the first wet weather in weeks and we were more than content to stay home looking at old film and photos as we trawled Kariba’s history together, one thought triggering another- our brains being exercised in many different directions. With life stories steadily being written up all this reminiscing proved an ideal forum for cross checking events.
We drove across to Kirkcaldy to spend the day with Mandy Cameron, the widow of Bob Cameron who worked with George at Lake Kariba Fisheries Research Institute. Mandy is battling with macular degeneration in her remaining eye which has curbed her lifestyle in many ways. Rarely getting out we took Mandy on a rather damp drive along the coastline to Anstruthers where we stopped for lunch in a place recommended to her, “Sally”. We were all amazed by the tasty fruit that garnished our plates – not just the wide selection, the amount too. It was as if we’d all ordered a fruit salad! Especially as George had ordered a BLT with chips, Lea was having soup and Mandy fish cakes. Never seen that before- must be a Scottish touch!
The day had brightened up considerably by the time lunch was over and we found the attractive harbour side full of people enjoying the sun while licking ice-creams. We were delighted to take a stroll along the cobbled sidewalk out onto the quay before returning Mandy home. Good weather makes such a difference to the landscape
The lovely light falling on the town had photographers out in force, capturing scenes. George too! Mandy & Lea in Anstruthers.
Our last night and the eve of Jim’s 81st birthday - We went to dinner at the Elmwood Golf Club, actually a training school for green-keepers and chefs and thoroughly enjoyed a delicious meal together in celebration.
George, Jim, Lea & Eileen celebrating another year for an octogenarian!
Pity we had to leave on Jim’s birthday. It was very tempting to stay on yet good weather made it ideal for travelling back and we returned via the A68 in order to see another section of Hadrian’s Wall, last seen in 1984. So much for that… We scanned the horizon in vain and despite a slow approach into Halton and Corbridge areas never a sighting of any part of the Wall, did we spot – perhaps we blinked at the critical moment!
Yet another birthday for early October was our grandson Otto, turning eight. He had a sleep-over party with five of his mates. George created awe and entertainment with his skills as a “sniffer” to track down the boys who touched corks. He also led them on a night walk night down the paddock. Munty the dog helped add to the excitement by depositing a dead rabbit on the lawn for biological instruction – although the groans that arose when George prodded the liver were followed by a few shudders.
Yet another birthday for early October was our grandson Otto, turning eight. He had a sleep-over party with five of his mates. George created awe and entertainment with his skills as a “sniffer” to track down the boys who touched corks. He also led them on a night walk night down the paddock. Munty the dog helped add to the excitement by depositing a dead rabbit on the lawn for biological instruction – although the groans that arose when George prodded the liver were followed by a few shudders.
Otto's birthday bash in full swing
We are now taking a break from blog writing to enjoy our grandchildren more fully.
