Monday 29 May 2017
From Swaziland 18.5.90
From Swaziland
18.5.90
Dear Lorna,
Thanks
for your greetings. Since when do you have a commodore computer?
I only have just over 2 weeks left in Swaziland, and I can’t
believe the pieces of paper I have to sign. I’m not packed at all. I may be
spending a few days in Gaborone. I went to Kruger again last weekend, but still
haven’t seen cheetah or leopard.
You’re right
about the shopping here, it’s terrible. I’d love to go on a spree in London,
but there’s a little problem called POUNDS.
I’m
sorry I never got back to Natal. Though maybe it was better that way.
I’m not
sad to leave Swaziland. I had a hard time at work and I’m amazed that I kept
going at work, getting there on time, every day. Sometimes I’d run away to the
computer in the afternoon, but most times I stuck it out. Without meaning to,
I’ve got more into an ‘expat’ camp, which isn’t why I am here.
It’s
depressing that I’m so negative about Swaziland and the people.
I’m
posting stuff back, I’m told this is the cheapest, though I know it’s not reliable.
Masa is going to try and sell my household effects for a 20% cut. I will miss
Masa, she is my closest ‘African’ friend and she’s not Swazi. She got ordered
to return to her husband in the traditional court last week. She refused.
Monday is her civil case. She is having trouble finding somewhere to leave,
because everyone is scared of Patrick.
She says no one would have taken her in. Now Patrick says he will look
for a place for her and promise to stay away.
I
suppose I always knew it was dangerous to have Masa, but I couldn’t say no. I’m
glad Beverley visited her mother. I have a lot to do with the children, who in
the last 12 months have really changed. Lungeli’s English is excellent, and
Sandie doesn’t scream as much.
I’m out
of it newswise. I don’t have a radio or T.V. and only occasionally see a newspaper.
I have no news about Australia, except from mum. I don’t really know more about
Africa or South Africa. And nobody knows what goes on in Swaziland. It’s a real secret society. Nobody knows how
many wives or children the king has. Nobody like him either. He won’t last.
I left
work with few regrets, because I actually achieved quite a lot that can be
physically seen. I also produced a bibliography that was published and a
research index. But my boss never spoke to me for over 6 months, so the working
environment was not ideal.
I hope
to see Thuli, the nicest Swazi librarian in London, if she is not too busy with
exams.
I wouldn’t cross the road for the others.
Regards
to your little ones and the one in the white coat.
Love
Pam
From Howick 25.4.90
From Howick
25.4.90
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
We have just returned from Durban, where we spent 4 heavenly
days at the beach – we have been going down & walking & swimming in all
the pools to Boynes Pool – we spent 5 days with the Hayes at Southbroom &
that was heavenly too as there was just the Hayes & us – we went to the
casino & lost all Uncle Brian’s m money & we went out to dinner.
On the way home we called in to see Doc & Gerry Browne
who thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Bunbury on the west coast of Australia.
Then we went & had lunch with the …………………….. He tells us Charles
is getting married soon to a chemist – her parents & family are not too
happy with her marrying Charles as he hasn’t
a degree, but as Uncle Fred says Charles is earning more than lots of
people with degrees……………………………………………………………………...........................
Vanessa has given up work & is so bored already. I think
she will drive Neal mad being at home all day.
Neal has nearly finished his lounge, but has moved all the stuff from
his garage into the new lounge, while he finishes off his new double garage –
he has to put the roof on & also the door. Sheila has been on leave so I
have spent a bit of time with her.
Fay is with me she has a cold so Debbie didn’t send her to
school today & she has pestered me nonstop since I started this letter.
Hope you have a happy birthday I got the jersey off to you last week. Nola says if it fluffs you just have to shave
it once & then it will be fine for all times after that. I’ve not heard
from Jenny since she got back yesterday & the phone is out of order today.
Jonathon spent the afternoon with me yesterday he is a real joy to have around.
Nicky is getting so cute. Must close. Toms of love from
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Dad, Mum & XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
From Howick 16.4.90
From Howick
16.4.90
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
We have been on the go go go as usual. We went to Durbs to
look after Neal’s house while he was away & Jenny brought her kids down
for a few days & Sheila’s kids moved
in too – Lesley was most put out as IO didn’t take her kids too & jenny
only wanted me to have hers & then they could have all my attention well
with everything I blew my top & poor old Ronald got it from A-Z , anyway
Les phoned me & apologized &
said she was sorry & I told all of them that it was my prerogative to take
who & when I wanted to take the children & that none of them must just expect
to always have their children & that I could go where & when I pleased
& with whom, so after I got that off my chest we all enjoyed our week on
the beach as the weather was heavenly
& it was spring low tide so we went everyday to the beach after breakfast &
came home at lunch time & then the kids swam in Neal’s pool until bed time.
We left Neal’s early Thursday & cam e home & Debbie came & picked
us up & we all went to Jenny’s for Ester & it was really lovely. I went
to sunrise service with Jenny as she was playing the organ in the Anglican
Church & the weather was glorious so I took the kids to the river everyday.
We came back yesterday & now we are off to Southbroom tomorrow until Saturday
then I am hoping to see Dr & Jenny Browne who have just returned from Australia,
then I am hoping that Daddy will; say we can sleep at the Smallman’s in Scottburgh
then go & see Aunty Violet at Umkomaas & Uncle Fred at Illovo &
then to Durban for a few days then I hope we can stay at home for awhile. We
went to see Aunty Betty………………………………………………….the weather is beautiful again today
& I have been swimming & went to watch the Hilton to Howick steam train
go by. Lesley was going to aerobics & pulled 2 tendons in her arm so that
is in a sling for 3 weeks otherwise everyone is well. Nicholas is really cute
& ever so bright – when Debbie drove into our gates today he aid Nana I am
going to get your jersey off tomorrow. I’ll write again when I come back.
Tons
of love to each one of you from
Dad
& Mom
From Howick 3.4.90
From Howick
3.4.90
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls
It was so lovely talking to you & the girls & I do
look so forward to your phone calls.
Debbie is settled in her new house & has it for a year –
they he bought a piece of ground at Hilton for R25,000 & I am hoping that
they will start building right away.
Yesterday the sun has shone all day – but there has been a
nip in the air – I have two boys working in the garden all day & what a joy
– I filled the Kombi with all Dad’s old junk (he was nearly crying & did
put a few things back at the dump) & took it to the dumps, you won’t
believe me but the Kombi was full to the roof & my garden now looks so
lovely & neat & the grass all mown.
We are off to Durban tomorrow for a week – we are going to
house sit Neal’s place as he is going down the coast for a week, they have
taken a cottage with some friend of theirs! Jenny will bring her kids down on
Thursday & will have a long weekend with us in Durban, then Jenny will
fetch them on Monday. It’s Clinton’s birthday today, so he is banging on the
window at 6 a.m. to get his presents. She Sherry asked me to make him a cake
& she organized a party for him after school, while they were waiting for
the bus, which only comes an hour after school closes, as the bus also picks up
the High School kids. I am hoping to do a lot of swimming in Durban & also
to go to the beach everyday. I do love the sea. I went to visit Nola &
ordered your jersey – she has given up work & makes jerseys for a living
now – you will see how beautiful she makes them when you receive yours.
Do you remember your friend Lynn , you worked with her & she married Neil Whitehead from Cedara,
well they live over the road from Debbie & they have 3 children a boy
Jonathon’s age , a girl Fay’s age & a baby boy born just before Xmas. I
will pop over & see her when Easter is over. I think we are going to stay
at home this Easter. Safari World & the Natal Parks Board have put their
prices up something like 500% that one can’t afford to go to these places anymore.
Must
close now as I have run out of time & space.
XXXXXXXXXXXX tons of love to you all XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX Dad & Mom XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
From Howick 19.3.90
From Howick
19.3.1990
Dear Lorna, Alan, Melissa, Jolene & Stacy.
Thanks for the letter that we received the other day. I am
pleased to hear that you have settled in so nicely, actually mom keeps us very
well informed.
We are all fine here and Sherry’s party went off very well.
Sherry is doing very well at school but Clinton thinks he is to clever.
Sherry-Lee just wants to wear mod clothes and Clinton is
just as naughty as ever. I have joined another caravan cub so we seem to go
away more than ever before. I was away last weekend and we are going away this
weekend. (Mom & Dad with their capilino as well and again in two weeks
time.
But we will have to ease up going out camping a bit as I
want to start doing some work on the house. Jenny & Jimmy & Tara are
down with us at the moment. Jimmy is the same as ever, he arrived here and
before he had even said hello he was screaming out the window for a leak. Neal,
Jock & Ronald Lumgair have all of a sudden gone on water skiing so my boat is getting used a lot
ore. They are up nearly every weekend.
Love to the kids.
Lots
of love Ronald, Lesley, Sherry-Lee & Clinton
From Howick 15.3.90
From Howick
15.3.90
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
We are
going to Durban again tomorrow for Jemma & Garrett birthday party. I must bake cakes tomorrow & then we will
go down with Ronald & we are coming back with a friend, who doesn’t want to
travel home from Durban on her own on Sunday.
Next weekend we are hoping to go camping to Dragon peaks with the Bester
& the Colligham kids will come too then we will go & spend a few days
with Jenny.
The
weather is still very miserable we have seen the sun once this week & it is
quite cold, but in Durban it is very hot even when it is overcast &
raining. We picked Jonathon up from school today & took him home &
spent the afternoon with the Besters. Tomorrow I am going to watch Jonathon
swim in is school gala. Fay has a clod so has not been to school this week.
The
rest of the family are all well. Aunty Joy, Aunty Daphne, Uncle Arthur &
Aunty Kay all came on Tuesday. Aunty Joy & family are very down in the
dumps. Did I tell you that Anne Walters is divorced also Jean Page. Aunty
Phyllis & Aunty Dot came to visit me at Neal’s on Saturday we also saw
Uncle Stan & Aunty Norah. We went for a long walk along the beach it was
lovely & brought back happy memories.
Must
close & go to bed now.
XXXXXX tons of love to you all from
XXX Dad @ Mum XXXXXXXXXXXXX
From Howick 11.3.90
From Howick
11.3.90
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
It was
so lovely talking to you all today on the phone – I do miss you all so much.
We had
a lovely holiday in Margate the weather was very hot although we had several
cold days. Jonathon & I went fishing everyday and he caught several small
fish & a crab. We went to the bubbly
bath everyday – that was Fay’s favourite. Uncle Neal came down on his own for a
couple of days & really enjoyed himself. Lionel took him to the casino
& they lost all their money – I also went to the casino & lost all my
R1s that I had been collecting for a year. We went to Port Edward it’s really
beautiful there.
Dad
& I went to Grandparents day at Bushlands School – it really was super
& we met so many of our old friends there.
We
leave tomorrow morning for jenny’s then onto the Hayes then the Kruger National
Game Reserve & Eastern Transvaal.
Uncle
Stan & Aunty Norah were here yesterday they are going to sell up on the
Bluff & come & settle either in Howick or Pietermaritzburg.
It is
cold today but yesterday it was so hot.
I don’t
think we will be staying at home until end of July & I am so far behind
with all my correspondence – but thank goodness I am up to date with birthdays
hope you all received your presents as you haven’t mentioned them. I have also
got a head start on Xmas presents.
Well
must sign off now & go & sit in front of the fire & do some
knitting.
Tons
of love to each one of you.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Dad & Mum XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
From Southbroom 28.2.90
From Southbroom
28.2.90
Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,
Well here we are at Southbroom once again, but sadly packing
up tomorrow to go back to Durban. We were going straight home, but Neal is
getting his award at Tech on Wednesday – so of course we are going along too –
as well as some of his bosses – so I am trying to get hold of Ronald to bring
my glad rags down with him – we will go home straight afterwards – I was just
saying we have hardly seen Nicholas – as we have been away so much since he was
born & now until the end of September
we seem we will hardly be home – We have to come back to Durban on the weekend
25th August as it is St Georges 50th anniversary & we
have been invited to attend as old members of the church – then after church on
the Sunday Doreen & George Randall celebrate their 40th wedding
anniversary so we have been invited to that & by the by start saving to
come to S. Africa for our 40th wedding anniversary & Dad’s 70th
(Geriatric) birthday in 2 years’ time – the family all miss you all & are
longing to see the girls.
Last week in Durban we had the most terrible weather it was
freezing all over the country with lots of snow a lot of places were -&
degrees & the wind blew & blew & blew & blew & I was glad I
was in Durban as although it was cold it wasn’t that biting cold we get at home.
Jenna-lee has this whooping cough virus & poor little mite coughs &
coughs until she pukes up a lot of
phlegm – Neal is looking after her this week – she really is a hard case so
cheeky but a darling.
We have been to the beach everyday, but I haven’t swum. I’m
getting old – Dad’s been in once Kevin’s boys are here too Magda has been in
hospital with pneumonia & Kevin broke his ankle playing golf – Aunty
Maureen & Uncle Brian send their love.
There has been another cold front, but fortunately passed
here in the night – hope it’s warmer when we get home.
I’m still knitting frantically I am making a school jersey
for Donavan as his one was full of holes from the dog. Poor old Socks (Sheila’s
cat) was knocked down & killed on Sunday so they were all in tears. The
neighbours are complaining about Silky barking all night. I’m sitting on the
veranda writing waiting for the Hayes to come back from town so that we can go
to the beach. We are going to look after Jenny’s house & kids while they
got to Swaziland to the garden club where Jenny is a guest of honour. We have
to go to Bergville at the beginning of September too as she is putting on the
Cat Chow at the school.
Tons
of
love from XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dad, Mum & family XXXXXXXXXXX
Monday 22 May 2017
From Hilton 14.11.89
From Hilton
14.11.89
Dear Lorna, Allan & family,
How are you all keeping. I am sure that you know all our
news as Ma keeps you filled in. I keep busy, but never seem to do anything
really. A baby really keeps you busy,
although Nicholas is anything but demanding. He is really a darling baby. I am
sending you photos of the kids but the ones of Nicholas really aren’t good ones
but they are the only ones I have. He is just like Jonathon & Fay & it
is quite incredible. I am sure Ma has told you about our new house. Gee it is
really nice. It is huge & is very central & also close to the schools.
Fay is starting pre-primary next year 7 Jonathon is starting at the little
primary school in Hilton. He still seems
too small for big school, but they tell me at school, that he is quite ready to
go. Anyway he is being assessed by the school psychologist tomorrow, he does a
school readiness program with him.
By the way, I hope that you are going to come for ma’s
anniversary year after next. We would not have seen you for five years by then
& it is far too long. We are longing to see the kids again. so please try
hey!
We are very happy & settled in Hilton. Lionel still
works long hours although he does come home & eat first now which is nice
for the kids & I. I also meant to tell you that we are next door neighbours
to this guy that used to work with you in Empangeni (Dave Larkin). Do you
remember him, a young guy? I am very friendly with his wife. It’s a small world
hey! He said he did not really know you, as he was just starting there when you
were leaving, or something like that. Anyway I have no more news. Send love to
all your family & tell Jolene the photos are especially for her as she
wrote & asked for them. Keep well.
Love
Debbie, Lionel, Jonathon, Fay & Nicholas
From Howick 31.10.89
From Howick
31.10.89
………………………………………………. I am peeved off with Dad as he has
pushed off to bioscope with Aunty Kay, he will never take me anywhere &
people have stopped asking us out to dinner as he never wants to go & I
work all one day & he is off gading
I can’t believe it. I have been able to get a of knitting done as it is
very quiet here not like Kitchen Designs, but they seem to have plenty of work
as Lionel works late every night much to /Debbie’s annoyance but she never says
anything wouldn’t help if she did. All men (except for Ronald & Neal) are
the same SELFISH (sorry Alan). Actually
it is quite entertaining sitting here & watching the world go by.
Next Friday we are off to jenny for the weekend then onto he
Hayes for a week then we going camping to the mountains with the Hayes – Daddy
will have to get a move on as the motor has to come out of the “White Elephant”
again as another oil seal has gone & also it is running very badly again –
it was going perfectly then Dad fiddled with it & now I wouldn’t take it
out on my own for fear of it breaking down.
We have had quite a lot of rain & yesterday about 4:30
pm we had a very bad storm here & in Howick we got about 40mm of rain. I
still haven’t filled the pool as it has been quite cold here & we hardly
saw the sun in October except for the 4
days we were with the Hayes…………………
I’ll have to stop moaning about everybody & everything
now as I have run out of space. Got
parcels off to you but they will be late for Xmas – yours is only small because
P.O. messed me around so I took half out.
Tons of love to all of you
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dad & Mum
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)