Late October we caught the National Express Coach down to London and made our way to our niece Carmen’s flat close to Battersea Park- it is always a treat to be with her and have her guidance getting around the city. Her lounge overlooks the back yard of Sir Bob Geldorf’s home so Lea kept an eye out for a glimpse of the man or his daughters… Nothing!
Our excitement mounted as we caught the train down to Croydon to find our dear old friend - the inimitable “Terry Machipisa, the Greek” from our Kariba days. From outside the station we were able to hop onto a tram and follow the instructions his daughter Deppie had given us to their doorstep with ease. As with many ex Zimbabweans battling to make a new life in another country, Deppie and Ian Christmas leave home early in the morning for work so we missed seeing them. Inside their little flat we found Ian’s Mum of 87, Elsie Christmas, sharing the main bedroom with a stored dining room table, the chairs and a couch. Our Terry (83) has the second bedroom in which he is barely able to swing a cat, while Deppie and Ian sleep in the lounge with wet laundry to hang around… We squeezed into the remaining space on folding chairs to reminisce, laugh and cry over the passing years. The changes that have taken place in our lives and of course, Terry, having spent over 40 years in Kariba before his unnecessary “uprooting” (as he has it) for life in England, regaled us with many tales. We certainly missed his wife Fay and the sadness of her passing was reinforced. No doubt four forthright folk living in such close confines makes life more than interesting. Our morning passed in a flash and as we rose to leave, Terry insisted we stay for lunch as Deppie had specially brought in Rolls And… for us all. We easily succumbed to a couple more hours …
Lea with Terry Eleftheriades (fondly known as “Mister Machipisa”) and Elsie Christmas.
Elsie and her late husband Ron had also lived in Kariba with their family. That’s how Deppie met her husband.
We returned to London and met up with Carmen in Waterloo Station after her day of training nurses in home care situations. Such a balmy evening and with a knowledgeable guide, we walked across Waterloo Bridge to Covent Gardens against a steady stream of pedestrians heading home out of the city. Carmen and George were safely escorting Lea to and from an Arundel School Get-Together taking place in Bistro 1, Covent Gardens. These two were prepared to hang around the city until when-ever!
This was my first attendance at an old girls school gathering in the UK. I had been so excited until I actually found myself outside the busy restaurant and suffered an unexpected dose of cold feet! Girls I hadn’t seen in 46 years – would I even recognise them? Would they even remember me! Some I had only known in my last year at Arundel. Ann (Howard) Baillie briefly over from Zimbabwe, had given rise to this short notice occasion and I knew she’d been meeting up with old school friends throughout the afternoon leading up to a booked table for dinner that night. No! No! I couldn’t go in yet and delayed by walking around the Covent Garden Markets with Carmen and George to check out the buskers!
Time didn’t stand still and once again I found myself gulping against my sense of panic outside Bistro 1. Deep breath, steeled myself and in I went! The crowded noise hit with a force and my eyes frantically flittered back and forth looking for someone familiar without luck. I wasn’t too perturbed as the e-mail had said a table would be booked for the evening in the quieter upstairs section. Peering around an equally busy top floor, I was relieved when a pony-tailed waiter came to my assistance and readily told me my friends were downstairs! On explaining I hadn’t seen them in almost fifty years – he pointed out the table at the base of the staircase. Aged ladies all met my eye - a closer look revealed Helen Cazalet, as the most familiar for all the passing years. Double takes and then the talking began. It was non-stop right up until the table above was ready. Afternoon girls departed and the evening bunch took up the vacant chairs as they began arriving.
A delicious and very reasonable three course “Theatre Menu” was partaken over a delightful night of conversations taking place in every direction. The pony-tailed waiter looking after our table found it difficult to get a word in edge wise and I mistook his plea to pass him the bread baskets for “glasses” amidst the din of diners all squeezed into the narrow confines. In a jovial mood, I flippantly said “It’s your accent… I thought you were calling me a Bastard”
Whoops! He was so shattered that he apologised profusely saying he’d never do that and gave me a kiss – creating an unexpected stir around the table!
In next to no time we were forced to look at our watches and call it a night. I sent a text to Carmen only to hear back that she and George were comfortably ensconced downstairs. Hugs of good-bye were held off until we were all outside with space to move. Passing George and Carmen’s table I mentioned seeing them outside shortly. Holding the door open for everyone departing was the pony-tailed waiter! To my astonishment he kissed me farewell saying don’t make it fifty years until you return. I left, imagining George and Carmen’s disbelief at witnessing this display from a waiter! Of course the girls outside noticed and commented on the blushes…
The joys of LONDON with Carmen!
We began tramping our own touristy route from the Big Eye across the Thames to Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James Park and Buckingham Palace – where we relished the sights, sounds and smells of the Changing of the Guards! Thereafter Lea was plagued by the tune and voice, of an A.A. Milne song of childhood and her early teaching years, insistently drumming through her head as her mind searched for words…
“They’re changing guards at Buckingham Palace.
Christopher Robin went down with Alice….”
Down Pall Mall we strolled, stopping often to enjoy much that epitomises the history of this country until we reached Trafalgar Square and decided our feet were weary. Instead of visiting the National Portrait Gallery, resting up in a theatre would be the better bet. We bought tickets for the play “The Shawshank Redemption”. Having seen the film many times we were interested to see it portrayed on stage. With over an hour to kill we found homemade soup in a popular looking Deli that met our meagre budget - IF we had take-away, so we hurriedly rose and took away! It was delicious to slurp at as we wandered Chinatown until we could take our theatre seats and wait for the curtain to rise. The theatre critic’s write up had not been kindly disposed to this production yet we three thoroughly enjoyed it. The brutality of prison, in a simple and austere setting of prison bars augmented by sound, certainly impacted on us. So too, were we gripped by very believable characters who probably knew they had a daunting task if they were to match those of the film. This was a strong and uplifting performance that impressed us.
Winter clocks went back an hour during the night and on the coach back to Tetney, we became aware of our shortened day. As darkness fell George wanted to know when we were eating our packed supper. It wasn’t even four o’clock!
With Darkness falling so early we now find we want our beds earlier - all psychological! Never the less we have happy to retire and read some great books – amongst them David Lemon’s books “Never Quite a Soldier” and “Blood, Sweat and Lions”. Dave was a policeman in Kariba just before we immigrated to South Africa. Having briefly known him, we were immediately drawn and found both very readable, filling us with nostalgia for the Rhodesia we had known. We will be keeping an eye out for his others…
28/10/09 - A rare occasion - John Ramsden hosted a luncheon at their family hotel ‘The Beeches’ with all four sons and families present. We were touched to be included and archivist George marked the event with photographs.
31/10/09 - "Up she goes" - Westfield Farm’s Bonfire. The family were invited to London the following weekend to see the Blackheath Fireworks Display. While the cats are away the rats play… Lea invited a few friends from her working days at Weelsby School round to the house to watch the film Honey Hunters of Niassa followed by an Africa-themed meal. Thankfully George was not jinxed by the Durban fiasco and the DVD worked without a hitch. Jan and Sally are avid followers of our blog so they particularly enjoyed Keith and Colleen’s film.
A week later, Justine and Daniel with friends flew off to Egypt for a week in the sun. We looked after the children. It was quite something to be up and about so early in the day with a constant eye on the clock as we swung into each school day followed by afternoon activities in different directions. We thoroughly enjoyed this special time with our grandchildren and they felt so at home with us they barely missed their parents! Workshop with Grand-Dad was the big draw card and every available moment they were in there, learning to use power tools; making aeroplanes and boats, gluing and sanding wood ad-finitum, Otto, Roo and Kiki taking his gruffness and hawk-eyed glares in their stride. It was a hive of industry all week with Granny cooking and making puddings to order. The only downside was the discovery of a head louse! This necessitating treating everyone followed by a massive clothing and bed linen wash. URGH!
We have just been on the periphery of some of the worst storms and floods experienced in the UK, the Lake District of Cumbria being particularly hard hit. Unusually strong south-westerly gales affected us, yet we continue to enjoy blue skies with extra crisp mornings and evenings. View-sheds have opened out with skeletal trees etched across the skyline with a soft light prevailing. Another program of BBC’s Autumn Watch drew attention to the behaviour of rooks and jackdaws gathering at dawn and dusk to irregularly circle in their thousands over their roost sites. Excitedly, we are able to say we’ve seen it! We’ve seen it happening right here in Lincolnshire… The noise and wheeling of such massive flocks IS awesome.
We are filled with eager anticipation … In early December we are off to visit Gallipoli.
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