One of my partners at Spar, Arthur commented to me that this sit eworks me up, it puts me in a mood, it makes me depressed. I was aware of this , due to the fact , my wife Michele noticed this in me too over the last few months. Arthur even commented that I'm living in the past.
Yes! I am aware of it. Did you ever get the feeling that time is running out. Did you ever wish that the day was 25hrs long and not just 24.... you need more time..... Why time? Well, it saddens me that , De Beers, in all their years could have done more for their old flagship town, Oranjemund, It saddens me that De Beers did not do more to preserve the town, they did not help to keep the Old timers here, that wanted to stay here...and by God , there was many of them... the only one's that got to stay are all buried here...
It saddens me to see, a glorious Plant shut down, a tunnel sealed up..... a hostel demolished..... I fear, that the history of the Spergebiedt and Oranjemund, is on that final path, like watching the mist swirl in and eventually covering the Yacht Club.......
The Old timers' are moving on the higher mansions above, taking those days with them.....
I guess, although I don't always want to admit it..... I am forever ..... an Oranjemunder....
:emot78:
notfair
Sorry to say so Mike....
The only constant thing in life is that things change.
I think anybody from O'mund remains an O'munder at heart. As to living in the past,I think perhaps all the memory's on the site hit you harder as you still there and can actualy see whats happening to our little town. For us its, yes, we know whats happening but we not there living it.
Sadly so yes change is one of the constants in life .. I have questioned what am I doing on the site sometimes ? is it maybe that I feel like a salmon swimming upstream knowing that the end is there at the end of my journey ?? so to make my journey easier I am greeting and re- aquainting with those that are swimming upstream as well ?? comfort and strength in the numbers ?? excuse the abstract picture but thats how its forming in my mind , salmon swimming up the stream and greeting each other .. ....
It can either get one down being the creator of and so close to the site .. or Mike you can extract Joy from the fact that you are bringing a whole lot of people together ... yes even the lurkers and quiet viewers will eventually come on board .. You have done what a lot would not do , so I think your only choice is to try extract the Joy as a reward of your actions ,, it will if you allow it to , outweigh the negatives that you are experiencing ..
One could almost equate whats happening to you as a form of mourning ahead for what is to happen in the future , like the mourning process it will have its up moments and down moments , all you can do in that case is try to make the up moments last for as long as possible and the downs as short as possible .. hope my abstract words and mind pictures help ..
bravo Only Sandy could have answered that post,
Even my German thinking head got that Sandy.
I don't kbnow what you do all day Mike. But this site is not just the past. It's the present just as well as the future. Maybe you're not facing the changes in town. They'll catch up to you sooner than you think. I remember asking you on the job options for your kids. I must admit, I'd be very worried in a town like OM at this time. Or do women tend to believe a man must feed her. Don't know what SA mentality is like on the issue of emancipation. We tried to teach our kids to be ready for life on their own. (must admit, it's not working the way we wanted) We have 5 daughters in all. 2 have left home. The goal is having a job you can live off.
We do teach our girl children emancipation Georg; just a pity about the glass ceiling in this country and others. My daughter has already left for London and my son is looking to go at the end of the year.
Sandy...start writing a book.... While reading your words, a smile came over my face, your salmon had materialized into a barbel swimming up the Orange river...Sorry... I get the jist of what you're saying...... and I think the site is the virtual side of Oranjemund, created, so that in a strange morbid way, Oranjemund, would never really and completely die.... the people and characters would be written down in here, on a server... but I think what does make it all the worse, is when those Advance trucks move in and the last remaining old timers depart..... we are getting thin on the ground and any newbies that turn up, in my eyes cannot be classified as Oranjemunders, they are just visiting for a short while....
I often wonder, where and when it will all end..... who will be here, what will be here.... most of you are established on the outside for a number of years, the handfull must still do that.....
I hate time.... because I don't understand it, and do not think it is fair..... notfair
@ Mike .. Maybe its the price one pays for being a whimsical scotsman ( and yes they can get very whimsical even downright soppy and emotional when they have a few scotches under the belt ) Once again its the case of making the good whimsical moments last longer than the bad whimsical moments ,,
You are what would be refered to as a " true sensitive " It has its up sides and downsides .. I leave you to mull on that one..
I don't know why... but I feel like bursting into a song of "Mull of Kintyre"........
Quote from: Michael Alexander on April 02, 2008, 11:09:44 AM
One of my partners at Spar, Arthur commented to me that this sit eworks me up, it puts me in a mood, it makes me depressed. I was aware of this , due to the fact , my wife Michele noticed this in me too over the last few months. Arthur even commented that I'm living in the past.
Yes! I am aware of it. Did you ever get the feeling that time is running out. Did you ever wish that the day was 25hrs long and not just 24.... you need more time..... Why time? Well, it saddens me that , De Beers, in all their years could have done more for their old flagship town, Oranjemund, It saddens me that De Beers did not do more to preserve the town, they did not help to keep the Old timers here, that wanted to stay here...and by God , there was many of them... the only one's that got to stay are all buried here...
It saddens me to see, a glorious Plant shut down, a tunnel sealed up..... a hostel demolished..... I fear, that the history of the Spergebiedt and Oranjemund, is on that final path, like watching the mist swirl in and eventually covering the Yacht Club.......
The Old timers' are moving on the higher mansions above, taking those days with them.....
I guess, although I don't always want to admit it..... I am forever ..... an Oranjemunder....
:emot78:
notfair
mayby Koos is not so small minded after all.
cheerup Mike you doing a great job.
Quote from: Cherry (Alcock) on April 02, 2008, 02:17:58 PM
We do teach our girl children emancipation Georg; just a pity about the glass ceiling in this country and others. My daughter has already left for London and my son is looking to go at the end of the year.
What does glass ceiling mean?
Maybe Koos is just missunderstanding Michaels statement.
No Jnr maybe Koos also coming to the party eventually ( expressing a hope I am ? ) he right , Mike is doing a great Job ... but yes it can take its toll as well . Change is indeed a difficult thing , we see it coming and as flesh and blood beings we dread it , when it is thrust upon us we are also inclined to resist it , trust me , from my recent experience of loss i am still having one hell of a battle adjusting to changes in my life .. we all wish that things could be forever .. ( how many of our childhood dreams of everything being constant and without change have been dashed ?/ what we do is pick ourselves up dust off the hurt and continue with life ) not always easy , but then we have all come so far and managed to grow with the change .. and find ourselves s now in the present as reasonably balanced beings ??
First of all - get over here for a group hug grab (that means you too Koos). All of us get a little on the sentimental side from time to time, wondering what the hell is going on, what just happened and where will it all end up.....that my friends is called...LIFE... unfortunately we can't go back to what we once had and even if given the chance, would we really want to - yeah the times were great and the friendships were better, but if you go back, then you have to give up so much. Who here is willing to give up their partners, children and even grandchildren for the wonderfull time we all had once upon a time?
O'mund is changing - but then, so is every place in the whole wide world.......nobody likes change and the majority fear it somewhat, but there aint nothing any of us can do except take a deep breath, place a grin on our faces and go head first into the unexpected........9 times out of 10 the change isn't so bad after all.
As for feeling sad about this site and the memories - don't be, just think of all the new friends that you and all of us have made. Before I started chatting, I only knew the Alexanders, but now - I talk away to everyone and wouldn't hesitate to sit down for a drink and a chat with each and every one of you....The amount of laughs I've had since logging on and getting involved - too numerous to mention.
And this ones for you Mike........just think of all the places in the world you and your ladies can go on holidays; the door is open world wide for you guys and the beers are kept chilled........
And remember.......'Life is like a box of chocolates - you never kknow what your going to get'
@ Rhona You ahving a drink ? Mee too , a nice shiraz .. its one way of not drinking alone and being branded a lush hey ?? good words Hon and a well balanced view you gave there ..
"You Ain;t Sure what you're gonna get......." .... Big Hug to My long lost Irish Friend..... Great Comment... and I have just realized, in your words.... that the world over........ things change, and in that respect, I was (we) were lucky enough, that this little town in the middle of the Namib desert.....stayed unchanged of rso long, that now it is perhaps, a bit unsettling.....
Cheeers Koos!, I owe you a beer!
Ps.... I'm pissed again, the weather is os awesome here tonight, warm , humid, like Durban...crystal clear shies...that I jumped the fence and went to my brothers house next door for a braai......! just came home now.....
Straight to bed Mike .. no snakepits for you Ok ??
Did you find the free bar Mike? I'll have to hide it better the next time........is it just me or is Mikes typing a bit slurred?
Hahahaha! Tooo late Sandy, I'm locked on...just chowed my Sirloin steaks(s) that I braaied at Paul's house, smothered in Ina Paarman's Pepper sauce..... and now enjoying my favourite dessert....Sally Williams ---> Ice cream.... chatting with you Okies.....
How you feeling to-day Mike? You want me to organise another group hug?
I think we get depressed, not so much because its changing, but because the place isn't getting better but worse. Change is good if its for the better but not if things worsen. We are very lucky because we really did experience the very best of Oranjemund. We have to thank DeBeers for that, they gave us everything possible to make our town a gem in the desert, just sad that after all they also put into the town, they are now letting it go to the dogs.
Change is difficult for everyone, but once you've taken that first step, you move on to new things that bring their load of good and bad times. Mike, I think that deep down inside you have already started accepting that change is inevitable and that sooner or later you too will have to let go of Oranjemund. By creating this site, you have re-created a bit of that old Oranjemund that we all treasure. And wherever you decide to start a new life (when the time is right for you), Oranjemund will live on in everyone's hearts and words through this site. No one will take that away from us e154
hi mike
Change is a good thing. Think of it this way - if the town hadn't changed then you would not have had your Dad staying in O-mund.
He would have had to move somewhere with no family close by............You would have probably left O-mund.
Might have not married your lovely wife Michelle and had two lovely daughters. Paul and Steven would have starved to death wouldout you doing the Braai. You might not have started this site - and that would mean that all of us would have to actually do a days work.
Change is a Good Thing. bravo grab :36_2_35: beautiful allgood
Everthing happens for a reason ..........
Yep! Just imagine everybody would be working again.... :nono1:
Thanks all... your words all make sense.... sigh ... where to next.... I heard a rumour on the floor.. that the company will not be selling of the houses anymore....... and what's this work thing you all keep mentioning..... :caldo1:
Don't worry about work Mike - I've got that covered!
My problem with the site is having to get up earlier in the morning so that I can catch up on the previous evening's postings!
Ag thanks Claire - at least somebody thinks I'm lovely!
bighug
Quote from: Michele Alexander (Voden) on April 14, 2008, 02:56:08 PM
Ag thanks Claire - at least somebody thinks I'm lovely!
Of course you are, i second that
Hugs to you, if you re prepared to hold still.............old bugger like me LOL
I also think that you're lovely...... giverose
Quote from: Michael Alexander on April 14, 2008, 01:02:02 PM
Thanks all... your words all make sense.... sigh ... where to next.... I heard a rumour on the floor.. that the company will not be selling of the houses anymore....... and what's this work thing you all keep mentioning..... :caldo1:
Thats always been the problem in O-mund..........lots of gossips and rumours.
We say here, where there is smoke, there is a fire, take it like that by an old Oranjemunder that spread once the rumour that the town will open.
Long time before it really took place LOL Charles Löffler and me would think up gossip in the morning at work, to find the rumour had reached town when we came home that day, of course we would not admit that we started that BS
beautiful :yeah3: :buffo9: meanpuff
Quote from: Michael Alexander on April 14, 2008, 03:30:19 PM
I also think that you're lovely...... giverose
:36_2_35:
10 Points for Mike
Quote from: georgswa on April 14, 2008, 03:34:59 PM
Quote from: Michael Alexander on April 14, 2008, 01:02:02 PM
Thanks all... your words all make sense.... sigh ... where to next.... I heard a rumour on the floor.. that the company will not be selling of the houses anymore....... and what's this work thing you all keep mentioning..... :caldo1:
Thats always been the problem in O-mund..........lots of gossips and rumours.
We say here, where there is smoke, there is a fire, take it like that by an old Oranjemunder that spread once the rumour that the town will open.
Long time before it really took place LOL Charles Löffler and me would think up gossip in the morning at work, to find the rumour had reached town when we came home that day, of course we would not admit that we started that BS
beautiful :yeah3: :buffo9: meanpuff
That's my oldman. :emot19:
Hey Mike,
You should be patting yourself on the back for what you have achieved, and for being able to keep abreast of all the posts comming in.
When the Mine introduced the SAP system we were all concerned about the changes and how it would affect us, anyway the specialists told us that to go through change and succeed one first has to enter the valley of despare ( Imagine an upside down bell curve) - reach the bottom and then the only path left is up - Sound like you will soon be on the way up. if you are not aready.
You have caused and allowed more of us to connect with & Contact each other than any De Beers reunion would have, we are all a lot closer ( contact wise ) than we have been since leaving Oranjemund ( sure we are still roping in a lot of friends as word spreads)
Keep the site wherever you are and you will have the Oranjemund you remember with you always.
Michelle, take care of him he is a treasure.
Uncle CLive, you my son, have just earned yourself a free beer from me, the next time we meet...... BierSuip , I will always remember you for all those number plates nailed to your garage wall, which I should have taken before you left.... damn....! bravo
Hey Mike,
I have three new sets ready to go up here in Cape Town but am worried they may get nicked if I nail them to the wall outside.
The even pinched my house number ( its now been screwed and bonded to the wall with a two part epoxy)
Keep up the good work
Clive.
Quote from: Michael Alexander on April 28, 2008, 01:55:41 PM
Uncle CLive, you my son, have just earned yourself a free beer from me, the next time we meet......
Uncle Clive?
Omigawd Clive you are now officially an Ancient one. So make with frigging wisdom and start casting pearls before swines!! Bwahaahaahaa!
:emot172:
Oh that hurt my ribs.
Robert,
You've now heard it all, and so we all gravitate to wards ????Wisdom if that realy does come with age.
By the way I spoke to Walden Davis a couple of days ago (30 plus years) since we last spoke.
Too bad you are not in SA otherwise u2 would be called uncle a bit more often
No reason why Oranjemund cannot return to the bustling metropolis it once was. All it needs is commitment on the part of government to open the Sperrgebiet to public access and allow private enterprise to develop the area. There are a whole host of enterprises that could be introduced to bring the town and its surrounds back to life.In the old days we were only here for De Beers. Perhaps its time for them to move aside and let the public back into the driving seat. I for one have a few workable ideas on how to go about resurrecting life at Oranjemund. I'm sure others also have good ideas. Perhaps we should be lobbying government for relaxation of the onerous restrictions imposed upon Oranjemunders by the diamond cartel.
Don't want to pat myself on the shoulder but: great minds think alike! (Only joking.)
I have asked about this concept somewhere on the site during last year, and the availability of houses to purchase. I also seem to think in the same way you do, Gordon, and I agree fully that once De Beers and the authorities relax their "grip", Oranjemund could bloom to be a thriving and expanding town once more. So many possibilities and ideas come to mind when you thing about the town and surroundings - endless!
Just heard from a reliable source that proclamation of Oranjemund will no longer be happening,well at least not within the next few years... after being delayed for the last 2 years....
Other things might be made clearer by the end of the week....
Might that be because of the up of the carat count? I finks so.....
" Whats Up Doc? "