Sunday, 5 November 2017
From Athabasca 2.12.1995
From Athabasca
2.12.1995
CHRISTMAS LETTER FROM PAM, GEORGE AND ROBERT
ROBERT: At 17 months is a laughing explosion of energy.
People literally stop and say things like: “Oh what a beautiful baby”, or
“Where is my camera when I need it.” He runs and rarely walks; is satisfied
with sign language for the moment. He does make a number of noises – bear, pig,
dog, cat, cow, camel, tiger, wolf (or coyote or dingo), donkey, kookaburra and
a very god tractor sound. He is big, blond, and curly headed with a mouthful of
teeth. He takes his job seriously: deconstructing the world. Plays hockey with
dad (a tennis ball for puck and wooden spoons for hockey sticks): gave his dad
a black eye. Wild teenager! Broke a dozen eggs in the supermarket with a fly
swatter.
PAM: Tied down and tied up with motherhood. Robert sure
slowed down her reading. Still nursing. Australia starts to look good as winter
wears away at us and local politics gets us down.
GEORGE: Now Professor of Finance and no longer Dean. Will
have administrative Leave starting in August 1996, until retirement at the end
of June 1997. Has agreed to a 2.5 month consultancy in Bangladesh in October
1996 so we may go round the world. Life is full of telephone tutoring, marking,
course revisions.
FARM: we had a dry spring. We seeded fenceline to fenceline
– 583 acres. This is the first year we did it ourselves. We bought our first
piece of John Deere, a seed drill, as well as a disk plough, a harrow, a sprayer,
another truck, another pick-up, another truck. All very second –hand. On June
17, we got our first summer rain 4 inches in one day followed by more and more
– 17 inches during the growing season. There was still standing water in the
fields at harvest. The only summer we had was a couple of weeks in September.
The crops were not good, but recovered enough to look respectable. Fortunately
prices for barley and peas are V.G. Canola prices are O.K. the farm is more
than one person can do May-June, September-October and little to do the rest of
the year... we do hire help. George got the crop off by thanksgiving and
completed the fall work after the first snow fall. Some piece of machinery
always breaks down, but we have worked out where to get spare parts and
repairing done. George still oscillates over the piggery; he has just bought a
pig barn, to pull apart and move over winter.
We are into it: a foot of snow on the ground; snow plows a
necessity of life; days rarely warm enough to thaw (can’t even roll a snow ball)
nights -10 to -20. It will get colder before spring. Pam’s first real drive in
a snow storm ruined both windscreen wipers. She didn’t realise that they freeze
to the window. Despite getting a new furnace the house is still not comfortable.
We are spending four nights at Jasper over Christmas; we didn’t have a holiday
this year. We don’t go to Edmonton very often now, as we gave up the apartment
in July. Aurora visited us twice, the second time Yale stayed for a week. Daniel
spent six weeks in summer on the farm, his mum Sharon staying for the first
week. At thirteen, he was very helpful and hopefully enjoyed himself as well.
He puts on weight. George’s two sisters also visited. Pam’s friend Mary visited
briefly in September. We finally joined the rest of humanity and got a TV and
VCR in November. Life will never be the same again. Tonight it is “Jefferson in
Paris”. Robert now knows who Big Bird is.
Christmas
Cheers
Pam,
George and Robert
From Canada 24.9.1995
Birthday Card
From Canada
24.9.1995
Dear Alan,
How are
things down under? Warming up? Not so here. The first frost has already reared
its unwanted head. And today fog remains blanketing the river and valley.
But
that is only weather …right!
What happened with the football? Perhaps the final will be
live on the TV as it was last year. I’ll have a look. I don’t care for the
national sports here. Ice hockey and Canadian football. They can keep them.
I’ll be
working for Pam & George again this harvest in a week or so. Driving the
grain truck and then preparing the ground for next year before the snow comes. Disking
and chiseling. I am hoping that this work will give me enough money to go home
this December for a short visit. That is all we will be able to manage.
Reid is
enjoying his new job and is learning every second of the day. Working for a
large and profitable company has its advantages.
We
already have windows “95’ on our house-computer. It should make things easier
but it is different from the old and I will have to familiarize myself with it.
We had
a little garden this year. I experimented with peppers despite local
tradition. It’s not the Mediterranean
but we got a few and will bring some plants inside for the winter. Love to
everybody,
take care
Beverley XOXOXO
From Merrivale 6.9.1995
From Merrivale
6.9.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
You will be surprised to see we are still at home we were on
our way to Vereeniging stopped at Bergville for the weekend & Uncle Brian
phoned………..
Debbie’s new place is really out of this world – I keep
taking all my friends to see it. the garden is very overrun as the old couple
who had it did all their own work on 2 acres, but just about every square inch
with flowers – they do have a very small bit of lawn they must have every
different color azalea in singles, doubles, miniatures, hose in hose & you name
it & they are all in full bloom plus all the magnolias & gardenias plus
all the bedding plants & a vegetable garden. Lionel has already sold R5000 worth
of clivias & strelitzia & the garden is still full of clivias all in full
bloom.
Sheila is talking of selling their place & getting a
smaller place, the estate agent has told Sheila that they should get R275, 000
for it now they are keen to sell, but they’ll waste the money if they get that.
I love Sheila dearly but they are always in debt, mainly due to Ronald, but
Sheila also wastes money. Donovan’s still the same a proper Lumgair , won’t
lift a finger to help Sheila, hasn’t got a job & is not looking & expects
the best of everything. I really despair of him. I try talking nicely to him
& end up getting myself all worked up & wanting to slap him, so I keep
my distance from him, but I must say he is always polite.
Well that’s about all congratulations from all of us to
Melissa please send press cuttings about her 7 golds as soon as possible as I
am trying to get sponsored to go to Olympics by one of the banks.
Tons
of love from, XXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXX
From Merrivale 1.8.1995
From Merrivale
1.8.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
It has been a lovely hot summer day today & tonight we
haven’t got jerseys on or a fire going. Jimmy bought us a second hand wood
stove & dad took it apart & put it together again & we started it
up today (now that winter is over) & I cooked a whole meal on it for us
& the Ronald Smith.
Ronald. Les & Clinton went down to Veldrif near Saldanha
to visit Sherry for a week & thoroughly enjoyed themselves – you know how
Ronald loves the Cape.
I’ve not been well for over 10 days now with pain in my
stomach & shivering , so I went to the Dr today & I have diverticulitis
& have been put on tetracycline to try & clear it, but will most
probably have to have an operation at some time. We are off to the Cape in 3 weeks’
time, so I have got to be well for that seeing how we have been so looking forward
to this trip. I heard on the news that the flowers are already out & that it
is going to be a bumper year, so hope they will still be out when we go.
We have had housefuls as Jenny & kids came, so Debbie
& Neal & families came one day, then the next Sheila & family came
up from Durban to spend some time with Jenny too.
I haven’t had a chance to do any sewing, so tonight I have
cleaned the house & tomorrow as soon as I get out of bed I’ll be on the
sewing machine – a friend bought me loads & loads of material today so that
will keep me busy for some time to come.
People are so good to me you would be surprised how much
material has been donated to me. Are the family well & the kids back at
school? Please phone me as soon as you know how Melissa does in America &
whether she is in the Olympics.
No more space.
Tons
of love, XXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 31.7.1995
From Merrivale
31.7.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
The year is already more than half way over – I can’t
believe its August tomorrow – but as I hate the winter I am glad it will soon
be over – we have had a very mild winter with temperature in the mid to high
twenties all the time. Tomorrows expected temperature is 29 in P.M.Burg. We are
in the grips of a drought, but should get our first rain in August. Durban had
a terrific hail storm yesterday which did extensive damage the hail was up to
the window sills in lots of houses.
We have just come back from Sheila it was so hot there at
night that we had to have the fan on. We went to the Hayes at Southbroom for 5
days & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, the Mosterts ex-Rhodesians &
Debbie & family were down too.
We are home for a week then we will go & spend one night
with jenny & family (they now live in the old hotel behind the new hotel 9
rooms) then we are off to Vereeniging & Sunday we go to Kruger National
Park before they give it to the kaffirs for cattle farms. Aunty Myrtle’s Keith
has a house on the outskirts of Kruger which he rents out for R120 a night 3
bedrooms & 8 beds so I think it is a
very good price & we are booked in for 3 nights then 1 night in Sabie &
1or 2 at Pilgrims Rest . We will go in the Hayes car as ours is so unreliable.
Eric came over yesterday & he , Elliot & myself
spent the whole day , pruning, spraying 7 watering & fertilizing all the fruit trees – we were all so
exhausted last night.
Neal is hoping to move into his new place at the end of
august. I am afraid he has made a big mistake buying it, but one can only
advise & if the advice isn’t taken there is nothing we can do. He has paid
nearly R200, 000 for a half finished house on top of a hill & hardly any
arable land & 15 kms on a dirt road. He is getting a new Toyota Venture
soon.
I’m busy making marmalade & have been freezing lots of
peas otherwise everything else in the garden is half dead waiting for rain.
Run out of space. After 6 weeks Les is at long last coming
right.
Tons of
love from, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 2.7.1995
From Merrivale
2.7.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
Where does the time go? You would think that now that we are
retired we would have time on our hands but no, I get so stressed out with all
the work I try to do that I have even started to have panic attacks.
I made the mistake of making Byron a blanket coat for his
birthday now everyone wants one, so far I have made about 5 & I still haven’t
got one for myself. I also saw this lovely pattern for a sweater with a large
panda bear holding 2 smaller panda bears & fell in love with it & have
been making it for myself but what a business there are sometimes 7 balls of
wool on the go & they have all got to be twisted around each other, thank
goodness I am nearly finished & it looks too beautiful.
Sherry & Izan were married on the 22nd June
(Sherry is not pregnant) & we had a lovely reception on Saturday
night. Izan had lost his job &his
aunt in Saldana managed to get him a good job servicing fishing boats so that
is why they got married so quickly & are now living in Saldana & Izan
is already out at sea for 8 days, Sherry has found a house & is waiting for
Izan to return to sign the lease on it – so far she seems very happy. There is
a bitter wind blowing off the snow laden berg & I am wishing that winter
was over.
We spent 10 magic days with Lionel, Debbie & kids at
Margate I swam & John & Nicholas fished. Then we spent another lovely
10 days with Sheila & saw all our old friends.
Aunty Maureen & Uncle Brian just phoned. Alan this is especially for you, who won the
world cup for rugby? Here kom die Bokkie Hoorah!!! You can imagine the excitement
& the parties afterwards. We can still see the Aussie & new Zealanders
dust. Well lunch time so must away. What about you lazy girls writing to your
grandparents sometime.
Tons of
love from, XXXXX
Dad
& Mum, XXXXXXX
From Merrivale 1.6.1995
From Merrivale
1.6.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
I am sitting waiting for a friend to arrive for tea, she was
supposed to have come yesterday, but lost her way & it seems as though she
is lost again today. She had brain cancer so her memory is not too good, but a
very sweet person.
Dad & Neal are out on a job. They spent 5 days working
at Kings Park, getting a suite ready for the rugby – the suites cost R54, 000 a
year to hire a bare room of 40*40 meters – the price goes up every year 7 dad
reckoned there were over 100 of these suites to hire. Hey Alan what happened to
the Aussies? I would have phoned to gloat, but it was about 2am your time &
knew I wouldn’t be very popular.
Winter came in with a bang the kids had been swimming in the
dam on the Saturday & when we left Debbie’s that Monday morning there was
frost everywhere & we have had our first snowfall , so we will be off to
Durban soon to winter in Durbs. Especially now that Donovan is not living at
home.
Ronald & Lesley are in Margate on holiday & les won
R2, 500 at the casino from R10 so she is putting it away for the wedding. My friend just pitched up.
Lionel phoned at 1pm & said I’ll give you 5 minutes to
get ready & then we’re off to Margate, well it’s now 3:30pm & I am
still waiting for them to arrive so don’t know what time will get to Margate.
I’ll sign off now & write again when I’ve more time.
Tons
of love from, XXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXX
From Merrivale 22.4.1995
From Merrivale
22.4.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
We are just sitting & waiting for Jenny & kids to
comeback from P.M.Burg, Jenny has been attending a lecture & the kids +
Besters have been at the cinema – the Collighams don’t get those luxuries in
Bergville. Regan will spend the weekend here & then we will take him back
to school on Monday, he has been off for 3 days with ringworm. We had a lovely
holiday with the Hayes & the …. At Southbroom – we went swimming just about
everyday & did lots of sleeping – we had about 200mm of rain while we were
there & only 10mm here, but since then we have had 40mm so the dam is full
for winter.
The Lumgairs & the Besters were camping at Fanies Island
& despite all the rain they had a good time. I can’t remember if I told you in my last letter
that Sherry became engaged to Izan on the 1st April we had a lovely
party next door. I really like Izan (he is very Afrikaans) but very sensible
& I know he will look after Sherry. They plan to marry on the 2nd
December.
We have been without a car since coming back from Southbroom
– the little Toyota has a cracked cylinder head & being so old, can’t get a
replacement & the VW limped to Southbroom & home again & Dad has
spent all his time getting it going again & I think it is going now so Dad
will fit it out as a camper then I hope he will sell it, but doubt it as he
wants too much for it 7 its rusted to pieces. I would like to sell both cars
& get 1 reliable one.
Well no sign of the Collighams & it’s nearly 6pm &
Jenny & girls still have to get to Bergville.
Must close now.
Tons
of love from, XXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXX
From Sunshine 4. 1995
Birthday Card
From Sunshine
4. 1995
Dear Lorna,
I
think this letter will not reach you until Monday. I hope you had a happy
birthday and the girls did something special for your birthday.
However
we may feel there is nothing we can do about getting older. Never mind there
are many advantages when you are old. Except when you get sick. I have been
twice shopping this week. It was good to get out. I felt much better and only a
little bit of stiffness in the leg.
Tomorrow we thought we might go out for a picnic not too far
away. That depends on the weather.
I don’t go back to the surgeon for another 2 weeks so I
suppose I suppose I won’t be better until at least then.
We are going to go out to post this letter. The more I move
around the better I feel. I hope you have a good time.
Love
from
Dorothy
From Merrivale 2.4.1995
From Merrivale
2.4.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
I missed you phoning me on my birthday, but realise how busy
you are, & that you phoned 2 weeks ago.
I had a lovely birthday. All the family from around here came for supper
& a good time was had by all. &
all my friends phoned to wish me. What a mess I had to clean after 18 people
here for supper.
What a hectic weekend we’ve had. Sherry & her boyfriend Izan
decided to get engaged on Saturday night, so les & Ron rushed around &
gave her an engagement party with all of us & his family. He is a very
sensible boy (very Afrikaans) & very caring we are very fond of him &
his family are very nice too.
We went to church this morning then derbies kids came over
for the day plus Neals & Regan & Clinton so I was kept busy feeding
them & keeping an eye on them as they were playing down at the dam &
fishing (we have lots of big fish in the dam & the kids catch them over
& over again & throw them back in again). In between I had visitors
& I have baked all day to take things with me when we go to Southbroom
tomorrow to join the Hayes & the …. for 2 weeks.
Our little car has a cracked cylinder head, so that’s a non-
runner – one battles to get spares as it’s a 1968 model. The Kombi is just
ticking over so hope we make it to Southbroom tomorrow.
Aunty Phyllis has made Melissa a jersey with the Olympic
logia on it. I haven’t sent it yet but please get Melissa to write & thank
her – you can send it care of me.
We have just had to fetch Garrett from a friends as he is so
sick & we have to leave here at 6:45am tomorrow to get Regan to school.
Tons
of love from, XXXXXXXXX
Dad
& Mum, XXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 17.3.1995
From Merrivale
17.3.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
It was so lovely talking to you on the phone this morning
& hearing all your news.
Dad was in hospital for 3 days & had tests & is all
clear - now he will go back again in September & if he is clear again once
a year for 5 years then no more. It’s
been a worrying time for me I have really felt it & I’m a bit shaky &
nervy still, but are going away quite
abit now so hope I’ll come right. We are going to Sheila on Tuesday for
a week, then home for a week, then down to Southbroom for 2 weeks. Sheila &
Debbie & families are going to Fanies Island, St Lucia & Kosi Bay camping,
they wanted us to go with them, but Dad likes his comfits now in his old age
& I also think it will be very crowded, that’s why we have decided to go
with Uncle Brian & Aunty Maureen, they have just spent a few days with us
in the Drakensberg in Debbie & Lionel’s caravan. We spent 2 weekends with
Jim & Jenny, they are doing very well, but have a cash flow problem as Escom
takes about 6 months to pay. Tara is in Capetown on a school tour. Debbie, Lionel & kids have gone to the
caravan for 5 days & Sheila & children will join them tomorrow. They
will come here for breakfast first.
I’m busy making chutney I have quite a few good customers,
one person took 80 bottles, I have also been making cards & have just got
an order for 6, they are steady sellers.
Byron & Wesley are here for the weekend, they don’t like
going to Durban & especially as they stay with Alison & family.
Kathy Jones baby is expected any minute so Lesley &
Ronald are going to Durban to look after …. It’s been 30 today very hot I look
forward to autumn but not winter. Kathy had a baby boy today Patrick’s 37th
birthday. Our car is broken again so I had to get Bonzie to take me to P.M.Burg
to get it sorted out. Neal is here putting pine ceilings in our bedroom. Must
close.
Tons
of love from, XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 2.3.1995
From Merrivale
2.3.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
Haven’t heard from you mid-January are you still living on
planet earth? I am just waiting for Debbie to bring Matthew over for me to look
after him. Debbie is being taxi to Nicky’s class at school & helping take
them to the circus. I just love having Matthew he is everybody’s darling &
I feel sorry for Nicky as he has had to have a back seat. We have been spending
quite a lot of time at Midmar & the other day I had Matthew in the water
& he said to me “We’re having fun Nana.”
We had a lovely rain yesterday & the world is looking so
nice & clean today, we were getting really desperate for rain. I will take Matthew
down to the dam just now & see how much that has come up.
We leave for Bergville tomorrow will take Regan home then we
are going to Debbie’s caravan for 5 days &the Hayes will join us for part
of the time, then the weekend following back to the hotel then we will bring
Regan back again on the Sunday. It will save Jenny 2 trips. Then Dad goes back
into hospital on Monday for a check-up he will be in hospital for 3-4 days.
Jenny has now got a post at the African teacher training
college in Ladysmith & is very happy there. She has a flat there & has
Tara & Tam-lyn living with her there. Tara is off to Cape Town on a
marvelous trip organized by the school.
Neal is in Durban on a computer course & Vanessa &
boys are on their own on the farm. Vanessa says she’s not scared & they
have got a very good alarm system – we were going to stay, but she says she is
OK.
Lesley is working at Lionel’s factory sanding furniture
& just loving it – she is really hard worker. Sherry still hasn’t got a job.
A lot of our black members of parliament are in the pooh
especially Winnie, as they have been using funds donated by other countries to
buy themselves fancy houses & motor cars & the money was donated to
build houses for the homeless. Mandela’s getting tough & now telling them
that they must pay rent, lights & water, they have refused to pay for these
for years & years. Must close.
Tons of love
from, XXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXX
From Merrivale 15.2.1995
From Merrivale
15.2.1995
It’ nice to have the Besters home, I missed them very much
as I either hear or see Debbie & her children just about every day. It is
also nice that they are home as it has taken a big weight off my shoulders
looking after their house.
Congratulations to Melissa & to you, what about Jolene
& Alan?? I am going to send Melissa a card, as soon as I can get into
Howick to buy one. The whole family Smiths/Thomas etc. & friends send congratulations.
We have just come back from Midmar, I think I told you it’s
over the wall & what a wondrous sight , Neal, Vanessa, Melony, Mandy, Dad
& myself took the boat out for the morning. Neal & Vanessa skied, then
Dad took me fishing but I didn’t even get 1 bite. We tried to get hold of
Debbie to come too, but Matthew had been playing with the phone so we couldn’t get
through. Ronald left yesterday for America his firm has sent him on a course
there & to do a tour of the carpet factories in Atlanta. He flew Lufthansa
so flew first to Germany then onto America from the news we see they are having
one of the worst winters in years with very bad snow storms & the
temperatures well below zero, anyway it will be
a very good experience for him & I believe he is going overseas
again in May.
Byron & Wesley spent the weekend with me also Regan
& of course Clinton , the 3 Bester kids came over & what fun they had
they played cricket , swam, took the boats down to our dam & every 5 minutes I would hear the
microwave going they were out in the garden picking mealies then coming in
& microwaving them & eating them. The Randalls were here too.
I am still having visitors everyday, also still freezing
vegetables & making jams & pickles. My arthritis is really giving me a
hard time & I fear that I am going to end up in a wheelchair. It is just
starting raining again I love it.
Must close no more space.
Tons
of love to you all, XXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXX
From Merrivale 13.2.1995
From Merrivale
13.2.1995
Dear Melissa & Jolene,
I swam in the Midmar Mile on Sunday and it was quite
different from the swim at Lake Trevallyn. The water temperature would have
been warmer than the heated pool at Glenorchy as I estimate it was
approximately 25-26. We had 2 very hot days on Friday & Saturday, Friday
was 40 and I don’t know what it was on Saturday but we had a Hugh storm on Saturday
afternoon. After the storm we went and swam at the Agriculture College swimming
pool. My mother managed to get a key from someone she used to work with. The
water was also very warm and they had two diving platforms which the children
loved. Matthew found a frog which he
nursed until he let it go back to its swimming. All your cousins were here on
the weekend except Donovan and Taryn. They stayed at home with their father. Shelia
and Ronald don’t have a very happy relationship and Donovan doesn’t live at
home. He boards at a residential hotel. I think the reason he might not have
come was because I saw him carrying a packet of cigarettes and I told him he
was not to smoke near me. Jimmy and Lesley also smoke and don’t seem to care
where they smoke which is a bit of a pain. I was going to go and stay with Jenny
and Jimmy at the hotel but now I will go and stay with Debbie & Lionel at
their caravan and just visit the Collighans.
I have not had any of the results of the Midmar Mile but I
think that the winner finished in about 19 minutes. They were expecting about
10000 entrants and they had three gates going into the dam and the cars were
bumper to bumper going in. It was pouring with rain and there were 5 events. I reckon
there would have been about 2000 people in my events. The whole way you are
jostling just for a place to swim. I got kicked by quite a few breakstrokers. All
the swimmers had to have a bar code stapled to their bathers and your bar code
was taken at the end. I have no idea how long I took. /the water was very rough
because the weather was bad but I enjoyed the swim. I spoke to a few swimmers
before the race and a lot of the swimmers aim for about half the amount of time
that you do.
I want to go and see “Babe” with the Besters if it starts
showing while I am here. It is listed as
a forthcoming attraction at the cinema. I have told Debbie we never got
“Muriel’s Wedding” which they knew nothing about and I told them it has a South
African connection. I think you girls would get on with most of your cousins.
They seem to be just like normal young teenagers. Clinton wants to start
playing rugby and come swimming with me. Byron and Donovan love surfing and
Jonathon was “man of the match” at cricket on Saturday. Sherry-Lee rang from
the Cape and was very upset that she had just missed us. Apparently she only
went back home shortly after we came. I hope you are both coping well with work
and training as well as housework.
See you
soon,
Mum
From Merrivale 11.2.1995
From Merrivale
11.2.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
What happening? Haven’t heard from you since you phoned
while I was camping at the dam with Neal & friends. Debbie was also saying
yesterday she hadn’t heard from you in ages. How did it go with Melissa in
Sydney? We still haven’t received the videos. I thought you were going to send
them over with either Cheryl or that person from Midmar Museum.
It’s the Midmar Mile tomorrow, wish you were here to swim in
it – Cheryl’s kids swim every year & Tam-lyn was supposed to be swimming in
it , but couldn’t get a lift down, so messed up our weekend, as were supposed
to go to Bergville for the weekend & take Regan home & Debbie was going
to have Tam-lyn, then Lionel had to do
job at Howick (where the caravan is ) so they took Regan & we stayed
to look after Tam-lyn – then after 5pm Jenny phones to say Tam-lyn wasn’t
coming, anyway it’s so hot in the upper 30’s & sometimes 40 everyday &
I just can’t take the heat so we are better off at home where I can hop in
& out of the pool & lie in bed with the fan on. We are desperate for
rain the only rain we have had this season was 90 mm over Xmas.
Dad goes into hospital on the 13th march for a
review, which he will have on the 15th or the 16th, so hope
& pray he is still clear. He keeps very fit & busy all the time. We are
gradually going over all the house & doing all the jobs that haven’t been
done for years. I am hoping to get pine ceilings in our bedroom soon & then
it will only be the other 2 bedrooms to do as everywhere else has pine ceilings
now. How are your alterations going? Please send photos or a video – I love the
last photo & keep looking at them. I have just made 60 bottles of
tomato/chilli chutney. I have orders for as many bottles as I can make – but
its very time consuming takes me 3 hours to cook 7 about 1 hour to prepare.
Sherry was 18 last Saturday & we all had a party over
there, you wouldn’t recognize Ronald’s place all the work additions &
alterations they have done Sheila & family were here for the weekend. We
will most probably spend most of next weekend at Neal’s with Vanessa as Neal is
going to be in Durban on a course for a week.
Must close as none room.
Tons of
love from, XXXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 23.1.1995
From Merrivale
23.1.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
Sorry I missed your phone call, but as Dad told you I was
with Neal, Vanessa & boys at the dam. We had a lovely time, only my fishing
rod was stolen during the bight so I was most put out as it is the only one I
own. Pleased to hear about Melissa please send press cuttings & video.
Debbie, Lionel & family came home on Saturday late &
we went for lunch after Church, then bought all the kids & their friends
here for a swim, & they have all been here nearly all day today. We are
going to sleep at Debbie’s tonight as Lionel is away. Debbie is perfectly safe,
but likes us to go over for company& to help her get the ids off to school tomorrow,
as she doesn’t have a servant at all.
We have to be at grey’s Hospital early tomorrow as Dad is
having some warts removed.
Sherry turns 18 next Saturday so she is giving a family
party with a few friends.
Went to Molly hills 80th birthday at her son’s
house. her daughter-in-law Cathy is one of the matrons at Grey’s & she has
a friend , who says she was on duty when Melissa was born , so she was very
interested in Melissa & I gave her one of the newspaper cuttings.
All our kids go back to school tomorrow so peace will reign.
Byron & Wesley stayed with me for the weekend. We spent weekend before last
with Jim & Jenny & kids & really enjoyed our weekend. We are
expecting Jimmy at any moment as he is bringing Regan down to hostel. Tam-lyn
& Tara are starting school in Ladysmith tomorrow, so Jenny has had to go to
Ladysmith to get the new uniforms , as ESCOM stopped the bus to Escort &
Jenny had no way to get the kids to & from school. Jenny is hoping to get a
lecturing post in Ladysmith in the next couple of weeks, then that will solve
all her problems. We are hoping to go down to Durban soon, although I hate it
now it’s much too hot.
Well I’ve run out of space.
Tons of
love from, XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 4.1.1995
From Merrivale
4.1.1995
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
A very happy and prosperous New Year to you all. We spent a
very quiet New Year’s Eve alone, then went with Ronald & les to Neals for a
braai in the afternoon. I said to Vanessa I had only been there 3 times in the
whole (Ha! Ha!) year – then we go 3 times in a week – as we went out on Boxing Day,
then once again to take Vanessa home & to bring the truck back for Neal. Taryn was staying with Vanessa & we had
Jenny’s 3 kids & they just go wild when they see each other. Jenny &
Jim had rushed off to town so we took the kids with us when we went to Neals. We
had a super Xmas with Sheila & family about 30 sat down on Xmas eve to a
lovely hot meal then Sunday everybody came back again & we had cold lunch.
The weather was very good. Did I tell you that Trevor Lumgair had got married
again? He & his wife (Angelina I like her very much) popped in on Xmas
morning to visit everybody.
Have you got the parcels from Cheryl & hope you had a
chance to talk to her – she is really tops & certainly the very best of Aunty
Phyllis’ children. Mickey has got divorced from his wife – he didn’t marry that
girl that he brought to your place – married, a much older woman with 2 grown
up sons – she was a school teacher.
Debbie, Lionel & his kids popped in yesterday with their
new Toyota Station wagon – called a Venture was here. They were on their way to
the caravan.
Matthew is too adorable you would just eat him whole. He
thinks he is very funny because he calls me Granny Fat then laughs like
anything & runs away. We are going to Molly Hills 80th birthday
tomorrow. Dad keeps very busy making doll’s house furniture & has been
tiling the outside shower & putting on shower doors. Ronald is 41 today. I
want to go & make some cheese straws for him. All the rest of the family
are well.
Tons of
love from, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Monday, 30 October 2017
From Merrivale 13.12.1994
From Merrivale
13.12.1994
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
Wonder if you will receive this letter before Xmas. I doubt
it. I gave Cheryl all the Xmas & birthday presents. The doll’s furniture
for Stacey for her birthday. I gave Cheryl yours & dot’s telephone numbers,
I also sent Melissa a gold brooch that was presented to her great grandfather
& we wanted her to have it, as we didn’t send her anything when she won her
medal, please have a pin attached to it for her – it’s quite valuable so please
keep it safe & phone as soon as you receive the parcels.
I’ve got Donovan staying I really feel heartsore about him
as I feel he hasn’t had a fair deal in life – if you heard the way Ronald used
to pick on him the whole time & wouldn’t let him go to the beach or
anywhere & he’s nearly 18 years old.
We are having such extremes in temperature 6 last night then
over 30 today – went to Midmar yesterday & it was quite cool , but I swam
the water was warm on top but freezing underneath, today I have spent nearly
all day in the pool. Nicky is swimming nicely. Matthew says the water is too
cold – he is so cute & speaks & sings so well.
Neal is going to work at Ronald’s firm in his vacation as
they are very hard up & he will earn nearly R5000 for the few weeks he
works there.
Sheila came up for the day on Sunday still undecided as to
whether she should leave Ronald or not. Taryn is staying with Vanessa – Jema
won’t leave Sheila I think she feels insecure.
Still no rain to speak of – we have a bumper crop of plums &
peaches, but no vegetables in the garden.
Neal brought me some peas & beans from his garden - but
he is able to water & has labour
whereas I battle on my own. I do have Elliott one day a week & I have taken
Beselina on for 2 days a week as I just never had time to do anything but
housework.
Have a wonderful Xmas & all the best for 1995
Tons
of love from, XXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXX
From Merrivale 29.11.1994
From Merrivale
29.11.1994
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
We have come back from a wonderful weekend with Lionel,
Debbie & ids at Ballito, what a lovely place, can’t understand why we never
went there before. We had a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom duplex right on the beach for
only R90 a night including bedding & all mod cons. Jonathon & Nicky
both caught fish & Matthew is a real water baby keeps putting his head under
the water & talks so well.
Daddy & Neal are out on a job & I just seem to have frittered
the day away. Neal & Dad went over to Ulundi & over to Pongola last
week so they called in on Mike du Preey at Melmoth – he was so pleased to see
them. Charles & his wife are
emigrating to Canada. Aunty Nora & Uncle Andy said Canada was finished.
The weather on Sunday was 36 now yesterday & today it’s
been icy I think there’s snow on the mountain. We Aare desperate for rain. I
have just stood outside for an hour watering the garden in the icy wind. I am
busy making liver pate so want to send some over to Ronald – he is always
sending us over some tit bits or other.
Jenny & Jimmy are coming tomorrow to take Regan &
Clinton to Bergville for a few days they finished today & only go back to
school next week then break up on the 8th.
Meloney leaves for Capetown on Friday & the way Vanessa
is carrying on one would think it was Neal going – she is on the verge of a nervous
breakdown because both Angela & Melony now live in Capetown. Trevor Lumgair
got married last Friday. Alison wouldn’t go to the church to see her father
marry but she was at the reception. The Lumgairs really give me a pain.
Sheila is still having hassles with Ronald but hasn’t the
strength to leave him, she says if she leaves him he will throw up his good job
& follow him & then he will never be able to get another job. They have
to employ 4 blacks now before they can employ 1 white.
I’m
waiting for you to phone. XXXXX
Tons of
love, Dad, Mum & family XXXXXXX
From Merrivale 15.11.1994
From Merrivale
15.11.1994
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
We have just spent 10 days down at Southbroom 7 had a wonderful
time – went swimming everyday , Bobby Hayes & his wife were there Mrs
Granny Hayes & her sister Aunty Marge.
Saw Aunty Joan & Uncle Steve Smallman on our way down to
Southbroom –they send their love & congratulations to Melissa they were on
the old farm with us when Melissa was born , so always want to know all about
her……..
On our way down to Southbroom I always call & see Dr Ray
Browne & his wife – you will remember them from Que Que & they also
always came to visit us in Doble Rd, one year they took us all to see the
wizard of Oz, well they have moved from Pennington to Pinetown so I decided to
phone her & have a chat & I told her about Melissa well yesterday I got
a letter from her & she was so moved by Melissa, that she says she has had
the urge to sell some things of hers & to give me the money towards my
airfare to America to watch Melissa in the Olympics, I can’t believe how kind
people are – everybody is so touched by Melissa’s achievements that they all
want to help me to get my airfare - so
please let me know when the Olympics are on so that I can book my air ticket
before prices go up anymore.
Dot also wrote & sent me a photo of Melissa & some
cuttings from the Melbourne newspapers. I was really touched by her
thoughtfulness. Could you have a photo of Melissa at the pool also the one of
the whole family at the airport? We spent the weekend with Jenny & family –
the hotel was fully booked & they had to turn people away – they also have
people in their house (hotel guests) & even sometimes have people in the
cottage. No more space so I’ll close,
Tons
of love to each & everyone, XXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 28.10.1994
From Merrivale
28.10.1994
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
What wonderful news of Melissa we all thought she would win,
but when you didn’t phone on Tuesday – I gave up hope. We were with you in
thought every minute. Dad had said that I could go over for the big event – but
I decided I would rather go to the Olympics – as soon as we get back from
Southbroom I’ll see about booking as it’s only about 18 months away.
We leave for Southbroom tomorrow for 10 days then we go
straight to Bergville for the weekend then home to stay for a while I hope. We
have just been & stayed with the Pages in Newcastle & they made such a
fuss of us & couldn’t do enough for us. We went to the African teacher
training college where Jenny lectures – you can’t believe the buildings all brand
new – there is a pottery room with 5 brand new pottery wheels & 2 kilns – most of the rooms are tiled
to the ceiling – the music rooms are all soundproofed & all have 2 doors, but he grounds are a
disgrace goats wandering all around & Jenny says everything gets pinched if
it’s not bolted down – she had a class & gave 10 harmonicas in their cases
–when the class was over all the cases were left in the desks & there were only 2 harmonicas in them
they had pinched the other 8. Before the canteen was even in operation they had
pinched the microwave oven.
It’s the church fete tomorrow so we donated a doll’s house & I have been busy making
fudge & biscuits today.
It’s been drizzling here today we have had 7mm. we slept at
Debbie’s last night as Lionel was away in Pongola. Matthew cries every time we
leave him. Nicholas is very very bright. I’m amazed at what he knows.
Must
close – Tons of love from, XXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family, XXXXXXXXXXX
From Merrivale 14.10.1994
From Merrivale
14.10.1994
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
I thought I must stop work & write, as I don’t know when
I’ll get another chance.
Neal & Vanessa just popped in on their way to Durban
& left Byron with me & Wesley with Lesley they fight if they are
together.
Dad is working at Lionel’s factory – we decided to run the factory
& let Lionel go with Debbie, Sheila & kids to the caravan for 10 days –
we will go on Monday then to jenny then to Newcastle to Aunty Yvonne & Uncle
Alf for 3 days then back to Jenny’s & Jim’s for the week – then home for aa
week before we’re off to Southbroom.
I’ve been busy sewing & baking ,so today I went &
fetched Debbie’s girl to come & clean the house & I think I have done
as much as she has in the house, I gave our bedroom a spring clean – cleaned
all the cupboards etc. then washed all the dishes as she doesn’t wash dishes
very well, but excellent in everything else.
I have just made 7 bottles of strawberry jam (strawberries
are cheap & plentiful at the moment) & 5 bottles of plum jam – made
fish cakes from the grunter I caught in Durban & an Irish stew.
The weather has been too awful – hardly any rain, but cold
& misty & it was actually snowing here on Monday. Debbie says they have
had beautiful weather & have gone on some lovely hikes at royal National.
All the rest of the family are well – the kids go back to school
on Monday after a 12 day break. Cheryl Walters & family will be in Melbourne
over Xmas & would like to see you all. She is a lovely girl & has a
nice husband & 2 kids.
Must
close,
Tons of
love from XXXXXXXXXX
Dad,
Mum & family XXXXXXXXXX
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