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After many hours and
days of organising and chasing up matrics.....Saturday the 30th
eventually dawned. At lunchtime, Fiona Nicholson
and myself went up to Suikerbossie to
put up all the CV's, photos and a collection of blown up photos
from the school magazine, The Barb and newspaper headlines from
1981. Suikerbossie looked spectacular - David did a
brilliant job and had a professional lady come in and draped the
ceiling. Fairy lights all over and the tables were decorated with
flowers etc. All very mooi!
Went home for a quick
rest, bath etc only to return to Suikerbossie at 6:30pm. For
once in their lives....matrics (Capetonians) arrived on time and
the festivities began. I think they were all blown away with
how Suikerbossie looked, especially at night - its was all quite
magical. David had drinks/sherries etc arranged on arrival.
It was fun to see the reactions of the matrics to old friends
whether they were recognised or not. The change in
appearances after all these years. There were a few
shockers, but all took it in their stride.
We had 3 come over from
UK and Germany, namely Michael de Villiers, Sharon
Dimbleby and Gary Bateman respectively.
Others came from as far afield as Botswana, Jhb, PE, Bathurst,
Knysna etc. So some of them put in a huge effort to be with
us. Mike and Sharon flew in on the Friday and were out again
to the UK on the Sunday....can you believe that!!! Those who
paid and didn't come included Jill Jager and
husband Peter - they were really bummed but as their combi took
2.5litres of oil to get from Hermanus to Onrus...they weren't going
to try to get to Hout Bay. Shame Gilly usually gets sooo
excited about seeing everyone. Glen Hatt (J&B
Met Champion) and Laura, Andrew Hishin, Anna
Pritchard, Gavin Nauchutz and
wifey also didn't make it and neither Steven
Raphael and wife. Reason: No
idea. Maybe they too are having "senior moments"
and forgot. Fiona Grant (who I'm still very friendly with) had lank snot and was feeling rather
poorly - didn't make it either.
Teachers that
arrived: Mike Edwards, Clive Roos and Juanita Cronje and
partner.
After a delicious
butternut and orange soup, Benny Lotz made
a rather amusing speech....reminded us on what has happened in 20
years.....a) that he'd been together with Louise Barret this long,
b) that you could more likely die than have a baby from
unprotected sex, c) that Mandela was released and we have a
democracy, d) that after 20yrs that Wayne Duffell is
still so good looking (shame I thought he was going to die of embarrassment) etc etc. There were many others but
I'm having
a "senior moment" and cant remember the rest.
Everyone was mingling
and chatting etc (incl. me) when I suddenly realised I was a bit
snackish, only to find that they had cleared away the main course
already which consisted of Roast Hip of Beef and Chicken with tons
of vegies (the best roast potatoes) etc. So I had to find a
chef to fill a plate of cold food for me before I died of
malnutrition. But when the puddings came out, I wasn't going
to miss out again and for someone who doesn't usually take sugar in
her diet.... I did pretty well. I needed all the extra
energy for all the boogie-ing that was going to take us through to
3:30am. Agghhh!!! We had divine music...I asked the DJ
only to play hits from the 70's and early 80's and DID
that bring back a few memories. Remember: Funky
Town, Hit me with your rhythm stick, Grease, Saturday Nite Fever
etc. etc? Hilarious as some of us were dancing to Turning
Japanese, Brass in Pocket, and others.
Got to do some
chatting...had a long one with Liz Briggs who
is staying in Bathurst with partner, Aubrey. They are no
longer building kitchens but rather making up very exclusive
basket work from wattle, for interior design shops and other
upmarket outlets. They have a stall on the Grahamstown Festival
which started on Friday, so they were rushing back on Sunday to be
at the Festival.
Seems they have a
stunning life. Bohemian - out in the bush near a bird
sanctuary. Sounds very peaceful and stress free. She looks
exactly the same.
Those too looking exactly
the same (time hasn't changed them at all): Sarah
Roberts, Gary Bateman, Lynne Thompson, Sharon Pinfield, Gavin
Meinking, Sharon Hall, Steve Cruickshank, Pete Yanoutsos, Sam
Garish, June Townsend - it was like a time warp!!!
Those who had changed a
lot ... I will leave it to the photos to tell all, otherwise I
might just be accused of being "bitchy" - so when
the website is up and running (Steve Cruickshank is
doing it for me and he took the photos too) I will let you
all know in due course.
Zonke
(actually
Sonke) (now more commonly known as Nils) (I wont go there) and
lovely, recent, wife, Miriam (from Argentina) came all the way
from Botswana. I have kept in contact with Zonke since
school and see him almost every year around Christmas. We go
out for dinner, catch up on old times etc. Its been great.
Now I just have to get my buns to Botswana again...trust me the
will is there, just the flight is so damn expensive!!!!
Agghh!!! You could fly to UK twice there and back for the
price of a flight from Jhb to Maun. Scary!!!
Zonke is working at a potash mine. Bearing up to the heat
and small town living. Miriam seems to have fitted in just
fine - doing the tea parties and keeping house. Her English has improved drastically and left any longer she will probably
lose her accent completely! :)
Stuart
Brown - the
lean, mean mountaineering machine has returned to SA after living
in Switzerland since school. He brought his wife and children as
well to settle in SA. Things are taking strain - but it
looks like that this was the week that business seemed to take a
new, more positive direction. He is a mountain guide but
also promotes hiking & mountaineering gear. Looking
really good, but then again he is my "fairy godchild"
and will always be. If this is confusing you...I jumped out
of a cake, dressed like a fairy, for his 18th birthday. Theresa
Blacknell organised that one!!!
Others looking
particularly stunning were Vanessa Hope,
Michelle de Villiers who has taken up marathon
running, Cappi Beukes and the ever faithful
John Jager.
Mike
De Villiers is
now based in UK but is probably going to get a contract in
Uzbekistan. He will just commute where necessary and leave
his family in the UK. He is doing very well for himself (if
I remember correctly he is in the finance/manager side of mining).
Always the same with his naughty sense of humour.
Tracey
Tredinnick is
doing loads of travelling with her job (AVIS) . I think she
is finding the travelling very stressful. Sounds like
she is away a lot of the time. She is thinking of doing
something else or changing her approach to what she is doing.
Mike
Merrifield (the
rastaman from ''81) is still going strong and just returned from
the West Indies where he was painting his 3-D advertising logos on
the cricket fields. He seems to be also doing well and every time
we watch a cricket, rugby etc match and see the logos
(which by the way he is patenting in most countries) we think of
Mike.
Fiona
Nicolson - as
funny and dry as ever. Really was extremely helpful in
collecting all the memorabilia from our youth. I haven't really had much to do with her since school (we were friends in
junior school) and its been wonderful to re-connect. We had
a complete blast with "remember this...." The
giggles and laughs flowed in abundance. On the dance floor,
all inhibitions were lost and Fiona was doing her thing which was
a mixture of Pulp Fiction crossed with Saturday Nite Fever and
something else I'm not sure of. She was having such a good
time. And then again so was David Smith.
At 7:30pm he was already completely wasted - but very funny.
Could hardly stand up and was slurring really badly.
But....at 3am in the morning he was still going strong dancing the
night away. Where he got the energy or the pace to keep
going who knows. I was quite convinced that he would fall
over early on in the evening. But this was not to be.
And it was a good thing!!!
Dicky
(Deon) Kotze (The
other small person) - another one who hadn't changed much. He
is in the fabric/curtain business. Self-employed and is also
realising the pressure one has with this sort of employment.
But as we both agreed, wouldn't swap it for working for someone
else. He too let his hair down and had a good time on the
dance floor.
Wally
Halvorsen - we
battled to get him on the floor, but we finally managed and I
think that is where he stayed! He seemed to have a good time
too. He hadnt been to any of the others so was quite
chuffed I eventually tracked him down to come.
Berys
Behr has given
journalism a bit of a miss these days. Far too much pressure
and has now opted for alternative healing methods and is now a
practitioner.
Sheralee
Marsden is a
nurse and practicing at the Constantiaberg Hospital. I was so glad
to track her down as I have NEVER been able to find her since
school. Therefore this was her first reunion. Another
first was David Walker, Wally
(as above) and I think Alan Veitch too.
David
Pearce (one I couldn't
find) managed to track us down on the Friday. So a
quick shuffle around and we fitted him in. So there are only
I think 6 I couldn't find. 82 had paid and were meant to be
present (not counting partners) and 40+ sent their CV's and
photos. So the representation was overwhelming. There
were 156 of us in matric.
Marion
Brown and
husband Luciano and kids are immigrating either to the UK or
Scotland. This was all happening at the beginning of 2001
and then his company was taken over by another and so the whole
process had to start again. They are still going but all the
paperwork is still being done. As Marion says - for 6 months
her life and family have been on hold. She sold her business
and is sitting around waiting. Really tiresome and
disruptive.
Andrew
Hammond (didn't
get to chat with him besides a short greeting) obviously does the
clubbing scene ... had the moves on the dance floor. Almost
40 nogal!!!!
Candy
Sharples is
looking as young and as lovely as ever! Almost didn't recognise her with her long hair. She also came from afar:
Knysna. Another one who keeps up the youthful looks and is
always the same: Debbie Baxter.
Also ran out of time to talk to her, but life is obviously
treating her well. I think too many boogies kept me away
from having deep and meaningful chats. I cant remember when
I last had a good dance.... and as for that music.... I just couldn't
help myself.
Elena
Lachenicht was
torn between school reunion and 40th birthday party and
unfortunately for us she chose the party. She was sadly
missed by all. But I believe through the grapevine that she
looks and is the same as ever. (Another one!).
Stephen
Cruickshank was
kind enough to take some photos on the night including
"Class" shots. These should turn out really well.
In due course, Stephen and I are hoping to set up a website with
these photos - so you guys, who didnt attend can also have a peak
on what you missed out on and check out some old faces.
Stephen is quite the photographer these days and producing some
stunning work. Another artist in our midsts!
Babies.... Michael
Coldrey's wife has just produced, Lynette
Ball was due the weekend of the reunion so didn't want to have a surprise landing on Sat and Kathy
Liell-Cock produced her 4th last week and
attended reunion, baby and hubby in tow!
This was a funny
one....Lynne Thompson asked if she could bring Brett
Baker to the reunion. If he pays - anyone
can come was my reply. I don't remember him. So after swapping
photos of him and then being introduced to him on Sat...
I still haven't got a clue who he is nor have I ever seen his face.
Bit embarrassing as he remembers me from Junior school nogal!!!!
And what made it worse....everyone else
remembers him too...Do you? Brett turned out to be a really
nice chap, so why, for the love of money, I cant place him....who
knows...Another "senior moment" Have you noticed
they coming quick and fast these days?
Well folks, that's about
all I can put together, all I can remember. Do hope it gives
you a rough idea on the evening. That you connected with
some of the students/learners and that you will take this
opportunity, along with the booklet you have (I have mailed to
you) to look up old friends, have a chat etc. It was
really special to see everyone again and I'm really sorry that you
guys couldn't make it. Maybe next time. Start
saving now - there will be no financial excuses in 2006.
What you say?
Kind regards
Kim
PS:
For those of you who
did send your CV and photos - they went down very well and people
were reading them well into the night.
Thanks for being a part
of our reunion.
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