Rummaging through my handbag last night in vain pursuit of my
lipstick, i was the subject of a lot of derisive remarks from the
male fraternity ably lead by HEEHOO.
Men hate women's handbags with a passion (except when they are used
to keep that same mans car keys, spectacles, wallet etc !!) and my
elegant faux leather reticule was being derisively called "The
Black
Hole of Calcutta"
Now I hope , after that remark, that he will be reincarnated and
brought back as my dear departed Great Uncle George. The reason
being
that Great Uncle George has the distinction of being married to an
amazing lady - my Great Aunty Poppy!!
Aunty Poppy was a legend in Rhodesia as it was then. She was called
Poppy because she was one of twins and was nearly born in a potty
in
the back of an ox wagon near Penhalonga.....
Aunty Poppy was well known for many reasons, one being that she and
Uncle George lived in the very first "Paper House" on the Gaika
Mine
near Que Que. (Forgive me for using the old names, but we are going
back quite a few years here !!)
But that's another story and I will keep it for another time.
However
one of Aunty Poppy's claims to fame was her amazing "Panic Bag",
her
portmanteau of gargantuan proportions, which used to accompany her
everywhere, even to tea with the Queen. !!
In those days one needed a panic bag. Those were the days of the
low
level bridges in Rhodesia when one could be stuck on the side of a
road for days, waiting for the rivers to subside. (We had good
rains
in those days)
Those were the days when ones fridge comprised an open cupboard
covered in small wire gauze, with water dripping past it !!
As kids we delighted in rummaging trough Aunty Poppy's panic bag,
although this treat was closely linked to good behaviour.
I will always remember her beautiful hat pin, the end featuring a
magnificent Madagascan pearl, this hat pin was seen in use many
times, most often firmly pinned in her hat, worn at all times, a
grim
little grey hat with a small brim, to keep her milky white
complexion
from being afflicted by the sun, but we did have occasion once to
see
it firmly inserted into the bottom of a callous fellow who tried
to
steal her precious pocket book.
Of course every Grand Dame had an elegant beautifully decorated
bottle of smelling salts, and if we were very good, Gavin and I
were
sometimes allowed a tiny whiff of this heady draught.
In that ridiculous reticule Aunty Poppy was known to carry a book
of
matches, a primus stove, and a pitch cresset which is an olden day
version of a torch !!
Of course there were dozens of oils, balms, elixirs and
embrocations
used to treat anything from a centipede sting to a woozy throat.
There were endless vials and phials that we were not allowed to
touch
under threat of death, quinine tonic for malaria, tea-tree oil for
cuts and abrasions.
If we were very very good we were sometimes allowed a tiny sip of
Uncle George's special Mint Julep which was carried always, just in
case Uncle George was found suffering from any illness, ailment or
malady .....
Crochet hooks with fine bone handles, knitting needles with mother
of
pearl tops, a teeny weeny sewing kit with gossamer silk embroidery
threads, an engraved silver hip flask with cut glass drinking
vessel
attached by a fine intricately designed silver chain.
Of course if we caught Aunty Poppy on a very good day she would
allow
us to open, slowly and carefully, the chamois leather and filigris
sliver case which contained Uncle George's monocle, and sometimes
we
were even allowed to handle the tiny embossed gold case which
carried
Aunty Poppys pince nez ...
The portmanteau itself was a work of art, rather large to say the
least but crafted from the finest tapestry with handcrafted
Moroccan
leather elbows. The family crest was of course intricately tooled
onto a leather tag with a silver padlock designed specially to
thwart
my brother and I !!
And so, to all you men who hate your wife's purses, handbags,
clutch
bags, valises, call them what you will, just be glad that you were
not born 100 years ago, when women were forced to carry their
entire
lives around with them.
And of course right at the bottom of that Gladstone Bag, was "the
shawl" always hauled out when a little persons eyes became sleepy,
and the thumb began to creep into the mouth.
It must have been woven by a fairy it was so soft and so warm,
smelling slightly of mothballs mixed with eau de cologne, the smell
of which, to this day, evokes wonderful childhood memories of an
amazing Lady.
Congratulations to Kim and Bob on the birth of their firstborn,
Robert
John, at Westville Hospital, Natal. Well done, and love from all the
family.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++
4 CONDOLENCES
It is with great sorrow that we advise that one of our honorary
life
members of APC Zimbabwe, Ephraim Chamba, died on Friday as a result
of a car accident.
Ephraim had extensive experience in radio, television and print
media.
From 1960-1970 he was employed by the Rhodesian
Broadcasting
Corporation and rose to the position of senior announcing - producer.
In 1971 he joined Associated Holdings as manager of their
African
division in their operations called Advertising Promotions Ltd.
He
was responsible for planning and producing radio programmes;
trained
and supervised announcers; wrote and produced radio plays and was
the author and producer of the first radio serial (Soap Opera)
broadcast daily - Monday to Friday. In 1972 he was promoted to
the
position of director in the group.
At Independence in 1980, he was invited to take up the post
of
National Representative and Public Relations at Zimbabwe
Newspapers,
co-ordinating advertising, marketing and PR for the Herald, Sunday
Mail, the Chronicle, Sunday News, Manica Post and Kwayedza.
In 1984 he was offered a more lucrative position as Group
PR
Executive by the TA Group of Companies. He held this position
until
1994 when he asked for an early retirement package. He was then
Group PR Senior Executive. At the time of his death he was self-
employed as a PR Consultant and had both local and international
clients.
Ephraim travelled extensively throughout Africa as well as
to
Europe, USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, and the Indian Ocean islands
of Mauritius and the Seychelles.
He was involved in many organisations on a voluntary basis
and was
the Patron of the Zimbabwe Dance Council. He was a keen gardener
and enjoyed watching soccer and going to the theatre.
Ephraim leaves a wife and three children to whom we extend
our
deepest sympathy.
+++++++
Obituary: Kenneth Devlin Jackson
Message from Jenny Jackson
What I'd like to ask please Eddy, and this may be a bit late but
I've
only now found your web-site, but I wonder if you could please put
a
notice up for the passing-away of my dearest husband of 33 years,
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Devlin Jackson, of 101 Volunteer Reserve
Squadron, Bulawayo. He passed away on New Year's Day last year
(01/01/2005). If any of his squadron's members would like to e-mail
me, I would be very grateful to hear from them.
Ken was the Honorary Secretary of the Rhodesia Railways Museum in
Bulawayo, and an active member of the Military Historical Society.
He was a friend of the MOTHS, being their regular Quiz-presenter in
Bulawayo. He was also a well-known presenter of various programs
with Rhodesia Television, and an active member of the Bulawayo
Theatre. He presented the popular Armchair Safari with Viv Wilson
of
Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage outside Bulawayo.
Once again, if anyone knows someone connected with these bodies and
would like to contact me, I will love to hear from them.
More specifically, I would like any help in contacting anyone
connected with Rhodesia Television
who may know how I can reach Mr. Val Lunn, Production Manager at
RTV,
Bulawayo.
I am attaching a photo I have of Ken in his uniform, but I would
have
preferred to attach one
Thank you so much Eddy, and go well. Chat soon, and warmest
regards, Jenny
Messages & information can be sent to Jenny on jenjaxon@hotmail.com
Sincere thanks to Jenny
You can shed tears that he has gone
or you can smile because he has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all hes left.
Your heart can be empty because you cant see him
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that hes gone
or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
or you can do what he want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Rest in Peace Ken
Anon.
+++++++++
In Memoriam of
Jamna Giga - Mum lovingly remembered - Inky, Kusum, Sheila and
Prafula
++++++++++
WE OFFER SINCERE SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FOLLOWING
LIONG KWA YUNG JOSEPH (GRANNY MOY)
AIDEN MARAIS
BRIDGET ROBAS
FRANK HOPE
BENJAMIN PILLAY
LYNDON BRUTON
MARAH MOYO
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++
7 TIDBITS
We have to move beyond the mind-set of the powerlessness.?
- Audrey Edwards -
=======
A cause may be inconvenient, but its magnificent. Its like
champagne or high heels, and one must be prepared to suffer for it.?
++++++
To commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1,
actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special
appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for
the benefit of the AARP.
One of the musical numbers she performed was "My
Favourite Things" from the legendary movie "Sound Of
Music."
Here are the lyrics she used:
Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favourite things.
When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favourite things.
Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,
When we remember our favourite things.
When the joints ache,
When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.
(Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the
crowd that lasted over four minute s and repeated
encores.)
+++++++
e are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed
and
broken. We are perplexed, but we dont give up and quit. We are
hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we
get up again and keep going.?(2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT)
++++++++++
SOAKING CELLPHONES
Sooner or later every cell phone goes in the drink. For some it may
be the bathtub, for others a glass of scotch. For many, the toilet.
(No need to explain.)
Hey, you spent hundreds of dollars on that handset, so it's
understandable that you might decide to attempt to rescue it. But
how?
The Cell Freak has all the collected wisdom on the topic, including
some advice I'd never heard, like soaking the phone in 95% alcohol
to
dissolve all the water trapped inside. I've personally had good
luck
with low level heat for wet phones and laptops: A few hours on the
lowest setting inside an oven (150 degrees or thereabouts) can dry
out a gadget and make it good as new.
Regardless of which method you try, remember to remove the battery
from any device you attempt to salvage. If this hasn't been made
clear by now, batteries are deeply susceptible to damage from heat
and foreign substances. They're also relatively easy to replace, so
don't even try to save a battery if it's been compromised. However,
batteries are by design well-sealed to prevent water or other
materials from getting inside, so a quick wipe with a towel should
be
all you need to save a power cell.
Remember that these methods are not foolproof, in fact they're far
from it. Water and electronics just don't mix. My personal record
on
saving wet gadgets is about 50-50, but those are pretty good odds
in
my book, and with this advice, they're even better.
CHRISTOPHER NULL
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