It always amazes me just how resilient we Zimbos are and I still have high hopes that our
beautiful Centenary Park will be restored to its former glory again one day.
I have driven past the Centenary Park in Bulawayo virtually every day of my life. The Park
was once the hub of the City.
Here bands played in days of Yore, in that little gazebo by the fountain. The Army Band,
the Police Band, the Salvation Army Band, on Sundays, High Days and Holidays.
Genteel Folk spread out their check table clothes and drank lemonade and ate cucumber
sandwiches while they listened to the jaunty strains of the trumpets and bassoons.
When the Queen Mum and her two princesses came to visit in the fifties to open the park
officially, I clearly remember lining up on Selborne Avenue in my Coghlan Junior School
uniform, (the pretty blue one patterned with the blue plumbago flower, which was C.J.R's
favourite flower I gather ).
We were all issued with tiny Union Jacks which we waved in (tut tut) true colonial style, as
the Royal Party , waving in that most regal of all manners, drove up the magnificent
Avenue.
Wide enough to turn an ox wagon in full span, the avenue was lined with a blaze of purple
jacarandas, a golden riot of honeysuckle from the Silver Oak trees, it is now of course
called Leopold Takawira Avenue.
I would be too ashamed to show you pictures of the Park now, but do yourself a favour
and visit FallonBills Youtube presentation at YouTube - Centenary Park, Bulawayo,
Rhodesia, Oct. 1973 to remind yourself of what it used to look like !
I clearly remember feeding the black and white swans in the river that ran through the
park, I think it was a part of the Matsheumhlope although I am open to correction !!
There were fountains and lakes and ponds, there were giant formal gardens, with beautiful
banks of cannas, agapanthus, dalias and all sorts of exotic blooms. There were literal
avenues of wisteria, petras, and the sweet scented "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"
There were mazes and pruned privets and low hedges of immaculately trimmed plumbago
that one could jump over.
The Round Table Railway was started at a much later stage, and this exciting trip on
miniature steam engines Queen Guinevere and King Arthur, as the trains were named,
sped you past the duck pond, through an enchanted tunnel, over the bridge across the
stream and then back to the tea garden for an ice cream or a "brown cow".
There was a giant aviary there too at one stage,a putt putt course, a small game park and
of course the illuminated fountain which were all erected at a much later date.
This was the chosen venue for countless weddings, the beautiful park was the perfect
backdrop for the all important wedding photographs.
Christmas was sheer magic, the lights, the piped carols, the fairy-tale atmosphere,
mothers, fathers, children, grannies, grandpas, took to strolling around the exquisite
tableaux, culminating in a walk up the poignant path to where the beautifully decorated
Nativity Scene was under the giant Christmas tree.
Here at the fountain, on New Years Eve, celebratory crowds would gather to see the New
Year in and more than one wag would find himself drenched from head to toe in an
obligatory fountain ducking.
This was also a favourite place to find a bevy of "Ice Cream Boys" remember them? Their
ungainly, extraordinarily heavy bicycles, without any sort of 3 speed mechanism, dragging
behind them giant carts paced with smoking dry ice and full to the brim with tangerine
mivvis and ice lollies, oh how I wish I could remember some of the famous names !!They
would ring their bike bells furiously to attract attention, the red Lyons Maid Merry Men and
the blue and white outfits of the Dairibord crew.
Of course one had to visit the playground with the seesaw, the jungle gyms the
roundabouts and the swings on long long ropes that could propel you way up and
excitingly high. Then there were the tanks and train engines that the kids could climb on
to their hearts' content.
The gardens were the domain of one Mr Bob Hardman for many years, his heart would
break if he could see his masterpiece now. Those beautiful purple petria bushes that lined
up beside the fountain are all but totally dead now, although I thought I might have seen
an hint of purple the other day with all the rain we have had this year.
My heart leapt with hope, and I knew then that nothing, nobody, ever, ever, ever will put
out the flame that still burns in the hearts of many people, who will be willing to come
back home at the drop of a hat, when peace and justice prevail once again in Zimbabwe.
The Memorial Service for the late MRS IRENE EVELYN PALMGREN (HAMMOND) will be held
on
Thursday 26th February 2009, at 15:30 in the Baptist Church, Second Avenue, George
Silundika Street,
Bulawayo.
CONDOLENCES
PALMGREN - (HAMMOND, NEE: BUCKLE) IRENE. You left us so suddenly - no time to say
goodbye.
We hope you are playing bridge with loved ones you have joined in a garden full of flowers
which you
held so dear. Your daughter, Trish & Dave.
PALMGREN - (HAMMOND) IRENE. My Super Gran, My Best Friend!
Can't believe you are gone - I thought you would be by my side FOREVER. I pray you are
happy now doing
everything you loved - bowls, bridge and praising the Lord you love so dear. I know you
are in a peaceful
garden SO BEAUTIFUL like yours always was. Love you always Gran. Amy
PALMGREN - (HAMMOND) IRENE.
Roses are red, violets are blue.
You were such a special Gran and
I love you. Jessica XX
PALMGREN - (HAMMOND) IRENE.
Great love,
Rock hard protection,
And ever lasting patience
No bad thoughts
- that's my Gran. Love, "Buzz" (Scott)
PALMGREN - (HAMMOND) IRENE EVELYN. Passed away so suddenly on Sunday 15th
February 2009. Such
a special lady and much loved Mother. We will miss you so very much. Vernon and Liz
PALMGREN - (HAMMOND) IRENE. I shall miss you & thank you for letting me be part of
your family. Peggy
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 9:48 AM
Our hearts go out to the folk in Eastern Australia on their horrendous ordeals.
"I Watched a home video of fire bearing down on a community where most were killed.
Absolutely frightening. The incredible roar and hillsides exploding. It shook me.
So eerie here as we have this pall of smoke from the Victorian fires. Can you believe it.
Up in the north of the state the floods are horrendous. No point in fodder drops as the
cattle are all gone. Some big properties have NO cattle and NO horses left. They are
counting the losses in hundreds of thousands (of head!) (Many washed out to sea!) Hard to
believe.
I feel guilty as we have just had 100mm of rain - a couple of days ago. Fence damage but
nothing to talk about."
Hugo
The Dragons Demise
Maureen James passed away peacefully on Friday 30th January 2009 in St. Albans,
England.
Sadly missed by her loving children.
Mark, Kim, Simone, Jeremy, Jason and their families
We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is
a precious moment, but it is transient. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share with
caring, lightheartedness and love, we will create abundance and joy for each other. And
then this moment will have been worthwhile. --Deepak Chopra
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing
armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their
currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up
around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up
homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.
Thomas Jefferson
St. Theresa's Prayer:
'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where
you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are
born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have
received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be
content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into
your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.'
I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or
any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or
neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. --Etienne de Grellet
I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as a plant and rose to animal,
I died as an animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear?
When was I less by dying?
Jalaluddin Rumi (Poet and Mystic) 1207 - 1273
MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It
is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...
The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mum's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mum.
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