Morning Mirror 75 14th December 2003

Christmas in Zimbabwe

If you are away from Zimbabwe this Christmas, here are some beautiful excerpts from Pamela Silvers illustrated book "A journey back to Zimbabwe "

"When I was a child, the garden was something human,
The Jacarandas were like big good friends"

"I love the silence, the air here and the softness in the air and the very far away murmur of traffic.

The gate opening and closing and the dustbin lids being put back softly."

"The old back door cement steps polished red, with the lines imprinted to form patterns"

"The sinks of stone and the tin bath tubs, life has stayed still"

"To cry for the past that no longer exists
That I have missed for so long.
To mourn a life that no longer exists
Only in my memory - so strong, I focus into it every day"

"As I walked up the Matopos, I felt the joy, the openness,
The excitement of feeling
and seeing the top. World's View
and those colored lizards so huge,
and the patterns on the granite
looking as tho' someone had splashed paint
thro' the night and when awoken in the morning
the whole world saw another stone. "

It is, as Yvonne Vera says "The sky is so blue at nine in the morning that one could just get out of bed a lick it "

"It is the solitude of walking through the tree-lined suburb of Suburbs
and seeing no one except maybe a person searching for work,
a man reading a newspaper, on the grass at the corner of the road,
a fruit seller,
a lolly-ice man
a postman and you "

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

December 2003

To all my wonderful and blessed friends and family...

This time of the year always brings about fond memories of the activities of the year...the love and laughter shared amongst loved ones...and the glorious achievements of each and every one of us throughout the course of the year...Christmas 2003 is no different.

This message is sent with love to each of you...may you know the joy and wonder you bring to my life...

All the very best for 2004 - may it bring you prosperity, health and many many many good tidings...

Enjoy the well earned holiday!

Gina Wilson

ROBINSONS IN N.Z.

We are fine and settling in very well.  Kids are happy and loving their freedom and Jono and I are having good family time for a change with no stress and worries.

Jono's job going well although he misses his Byo setup and karate.

We heard from an ex Zim last night who said he had picked up our e-mail address off your morning mirror.  Unfortunately it kept bouncing back to him so he read that we were in Nelson and then phoned all the Vet Surgery's and finally found Jon.  Anyway he read back the address and it was incorrect so please may I give you our e-mail and can you circulate it in your Morning Mirror.  I would also like to be added to the list as I really miss hearing all the news, although people have been very good with writing.  Very sad situation over there at present and we think of you all often.

Our address is    mrsdog@xtra.co.nz

Look after yourselves and have a good Christmas.

Fondest love, Andrea and Jono Robinson and the family

Just a quick email to wish all of you and your readers a great xmas and hope that 2004 brings change for the better.

Margaret is recovering rapidly from her treatment for the throat cancer and starting to give me a hard time!! so she is definitely on the mend!

Can any of your readers a contact email for Bruce and Pam Riddle at Ascot race course please. They are very good friends but have lost contact details.

Rgds
Dave & Mags Parkinson
davezw@ntlworld.com

+++++++++

We hope that this holiday season is a special time filled with family, friends, fun and relaxation...  and that 2004 is an excellent year for you !!

love Craig & Karin
PO Box 2226 Toowoomba
QLD 4350 Australia
Tel/Fax: +61 7 4696 8301
Mobile: 043 996 8300
baileyck@bigpond.com

"So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35b)

May the Lord bless you this Holy season with His love, joy and peace. Warm wishes for happiness at Christmas and in the New Year

Love & God bless,
Dave, Geraldine, Barry, Ian, Nicole & Chelsey (Phillips)

FAREWELL TO JANE AND STEVE BEATY

The Bulawayo Community would like to bid farewell to Jane and Steve Beaty and their three lovely children. The Beaty Family has given much to the entire Zimbabwe community for the years that they have been in the country. We are deeply indebted to this very warm and giving couple for bringing joy to so many.

God Speed, stay safe and please come back some day soon.

CONGRATULATIONS

RORY AND JULIA ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THEIR YOUNGEST SON ROBERT TO TANYA ELDEST DAUGHTER OF GARY AND CAROLINE WHITEHEAD-WILSON

CONDOLENCES

• BABY TYLER O'REILLY - DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO TREVOR AND CHARMAINE AND TO ALL WHO CARED

• ROSE GORDON SADLY MISSED BY EUGENE, VAL AND SYD, AVRIL AND LEN, COLIN AND NELLY AND GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN

• WILLIAM LAURANCE WALENN

• MARY JOHNSON

• SALLY WHITE DEARLY LOVED WIFE OF ROLLO, MOTHER OF MICHELLE AND LUNDY, GRANDMOTHER OF TARRYN, FAYE AND KYLA

• LOLLY TITLEY DEAREST SON OF PAMELA JOBSON

• ALAN WINTER - RENOWNED ARTIST, BELOVED HUSBAND OF KAY FOR SIXTY YEARS

• GERALDINE BOURNE (MOTHWA)

• RICHARD JOHN OWEN

• DINO KARASELOS

• BILL POTTER IN JOHANNESBURG

• SANDY BUCKLE WIFE OF JACK BUCKLE, MUCH LOVED MUSIC TEACHER IN BULAWAYO.

• ELSIE TOWNSHEND

TIDBITS

Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that things feel difficult.

POLITICALLY CORRECT CHRISTMAS MESSAGE -

"MAY THE GENDER UNSPECIFIED METAPHORICAL DEITY OF OUR PERSONALIZED CHOICE BLESS US (if we should so choose) - EVERYONE- EACH IN HIS (HER) EQUIVALENTLY VALID MANNER ..."