Memories of Rhodesia
A country is created by peoples hearts and minds… not by boundaries…. technologies such as facebook and twitter, and ease of transport and communication have been able to recreate virtual countries….. amazing!!
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=5717052095&topic=3559#topic_top
Rhodesian ridgebacks,rugby & being able to go out riding my horse in the middle of the night by moonlight with no fear.
The high quality cotton clothing to be had,I still have a Proud to be Rhodesian tee shirt from 1978.Green Mamba milk shakes from a little restraunt in Avondale, all the junk foods from Willards,especially the popcorn with the pastel coloured sugar…mmmmm!
the beautiful quiet nights, only insects to be heard
the pitch black nights, the clean fresh air, the smell of rain, the feel of swimming in the lakes, fishing at 5am in the morning watching the sun rise, never being afraid. camping deep in the bush, again not being afraid.
driving through the game parks, watching the water pour over the mighty falls, walking through the rain forest getting soaked with pure clean water. having an ice cream from eskimo hut, eating dinners at friars, the drive inn, having space to live in with real big gardens, having pets who can run about freely, having a braai with family and friends, celebrating new years eve on selborne avenue at the fountain, harrassing the cops for swimming in the fountain, lying on the beautiful grass by fountain getting pissed. walking around the most amazing and beautiful gardens watching the xmas lights down selborne avenue. and all the beautiful cartoon characters in and around the park. walking around the national museum. going out to matopos for a day having a braai and appreciating the bush life. most of all i miss my cub scouts, i had such beautiful times with them camping, outdoor cooking etc etc, i loved them all and miss it so much.
Black Cat peanut butter. Having my mate round to watch Daniel Boone and Tarzan. Life was great when we were in our mid teens in the mid 70’s.
Later memories would include comradeship, determination never to submit to outside influences and realising I could do things I would never have thought possible.
SOO many wonderful memories! Like identifying which animal had passed on the dirt roads when out on my dad’s farm in Chinhoyi.
Fabulous hockey tours with school (MGHS) and Representative teams.
The smell of the bush…sitting outside the restaurant at Hwange Game Reserve at night and trying to work out where the animals were and identify their calls. Plus seeing all the mongoose run so freely around there. I could go on!
Haig Park School with Mr. Hough as Headmaster – Ellis Robins with memorable teachers like Mr Bradley, Mr Griffiths, Miss Hearn, Mr Fiddies and Mr Flynn. Headmaster Mr Jones and Deputy Head Mr Gibson – He was a stern looking bloke!
Swimming at Meyrick Park which was run by Mr Pietersie. Mabelreign Swimming Pool with it’s underwater viewing area, Les Brown Olympic Pool.
Seeing The Monamotapa Hotel getting built next door to Les Brown.
Biltong – Man I miss good Rhodesian Biltong and Cream Sodas and Cherry Plum.
Just being able to go to the Outdoor Fridge on the Garage Forecourts and helping myself to an Ice Cold Drink.
I miss going to Lake Mcillwaine on our boat and fishing every weekend. Going Trout Fishing at Inyanga.
Arranging a Braai – without worrying if it was going to rain or nor – you could actually plan to do things in the confidence that the weather would be good – as it usually was!
I miss the Outdoor Life and the variety which filled my life. I miss the Unadulterated food – it always tasted better.
And do you know what I miss most of all …..You Guys! Rhodesians! We were all friendly both black and white and you’re friends always stuck by you.
This one thing is a FACT – We will always be Proud Rhodesians and we will die Proud Rhodesians!
I was Born in Salisbury, Rhodesia, A Proud Rhodesian! NOT Harare, Zimbabwe – that is NOTHING to be proud of!
It was only the Outside interference from Foreign States and the extremist black movements or terrorists as we knew them, who’s sole aim was financial benefit, with no interest in caring for it’s people, that destroyed Rhodesia.
May That Once Fantastic Country – The Bread Basket of Africa – Rest in Peace!
Forever playing outside, walking around with all the freedom in the world and never any fear.
The jacaranda trees.
My worst memory is the locust season.
Playing with Ant lion’s ,just laying in the dust…
Camping and boating on Inyanconie dam..camping at second river outside Bulawayo on the plumtree road..Jocks store’s..and …Donkey munyor’s..The beautiful people….Leaning to make a catapult from thing you find in the bush..Going to church in barmgreen…being the only white kid that played mini-soccer in the shop behind the church..great days they were….Partying with friend……so many thing I remember…..I can never forget learning how to fish for grubs that live under the ground..Hot day’s .Flying ants and running around on the road barefooted with big red spiders running after the flying ants hehe..good times…going home cover in mud from head to toe and showering under the hosepipe in the garden..hehe….
The Zulu Warrior in the Bulawayo museum..I was like wow man…..So many thing I cannot put them down sorry..My spelling was and still is very bad…
Just being there…..
Just a note: I believe in equality for all that’s why I left in 1977..and I am sorry too see that there are so many thing still going bad for my fellow countrymen/women……….
Best regards to all….John David..
Beaut African storms….the smell of rain .
Waving and hooting at every army vehicle that passed us on the road…
Hanging out at the local club with mates and family…….sooooo many to remember.
Gosh I miss it !
Alas I have long forgotten the author of this, but it sums it up for me…..
MEMORIES
…….Long horizons of bush and road
blue skies, held by wool-like clouds
Vistas, distances, ground well loved
……………
An evening braai, the murmur of many tongues
And, with untold hours of work and play
….. we are eventually at peace, beneath this azure sky
That shall forever look down upon the country that I love
That shall by any other name be called
To me, in fond memory, will always be Rhodesia.
Walking in the bush worrying about snakes and not guns.
sunshine. comradeship.
I MISS HOME.
x
What a country we had!
And no one has mentioned Chipangali?
Chibulies, Wrex Tarr and John Edmond (especially tales of a game ranger)…would love to get my hands on a few copies for my son.
The sight of your gorgeos girl waiting for you a Brady Barracks after a gruelling tour….New years eve at the fountain & then off to watch the sunrise at worlds view…..I could go on for ages.I am also enjoying reading all the other memories,this could go on for a while!!!!
Running a muck with the locals and hoards of cousins in the bush and not having to check in with parents till dinnertime.. Playing in the minedumps. Familly get togethers from early morning to late night. Oumas cooking…..swimming in clear icy cold springs. window shopping with the folks late at night…drive inn…stock car races.
Fresh bread delivered by boys on bicycles (yellow buns with a cuppa tea)….best of all the milk in the glass bottles…n sipping off the cream from the top…Yummy! dairyboard and lions Maid ice cream carts, milk and juce at school break – giggle…รฉgging cars from those huge stormdrains…
Jacarandas in full bloom – Chaplain High School. Big Blue ballooning skirts to the Montrose Girls High uniform…LUNDI PARK PRIMARY…Mr Bell and the bets for a bottle of Coca-Cola..”Sweet”
Neighbours were like an extended family.
The army guys..he!he! giving the peace sign to every truck that passed us.
Proud to be Rhodesian..
Doing a “ton” on your bike down the Inyanga road and “hitting the wall” as you went over the bridge after the 15 mile staight.
Manica beers in Beira, fishing on the beach and being able to call a waiter for a drink (restaurant name forgotten).
Early morning starts for the Tiger Tournament at Kariba .Racing across the lake to be first at the gorge. The sight and sound of an RRAF Hunter coming down Sanyati gorge at zero feet . The wildlife viewed from a boat at Kariba.
Walking through a buffalo herd at Mana Pools. Catching a Vundu with a piece of blue soap at Mana camp. The sight of Elephant swimming across the Zambesi to Zambia, like a herd of submarines.
Meeting a Buffalo face to face in the reeds at Impala Ranch , Chiredzi.
The privilege of growing up there at a time when things were great.
Forces Canteen – good grub and spoiled by all the volunteer mom’s
Great childhood, good friendships, -=—– miss it a lot, still.
Debbie Lane (nee Boot)
I’ll never forget the one guy who would wander around tghe rugby & cricket selling “ice cream, Bengal Juice & nyamnyams”!!!!
My last Christmas in Zim (’81), was spent in Bullies with the best friends a person could ever have . . . Charmaine Rogers & her wonderful family, Ken (Tam) Dornan, Bruce (Box) Robertson, etc, etc . . . We were so broke that we couldn’t afford a drop of dop between us, & we spent a month getting wasted on water! The best time of my life; could never be repeated anywhere.
I was at Churchill when the Pipe Band broke the world record by piping nonstop in the hall for 100 hours. What an amazing time. I still get goosebumps every time I hear the pipes.
Getting caught underage at the offsales a month before I turned 18, & almost getting thrown in jail for my sins!!
People who never had the privilege & honour of beng brought up in the most unique country in the world could never understand the passion we all still feel Rhodesia.
Mangwananieeeeeeeee, the other one returns, mangwananieeee ndaarrarah ehrehh, the other one returns, ndaarrarah cannamaarrah ooohh,
OoooKKKKK Fambaai Zvakanakka, Dizzozzo.
It was amazing how the voices would carry accros the early morning mist, for such long distances.
The smell of the Kraal fire, A proud police force that wasnt corrupt, Fourpence our house keeper and cook, he was part of our family for 25 years, my second father.
Awesome teachers like Mr Heron, and Mrs Gillespie at Courtney Selous
Mr Leech our Headmaster at Moray Primary
Carefree life, feeling safe in our home
Chester our “house boy” and cook who looked after our family
Chipengali
Happy times – miss it! ๐
I lived in Rhodesia from my birth in 1953 to when I left in 1969. Christmas beetles, Jacarandas in my yard (and in "the Avenues"}, playing cricket in the middle of Nirvana Rd (dirt) and having to move when a car came, the spruit and watching tadpoles change, riding my bike from after school till dark where ever I wanted, bare foot – the large scar as evidence, the balancing rocks, afternoon lightning storms and the steam rising from the road, sailing "boats" down the storm gullies – anything that would float, THE INCOMPARABLE DOMBOSHAWA, the Msasas in bloom on the way to Sinoia caves, picnics in Mazoe – I gotta stop – too many memories. ๐