I got an email today from an ex Oranjemunder.... and I was just wondering why a lot of ex Oranjemunders seem.... (1) Amazed that some of us have lived here for so long and not left yet...... and (2) Feel Sorry for us.........
Anyone want to comment?
:nono1: idontknow
After 52 years in Oranjemund, I reckon I'm entitled to comment.
Living there was good and I enjoyed it, but as things change so do we. I reckon we know when its time to go and realize that there is life outside, it takes getting used to but you soon realize what opportunitys were missed while living in Oranjemund.
I don't ever feel sorry for staying there, because its made me what I am now, I do sometimes think that it may have been better to leave earlier. ( but that's with hind site)
@Milke, I get that a lot from my mates that are living all over, they still give me shit about living here. But hey each to their own.
I lived in CT for almost 8 years, 5 of those for boarding school and the other 3 years working. I spent 90% of my time working and not enough time having fun... just to make ends meet there. It's tough out there in the big bad real world and it was always nice to come home to the peace and quiet of Oranjemund.
I think if I was still in CT, I still would have been working in a bar, either that or lying somewhere dead in a gutter. I am glad I came home.
Granted there is some great stuff out there to learn, but there is a hell of a lot more bad habit's that you can pick up out there as well.
Why do people have to equate being sucessful at life as moving around ?? I meet so many people that have this strange mindset ... I hear all kinds of crap about " comfort zones " etc .. sure i left O'mund almost 28 years ago but then i have worked for my company for since then .. i had lots of job offers years ago .. they involved moving to gauteng .. eastern cape .. durban and environs .. two where i would have been in america .. all of them i decined .. In fact by staying in the same company with all the takeovers , expansion , contraction i " moved ' without having to move .. and have a wealth of indusrty experience that rivals many ... i was building a life that I liked .. and yes it has done me good .. the lure of even more money and promotion did not make me move ,, and yes i am happy for my choice .. I have stayed in the same home for 28 years .. yes added layers over the years .. bought the house next door .. expanded .. i go back to my Moms wise words when i showed her No 89 in 1980 .. she did a strange thing .. walked around the house stamping her feet and then said .. " my boy this is your home enjoy it grow it " for me O'mund was a comfortable place and yes i could have stayed many more years , but destiny was calling .. I had to create .. I had new potential to explore .. a romance that became a lifelong commitment to explore ... so yes i moved .. but for anyone that established their life in the oasis that O'mund was and still is .. never feel slighted by anyones comments ... enjoy ...
bravo - great words from all of you!
I feel privileged to have grown up here in Oranjemund and for my kids to also be able to grow up here. After having spent a couple of days in Cape Town I was more than happy to leave the hustle and bustle and come home to our little home in the desert where our work is a 2 minutes walk away, the girls school is a 2 minute drive away and we spend only 5 minutes a day in the car. Sure there are many advantages to living in Cape Town but there are many disadvantages as well!
It doesn't help to ponder what could have been or might have been but to be happy and satisfied with where you are and the decisions that you've made.
allgood
May i add the expression " content with ones choices ' not in the context of the content cow in the field chewing the cud they know no better , but as individuals who have made choices and are content with them .. how many of the " chasers of life ' are really deep down happy ?? restless maybe and yes trying to compensate .. but what for ??
Chasing because people think the grass is always greener...........don't spend your life on 'what ifs' and 'if onlys' - grab it with both hands and laugh your way through it..........do what you want and go where you want and don't begrudge others the choices they made...........that's my 2c
I rest my case on the comments ... mine included .. cat3 fantasy-18 pan we are happy folk ...
Life is what you make of it!
As Richard says Life is what you make of it. We left O'mund after 20yrs and moved onto Letseng (Fickberg). then to Phalaborwa. I was very happy in all 3 towns and could very well have stayed in any one of them for ever. It was great for my children to grow up in the small towns and they all adapted very well to Cape Town when we moved here. The mines were very good to us and enabled us to start our married life without any financial burdens. O'mund is still very close to my heart as thats were I consider my roots to be. For those of you that are still there...great....you happy!!!!
The only place where the grass is said to be realy green is Ireland image 11 image203 image281
An old adage .. " the grass is only greener on the other side cos theres more shit there " Ok now count on your hands ... how many people in your life do you know that have followed the " green " only to find more cowpats than what they expected ?? no insult but thats the gamble .. for many an ill timed and not well thought out set of decisions ... ?? my 2 $ worth ..
Sandy,
just for you, I have had my daughter scan in a few photos.
More to follow
Aah ! so good thanks Clive ... so when you and your Mum coming to a family do at pete and Sans place ??? tell her i insist ....
You any good with a crowbar, I can handle the excavator. Its so difficult to get her to budge.
Would love to take you up on the offer and see Peter & Sandy , but I'll need dynamite to move my Mum.
Simple .. we roll her in a carpet .. throw her in the back of the car .. and whoosh ..
I would sooooo love to see you mum too Clive.............wonder if i can arrange to go see her in november whille im over there....if theres time..... fantasy-18
Take it that we will arrange something Bev ...
some more deep thoughts for today
I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be in for I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition and not our circumstances
Martha Washington
I think it's important to keep a balance. There are a lot of people telling themselves how great they are and how good their life is. I don't think I have to say where that ends.
but it#s true. There are people that for eg move from job tob. Everytime somebody or something is to blame for the bad athmosphere. I mean, if it's cold outside you'll wear a jacket. Or who do you want to blame??
Bev / Sandy,
If you do want to pop round to see my Mum please contact me on csymes@adpmetco.co.za and I will provide an address, be prepared to ask her to get the photos out and she will chat for hours.
Home is where your heart is , I reckon
or where you hang your hat ?
I recon that both of you are right, home is where the family live, but Oranjemund ( and the people we lived with while there) will always hold a special place in our hearts & memories.
sandy just had a thought if were only coming for 7-8 days now we'll be in o/m for 4-5 so not much time for much more.....ill leave it to you to see if we can see mrs symes...if thats ok.....i havent planned anything so ill go along with what you arrange.... .were not allowed the internet at work now so ive been real sneaky doing this and now ready to leave and go home...in 15 mins..........will see you soon....and let you know what am doing as soon as i know ,myselfxxxxx love2
Got anymore old snaps there Clive?
pls
Can I add "Home is Oranjemund"
try these mike from old 32G
Quote from: Michael Alexander on August 18, 2009, 03:32:28 PM
Got anymore old snaps there Clive?
pls
You need Schnaps Mike??? Remember I wanted to "trade" with you guys? I've got Schnaps, so it may be time to say what I want... bar(1)