10 Year Reunion

Thanks to Sarah for sending this along...

Sarah Thewlis

Where are you now?
I am living in Brisbane Australia with my husband of 14 years, Stewart, and my two children, Justin (age 12) and Jo (Joanne) turning 10 in March. We have lived here for 6 years now and have embraced our new life here. Other household members are Bundy (golden Labrador aged 6), Storm (black Labrador aged 3) and Bailey (black labrador aged 8 months – product of Bundy and Storm).

What do I do all day?
Stewart and I run two businesses. One is a digital and screen printing business and the other is a packaging business – mainly for the food industry. It is what Stewart was doing in Cape Town. Working together certainly has its moments but it works well for us and I married a man with a fabulous sense of humour and we can laugh at everything at the end of the day.
I still work a full day but also have flexibility when it comes to the kids school etc etc

The last 20 years
Gosh, it is hard to squeeze the last 20 years into a few paragraphs AND try not to bore everyone to tears!

When I left school I went to UCT and studied Social Science wasn’t that the thing to do??? I wanted to do psychology – as you do at 17 – but didn’t get in! On reflection I think it was the best thing because I reckon I had more issues than my future patients would have!!

I didn’t really enjoy uni as I found that just studying the night before like I did at school didn’t cut it and failed a few subjects. I was also used to being spoon fed at school so being that little bit independent on the huge campus scared the crap out of me! But I persevered because it was what was expected of me at home.

Sadly my dad was killed in a car accident in the August of 1988 and I dropped out of uni after that because I just didn’t cope.

I decided to try again and enrolled at Cape Technicon to study Cost and Management accounting. I much preferred the more relaxed attitude at Tech. I stayed there for 2 years and then in 1990 I decided to do the whole traveling thing and booked my ticket to leave in January 1991. I guess I just wasn’t the studying type………

Just 4 months before I was due to leave I met Stewart through a mutual friend. He is an ex SACS boy and water polo player. We had a whirlwind romance – if you can call it romance at the tender age of 21 – and I very sadly left him behind to go overseas. He followed me 2 months later and we got engaged. We backpacked around Europe and England for a year, did the the whole pub work thing and then headed home penniless but well traveled!!

Because of our young age we decided to have a long engagement and eventually married 3 years later in 1994. We got married at St Cyps chapel – for 2 reasons (1) it was a very pretty chapel and I could have the choir singing and (2) I didn’t have another church!!

I started my ‘real’ working career at the City Lodge as a receptionist – a job which I got through contacts. Because I never qualified in anything it wasn’t that easy finding a corporate job! I actually ended up really enjoying it but the shift work over Xmas and New Year caused havoc in my tiny little mind (I couldn’t spend time with my friends) so I resigned. After a few smaller short term jobs I got a job at a Financial Investment company where I started as the PA to 2 directors. After a while I was promoted to the doing to the books and was then subsequently offered a partnership and Directorship. I was there for 8 years before we decided to move to Australia.

In between the jobs I had Justin in 1995, which as the old cliché says “changed our lives”. I don’t think one can ever realise what an impact a child has on you and your lifestyle.

We moved house a couple of times – Stewart and I can’t seem to stay in one house very long! I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks with my next pregnancy and 4 months after that fell pregnant with Joanne (Jo as we call her). Who was born in 1998.

We made the very hard decision of leaving South Africa and making a life in Australia in 2001 and after a few trips to Australia, looking for a business (we were on a business visa) and the long wait for our visa, we eventually moved to Brisbane in 2002 and have been here ever since.

Any shining moments from school years?
Well, let me reflect and drag up the past that I have relatively successfully put in my dark memory banks. I have rather a lot of cringe worthy memories from school days – especially the last 2 years where I had the usual 17 year old anger at the world and took it out on everyone around me – I think was quite a bitch to some people and unfortunately never took the time to really get to know people! I think my motto at the time was “And you call me a bitch like it is a bad thing…..!!!”
Thank heavens one learns as you get older and make the necessary adjustments…. I live with my regrets and am a better person because of them.

I reckon a lot of people thought I may have turned out to be a bit of a bad apple because I was a rather mean spirited towards the end of our years at school. But I think most people would be surprised that I have turned out relatively normal and never got involved in drugs or a bad crowd.......

Truth be told, I went to see someone “professional” at one stage because I was harbouring terrible feelings of guilt because I thought I was a nasty person who didn’t make/keep friends easily! See what that damn school did to me……………….Anyway, not that therapy helped, making new friends who love me for who and what I am is what made me realise I am worth so much more than bitter resentment and guilty anguish.

As for shining moments – there weren’t that many. I think my sport – especially hockey and our hockey tour - was what kept me going. And we had some fun in Art – when Bergman was in a good mood that is!

How about less than shining?
Apart from what I have said above, there are too many to mention but there are a few specific incidents that stick in my mind.
- Being told that Belinda Sainsbury and I couldn’t do the traditional Lily picking because I had got bust driving to school without a license and Belinda was in the car with me!
- Up until about Std 8, always being near the very front of the line walking down to the Church on St Cyps day because I was so short! Soooo embarrassing for a 14 year old to be with 12 year olds!!!
- Often feeling like and outcast and disliked – all the while putting on a “tough, couldn’t give a shit” front to compensate.

Staying in touch
Unfortunately I never did stay in touch with many people. I bumped into a few people along the way but that was about it. We saw Trish and her husband because Stewart played waterpolo with Paul and our sons went to the same day mom. Through that connection I bumped into Judy and Liz a few times as well.
I met up with TJ when I was in the hospital having Justin and she was there trying to keep her twins from arriving early. We exchanged numbers and did a few coffee mornings after that. Unfortunately, as life just got busier and busier, the years passed by before you realise how long it was been. And then it almost feels too late…………………….
I am in regular communication with Tania Irvine (she was year above us and I payed hockey with her) because she dated my brother-in-law for a while and she has since moved to Sydney.

Did St Cyps prepare you for life?
Hindsight is truly a wonderful thing – isn’t it! Oh boy would I do things differently at school if I had a chance! But, can you ever be prepared for life? Life is what you make it and no school can do it for you.

Stand out teachers
It seems everyone remembers Mrs Thorburn – what a character
Mrs Bergman also had a huge presence
And who could forget Ms Cable – especially when she was checking we had the right undies on!!
Not that he was a particular stand out – but I clearly remember Mr Cartwright’s snot green polyester suits!!

Life Lessons?
An old one – Life is too short.
People can only do to you what you let them do to you.
Worry about something only if and when it happens

Greatest Hope
To be always loved by those closest to me – through good days and bad – and to treat people the way I would like to be treated.

How different is life from 20 years ago
I didn’t know what I wanted to do 20 years ago and to this day still don’t look further than today! Losing my dad unexpectedly when I was 18 has taught me that you never know what is around the next corner and how life can change so suddenly.

Email: sarah(at)starstuffgraphic(dot)com

Reunion

Well, the great gathering is done for the year.

Find evidence here. There's also a link in the sidebar under Reunions... (Another blog, you say? Yeah, yeah. I'm kindof anal retentive that way...)

Anyway, I've been promised a bunch more, and they'll go up as soon as I get them.

And if you have any - send 'em please.

Also - if you have any from previous years - send those along too.

Oct 2
Now with pictures from Judy and TJ... More to come...

Class of 87 Reunion.

Thanks so much to Sue for sending this along. If anyone else has any, email me! I am ready to put 'em up!

Trish Foster

-Where are you now?
I live in Constantia just off the Groot Constantia Vineyards where we regularly frequent with mere walks and then the walks to the tavern.
-List household members.
My husband Paul who I met at Liz's house when I was 15 but only started dating him after school. We have 3 kids, namely, Liam (9), Aidan (8) and Emma (3). Judy and Liz are fairy godmothers to Aidan and Emma respectively.

-What do you do all day? If you're a serial career hopper, list your stops:
Career has been a bit all over the place but mainly staying within the Human Resources arena. Liz and I very, very briefly tried to start a corporate filming company which ended up nothing more than ... chilling with each other all day. On another sabbatical and studying for a career change (possible mid-life crisis or maybe just sick of conflict & compliance)in Coaching but not sure what my focus will be. Have stayed away from 9 to 5 work and reporting to anyone for the last 10 years - was never good at being told what to do which is probably why I remember the corridor well in boarding school.


The last 20 years in 100 words, or less, or more... No-one's going to count:
Wow! 20 years. I left St Cyps in st 9 and off to Abbotts for Matric with Liz. The truth be told that Liz & I were walking on thin ice in the disciplinary dept. Had a jawl being spoon-fed the work and meeting new people. Then a huge surprise, I past Afrikaans for the 1st time in my final paper. Suddenly I decided I was varsity material and enrolled at UCT doing a BSocSci. Used to jawl with Gaby & Liz (when she was in Cape Town) and occasionally bumped into Judes & Ingrid. Got my degree and headed off oversees with Paul. Besides traveling Europe & America, spent a few months
working in London where I met up with Gillian (who put me up at times) and Emma. Loved the gypsy lifestyle but after a year followed my heart-throb back to Cape Town. Thought the sensible thing to do was to get a real job and was employed at a commercial bank on one of those graduate programs. Hated the banking side of things and so edged in the HR field. Became a workaholic for a few years but then got itchy feet to travel a little. Resigned from the bank and went overseas. When I got back my husband proposed and we were married within a few months on Llandudno beach (12 years ago). The product of our marriage is our 3 children that have brought a lot of exciting chaos into our lives. We have lived in Cape Town since and live pretty regular lives.

- Any shining moments from The School Years?
For me it was all about the friendships. The surprise birthday party given to me when I was a border. The great weekends we spent at Liz's house in Marina da Gama with Gaby, Judy, Belinda & Sam in awe of all Liz's brother's friends. My trips to Knysna with Liz hanging out at the yacht club learning how to handle & not our alcohol intake. The camping trip with Judes, Liz, Belinda and Sam where Judes innocently told the US camper next door that in SA the people don't smoke maryjane but dagga. The holiday in Great Brak with Judes, Belinda, Sam & Liz in ST 9 drinking Old Brown Sherry, smoking cigarettes, listening to 'Summer of 69' and getting to know the 'boys' My great boarding school friends Gillian, Emma and Gaby. We used to find many ways to amuse ourselves on the long weekends in the boarding house eg - apple pie. Watching horror movies with Carron Louw and being absolutely terrified. Just hanging out with the likes of George or Alison. Bunking a whole year of Scripture Union. Unfortunately Liz got caught near the end of the last term (I was absent) and when taken to the teacher, the teacher did not have any idea who she was. The last couple of weeks I had to bunk on my own. These were all shining moments.


- How about less-than-shining?
Closed-minded subject choice system: I felt I was often told what I couldn't
do.


- Did you stay in touch with anyone? Who?
Mentioned most of it above but also have seen Belinda and Sam occasionally. Out of our year, I regularly see Anna Rumbelow, Charmaine Kelly and Jane Carrington.


- Did St Cyprians prepare you for life?
Not sure.


- Any stand out teachers?
Mrs Green. She was always so bubbly.
Mrs Watson's 'Come along'


- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 years ago?
I didn't picture myself living in SA. I was going to travel the world and live in the tropics. Thought I would have two kids and marry when I was much older. Never thought I would be in the work I pursued - remember I didn't think I was up to passing matric. Thought I would be a travel agent. As it turned out, I am very happy.

And more 80's moments...

Can be found here.

Rush on over for a good old gawk.


Thanks, Judes and Schlossie...

Nahlah Hendricks

-Where are you now?
I still live in Cape Town in the northern suburbs.

-List household members:
We are a family of four, my husband Ebrahim and two children namely, Sahlah (girl of 9 years) and Yas'aa (boy of 5years). I love them to bits.


-What do you do all day? If you're a serial career hopper, list your stops:
I am very much career orientated but not a generation X or Y where I change jobs or firms. After 'varsity I started working at ABSA and never left. I now work at ABSA Bank in the Compliance Environment. Very happy but continually stressed by my job.

The last 20 years in 100 words, or less, or more... No-one's going to count.

- Any less than-than-shining moments from The School Years?
The less than shining moment of my school career is that my matric results were pathetic and I decided to redo matric. I do not regret it but the embarrassment of going back to school got to me, but on the other hand the strength of character that it built plus the better results made it all worth it.


- Did you stay in touch with anyone? Who?
I have not kept contact with anyone from the class

- With the benefit of 20 years hindsight, did St Cyprians prepare you for life?
St Cyprians has definitely contributed to the person that I am today. I feel that within our year we had a diverse group of individuals, race, culture, religion etc. and that exposure I was able to carry through in life as I was able to appreciate diversity on all levels.


- Any stand out teachers?
Unfortunately I cannot remember all the teacher's names, maybe I have just blocked them out but honestly not one.


- Life lessons?
I always felt that I would make a much better adult that I was a child or teen and I was right. I was clumsy, naïve and unsure as a teen, as an adult I feel a lot more confident and content.

email: nahlahd(at)absa(dot)co(dot)za

DIng Dong...

Lynda and Dorian, married this July.

Tracy Perkins

Where are you now?
I live in Exmouth in Devon, about half a mile from the beach.

Household members:
Me, Paul (we're not married - didn't see the point really, but we've been together for 13 years) and Perkins (Perks), our
Golden labrador. He's 5 years old and is our little boy in a fur suit!

What do you do all day?
Well, I have recently (two weeks ago) qualified as an Emergency Care Assistant with South Western Ambulance service. So I have been studying hard and now I'm in the crazy world of shift work! I plan to become a paramedic, and will start a 4 year OU degree next year. I'll continue with my current job while I'm studying. Paul was working in London but left when I went away to college so he could look after Perks. He works from home writing computer programmes and database systems (that's about as much as I understand).

The last 20 years....
Well, wrenched away from CT and St Cyp's at the end of Std 8. I found the dress that everyone wrote on (and drew big boobs on - thanks Schlossie!!) before we moved to Devon - It still fitted, which goes to show that my body STILL hasn't entered puberty!!

Went to a comprehensive, ROUGH, school in England. We were different because we did our homework, didn't swear at the teachers and went to school every day! A huge shock from the comfortable surroundings and overall attitude of St Cyp's! Anyway, ended up at another school because we moved again, and got 11 O-levels, including Afrikaans! Our parents decided that as we had learnt Afrikaans for all those years we would get a qualification, so Amanda (my sister) and I sat an Afrikaans O-level. Very surreal!

Did A-levels, went to Leeds Uni and got a degree in Biochemistry & Food Science. Had a place at Oxford to read Chemistry but decided I didn't want to focus on Chemistry so turned it down - my parents didn't talk to me for weeks. Had the whole 'we paid for you to go to a private school' thing thrown back at me, but stuck to my guns and thoroughly enjoyed my time at
Leeds.

First job - Food Technologist at United Biscuits. Bought my first little flat. Changed to an American company, marketing food & pharmaceutical ingredients, travelled the world, interesting but had met Paul by then and didn't see each other much so changed companies again doing a similar job but for a company based in Marlow. Paul and I had bought a house together
by then so I decided to spend a year renovating it. Got headhunted by an old contact so did a six month laboratory project with him, and then spent a year doing the house.

Decided I didn't want to go back to the food industry so did a course on setting up and running a small business, and a Dulux decorators course, and launched 'Do-it-HERself'. Thoroughly enjoyed it and word of mouth spread very quickly. It became quite profitable, but then Paul was made redundant so we decided on another move. We had been looking for a plot of land to build our own house in Bucks, Berks or Oxfordshire, but hadn't found anything suitable so decided to move to Devon .... here we are in Exmouth having spent about a year building our own house. I was project manager and labourer, Paul had another contract in London so he stayed there during the week and I lived down here with Perks and worked on the house.

I was already planning my next career move - I had always regretted not applying for Medicine when choosing my degree, so I applied to the Ambulance service, and it has taken about 18 months to get to where I am now. It was quite a gruelling selection process and loads of exams, but now I am gainfully employed and enjoying every shift!

Shining moments from school years?
Umm.... Actually loved watching the cable car from the hockey field! Quite enjoyed walking down to the cathedral on St Cyp's day. Peeling acorns with our compasses when we were allowed to have lessons outside! Mrs Thorburn was always a hoot! I enjoyed doing the Science Fairs. Enjoyed choir, even though we used to moan about Mrs Sadler.

Less than shining?
Those awful veils we had to wear in the choir. Geography with Miss thingy (starts with D) who played hockey in the Olympics. Trying to get out of swimming week after week.

Do I stay in touch with anyone?
No, sorry! I went to the reunions in London faithfully for quite a few years but never saw anyone I knew so stopped going. We employed an architect who happened to be Annabel & Sarah Villett's father so caught up with them once but that was it.

Did St Cyp's prepare me for life?
Not directly. I think it generally just armed me with a level head and confidence to strive for what I wanted to achieve. The one thing I remember being drummed into me is 'diffferent FROM and similar TO' - it still irks me when the BBC newsreaders say 'different to'!

Outstanding teachers
Has to be Thorby. I remember when she told us all we would be in modern households with dishwashers! That English teacher who wrote a book on mushrooms was a bit crazy. Madame Jager's husband (he came in to do conversation classes with us) - Mmmmm, he was lovely!!

Greatest hopes?
Just to be happy and healthy. We don't want children and are happy with our life with Perks, in a gorgeous house, near the beach.

How is my life different from how I envisaged it 20 years ago?
I assumed I would get married and have kids, and hoped to have a high paying job and a great lifestyle. I have realised you don't need all of those - I now earn less than my first job after Uni, but we have everything we need and have moulded our life around our dreams. It really is true - Life IS what you make of it.

Major achievements
Same as I have said already really - have had the high powered jobs with the stress and they were a means to an end as they funded our housebuild. Paul and I are very happy and still consider ourselves lucky to live where we do, with the life that we lead. I now do a job that I love and am able to work on the house on my days off.

I'm not sure yet if I can make the reunion, but I am offering an open invitation to any of you who want to visit Devon for a few days - we have a couple of spare bedrooms if you want to stay.

email: tracyperks(at)hotmail(dot)com

Liesl Emmerich

Sister Dot, Liesl, Nicholas and Jess


Timothy and Jess


Liesl and Jess


Budding magician, Nicholas


-Where are you now?
I live in Rosebank, Cape Town (just near the Fat Cactus – a great place for frozen margs and nachos!)

-List household members.
I live with my husband Andrew, sons Timothy aged 14 going on 30, Nicholas aged 11 going on 16 and daughter Jessica just turned 3.

-What do you do all day?
I work at a Montessori pre-school in Claremont called The Children’s Workshop. Jessica is in the Butterfly class there. It is the most amazing job to have right now. I get to see her whenever I want. I work until 1.30 everyday and then attempt to go to gym before starting the school lifts – not always possible. I’m sure you can understand that dealing with roughly 130 children all day, and then picking up your own three a little later, is cause for an hour's escape – not at gym – but rather browsing the shops and just doing nothing. My job is pretty simple, a bit of Web design, secretarial, dealing with the parents and drying a tear or two. I love being with the children.

The last 20 years in 100 words, or less, or more...
Not too sure if I can fill you in on all the details right now, will give you a brief overview and then perhaps one day fill in the blanks. Let's see … I left school, had no idea what to do with my life, so did a secretarial course (one can always fall back on that). Once completed, still had no idea so started to work for a market research company in the Gardens. Worked there for about 6 years and then married David (you may remember him from school – yip my high school sweetheart). We were together for roughly 10 years before we got married. Anyhow, got married at 24, had my son Nicholas at 26, and then got divorced at 30! Met Andrew (and Timothy aged five), moved in together after about a year, got married in 2002, went on a very interesting “biking” weekend to Barrydale, drank lots of muscadel and nine months later out popped Jessica (at long last … a little girl). We seem to be functioning as a fairly “normal” and happy family.

- Any shining moments from The School Years?
Besides the fact that I managed to scrape through matric with hardly any studying? Um no! Was always at the back of the class, quiet as a mouse. Actually I suppose the fact that Belinda Sainsbury and I used to bunk out of double science on a Friday (remember aaaagh) jump onto our scooters and head home. That was quite an achievement! The fact that neither of us got blown over on De Waal drive in those hectic winds is a miracle!

- How about less-than-shining?
Can’t remember which teacher it was but someone caused such a scene when I cut my hair (shaved underneath and a bob on the top), it was the fashion, I was trying to “fit in”.

- Did you stay in touch with anyone? Who?
Not really, bumped into Cathy a couple of times, and then she called me about the reunion, and it all came flooding back... All the familiar names and faces, I wish we kept in touch. I often think about Jacqui and have absolutely no idea how to get in touch with her, so if anyone knows, please let me know.

- With the benefit of 20 years hindsight, did St Cyprians prepare you for life?
Not really, life is a lot harder when you aren’t in such beautiful, safe surroundings with the comfort of your mothers home cooked meals.

- Any stand out teachers?
Was terrified of Mrs Thoburn and Mrs Bergman. One thing that has always stuck with me is “Brownian movement” remember how Thoburn would go up close to the blackboard and describe the “aaatoms” …

- Life lessons?
Life is hard, but you are never dealt more than what you can handle. I never thought I would survive my divorce, everyone kept telling me that it would take “time”. I used to get so angry, I did not have the “time”. But you know what, you do survive, and time does heal!

- Greatest hope?
To be the best wife and mother for my family. To set a good example to my children, so that when they grow up and move out, they raise a happy family themselves and Andrew and I get to travel the world!

- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 years ago?
I never thought I would get divorced, never thought I’d have a stepson, never thought I’d be this broke, but it all happened and I have a wonderful family at the end of the day.

- Achievements
Hanging in there when the going gets really tough, I have a wonderful husband who sticks by me no matter what, amazing sons who have hearts of gold and a precious daughter who has her father’s naughty ways!

email:liesl(dot)mayers(at)adastra(dot)co(dot)za

Cindy Glover

Where are we now...
Our Havens family of four lives in Seattle, Washington in the USA.
Brett (the happy Dad) and husband of eleven years
Emma (the big sister...almost five) - the current reigning princess of the Havens' household! Happy and energetic(physical and verbal !!), loves pink and everything girly, Very spirited (I think that's the term they use!!) Loves to play and "be silly". Crazy about Princesses and Barbie. Goes to preschool.
Hannah (the baby sister... Almost two). More laid back and a little shy. Well, but now she's almost two... So I have feeling that is all about to change! The kids want a puppy.......I'm getting my strength up!!

Last 20 years...
Spent first four years at UCT getting BSc Nursing degree. Load of fun, 13 of us in our year - spent time between campus, GSH, Clifton 3rd, in DIGS and at the Heidelberg in Obs.

Graduated and worked for a year at Groote Schuur in the Trauma Surgical ICU (Intensive Care). In that year ('93) I applied to a Nursing agency to travel to the US to work. Took my state Board exams in Miami that allowed to me to work as a Registered Nurse in the States.

That same year I met Brett - an American who had come to "Africa" to work as a Wildlife Biologist. So in the end, I passed the required exams and landed up in Florida, USA in 1994 with a job, an apartment, a paycheck and a lovely living allowance.
Brett decided to come back to the USA!

So we travelled lots around the States and both worked (I in different ICU's, Brett seasonally as a Biologist). We lay on the beach, drank Margarita's worked a little more and travelled a little more etc. Hiking through the Grand Canyon was one of our "beauties" and then recovering from exhaustion in Vegas with free drinks for those who put money in the slots!! 25 cents did the trick!

We married in 1996 :0)

Finally landed up in Seattle - arrived with a huge moving van full of stuff. Brett said he had packed and unpacked all he wanted for a time (and was tired of applying for new jobs!!!), so we decided to stay in Seattle. I got a job for an Ambulance company working as a Critical Care Transport Nurse and became an Emergency Medical Technician too. Great job, 3 days a week (14 hour shifts). Played lots on our days off.

Then in 2002, our lovely little Emma was born and I fell in love with this beautiful little gift and being a Mom! So I quit my job!! After about a year, I returned to Nursing on a very part-time basis , changed from ICU to Labour and Delivery (a very Mom-friendly environment), working around Brett's schedule so that I could stay home with Emms.

The cutie baby sister, Hannah was born three years after Emma and again I stayed home to soak in the moments. So now we have two little girls aged almost 5 and almost 2 and we are happy with our days!!

Brett's career changed sometime back into IT - works for a research Institute that is involved with clinical trials and disease treatment. I spend my time being a Mommy and playdates, trips to the playground, Children's Museum, Zoo, Aquarium, swimming lessons, dancing and baking cookies!!

I still work part-time around Brett's schedule as a Labour and Delivery Nurse and I also teach the Childbirth and Labour Preparation, Breastfeeding, Newborn care and Infant CPR classes in the evenings to new parents. It's a happy job and I (only sometimes) feel guilty that I get paid for doing this!! I work about 12 - 16 hours a week.

Seattle is a lovely city. Very green, earthy and organic. Beautiful outdoors and mountains. Water everywhere. Earthquakes and an active volcano (Mount Rainier) 90 miles away. It does rain in the winter and that does get old......but currently we are enjoying a beautiful summer, so can't spend time complaining. We hike, camp and backpack, any chance we get.
And that was 100 words or more....

Looking back at the school years...
I have really happy memories from school. I feel lucky to have experienced St Cyps and it's amazing how much we were offered compared to the average school in the USA. So I definitely learned to appreciate things. The US public school system is pretty much about getting "The 3 R's" : reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic. You have to search a load for a school and pay a load to find anything cultural or even sports in the younger grades. So I'm on the hunt for next year when Emma will start Kindergarten.

Shining moments...
Lovely friendships, adored the sports, especially hockey (still play over here!!). Lots of laughs. Sitting next to Ingrid was never a dull moment! And I also remember Lynda standing up throughout Biology so as to burn more calories!!!! Vikki, Lynda, PK and Alison sitting behind us in Science commenting on Mrs Thorburn and her discussions on planets and the sun.

Mrs Thorburn, was a favourite in teachers - thanks to her that I followed my career path.
Also enjoyed Miss Kable - and all the great sporting encouragement.
Madame Jaeger was great too.

Less than shining...
Yes, of course, all part of growing up, right??
Maths.....uuuggghhh.
Don't think I paid enough attention in Science either....I got 15 % for my first Physics exam at UCT!

Stayed in touch with:
lovely friends.........
Sue Mukheibir
Shanaaz
Andrea for a while
Ingrid for a while.
I am seriously sad not to make it home for the reunion, but hope to celebrate over here with Alison.
Hope to catch up with more of you on email (starting with you Vikki - I'll write soon!!!).

Great Hopes...
Being the best Mom I can be (and of course lovely wife too). Enjoying these wonderful moments. Hope to come back to South Africa soon to visit (the 24 hour flight is not for the weak or timid with 2 little kiddies)!!

So that's it in a nutshell - hope you all have the best time at the reunion - please post loads of pics. Also those of you haven't yet blogged - please, please add your news, especially for those of us overseas!!! Thanks :0)

email: thehavens3 (at) comcast (dot) net

Briefly...

Well. Let's see. Since the blog was launched, Lynda has married, Helen has had a son and sadly, both TJ and I have had miscarriages.

I know there's other news. Share some, why don'tcha?

Alison

Gaby Eugster

Where I am now?
Constantia, Cape Town with a family I am eternally grateful for and very, very lucky to still have. They are:
My husband, an incredibly supportive German Namibian, my best friend, Glenn. Boy have we seen action the last 12 years together.

My incredible daughter, my angel, artist, actress, twelve- year-old, Savanah. She is at St. Cyps. (NOT the school we remember! Better, more open-minded and proactive.) She is also Elizabeth Forster's goddaughter.

My boy, Stephen. (I know only because I gave birth to him - see pic).
A very shy, caring, gentle and sensitive boy, a blessing. An academic, brilliant at waterpolo, swimming, hockey, rugby and guitar. Very dangerous with a cricket bat. My bank balance reflects all the neighbour's letters of complaint re broken windows!

Also Rocco, the American Staffordshire Terrier, Timone, the Fox Terrier and Bo-Jangles, the fat Jack Russel. We also have Tigger, a Tygerberg wildcat(that's a story on its own and lastly, Simba, a tarty Siamese.

What do I do now?
I am committed to my family. I am determined to give them what I never had, a loving home and family. I also renovate old houses for resale, and continue to copy the Old Masters (artists) on commission.

My last 20 years?
Looking back at my school years, The inevitable happened when I left for the world. Real life, without the tools to cope.

Michaelis, UCT, Graphic Design and fine art, AAA school of advertising, 10 years in the industry, Art Director, two Gecko
awards for print and Media campaigns, blah blah...

Real terms, drinking, more drinking, two abortions, pregnant again - Savanah, married, baby number two, Stephen, still drinking, millions of psychiatrists, to try deal with my sexual abuse and subsequent anorexia at school. I had no skills to cope with traumas or difficult situations that come with life. Drink was always the answer, obviously making matters worse, but at least I could forget and be numb for a while. (I'll skip all the suicide attempts and gory details of all the "episodes" (pathetic word)).

You get the drama. Fighting, misery.

My dad (the offender) got terminally ill, had none, so My husband and I looked after him for two miserable years.(My misplaced daughterly duty)

My step-father then shot himself and my aunt (whom I lived with from the age of two till four, whilst my mom was modelling overseas) committed suicide. At a drunken party that served as my coping skills I was introduced to COCAINE. Yup. LUURRVley stuff. Numbness, euphoria, grandiosity all included.( Spent about R230 000.)

I almost lost my husband and my children, the same kids that I wanted a better life for than I had.

Last suicide attempt, almost successful.

Then I decided this was enough! I wanted to wake up happy, if just for one day, like everyone else does. I wanted a life. I wanted to be a mom, a wife, a person, without my alchaholic mother and abusive stepfather in my head, always degrading me.

I booked myself into a rehabilitation centre, Stepping Stones, in Kommetjie( next to the Local Kommetjie Bar and Hotel. Really!) ...and changed my life.

I got rid of all my hatred, anger, aggression, resentments towards my mother, sick father and Nazi stepfather. I was taught coping skills, anger management, conflict resolutions. How to put boundaries in place for myself and others. Dealt with my co-dependence, eating disorder, childhood neglect and addictions.

I was taught and experienced a Power, Greater than myself, that could help me and free me, give me hope again and show me how to love myself, for the first time. I was not a worthless, bad person. I have a mental illness, genetic chemical imbalance, I am Bipolar. I have a personality disorder caused by upbringing during childhood. With the drugs and drinking, my medication, and psychiatrist are now effective.

With the tools I've learnt and intensive four month treatment and therapy, I cope and interact with life.

Now, finally I wake up happy.

My mom recently died (she choked to death on her own vomit in a high care room opposite the nurses station, they were on tea), so, I do have bad days, but I have a Power greater than myself, I do not go on my will, but His will. (I am not a reborn Christian, but no disrespect to their faith or any other faith). I have my AA and NA meetings and fellowship that are incredibly
supportive, emphatic and brutally honest. It is easy and comforting to gain strength for my vulnerabilities. The truth shall set you free. I am what I am and I've done what I've done. If people don't like or accept me, that is their prerogative and right.

I have always been a good person, I have always been a good mother. I believe and know that now. I can look in the mirror and smile at myself. No regrets, no resentments. Love and forgiveness, hope and courage. One day at a time.

I now help save the lives of other addicts, alcoholics and abused people. I teach my children coping skills, teach them about love, forgiveness, courage, commitment, dedication. But mostly about love, hope and a Power greater than themselves. They know, they are never alone, they will always be safe and loved.

Shining moments at school?
At the time:
My sporting and academic excellence.
My exit weekends to Elizabeth and Patricia.
My first boyfriend, his phonecalls and notes, passed to his friend at Bishops to that guys sister to me) All very secret (NOT!) sorry Borat.

Less than shining?
Being hid and covered by a blanket under feet in the car, when I went to study at Nadia Dhansay's house in Mitchells Plain for a weekend during the state of emergency. I ignorantly felt very Famous Five like.

Being anorexic, crying because I as so hungry, yet too scared to eat a yoghurt because I KNEW I would get fat. DAILY DIET: 1 apple , quarter piece of toast, salad, veg. My self-loathing. Not being understood. The looks and whispers, making people uncomfortable, too afraid to trust anyone. (Ag shame.)

Being accused (correctly) of smoking as a prefect, by a bunch of hypocritical prefects who were projecting! (themselves smoking). At least I had the integrity to go to Cartwright and 'fess up, hand in my badge (there went the collection of decorations, I did look like a Christmas tree, must admit. An improvement I suppose)

Staying in touch with anyone?
Elizabeth and Trish at UCT, but that faded as I did. Did go to their weddings as well as Jane Carrington's. Incidentally, she set up a blind date for me 12 years ago. I married him. ( Instant gratification, typical characteristic of addicts and alchaholics)

Did St. Cyps prepare me for life?
Well now, let's see... ummmm... No. It must be added that neither did my parents or step parents (lost track of how many there were) Academically though I got a superb education and it has stood me in great stead (helps my homework duties too!) Also, just being at St. Cyps got me an interview and a job - selling cement bricks. I was the first female brick rep. in the WP. Minis and gumboots on site. Sales soared!

Stand out teachers?
Miss. Cable, I am still in contact.
Miss Watson, she was my surrogate mom. She was the only one who could get me to eat. Late night extra milk or cocoa, a bit of love.
Miss. Simons, A shrill yell to at me,"Not 'YA!' Yes, Miss.Simons." She was horrified by my English, fresh from Namibia
Miss. BERGMAN, God I was scared of her.
Miss, Mr. and Mrs Pamplin,: sick, sick, SICK people!
Mrs. Henk, a honey, I worked with her nephew for a while.

Life lessons?
At school, I was totally protected from life, so none, no.
Last 20 years? Drinking, drugs only make life worse. Get help. Only brutal honesty towards yourself works. Don't shit yourself. Communicate. Don't hold resentments, love yourself and remember there is always hope, and above all, know you are never not loved or alone.

Greatest hope?
To make a difference in peoples' lives, to be there when someone needs me and with God's help say the right thing, using my life as an example, to give them hope.

How different is my life now compared to what I expected?
Life was a misery and a battle. I had no dreams or expectations. I felt like a fraud, a misfit, a waste. I love life and am grateful for it now, each day is a blessing and an opportunity:

Look to this day, for it is life,
the very life of life.
For in its brief course lie all the verities and realities of existence,
the bliss of growth, the splendour of action and the glory of power.
For yesterday is but a memory
and tomorrow only a dream,
but today well lived makes every yesterday a memory of happiness and
every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day.

Achievements
My children.
My commission for the UN Headquarters, New York City.
My Gecko Awards.
The many houses renovated and sold at profit.
My sobriety.

email: gcragg (at) absamail (dot) co (dot) za

The Way We Were...

FInd more old pictures here... And send any that may have survived your many moves and life changes along, and I'll add them... Still looking for mine - starting to give up hope...

The Way We Were

Karina Jansen Van Rensburg

-Where are you now?
“As`salaam alaykum!” from the Kingdom of Bahrain! A mere pinprick on the world map…but quite an exciting community in the heart of the Arabian Gulf . We came here 4 and a half years ago, only for 18 months…and are still here.
We return to our home in Aachen, Germany every summer to touch base with the” real world” and soak up the beautiful green surroundings, not to mention good clean air!!

-Household members.
A more than lively household of 4 Cancerian males…God knows what I did wrong in my previous life…? Or is it lack of family planning? My wonderful, husband Martin is German – sounds more South African than I do…most people think that I am the Kraut in the family!!! He is an Architect, 44 and makes me laugh every day…works long, hard hours as GM for an Australian firm here in Bahrain. Our 3 boys, Stefan (soon to be 10), Thomas (soon to be 7) and Anton our little Shaikh (soon to be 4) make up for the daily chaos. And then there's Ginny, the Bahraini Special we adopted from the BSPCA… Like having a fourth child!

-What do you do all day?
I took up a teaching position again 18 months ago…am teaching French to Key stage 1 kids (ages4-7) at a British curriculum school here in Bahrain.
After a full day at school, the afternoons are busy with carting the boys to various corners of the island for play afternoons, extra-murals, homework or whatever else needs doing! The garden…besides being a God-forsaken task in this climate, I find it rather therapeutic!

In Germany I did various things to keep myself busy… From working in an art gallery to making hats, running activity programmes for kids during school holidays, and teaching English to adults and children… Let's just say life has not been boring!!

-The last 20 years...
After leaving the protected environment of St.Cyps I went to Stellenbosch to do a BA. I took a year off half-way through the course, went to France to work as an au-pair. Took a few trips to the UK and Italy from there. I returned fluent in French, made a few changes to my course, and finally completed my degree with French and Political Science. Useful?! Did a few odd jobs for quite some time… And then took up my first serious job in Hotel Management at Constantia Uitsig… What an idyllic setting to work in!! Martin and I met at a sundowners evening on the rocks in Camps Bay in 1992… And married in 1995 in Cape Town.

It took a while to get used to life far away from my family and friends in Cape Town, especially as I could speak NO German…I remember resorting to all sorts to make myself understood… I now speak, think and dream in German.

We spent some time in the wine growing region of the Mosel. From there we moved to Aachen(close to Cologne, Brussels and Maastricht) – both Stefan and Thomas were born there… Then we moved south to the famous picture-postcard beautiful Black Forest… This is where Martin is from… It was an enriching time and we have fond memories of our time there. We returned to Aachen, and were sent to the dust bowls of Bahrain shortly thereafter… Martin, was involved with the design and development of an F1 track and facilities here. (We are NOT F1 fans at all!!!) One project lead to another and so our short stay was extended. Last October, we were all sold up and packed to go to Ireland, but changed our minds at the last minute… Something about this funny place that keeps us here… The easy lifestyle?… Still live a somewhat colonial existence here… Domestic help and things like that… Unheard of in Europe! Can't quite put a finger on it… The climate?… Well, yes, it's warm… Bloody HOT would better describe it… We have average summer temps of around 45°C and humidity of at least 80 percent. I think it's the eclectic mix of people that make it… We have friends from all corners of the globe here… What a wonderful experience for the boys… They have friends from Europe, the UK, India, the Far East, Australia and even South Africa! Bahrain is a cultural melting pot… East meets West…

Life in Germany is great too… They are such a nation of thinkers, so conscious about all things… Critical, in the positive sense. We love going home every summer… Even if it means that we find ourselves doing all the same menial tasks every year… Removing cob-webs, weeding and pulling out the creeping brambles AGAIN… Every summer I have great dreams for the garden… And then abandon them knowing that it will be a whole year again till the plants are tended to. Our home language is predominantly Deutsch… Stefan speaks perfect German, Thomas with a very British accent and Anton has mastered the art of selective hearing!

Unlike the message put across by the press, the Muslim community (at least here in Bahrain) is peaceful and extremely tolerant…we have Churches for various creeds, I do NOT have to wear an Abaya(black robe) or cover my face, can drive a car, go wherever I wish… In Bahrain we can even drink and buy alcohol, we have Western amenities, schools and facilities. The Bahrainis are such friendly people… They adore children and carry them on golden platters… Quite different to the more and more singles- orientated Western world. The clock ticks at a different pace here… Our week runs from Sunday to Thursday… Friday and Saturday is weekend. The only downside is the lack of environmental beauty and awareness… There seems to be sooo little love and respect for nature or the greater environment in general. If you think that the roads and driving are bad at home… Wait till you try it here… You see things that you'd rather not have me repeat! The region is developing like nowhere else… Bahrain and Dubai are in constant competition for the next highest structure or better development strategy… An architect's, and anybody in the construction industry´s dream. Money is Tax-free – at a price- so we continue to enjoy it while it lasts…

- Any shining moments from The School Years?
Great memories of hiking trails.
The ever-present Table Mountain

- How about less-than-shining?
That final Std 7 Typing exam when I think I got something like 7%!!! Imagine what that did to my grades?!
Maths…?!$§*

- Did you stay in touch with anyone? Who?
Have kept constant contact with my oldest friend Sue. Would love to hear from loads of you….

- With the benefit of 20 years hindsight, did St Cyprians prepare you for life?
Yes and no! We had great privileges at school, wish that I had not been so painfully shy and made more out of the opportunities offered. I think that I have learnt from life`s ups and downs.

- Any stand out teachers?
Several! Mme Jaeger (French) and her temper…but somehow she instilled a love for the French language and culture in me. I was scared stiff of Mrs Thorburn and her atom splitting voice! Do any of you remember that wacky Afrikaans teacher we had…the one who never taught us apart from telling us all about her escapades, and then just disappeared…? English with Mrs Simons…she was wonderful in retrospect.

- Life lessons?
Live well, laugh lots and love much!
“To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower”:

- Greatest hope?
Peace and a brighter future for our children. To never be a “boring” grown up! To be a great wife, lover, friend and mother.

- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 years ago?
To the moon and back different!!! No definite ideas as such, but I certainly never imagined myself living here. Kids…a probable yes, but not three boys! (couldn´t possibly imagine anything pink and pretty in our home now, though!) And yes, we do become more and more like our parents… Oh no, this is all too much now!

- Achievements
Getting myself and the 3 boys out the door on time every morning…and no longer being sooo painfully shy!!!

email: m.muellerArchitekt (at)t-online (dot)de

Ho hum...

Yet I see you keep checking in to see if there is...

South Africa - Parow, Western Cape
United Kingdom - Golborne, Wigan
Bahrain - Jidd Hafs
United States - Lynnwood, Washington
United States - Brooklyn, New York
United Kingdom - Mellor, Stockport
South Africa - Johannesburg, Gauteng
United Kingdom - London, Lambeth
South Africa - Bellville, Western Cape
United Kingdom - Milton Keynes

You can fix that... Sendy sendy...

Fiona Sutherland

Fiona and Rico



Kids from left, twin niece and nephew, Karl, Gabriella and stepson Terry.



-Where are you now?
I'm still living in Cape Town ,actually in Southfield for the last 14 years.

-List household members:a
I have been married for 14 years to a wonderful man, Rico, and have two lovely kids. Their names are Gabriella who is 11 and Karl who is 8. Also in the household is Milo, TJ, Lola and Shylah.... all German Shepherds.

-What do you do all day?
Well, besides running around after kids lifting to and from school I run a beauty salon from home. We have been running from home for the last 10 years and it has been great fun. Some days you can go and shop 'til you drop and then there are the days that you can't move away from the salon.

The last 20 years in 100 words, or less, or more... No-one's going to count.
Well when I finished matric I went to work in a hairdressing salon over the Christmas period and landed up working there for four years and qualifying as a hairstylist with trade papers. Then I went to Stellenbosch where I studied beauty therapy for two years. During those years I met my husband and we partied a lot...I worked in a salon in Sun Valley for four years
and then moved back home.

On 11 June 1994 I got married and became Mrs Schwimmbacher... A mouthful.. And no-one ever spells it correctly. Kids came along and now they both attend Bergvliet Primary School and are enjoying it. My daughter is in Grade 5 and my son is in Grade 2.

- Any less than-than-shining moments from The School Years?
Were there any?

- Less than shining?
I always landed up in the corridor being punished by Miss Watson... Or in trouble for something or another by Keogh or
Plamplin. Talking of Plamplin - she stopped me in the shopping centre the other day and asked me why I didn't greet... When in actual fact I tried to avoid her... Still hasn't changed a bit.

- Did you stay in touch with anyone? Who?
I keep in touch with Gill quite a bit, and her family I see often but as for the rest... No-one.

- With the benefit of 20 years hindsight, did St Cyprians prepare you for life?
Prepare me for life? Yes, actually life at St Cyps tought me to get on with life no matter what comes in your way, that you will find the blue light at the end of that dark long tunnel and that I am able to work with all sorts of different people from all walks of life.

- Any stand out teachers?
Mr Park for one... He seemed a bit queer. Miss Fowler was a nice Home Ec teacher.

- Life lessons?
Well, everyday life teaches you a new lesson of some kind so I'm always learning.

Achievements?
My greatest acheivements are my kids of course and last but not least being married to my husband.

- Greatest hope?
My greatest hope is that my kids acheive the best results they are able and that whatever career they choose we'll be behind them 100%.

- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 years ago?
I had no idea I would be home,working and be a wife and mom but I wouldn't turn the clock.


email: schwimmy (at) iafrica (dot) com

Gillian Powell

I am now Gill Berryman, happily married to Justin and we have two fabulous boys, Oliver 5 1/2 and Tom who is 10 months old. We recently lost our horse Apple who we miss alot and we have Ozi our rescue labrador who is wonderful and Tweezle our cat, various fish (too many to name).

I am fortunate enough to be at home with Tom all day, Oli is now at school (he does not know why as he knows everything, has been there, done it and got the t shirt etc.) Justin runs his own business so I am quite often running around for him, but mostly chilling out with Tom - we walk Ozi alot as we live in beautiful countryside.

Before I had Oli, i was working for British Telecom as an Account Manager on blue chip clients, eg Johnson and Johnson and other, it was pretty hectic and I spent alot of time in London and the states. After 9/11 my hubby andI decided that I was better off out of the hustle and bustle. I had been based at Canary Wharf Tower for about three years and also managed the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square for another coms company. Too many bomb threats so I dumped the suits and sports car and shipped out to the country, jeans, jodphurs and jumpers and a very smelly dirty 4 x 4. It's perfect!

-The last 20 years:
UUUUUUUUUUUUhhhmmmm.... Finished matric, went back to Zambia to live with my dad and then came over to the UK. I cannot even remember the jobs I did for the first couple of years, studied Marketing and then tried to get a serious job. Spent most my time in sales as the money was better and I could afford to keep a horse that way - but I hated the job. fortunate enough to travel a bit through work - even better is was fully expensed.

Met Justin 8 1/2 years ago in jods with rain soaked hair and running make up drinking beer in a pub - never looked back. We have a good life with two beautiful boys, good business etc. so we feel quite blessed. We do not get back to Cape Town very often, but are planning another trip soon. We get over to Zambia quite a bit, it is my fav' place in the whole world.

-Shining moments from school:
Lots of laughs, I remember, some cringing moments... Apple pie-ing beds,scaring younger boarders with sheets on our heads (Trish, Emma and I) and escaping Mrs Cameron by a fraction of a second. Endless staring at Duran Duran pictures with Lynda Heesom - God how sad were we. By the way Lynda I now prefer Simon Le Bon so you can marry John Taylor ha ha ha ha. Midnight feasts - Fiona brought brandy in a shampoo bottle and it was not washed out. YUCK. Mrs Watson constantly shouting at me. Spending far too many nights in the corridor outside Keogh's office (and then funnily enough outside Plampin's office door).

Does anyone remember Louise Cotton putting that cigarette in the skeletons mouth in Keoghs office. Just think of all that second hand smoke we were subjected to? I can still smell her to this day. Dreadful food, really dreadful. Great views of Table mountain. Very few bad memories but always laughing and getting up to mischief, Numzi, PK, Emma, Trish.

-Less than shining:
Only when we got caught. The look of disgust on Mrs Watson's face. I did go back years later and I saw Mrs Watson - she was so pleased to see me she hugged me. One second later she was lecturing me on our year being the worst ever, we were so naughty etc etc.... Leaving.. It was time to grow up.

-Still talking to school friends?
I have stayed in touch with Trish (not very often though) Fiona, Maria Giorgi (Padula) from Zambia. Sam lives quite close to me but have not managed to make contact yet.

-Did St Cyps prepare me for life?
I guess a bit.

-Stand out teachers?
Mrs Thorburn - she was the least dull

Laughing at Mrs Saddler's toes, the woman was a saint - she was so patient with us.

-Life lessons?
So many. Life is precious, so do not waste time. Count your lucky stars. Be grateful and thankful and happy.

-Greatest hope?
I would like to see a war free world, a world free from poverty and crime.

-Is your life as you envisaged it?
Twenty years ago I don't think I had any idea where I would be now. I wanted to be self sufficient have a good career where I travelled and had an interesting job and eventually get married etc. I did think I would return to work after having kids, but after Oli was born I realised I could not leave him. I went back to work for 3 weeks and cried all the way there and back each day.

-Achievements:
One hubby, two kids, own business and still sane. Happiness.

email: Justinberryman (at) aol (dot) com

Judy Smith

- The Basics
The Lambrecht Family live in Tokai in a very special part in the forest - the closest we could get to living on a farm, but in the city -There is Philip the great dad and husband to whom I have been married for 12 years, Kyla (8) in Grd 2 and Meg (5) they are both at Reddam (just down the road) Annie and Tessa- the dogs, Flopsy the Hamster, 4 chickens and I am still hoping for a cow!

- The last 20 years
A great jorl at university - God only knows how I passed! Thank goodness statistics wasn't compulsory in those days! And thanks to all those friends who guided me towards all the right readings in the library. Even did a research project with Trish Foster!

Was hoping to do Physio(unlucky) then thought I had applied for Social work - filled in the form wrong - so ended up with a good old SocSci and hoped to one day become a personnel manager, but with a degree was told I was over qualified for the job! Soo after some good life experience in temping, tele sales canvassing etc went overseas thanks to my Gran who sponsored me a very life enriching 10 months travelling all over. But I was missing Phil so came home to CT.

Eventually started a promotional clothing business with a good friend, George. Pro - Am clothing's first order was cut out on the floor of my rented Mowbray flat. So I became a self- made personnel manager/social worker realising I am not cut out for the business world - far too soft and always feeling sorry for the seamstresses. Had a good 6 years in the rag trade.

It was time to move on .. so Kyla was born and we became parents -what a shock to my identity and sleep pattern! 2 1/2yrs later along came Meg. Was keen for a 3rd but too big a gap now and have become selfish with my time.

So in-between I have been doing voluntary work with assistant teaching with street kids and for the past 4 years have been busy with the social upliftment programme of the community in Westlake - mainly with co-ordinating the sewing project. But as I am not a good business woman - we are still in the growth stages (but things are looking up for some orders this month!) I have also trained recently to teach adult literacy - which I am really enjoying. Phil has a disposable medical supplies company with his brother and works long hours - but now and again we have been able to sneak away up Kilimanjaro, into deepest darkest Botswana or Namibia too, sail in some world championships and other adventures. So between school lifts, play dates ,homework, extra murals and cooking dinner the Lambrechts are doing really well.

- My School Years
Well I loved the hikes (Swellendam, Otter Trail) I loved to sing in the choir (have tried since too!!!) I made awesome friends in and out of boarding school - sport was fun. The Chapel is a very special place for me - we even got married there (I know, not for everyone) and I enjoyed acting in the plays.

Miss Merrington got me going in my love for the outdoors and geography and environmental stuff. Mrs Thorburn was always there for me too. Food in the boarding house was always dodgy - definitely not a highlight! Sago or scrambled what??? Mrs Keogh was even more scary. I am sad that there were girls in the class that I have not been able to connect with.

Have been very fortunate as Sam, Belinda, Phillipa,Trish, Liz and others have remained close and treasured friends and we still do things together regularly.

- 'We teach not for school but for life...'
... well compared to schooling and education at the time I think I was very blessed to be in a multi racial environment, as it was a small school I could be involved in any activity I chose ( even 1st team hockey and I was useless!) I was taught respect and self discipline ( although I had to move home in matric otherwise I would have failed) a good SU team filled in for a solid Christian grounding and learning to share space with others in boarding school were good lessons to carry with me. Perhaps we were too sheltered from the political storm and Interact only got going later on

- Greatest hope
That you all come to some stage of our reunion !! Or at least have tea with me

- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 years ago?
Had no clue how my life would turn out - I have not grown up - will try to be an awesome wife and mother and hope to make a difference in somebody's life one day!

email: judes (at) kingsley (dot) co (dot) za

Jeanine Fick

With Sebastian (4 1/2) and Amber (2 1/2).


- The last 20 years
From school, I went to Stellenbosch University and majored in wine and boy tasting! I had an incredibly fun 4 years during which I was single for 4 days - oh yes and I obtained a BA Industrial psychology. I then went on to work and travel for 2 years - mainly working in the UK (silver service in hotels, nanny, taking care of the elderly, pubs and even taught somebody Afrikaans!) and travelling in Europe, Australia and Thailand.

Back in South Africa I did a variety of jobs, from trying my hand at fashion buying, selling plants at a nursery whilst studying through Unisa, Protea farming, Fax sales (yuk) to production and research for an enviromental TV programme (the only job I
really enjoyed) - oh yes and I cooked and managed a little Italian restaurant. Not a very serious career path! (I shared a house in Harfield Village with Belinda Sainsbury - we had great fun - when we moved out we both moved to our respective men.) Thank goodness I met my husband on a blind date! As I was thinking about what it was that I should be doing with my life, I moved up to Johannesburg to live with him, we got married 6 years ago and had 2 lovely children.

My husband is from the UK and loves the African bush and camping - so we have done a lot of camping in very remote places through Africa - once even did a 2 month trip up to Dar Es Salaam and back. My favourite countries are Zambia and Tanzania - beautiful and very friendly people.

We are currently in the process of getting divorced - mostly amicable! I have bought a little house in Parkwood Johannesburg
and will be moving there in August. I look forward to my new life sans husband! Sebastian (4 1/2) loves to go camping with his dad and is a very gentle and caring boy that does not like it when other people are sad. Amber (2 1/2) loves to make
people laugh and is more easy going than her brother.

I am lucky in that I have been a stay at home mum - but I have always wanted to work. Next year I would like to get involved with something creative - probably jewelery with semi-precious stones - I have crystals all around my house ( I drive a car not a broom). I will have to go to Bangkok to buy the stones and will have the jewellery made here in Johannesburg.

- Shining moments at school
When I let off a stinkbomb in Mr. Cartwright's office whilst everyone was filing into the hall for the valedictory service. Seriously I loved my Netball games - also the Netball tour we did with Belinda and Palesa etc.

- Less shining moments
When I complained about the boarding school food at the payphone outside the diningroom and the lady (forgotten her name too) who cooks the food overheard me complaining to my mom - I felt so bad so said that I did it so that my mom would take me out from St.Cyps!! I still hate the smell of almond essense - why did they have to use that? I remember the endless slices of toast and butter and jam we had in matric in the little lounge upstairs after supper- wow we put those away.

- Standout teachers
Definitely Mrs. Thorburn, I also had a special place for Mrs. Seabolt who taught me piano. I played the sax last year (too noisy at home) and I am taking up the guitar next month. I loved Miss Watson and the laundry lady (forgotten her name) at boarding school.

- Did St.Cyps prepare me for life
I don't know, I was young - I think just life's experiences have prepared me and taught me about life.

- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 yrs ago
I never thought that far ahead - I am very happy with how my life is/has been. I feel that I am living very much in my truth - doing what I need to do for me - I suppose it is better than I would have pictured back then.

- Achievements?
Raising my 2 children (1 was colicky - T-J I don't know how you stay sane!) and living the life I would like to live.

email: jeanine (at) global (dot) co (dot) za

Tracy-Jean Povall

The last 20 years...
After Rotary exchange (tough and lonely year putting on a brave face) came back to CT to study Occupational therapy at UCT. Was in digs with Helene McDonald initially, and reconnected with Carol Templeton and was adopted and loved by her family for my university years; had a classic doomed love affair with totally the wrong highly magnetic person, and a few other minor romances, a few near death car accidents, then was vigorously pursued by Trevor who is now the father of my five children .......................... Most people need a moment to recover from that information.

First job was as single-handed OT at Victoria hospital, during which time I got married in a sort of bring and braai style, due to lack of parental financial/approval support. The reason for this was that besides being an unemployed widower (had stopped work due to late wife's illness and then decided not to return to his field of toolmaking (engineering) and was filling a temporary teaching post which he loved) which was all acceptable enough for my mother, the BIG challenge came when she discovered that the coloured guy standing in her garden was her daughter's prospective husband. Sigh, so the first two years of courtship were VERY stressful, because my mum envisaged me overalled, curlers under my doek, fag hanging out of my floppy lips sans front teeth, snotty little kids on my legs, living in Woodstock. What a waste of all those years of hard work getting me a good education!

And poor Dad who having finally undisinherited me and still hoping for his little girl lost to return to him in Johannesburg nearly had a fit when he realised that all would be lost of I got married, nearly didn't come to the wedding. He did, and Mum finally got around her reservations, and here we are married 13 years later...and I still have my front teeth! And as it turned out Dad did get to spend his last years living with me.

Two years after our bring your own cake and sandwiches wedding we welcomed the arrival of identical twin daughters Amy and Jessica, after 8 weeks hospitalisation to keep them from arriving too early (my 100% cover medical aid went bottoms up soon thereafter). I stopped full time work, started locuming in kids' learning disabilities, opened my own practice at home after a couple of years, and have been raising kids, nursing my Dad through his last years with Alzheimer's, and working very part time in between. Trevor never did return to toolmaking, and started a garden service business which he still runs, so we are both self-employed from home, reasonably sane most of the time, quite often fairly broke, but hey, we're still standing (not without a lot of help from God).

So we now have 11 year old twins, Amy and Jessica, almost 7 year old Isobel (the family fireball - seriously fiesty), Benjamin (the one bold boy) aged nearly 5, and gorgeous Gwynneth, 2 in August. All very artistic and musical, which we try to encourage, and I am home schooling them, so let's hope they all turn out well, not too loopy (and that all that expensive education stands me in good stead). St Cyps needn't take offense that they aren't all enrolled there - I actually really enjoyed my years there, (and I do apologise for being overbearing and bossy to anyone I may have offended at the time. Actually I am still bossy, although there has been some character development over time I believe).

Thoughts on high school and teachers
Number one spot goes to Mrs Thorburn who told me that printing was a sign of immaturity and got me writing properly, and also encouraged me as a personin her ferocious but cute way; Mrs Garvey that nightmarish head of boarding house who persecuted me relentlessly and couldn't stand my guts, who prepared me for the tough sideof life (I guess...); that poor disorganised biology teacher that jumped up and down at the end of her tether shouting ''Get out! Get out! Get out!'' when I'd asked too many questions or contradicted her teaching with all my photocopied biology notes from my buddy at another school.

Peers that impacted my life were Judy Smith and Jeanine Fick who played a part in my becoming a Christian in std 7, so that when we did that traditional confirmation (with white veils and all) it was a true confirmation of my faith for me, rather than a religious ritual.

Am I where I envisaged I would be 20 years on?
To be honest I didn't have that much of a clear view ahead, although my best friend from that time says that I said I wanted 5 children - so there you go!

email: trossouw (at) absamail (dot) co (dot) za

Vikki Philp

Hugo, Charlie (6 years old) and Georgia (3 years old)

Charlie and Vikki

Georgia (3 years old)

-Where are you now?
5 minutes drive from Stonehenge, England (World Heritage Site and magnet to long bearded druids at solstice time) for the moment. We move. A lot. 6 times in the past 5 years,to give you an idea.

-List household members:
Hugo: husband of 11 years, who will celebrate his 40th birthday 9 months before me. Officer in the British Army. A charming tall, dark quintessential English man. My rock and lifelong partner.
Charlie: our son, 6 years old. Tall red head (there are recessive genes on both sides) who is passionate about Power Rangers, all things to do with mermaids, butterflies and drawing. Plays rugby for Salisbury Under 7's and does tricks on his scooter.
Georgia: our daughter, 3 years old. Has the pretty curly hair I always wanted... Worships her brother and has been known to draw blood in his honour. Loves animals, speaks with a cute lisp and calls Stonehenge 'Honestenge' and Salisbury Cathedral 'Strawberry Cathedral'.
Tara: 2 1/2 year old Irish Setter Bitch. Cunning, likes gardening especially pruning.
Fergus: 2 year old Irish Setter Dog. Mate for Tara chosen in a moment of delusion when I thought breeding might be a jolly idea. Actually a pheasant in dog clothes... For those not versed in the species, pheasants are virtually brainless.

-What do you do all day? If you're a serial career hopper, list your stops:
I look after the needs of all household members (see above). Having indulged in city life to the full, leaving little space for domesticity I am rather enjoying discovering the pleasures of cooking, gardening, nurturing and playing like a kid - things I am ashamed to admit I scoffed at in the past.

- The last 20 years in 100 words, or less, or more... No-one's going to count.
Spent a terrifying number of months utterly directionless after leaving school (who else was told they could do virtually anything when discussing the results of those psychometric tests with the counsellor???), before doing a seccie course at the behest of mother and then deciding to 'travel'. (The 'travel' bit sounded terribly sophisticated...) First stop Paris for a year as an au pair. (Boy did I learn the meaning of hard graft then). Next stop London where city career began as a Bloodstock (race horse) insurance broker. Fab job but poor pay led to a switch to banking 4 years later. Four years at a derivatives house were followed by the balance of my cash earning years at Goldman Sachs (US Investment Bank). I met Hugo just before the career switch and we married two years later. Together we have travelled lots (and moved lots). After trying the 'working mum' mantle (very unsuccesfully - there simply wasn't enough of me to go around) for a year we decided to ditch the ridiculous mortgage, sell up and move into military accomodation. We bought a house in Wiltshire which we have spent one night in - I was damned if the tennants were going to christen all the newness we installed! Hugo's job changes every 2 years... allegedly... and has taken him away for two 6 month stretches during our married years. With Tony Blair offering assitance at the drop of a hat, I suspect a trip to the desert is imminent. When continuity of education becomes an issue for the children we will consider putting some roots down and enter into the commuting game. But we are kept on our toes which isn't such a bad thing, and there is a lot to be said for rationalising one's belongings every two years!

- Any shining moments from The School Years?
You find a school with a better setting. Science lessons (all those previous years worth of experiments sitting on the side and Mrs Thorburn demonstrating the difference between the atomic makeup of air, water and something solid (Nadia Dhansay's head) by brandishing a ruler), sunning ourselves on the hockey field, Billy Joel in the boarding house, Miss Watson's wake up techniques, rock buns at tea time, playing imaginary cricket in the corridor during post-lights out punishments, toast in the Matric common room, early morning swimming training (I seem to remember having a fry up on a camping stove behind the changing rooms after training one morning).

- Any less than-than-shining?
Matric Dance dress. Who doesn't remember that abomination of yellow fabric with gold thread? I know, I know... It was the 80's but I think there is a limit to how much you can blame on that fashion era... Grey dehydrated scrambled egg at breakfast, the priviledge scarves (???!!??), Miss Dreyer's cough, Mr Plampin jiggling coins in his pocket...

- Did you stay in touch with anyone? Who?
Ali Christie (the brilliance behind this blog), Sam Acland (bumped into her quite by chance on Sloane Square in our early twenties - been close ever since) and Jeanine Fick (reconnected as a result of this blog and she has susequently been to visit).

- With the benefit of 20 years hindsight, did St Cyprians prepare you for life?
I originally thought so, but on reflection I dont think the school was in a very good place during our final years. I certainly got away with not doing a stitch of work and set off into the world with a shockingly mediocre set of results and feeling very ill equipped. We were politically protected and lived in a little bubble that was not reflective of the society we lived in at the time. The confines of that bubble gave us the opportunity to live in a politically non-judgmental environment, which probably made us more open minded in the long run, but I think there were so many life lessons missing from our education. Of course education is an ever changing subject and each generation kicks up a whole host of ideas for the next, but the forum of school would have been the ideal place to pass on a little more than Pythagoras' theorum and the timelines of the Boer War.... I dont doubt that the opportunity to indulge in extra curricula activities like the debating society and experiencing a drama class, as well as having the opportunity to try out many different sports, gave me a certain belief in myself, which resulted in me blagging my way into banking without a university degree, but I am disappointed I wasn't encouraged to enjoy the pleasure of success. I have watched with interest how my son LOVES school and seems to have an insatiable appetite for learning. His teachers have managed to continue to capture his imagination.

- Any stand out teachers?
Mr Park - I WILL write that book. He did encourage.
Mrs Thorburn - regret never listening properly. Funnily enough her unusual teaching practices worked - there are certain facts imbedded in my brain from those hours in the science lab!

- Life lessons?Achievements?
Humility; the importance of manners in today's fast-paced world; appreciation of all that is good (A bout of meningitis towards the tale end of last year kicked me up the backside with regards that one); Patience (well I'm working on that!)

- Greatest hope?
Not to get it too wrong for the children.
Do something to slow the devastation.

- How different is your life from how you envisaged it 20 years ago?
Can a 17 year old really have any realistic visions? Embarrassed to admit mine were about comfort and security. Thankfully fate had another game plan.

-Living online?
FANTASTIC. I can satisfy all my consumer needs from the comfort of my desk, avoiding contact with other pushy shoppers! And when H is away we can maintain some semblance of communication. Though we joke about it, the global village makes 'Class of 87 - 20 years on' a possibility.

email: hugoandvix (at) hotmail (dot) com