Morning Mirror Edition 113 - 7/ 11/ 2004




Photos from around Zimbabwe

Click on a thumbnail to see the full sized picture

A Kariba Storm
Binga Zimbabwe
The Matopos
Bulawayo
Rhodes' grave
Matopos
Expect the unexpected!
Mana Pools
       

In this edition

Smalls



GOOD BYE BULAWAYO AIRPORT


BULAWAYO AIRPORT

I have never been good at change.... I know it is necessary ..... but give me the old and the familiar any day.

Take the dear old Bulawayo Airport .. or rather the Joshua Nkomo Airport .... its just always been there...and now it is being demolished for something bigger, grander, more international, just what the country needs right now with our over abundance of tourists and our two flights a day !! The only foreign visitors we get at the moment are people who are coming to shoot our animals. (That's apart from our offspring who are all foreign exiles too now )

Why am I sad I ask myself ? For years now the Bulawayo Airport has been tatty, dilapidated, and run down. The phones haven't worked for ages, the tea room has not seen a decent glass, or a diet coke in years, but it was always the most friendly little airport in the whole world.

And that dear familiar old veranda has always made up for all the other faults.

One would watch ones loved ones depart through that inefficient makeshift wooden customs and immigration area into the departure lounge and then rush upstairs to wave goodbye.

In which other large airport in the world is that possible ? How many yellow ribbons have been waved enthusiastically over the balustrade of that veranda, how many welcoming cheers and shrieks have been shouted to the passengers as they climbed down the stairs of the planes just meters away from their families.

The aeroplanes at the Bulawayo airport sometimes parked so close to the folks on the elevated veranda that often the glasses and bottles were even blown off the table by the wind from the aeroplane's engines !!

How many tears have been shed as loved ones were waved across the tarmac leaving the country, going to university, going on army call up ?

We will always remember with fondness and horror combined, those ancient old Viscounts which have now been replaced with the 747s and the South African "puddle hoppers" which now grace our tarmac once or twice a day.

That veranda must have seen some sights in its day. And it is not loved because of it's ambience trust me. Cold grey cement, chipped tables and chairs, no roof, torrents of rain in summer, often stinking hot, and in winter it is colder and windier than the arctic circle !!

But now that they are building a new airport will it ever be the same again ? We will sorely miss it !! But then maybe the plans for the new airport will include a similar little veranda and history can continue, who knows ?


CONGRATULATIONS



CONGRATULATIONS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RON TUCKEY IN NEW ZEALAND 80 YEARS OLD THIS WEEK

AUDREY EDINGTON

AND TO GLORIOUS AUDREY EDINGTON, TEACHER, MENTOR, FRIEND TO COUNTLESS GIRLS AND BOYS IN ZIMBABWE FOR COUNTLESS YEARS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUDREY AND MANY MORE.

DAVISON - TINK
Jan Tink is happy to announce the engagement of Chris and Candy, son of Gerald and Shelly Davison, USA. Chris we welcome you to our large family and we wish you and Candy many years of happiness.

CONGRATULATIONS NERISSA & SEBASTIAN HUNG - "Double Celebrations"

Firstly to our Chinese bud Sebs. Who turns 40 on Guy Faulks day, sorry we are unable to celebrate this momentous day with you, sorely we miss this occasion but you are most certainly in our thoughts, hearts, prayers and mind. We treasure our memories of your, have a blast and don't get too blasted.

Nerissa (my sister) and Sebastian also celebrating the 16th wedding on the same day. Wishing you many more years of love and happiness always. Love and miss you all. Have a good party and let the good times roll. Loving you, Allan, Bernie, Jodie and Claire Coetzee Auckland, New Zealand.
Many thanks
Bernie Coetzee


CONDOLENCES

With Deepest Sympathy to the families of the following




SYMPATHY MESSAGES



Mike Cumming deepest sympathy to Liz, Alec, Duncan and Andrew.

Sheila Crewe deepest sympathy to Spencer

Chris Strydom deepest sympathy to Charmaine, Gregory, Michael and Brandon

Steve Hooper - deepest sympathy to Charmaine and family

TONY ROUSSOT - DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO DOULLA AND FAMILY AND STELLA

Ron Gracie beloved husband of Jean

Dave Jacobs - sincere sympathy to Fran, Linda and Barry

Nessie Webb - beloved wife of Eddie

MK Aircraft extends deepest sympathy to the families of the following :
David Lamb
Gary Keogh
Steve Hooper
Pete Launder
Chris Strydom
Mario Zahn


TIDBITS


"Adversity introduces a man to himself."


ROY BENNET

Zimbabweans are with you Roy Bennet.

You have shown us all the meaning of courage and of true patriotism and we thank you for the hope you have given us for the last five years. When the New Zimbabwe is born, Roy Bennett will be hailed as the man who gave us inspiration, hope and courage and showed us the way. We salute you.


FOR ROY

PEACE DREAM by Clem Tholet.
May the mountains standing by you ever guard you,
And the rivers wash your spirit bright and clean;
May the animals and birds sing of the peace that is to come
And not the glory of a land that might have been.

May God be with you and keep you strong;
May your tomorrows be rich and long.

May the lives that have been taken be for reason,
And the pain that you have suffered make you strong.
May the seeds that you have sown bring out the fullness of the future -
May God give you the strength to right their wrongs.

It's just a dream, I know - but dreams set you free
Dreaming can ease your mind . . . and bring you peace

May the sweetness of your soil yet bring you riches,
And your pastures ever fill your belly's needs,
May the nations that you harbour find a way to live as one;
Keep your standards high - do not give in to greed.

May God be with you and keep you strong;
May your tomorrows be rich and long.



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