Well, I sat here last night, talking with my beautiful wife, about the total lack of Xmas festiveness... most people up here do not feel that xmas spirit..... no warm gushy soppy Ho-Ho feeling..... who and why killed the Xmas Spirit?
I thought about this....... was Oranjemund as a whole depressed because of the current economical situation? What had changed?
Then it struck me...... every December in Oranjemund began with the Children's Christmas Tree, that and the town Xmas lights, started of the festive season, even if it was for the kids, the CHristmas Tree , signaled the beginning of festivities, how many parents were involved in setting up the Xmas Tree, how many nights and drinks were shared leading up to this,..... the lights are up, but nobody really seems to care, Yes! they are still nice, and these days run right to the entrance of the town..... but it just does not feel the same....
Then it was the Teenage dance time, the boarding school kids came back from High School..... the towns numbers swelled, the parties started, one could feel the spirit of Xmas Youth had arrived...... Today, those teens are few in numbers, with most out of town for the holiday...
It was this time of the year when you would be scrambling to secure your tickets for a New Years Bash, Moths, Yacht, bowling....... get in before there were no longer any tickets available..... today, there are no longer organised bashes...there are no people to attend......
Xmas parties were all the rage for the month, almost every fourth house and workshop was hosting a party.... you could walk down 1st avenue, west to east on a Friday Night and count at least 12 different, loud parties and braai's..... today, you can count at least 12 empty homes........
So to cut it short..... the people who created that festivity are gone..... the numbers have dwindled and we are few..... and that is why we have no christmas cheer!
:nono1:
For me, as a kid in OMD, the Christmas feeling really hit home with the nativity plays at school, and the CDM Christmas tree. And thirdly, picking out a tree at the swimming pool followed by decorating the tree and lounge. From then on the Christmas spirit never left our house until New Year. I also recall a truck driving through the streets one night close to Christmas and anybody could get on and join in - singing Christmas carols as it zig-zagged through the streets, people lining the streets in front of their houses. Then of course, more than one night we would walk to the centre of town to go check out the lights.
Ai, ek mis dit. Can't I just go back in time for a week to Christmas time between 1969-1975. Ek raak sommer hartseer.
xmastree
Merry Christmas to one and all.
the real fun starts tomorrow, we go visiting everyone on Christmas eve give out all the presies. Then when we get home dress up warm and for a walk to look at everyone's christmas decorations on the outside of their houses. Normally get a few DVD's , loads of sweets and have a nice hot cholcolate when we get back, then a nice baths for the kids - new pyjamas on then bed.
Then Frank and I get things ready for the morning. Maybe have a little - BIG drink.
Can't wait - no work tomorrow.
Have a good Christmas everyone - Safe journey where ever you go, drive carefully.
Take care - Merry Christmas
oxoxoxo
Ja the Christmas spirit strange this year .. each year feels a bit more commercial or am I just changing .??? ... I'm going to miss my good Jewish friend's dinner gifting evening that usually occurs tonight ... yes folks a jewish boy that holds an evening at his home ??? thats what I like ... .... gifts +- R 50 .. a token of the spirit of things .... all thrown into kitty .. numbered and then draw numbers .. and yes get your surprise ... this year he not well so called it off ... Then its usually lunch at davids . for me its been sort of subdued by my friend David of so many years still refusing to talk to me since he had an issue with seeing me off on my Thailand holiday .. problem is if it was that important to him he would have been on top of it and been there , not expecting me to be waiting at international departures on slim timing .. ??? .. he was not and in true miffy fashion that i know of him . had decided to dump his guilt on me .. well i dont subscribe to that ... so yes to date will not do the jackdaw of rhiems apology thing instead i have consistently just offered the unconditional hand of leaving it behind us and moving on .... Our tradition of many years has been either a christmas lunch at his place or at Johns parents farm .. to which all brought contribution ... so far total radio silence .. i have said to Paul that despite my deep feeliing of being heartsore about it I will despite my credo of being the " better person " not budge on this one .. I just create a differnet Christmas .. we going out early to ahve a light sushi meal and then pop into other friends for drinkies and then home .. tomorrow ,, the corned beef cooked in beer and resting ... it will be a quiet lunch in the garden ,,, actually it feels liberating in a certain way ... no social obligation and time constraints in that sense .. so I'm just reframing the whole scenario .. at home preparations are in full swing for the boxing day " gratitude dinner " again a table of 12 .. Thats my Christmas ...
To all of you;
Mike, Sandy, Michele, John, Gordon,Bertie, Dalene, Di, Clive, Georg, Pepe, Gus, Bev, Barb, Cherry, Bobby, Delia, Carl, Chris, Florrie, Julie, Lance, Marius, and all the others who have contributed so much to this OMD w/site with all those lovely memories, a Blessed Christmas, a Happy New Year, a prosperous 2009.
God Bless you all, take care and hope to hear from you all again in 2009.
Leon
xmastree
Thanks Leon - we appreciate all of your input as well - you've helped a lot with the site by digging up all of those old memories that others had forgotten!
So much for not having Christmas spirit - I think we had a good evening! Mike and the girls prepared delicious plates of snacks (whilst I was hard at work at Spar!) and my folks popped in, we sat around chatting and eating with Christmas music playing in the background and Shadow running around driving us crazy. A bit later on Shannon played a couple of Christmas carols on the piano while the rest of us looked on, singing along - Granny Vi must be so proud! At least Jock will be here tomorrow to hear her play again.
Once again - here's wishing everybody a safe, blessed Christmas!
3d smiles(281)
All in all its what one makes of it ... as we left restaurant this evening the converstaion turned to how many desperate folk now preparing to go out for another night of ?? ,,, well shallow hunting in the fleshpots of the city ... to shine brightly for another night for no benefit to anyone but perhaps their fragile egos ? so yes lets be grateful for good friends , companions , loved ones ,, family .. thanks god we have sanity ,,, so we wake up in the morning and can at least greet christmas day ... a special day no matter how one looks at it ...
Up early to start getting ready. On my way to the old folk in Malmesbury, then back around lunch to do a bit of a "Father Christmas Round" here in Kuilsrivier to spread some Christmas cheer to people who need it. Enjoy your special day all, and drive safe if you are going to be on the road! present(1)
Thank you Leon for the kind words and to you and yours the very best. Although it was slightly sad not being around my precious kids, Genna in England and Rafe enjoying the beaches of Thailand, it has been a good day. Been welcomed and made to feel special by friends and "extended family"!
To everyone on the forum - have a butt-kickin' holiday season and 2009! 3d smiles (288)
True words Cherry ,, friends and extended family .. they make the diffs .. Christmas was different this year and quieter , at one stage I wished I had brought Pauline down as I did last year ... anyhow it was the drinks rounds to various friends .. and of course yesterday Pauls Gratitude dinner .. As per usual 12 ,, no more room on the table unless i do another extension .. he slogged all of yesterday ..doing the roasts .. table setting ..etc ,, then I climbed in and did the roast veg ..
Menu was simple but effective ..
starter .. trio of pate's with melba ..
Lots of Bubbly
Chilled Cucumber soup
Roast lamb
Roast turducken
Rice .. made a shitload of rice .. not many ate rice.. so now got a shitload left over ..
Roast veggies .. Med taters , sweet potato, butternut , red spring onion, red onion , sweet peppers, green beans , garlic in skin and roast beetroot .. That was yummy .
finish off with suffolk lemod pud .. light and clearing ..
last folk left at 03:30 ... Morag was dog tired as you see in the one pic .
the one pic of the simple christmas layout .. the angel .. a Christmas wreath ,, the bauble sticks ...
the other touch .. the crackers , bought at Checkers , they caught my eye .. made by Womens upliftment program , all gifts inside .. local content hand made .. bedwork items , hand made soaps etc .. and i liked the touch of the hats ,, more like crowns , very effective
Mike i meant to take a pic of the haggis cousin the turducken ,, but yes missed it there is a pic on the table but already seriously carved up ..
so all in all a good roundup to the christmas ... the two spinsters of Balfour st did well ...
More ..
Joining Sandy's Band Wagon...... Here's a few snaps..... forgot to take one of the chow!
Oh! I forgot... the menu!
Avocado Ritz Starters, Avo's from the tree in Oranjemund! woo_hoo
Gammon, Chicken, Lamb (The one Dalene brought, awesome flavour! really good!), Brussel Sprouts, Peas and Carrots, Roast potato's, Stuffing, Cauliflower and cheese...... Pavlova, and trifle.......
Mmmmh!
faceinfood
Nice happy gathering Mike ... we currently having leftover sucumber soup and haggis cousin for a light lunch .. my head was hammer a bit this morning .. I opened a bottle of port when the last few were in the sitting room .. me and Dianne the Congolese girl made a serious dent in it ..
Funny enough, here in Pretoria in the past at least two weeks before Xmas, all Christmas goodies like crackers, decorations etc were sold out.... but this year on 24 Dec the shelves at Pick & Pay Hypermarket as well as Woollies were still stocked to capacity with these goods. I popped into Roman's Pizza - the owner tells me that business is so bad it is not worth firing up the ovens to bake the couple of pizza orders. One can see clearly that the current economic climate is taking its toll.....
Although the economy has seen its backside, I have been battling for the past week or so to book accommodation nearby as hubby finally lands this coming Saturday, but had no success in obtaining self catering accommodation. It goes to show that the economic disaster is not preventing people from going on holiday. After a tough year surely one needs to get away and wind down.
Well, I think it's amazing how many people actually left Omund on holiday, knowing that their jobs might not be secured in the new year.... all they do is incur more debt... that they will have to pay back next year , when they might have no job......
idontknow
Ag Ja....more is nog 'n dag...moenie warrie man....seems to be the mentality these days.
Apparently retail spending increased during the festive season..........recession.......what recession???
allgood
... and the debt increases, with each interest increase, it will become more difficult to service their debts...
Why worry about what we do not have control over......live life you could be dead to-morrow image031
Maybe the people who left Oranjemund for the holiday actually went house- or job-hunting? I know of at least 2 families who did just that, and I don't even stay there. Maybe their checking out their options? Sad. idontknow
Well.... I ain't going nowhere just yet.......... I like the peace and quiet up here, and when there are no clouds at night, it's just awesome.... you cannot beat that.....
allgood
Bertie, you got it there pal, Christmas shopping, job shopping, house shopping all in one big visit to the outside world.
If this place is going to go pop, no use in being all morbid or getting depressed about it. Just prepare yourself for pap-en-wors, no more steak egg and chips, or crackers and caviar. It IS sad but its reality.
Christmas has become one of those over commercialised occasions where the the big shops go all out and start their promo campaigns as early as July...
Well cheer up, its over for this year, well make that last year, and may we be able to enjoy at least another if not many more Christmasses in OMD...