Who remembers the weekends on Beauvallon? I recall one Xmas morning I got this crying babydoll, for one odd reason I was at the pool area, and the doll made me fall into the pool, I still get nightmares,... still have the doll, my daughter's now playing with it. Then there was this "stunt" my mom and Auntie Elize Avenant pulled... they decided to go rowing in one of these inflatable kiddies boats...but none of them could row...but all turned out well after this guy in a canoe "saved" them.
At night the music and the fire's would start and everybody would gather around and it would be like one big camp party.The place was alway packed! And the monkey's....Don't forget the little critters...It's really a shame it has gone to waste. And you're lucky to see a monkey nowaday's..
I remember one easter weekend I think in 1973 - my parents, brother and I went camping at Beauvallon - had a brilliant time, spent most of the time swimming in the river and learning to drive my father's landrover.
Dress code mainly costume and t shirt - at the end of the weekend when packing up the tent and other camping equipment, my brother Gary put on his jeans, he started complaining that his leg was on fire like been burnt by a hot coal.
My mother told him to take of his jeans and out fell a black scorpion. Well you have not seen the Oppermans move so fast since - rushed off to the nursing station on Beauvallon - they phoned Omund hospital who arranged with security to get us to Omund asap (still a closed town then - did not have to wait for the bus)
Needless to say everything turned out fine in the end - Gary and Linda live in Ceres Cape SA - have three children David (IT London) Stephen (Teacher London) and Janet (2nd Year UCT)
Another Beauvallon memory is one Sunday - braaing there for the day - it was a stinking hot day and we all decided to go for a swim in the pool (new at the time). We all wore black pt shorts - dived in and when we got out the other side our shorts had turned gray.
Someone had added too much chlorine to the pool the Friday before!
Keep well.
Richard 8)
I always remember the monkeys at Beauvallon, naughty bunch... stole everything from beer to braaimeat....but they were great entertainment for kids....
What I can remeber other than the monkeys is almost floating down the river with my brothers paddle ski. This happened a little while after the big floods. I can remember that I would rather meet the river face on than facing my brother with out his paddle ski. So I had to stay with it through thick and thin. I had about 12 people in the river after me. The third too help the second the forth to help the 1st, 2nd 3rd etc). And my brother asking my mother for a piece of rope of course not telling her for what. So a piece of shoe string was provided. Thats when my brother had to inform my mother what it was for. And yes Mom was one of those 12. At the end of the day we all got out save and sound I was given sugar water to drink and Shola was given brandy to drink (and where was the fairness in that we were both the same age). But all round it was still a great week-end
i remember there was a orange plantation next door to the camp site , we used to sneak through and go fishing there , the camp site was always to crowded.
one of the memories i have of those monkeys , was i was eating tofolux ( remember those rolls of toffee) anyway down comes this monkey from the tree walks straight up to me and so i gave it a tofolux , i think it was almost an hour and a half later and it was still chewing on the the toffee.
I remember making a valliant attempt to swim across the Orange river while it was in full flood . . . I think it was a stupid group made up of Erwin and Paul Lisser, perhaps the Oppermans (Richard?), Peter Pote, Errol Foghil, Johnny Young . . . perhaps also David Eyre?????? Not sure if I got all the young nuts???? Had to turn back about half way across the raging river and a half-mile downstream, after just about sh*tting myself about the size of the waves in mid-stream!!
Just to finish off the day in style, I pulled my jeans on and did the zipper up . . . only to have, what I thought was a wasp stinging me on my wee-willie-winkie. To add insult to injury, I cried out aloud and . . . for a long time, and was swatting away with flailing hands at my groin area . . . I don't think anyone saw me - thank goodness, as I would never have heard the end of it!!
. . . when I pulled my zipper down, the wasp miraculously let go of my wee-willie-winky!!
Funny, Oppie - it was your story about Gary and the black scorpion that brought that memory of the phantom wasp back!! Oh, and yes it still worked, as I proudly have two daughters - Carmen 22, in 5th year B. Sc (Chemistry) and Tessa 19, in 1st year B. Sc. - both at the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Heh, heh, heh . . .
Keith.
Hi Keith,
Yes I remember swimming the river when it was quite high, big waves and strong current.
I remember you, Paul, Cathy, Gary and myself, not to sure about Peter and Erol?
We swam to one of the islands in the river, Gary (my boet) was the last one in the river and the current was taking him down river. Shouting that he could not swim any more and going into panic mode, when one of us shouted "Try standing!" which he did and finding the water was only waist deep.
I rememeber us also walking some way up river on the island sothat we could use the current to take us across again.
The shit we got up too - memories!
Richard 8)
richard, i remember lance once got a fish hook embedded right thru the fleshy part of the palm of his hand down at beauvallon - a nurse was there that tended to him and got the hook out - why do i have a vague memory of it being your mom - she was a nurse wasn't she?
Richard Oppermann wrote
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it was a stinking hot day and we all decided to go for a swim in the pool (new at the time).
Unquote
When was that pool installed. In my time until end 1979 there was no pool.
Whou can not recall the times spent on that site with all the fun of camping......
I have old films, may be i will digitalize them and upload to the net to show here sometimes.
We had spent some days there midweek with the kids and one of the Ivan Morrows sons was with us.
Fishing and braiing and having a good rest between the monkyes LOL
Disregard my spelling after all i am almost 30 years ot of the english speaking place.....
Georg Ruf Stuttgart
George, I think it will be great if you digitize the films, the only problem , out here in Oumund, the internet goes at a snails pace, dialups...but I hear the Adsl is almost here..... ;)
Yes Delia my mom was a nursing sister, she worked at the hospital, but did not practice nursing much, was in charge of the kitchen and laundry.
Georg the pool was installed in the late 70s, I arrived in Omund in 1961 with my parents at the age of seven, but only worked in Omund for 4 years from 1975 (after completing my military service) until 1979 (at 4 Plant, main plant and recovery) the pool was not there in 1973, but definitely in the late 70s.
Good memories.
Richard
I remember my folks took us there one time and me and my sister got bit by mossies and boy did it hurt. I had so many bites all over my body and I was called pimple face at school .......I also remember Shelley (Skye) walked over some coals that had not been put out properly and she burnt her feet bably we had to pack up and go to the hospital. She was in agony. My dad was so angry with the fella for not covering up the coals ....
I always enjoyed climbing those stairs up the hill in the evening time.... sitting on the chair at the top and just soaking up the view......
sorriso2
Yeah I remember the good weekends at Beauvalon, we used to get up to a lot of s..t there. The last I want to remember was rolling my car after causing havoc at the Alexander Bay tennis club. Clive Symes, Leon Sumpter(Summy), Keith Gass, Derreck Anderson, Terry Dunster and can't remember all the other names were there.
Some good memories of the place. Great fishing, swimming, sandboarding, etc, etc
Leon send me an email the other day...must get him to sign up here...
@ Mike, thats great news. I hope you get Leon to sign up. Saw Leon a couple of years ago in Cape Town, still studying LOL. Unfortunately I lost his cell number. I forgot to mention all the birds that used to spend weekends with us at beauvallon. Cherry Alcock, Heather Ferguson, Michelle Ockwell, Vivian Worth and.... and... Cant remember them all now LOL
Hey Pepe
Watzup with you these days.
Last saw you in Cape Town about 5/6 years ago.
I remember that day you wrote your Datsun SSS off after visiting the Alex Bay Sportsclub.
I was behind you in my 1961 Chev Impala and all I saw ahead was this cloud of dust and bits and pieces of Datsun and people flying through the air. How you and your passengers survived. Lord's Grace. You were more terrified about what you Dad was going to do to you. Can't remember who your passengers were.
Summy (Leon Sumter)
Hi Mike and Pepe
Yes as you can see I've signed up.
I sent some 'appie' photos to Mike to check out and post onto the OMD site.
Regards
leon
:emot112_2:
Hi Leon, welcome to the site.
Looks like I will have to scan in some of the breakfast runs to Beauvallon
yes that was not a nice accident Gus also arrived at the scene .. and yes it was a motley collection of folk in the car ... never nice to feel responsible for other folks injury ... never been there and could not even imagine it ...
Hi Clive
Goodness me ! Howzit ? Are you still in OMD ?.
Regards
leon
I love this, all the old guys getting together even if it is on the net. Summy, I am glad to see you have signed up and good to hear from you. Yes it was a while back when I saw you and met your new family. It was great evening and meal we had that night.
I will never forget the Beauvallon accident either, I was taught a huge lesson then. Don't drink and drive!!!. The guys with me was paul du Plessis, Rankin and female was Christa de Jager. Ouch!!! LOL. How we survived that night is still a mystery to me too but as you say it was God's Grace that saved us. Go well my friend and we will have to meet up with Clive and the rest when I am in Cape Town again.
Regards,
Pepe
Pepe, it warms my heart to see how the site allows Old Oranjemunders to reconnect again.... Man! I cannot wait for the reunion weekend...it's gonna be awesome..... woo_hoo
Mike daman Thanks to you and the others that made this all possible for us all to connect again. Yeah I really do feel warm and good about all. I will be attending the reunion in Jhb and catch you guys on Skype or whatever wayne is organising. I think it is a great idea of Wayne's to have it the same time as the one in OMD. The other reunions should also consider that move. Have a good one and believe it's going to be awesome woo_hoo
Hi Pepe,
How are you doing? I will most likely be up in Pretoria next week to see clients and do further training at the Reserve Bank. I will try contacting you when I am up there.
Pepe tell me what year did you have this accident? You also mentioned you guys made kak droog at Alex tennis club?
Let me know because your Alex story might be related to a problem we had with Steve Meyer of security many moons back, after playing rugby at Alex.
Keep well.
Richard
Ahem! the plot thickens............................................. idontknow
@ Richard, doing well thanks. I am around and welcome to contact me and have a few if you have the time. Just let me know and will be good to see you again. The beauvallon incident happened, Summy please help me LOL. January/February 1973 if I can remember as i had just bought the car and was my first ever car. Yes we were in groot K.k with Steve and the boys as well. I remember we qall had top appear in front of Mr Hartely as well and wanted to fire the lot of us. Heaven forbid it did not happen but got a stiff warning. Ranken Roelofse was the other dudes name who wanted to sue me as he would not be able to play soccer anymore LOL.
Go well bud and hope to see you next week.
Cheers,
Pepe
Must have been around 73 can't exactly remember. I remember that earlier that day we had given your car a nice clean up at BVN.
I remember Rankin had quite a serious leg injury.
It was 73 Summy, I have been thinking about this long and deep LOL. Yes, Rankin's hip was pulled out of joint when he was flung out of the car. Spent a long time in hospital in traction. Wimpy nursed him then. That is Charlie Bardenhorst's wife today.
I remember you with your huge boat sailing across the dirt road, was a comfortable ride I might add LOL. I also remember the wheels were stolen off my car and made a case when I came out of hospital. The bad news was it was one of our friends that stole the rims. No names disclosed here LOL.
......the 'huge boat'......
Hi Richard,
I think that you may be referring to the episode that we had (Helmut Hansen,Pieter Du toit,Andre vd Westhuizen etc I do not remember all the names) we went to Alex one Sat afternoon and caused quite a stir in the Dorp - playing tennis without rackets unknown to us that the whole club was watching us from their clubhouse, one of us (no names no pack drill) decide to go skinny dipping in the pool unluckily the bowling club was next door and the Grannies had quite a view. luckily for us the Policeman was away for the weekend so we missed being arrested. we were thrown out of the bar and told to leave town by the residents. Monday we were all called to security and I think we were lucky not to be fired. we were banned from Alex but the rugby players were allowed to play but had to leave directly after the game - no beer with the mates after the game - the big Sarge was also at the interview with Steve Meyer and all of us - we got quite a fright with that one (one of many of our escapades as Appies in Oranjemund.
regards to all
Gus