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