Tuesday 25th May 2010-05-25
Dear Jeremy,
I remember an incident on the trip south but I am not sure where it was. It was getting dark and it was raining so we pulled off the road to spend the night in this field. While Daddy was lowering the caravan jacks he looked up to see people advancing towards him. They did not look friendly but menacing. He quickly raised the jacks again and got into the Lawrence and drove away. Though I only got a brief glimpse of the people it remains an unpleasant memory.
We found no other place to camp so drove on into the night, the rain and a violent thunderstorm The rain pelted down so the hard the windscreen wipers were going full tilt but still Dad had difficulty seeing the road. I had to put my head out the window to keep an eye on the edge of the road.so we would not slip off. I was really afraid worrying that we might get stuck in a flooded causeway and would be washed away. Just as frightening was the thought of the trees being struck by lightning and falling across the road or onto us. I think we drove all night and got to Bulawayo in the very early hours of the morning. We pulled up in Gerry's garden and slept until they woke up very surprised to find us there. I think we felt a little delicate for the rest of the day.
After leaving Bulawayo we crossed into South Africa at Beit Bridge. We stayed in Pretoria with Joyce, Dennis, Shawn and Joanne. I think this was the time we continued down to Natal and visited our friends the Wills family who lived in Pietermaritzburg. They had four sons and Tony was still teaching at his old school. We were surprised ti find out that he had assembled an aeroplane in the roof of his house, it turns out they had to remove the roof to get it out. He did fly it around in the flying club for many years until he failed the medical test, which was well into his 70's.
If we went that way we would have called in at East London to visit Pop, Bazil , Dawn, Jennifer, Jonny and Terrance. Then it would have been on to Grahamstown to Granny, Grandpa and Christopher. That was a great reunion
First we stayed in the Grahamstown Caravan Park but then Granny, who had a way of arranging things for people and getting other people to do things for her. She had arranged that we park in the Headmaster of Kingswood College's back garden. We made a very comfortable camp beside some trees and bushes. Eunice came to work for us to do the washing and ironing and when we went travelling she came with us. She slept in the landrover. Dawn gave her a swimsuit and she looked very glamorous.
It was very nostalgic being back in Grahamstown where we renewed our friendship with Ken Fryer and met his wife Audrey. I visited the library and Dr van der Riet. Michael and I recalled many happy memories.
Timothy had not been christened we saved that treat for Grandpa. Joyce was also there.. The christening was quite hilarious. Timothy insisted on taking his tennis racquet on which he lent nonchalantly and adopted the same stance Grandpa had taken up behind the rail. Even Grandpa found it difficult to keep a straight face. It was a very happy afternoon.
During that time we put Jill into school at Diocesan School for Girls, the Anglican church school so she would not miss too much schooling. I think she was happy there and enjoyed herself.
Christmas came and the school holidays so we went to East London and camped down at Leachs Bay an old stamping ground when I was a child. Many a picnic and swim I enjoyed there. We had also spent that last holiday with my Mother there. Auntie Nellie and Uncle Leighton were still on the farm and running their shop. I have some nice photos of that time. We saw quite a lot of Pop, Bazil, Dawn and the children.
It was a very happy holiday.
Too soon it was time to take Christopher back to Kingswood and for us, once again, to follow the Great North Road to Kitwe Teacher Training College where Michael had been appointed Vice-Principal. George Buckmaster was now Principal and David Barker an Inspector of Schools based in Lusaka.
I am sure Christopher will remember many more things about this time. I should have refreshed my memory when talking to him on the phone last night. Perhaps he will write his own memories of that time.
Love you,
Mum