Chris and bicycle riding - Chris in trouble - modern house decor - Chris and water sports.
Wednesday 23rd September,
My Dear Jeremy,
Mindola Township was where the miners lived, Mindola Mission was where the missionaries, Hugh and Rachel Fielder, lived and where we were living until our new house was built. Rachel was an artist and drew that pastel portrait of Christopher. The house we lived in was in walking distance of the Training College and we would walk down to see how the building was progressing and visit the Barkers.
In the meantime Christopher learnt to ride his bicycle in front of the house. He persisted and persisted until he got it right despite spills, grazed knees and hot tears of anger when he would aim a hefty kick at the tyres and start all over a gain. He practiced while Jill rode up and down on her tricycle in a sympathetic way.
Where he got the bicycle from I do not remember as I do not recall buying it as we were so short of cash at the time. We were still paying back the loan to Hamish's brother and paying off the car loan to the Government..
Great was the day the house was finally finished only the counters and sink had been fitted by a very tall Afrikaner so these had to be lowered to suit my height.
The house was semi-detached on a barren piece of land where all the vegetation had been removed except for one scraggy bush which I pruned. It rewarded me by growing into a handsome shrub. In the front and to the left was a very large anthill. Dad made a path going round and round up to the top where Christopher had his fort. Once he and John Barker got carried away and threw clods at a passing African woman, the enemy. They both got a telling off and a whack on the bottom from Dad who then had to go round and apologise to David. The Barkers did not believe in smacking their children, however, David thanked Michael and confessed he wished he could chastise John in this way at times, but, of course, he never did.
A coloured lady, I wish I could remember her name, who did dry cleaning and lived in a large house in a wild unkempt rose garden let me prune the bushes for her and gave me the cuttings. I planted these cuttings and I think most of them grew. Between the two houses at the back I planted cuttings of Poinsettia which grew to over five feet tall.
The house had two bedrooms with lounge/dining room and a coal stove in the kitchen. The floors were red coloured concrete which had to be polished. Wood was not used for floors because of the white ants which destroyed them. There were also soldier ants which would sweep through all in their way as they moved relentlessly in a swarm marching onwards. Once we heard Jill scream as she had been bitten in her bed by a soldier ant. The rest were following up the wall and in through the window. We sprayed and took the still hot embers from the stove and spread them all round the house to prevent any more getting in and attacking our children.
The furniture was basic but I had to cover the cushions and buy new curtains. We were very modern and bought a black and white geometric design for the covers and a Picasso design for the curtains. To match this I chose a large reproduction of Picassos green period while Michael chose van Goghs fishing boat.
Nearby was Mindola Dam. We joined the club. Michael and George found they had a common interest in boats so together they built a canvas canoe which we christened Minnie and which you will remember. You also used the same plans for your canoe and I think you still have the plans and canoe. Many a happy picnic we had on the banks of that dam which narrowed through the bush at one end where we would paddle round the small islands and enjoy our picnic away from the madding crowd.
One day Christopher decided to take the canoe out. We were talking to friends and did not notice. The wind blew him to the other side of the dam. Imagine my horror, I was quite hysterical as he could not yet swim. He stood up to try to turn it round and I was convinced he would fall in as canoes do wobble so. Calmly Michael either borrowed another canoe, or he swam out I just can't remember and brought him safely to shore.
Christopher also recalls that once he found three small fishes flapping on the bank. Poor fishes, he thought, they have jumped out of the water so I will just throw them back. Whereupon an irate gentleman bore down upon him shouting that he had just caught those fishes. Christopher remembers Dad rescuing him and apologising profusely. I do not remember this and somehow I do not think Michael ever told me about this embarrassing incident.
Thought you would like that one..
Love, Mum