From Melbourne
1.7.86
Dear Alan and Lorna,
I
hope the weather was better for you in Capetown than when we were there. We
will never forget the Sunday we were there. We went for a walk in the Malay
section – it was freezing we were nearly blown off our feet. We found a small
Malay museum where we sheltered for a while. The other days were not quite as
bad we kept our eye on Table Mt and when it was clear to go up as quickly as
possible. The weather reminded a little of Melbourne but I thought it was windier.
We used
to see on our news lots of pictures from Capetown especially the crossroads
part but because of the restrictions of news we are not getting much about
South Africa now. There was an article in today’s paper about Chief Buthelezi.
I put it in because I thought you might be interested as it’s nearer to you. A
little while ago we were getting South Africa morning noon and night – radio,
newspaper and TV. We were getting so
much that people were getting sick of it. One night on PM the reporter started
the program by saying ‘there is nothing about South Arica tonight’. I have
never heard this before about any country before. There was an awful lot of
interest in what was happening in South Africa but now it is forgotten for the
moment.
But if
Pamela’s letters are any indication you certainly can’t believe all that you
read in the paper. Everytime there has been an article about Tonga I have sent
it to her. There have not been very many but each time she replies and tells me
what was right or wrong about it.
The
last one was just a simple one about the King riding his bike which he does up
the road near the school where Pamela lives so she knows all about it. They
didn’t get much right except that he rides a bike most of the details were
wrong. It’s been the same with every article that has been written some parts
correct and many details completely wrong.
You do
wonder what you can believe. Anyhow we got Pamela’s last letter today she will
be home this weekend. The last couple of weeks we have been clearing all the
junk from Pamela’s room. We have had to put everything back they have worn
(it’s not very much) so that Pamela won’t know. Tomorrow Beverly is going for
an interview to be shifted to a different department and she wanted to look
respectable so she has borrowed a shirt from Pamela. She has only two days to
get it back so I hope she doesn’t dirty it.
I am
not sure how we are going to get over the next couple of weeks while Pamela
gets back in the Australian way of life
which is entirely different to how she lived the last two years – At least she
has a job. She has a temporary job where she used to work as some-one has left
for maternity leave. They offered the job to Pamela so she can earn some money
while she is looking for another job. She has put in an order for Sunday lunch
which will be her first meal. She wants a roast and chocolate pudding. After
living for two years on one gas ring and meat cooked in the ground or
barbequed. She hasn’t had a roast potato for 2 years. But then she has been
living on tropical fruits which we don’t have.
Last
week I read an article of a businessman in Johannesburg who was over 40 and
celebrating with his friends for finishing the race from Pietermaritzburg to
Durban. It didn’t say how long he took but he was just so glad to be able to
finish. I think you all mad. I can’t run to the end of the street! I think the
marathon is long enough to expect anyone to run. You did run in a much less
time so you much be fitter than you were last year or madder I am not sure
which. I get enough exercise each day getting the kindergarten equipment out
each day and from getting up and down off the floor each day dozens of time.
It’s
not very many people who when they go out have a choice of legs. I am trying to
imagine what the leg is like that bends but I can’t. The only people I know
here who have an artificial leg are from the knee. But it must make a
difference if it bends. How does it do it? Tell Melissa and Jolene I haven’t
forgotten about them but I write them a letter later. At present I am watching
two men on the TV talking about the economy here. It is bad and getting worse. The
dollar went down again today. Last week
I saw an ad in the paper by the south African bureau saying that
Australians get more for their dollar by having a holiday in SA which is true
because every other country that people from here would go the dollar becomes
much less.
I hope
Stacey doesn’t grow up too quickly. You want the girls to enjoy her just as a
baby because the time she will be a baby is not very long. Most mothers I meet
like their babies when they are very small. Personally I like little children
when they can talk to you. A couple of weeks ago we minded Benjamin for the
night. At his age they are wonderful to be with. He has a wonderful
imagination. We had to go early because we wanted to go to an auction at
Trentham so we left Beverley to look after him. They get on well.
Tell
Jolene she is not the only one with weak eye muscles. I got my eyes tested last
week and I thought I would need stronger glasses because when I have been
reading awhile my eyes ache but the optician said my eyes are just the same but
because of my age the muscles at the side are getting weak so they tire after I
have been using them for a while. All I can do is rest my eyes. Now I find I
can’t read all night as I used to. Between 1 or 2 hours is as long as I can go
then I watch TV for a change. I still read one or two books a week.
Pamela
keep up reading quite a few books every week that she was away. Hardly any new
ones so I suppose she will spend her money first on books or clothes I am not
sure which she puts first. I wouldn’t be surprised if she can’t get into any of
her shoes here after living in thongs for two years. I think it will take a few
weeks to settle down and we will have to put up with her while she does. You
never know though she might have learnt some patience while she has been aways
let’s hope so.
This is
a bit of a rambling letter but never mind I have just gone on & on. I am
home by myself dad has gone to a Deacon’s meeting and will be late and there
wasn’t much on TV tonight. I think I will go to bed now and read till I go to
sleep.
I hope
you did enjoy your holiday in Capetown even though it would be cold. It
certainly would be different from Empangeni.
And it is always fun to do something different.
Love
to everybody
From
mum.
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