Want A Photograph Taken!

[jacquesschreuder]

Hi Mike

Please don't interview the walls of that room. I'm sure they will have a lot to say about my stay there.

Have a great weekend and thanks.

[Michael Alexander]

I think most of the walls in the Pondoks in this town could tell a story or two....

Thanks Jacques... you also...

[Jan van Avezaath]

 Dear Michael.

Is het mogenlijk om in het Nederlands met je te mailen,of heb je liever dat ik het het probeer in het Engels .

Groeten van Jan van Avezaath

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I understood that.

[Bev Coates (Now Walker)]

well done diane..........wish i did. .lol

[Michael Alexander]

Jan , Long time no Hear, Meiljin asb in Nederlands, ons sal onsen besten probjeer!

[Alfred Boehme]

Mike if you get requests for pics in the mine I will see what I can do for you
Alfred

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Regarding that  -  the pics you posted about the helicopter in the Ubvlei (I think it was) topic  -  Alfred, could you find out more about it?  The story of what happened, how it came there, why a military chopper was there, is it a Russian chopper etc? 

I think it is at Pomona or Bakers Bay where the wind and sand has blasted the bricks away, but the skeleton of the buildings remain in place with only the cement that was used -  (the place I'm talking about has lots of 'agate' -  those beautifull  colourfull stones that uncle Gerald Hodgson used to tumble till they shone like a polished shoe) - that's the place I'm talking about.  Fine, what I'm on about actually  -  I think you could take the most stunning sunset photo's there if you are patient (and that's if your wife will allow you to stay out till late  - quite a drive back from there to town.)

Also, the hotel at Bogenfelds and the old ten pin bowling hall.  There was a German sign posted on the wall (and was still there the last time I was there in 1980) that said "Who ever smokes in this hall will be "chucked" out into the fresh air....etc. etc."  Should you ever go there  -           take some pics.  The rock too, the cave that is just a little north of the rock.  To the south  -  that secluded hidden beach where those hordes of seals and the sea elephant can be seen.

That's now a helluva request from me  -  for now - for should you ever go that way - not to say you must in order to take the pics.  Just now you post back and tell me to get my ass of my chair, get to O/Mund in October, go to those places, take the pics myself and return in time for the reunion!          :: 

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Hi Dalene

If you look at my homepage, you find some of the things you requested

Nr1 Klick >>>>> http://www.dersofaladen.de/georg/html/bogenfels.html

Stones from Oranjemund klick >>>> http://www.dersofaladen.de/edelsteine/index.html

[Bev Coates (Now Walker)]

Dalene,...the beautiful agates....i had never seen them before and collevted hundreds during my short time in o/m....all of which i brought back to england with me.....every time i showed them any one....they always wanted some.....untill in the end i was left with 1...my very favorite.......i had that one last stone for years ...untill , one day next door neighbour came round to tell me her son had been in hospital over the weekend after swallowing something...........there in her hand she had MY AGATE.......she said looking at MY AGATE....look what came out of him.....have you ever seen anything like that....before i had time to answer she went on to say....everyone in the hospital was looking at it....and no one had any idea where he had got it from....she said she was going to keep it...........MY AGATE......but i didnt want to spoil it for her so i didnt say anything....and let her keep it.....she still talks about it to this day......and i lost my very last special  madashellagate.............

[georg ruf jr.]

That was kind of you Bev. Nice story...

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Some of my Agates

as seen in my stones homepage

[georg ruf jr.]

I know how proud you are oldman. I've seen most of your stones. And I know there are even stone from the times as you were a child....
Very nice.

[Mike Thurtell]

I would love a photo of E12-5th Avenue where we lived from 1969. This is next to the old X-ray building when the town was "closed" and one could only leave the town once a month. It subsequently was used by the police when security moved to between town and the mines.

The house was brand new and simply built on a piece of desert (as was the neighbouring house in which a good friend of mine's parents moved in - dont know if Dennis Proctor still lives in Oranjemund). My father was a keen gardener (if the tall trees are still next to the house, they were planted by my dad - everything trucked with Jowells and bought from Garlicks). The Gemsbok quickly learnt to jump the gates to get to his veggie garden.


Doc and Gladys Thurtell were my parents. He started as a fitter and turner after working on the "barge" (the Pomonna) .I attended the junior school to 1971 then off to boarding school (via unpressurised, windy and wet and cold and hot Dakotas).

My 7 year-old daughter drew a picture of a hut in the desert for schhol, because that what she thinks I lived in ( I am also drawn black because I lived in the desert and therefore am indigenous so therefore must be black ...). My sister Gillian and brother Andrew also attended the junior school and then boarding school.

During school holidays worked in the gents dept at the shopping centre and as an usher at the bioscope (that's what we called it then) in the evenings; and later as a student at the magazine (mine stores) at Uubvlei.

Many thanks for your initiative. I would love to show my family the town - is is still a "closed town" requiring security clearance and an invite from a resident, or can one pitch up with a password and gain entry like anywhere else?

Regards

Mike Thurtell
Junior school to 1971
SACS High: 1972 - 1976

[Michael Alexander]

I remember your house very well and remembered your Boet Andrew, I think from the gang days down at the 1st avenue bush's in fact whenever I drive past your house, I mentally refer to it as The Thurtell House, Same thing with a few other house's ..The Frys in 4th avenue, The macmanus's in 7th....to name a few...