Sadia photo

Pascale Update

Hi everyone

It has been a looong silence from my side because we had a burglary at home 3 weeks ago and my laptop and handbag were stolen while my 2 jack russels merrily ate the biscuits that were chucked to them! I only got up and running with a new laptop and email on monday. So Dora I am very grateful for your mail as I now have everyone's email address in my inbox again. I can't remember the blogsite address so Sarah please would you mail that to me.

It is amazing how we become so dependent on things like a laptop and even a simple diary!

Dora I didn't realise you were moving - still in the UK I presume? Thanks for the update on Yvonne - not great news at all. Shame - what a predicament to leave your one little one and only see her weekends. I wonder if having her mom physically there isn't better for her recovery? But then again - it is so taxing for the rest of the family and for Yvonne herself. Sjoe- that is really awful. please send her all my love and best wishes. Shame. And Dora how is Tracey doing? Last time you mailed you said she was not well - is she in a better space?

The reunion has taken a backseat for a while, but I'm getting together with Catterina (and Melina who I haven't told yet) who has our class photos and some others, to see if we can rack our brains on names etc and see what we can do further to contact some others. If anyone has anymore ideas - please shout.

Roxanne - Vania's email address as I said has changed but I am not sure if I wrote it down correctly as I still have not heard from her - please can I be a pain and ask you to call her again for me and check that it is correct. Thank you thank you!

Other than that - all is well - just busy - I am amazed at the pace of daily life and there are days where I feel I am just running (or as a friend of mine has said - she feels like she is just walking in a blizzard and stuff is just coming her way)

Well I am so glad to be in touch with all of you again. I hope you are all well and I will keep you posted on our progress.

Take care
Love Pascale

Sadia's story

My story in a nutshell is as follows.....

I went on to study marketing and aales for lack of knowing what else to do ... completed the 3 year course part time as I decided to do fashion designing for a year and then moved on to doing aromatherapy for a year while working for Hallmark Greeting Cards in marketing ... I then back packed Europe for a month only to come back for my beloved sister Feroza's funeral, and then most vulnerable entered into my first marriage in 1995, (months after my sister's death) ... which was a horrific experience and lasted only 10 months and many years of recovery. During this time I worked for SA Phillips. I then moved to Cape Town for 6 months for my own healing and then back to JHB , entering into a sales position for furniture manufacturer Hartmann & Keppler (divine interiors and very beautiful things). I then travelled some more in the USA, working on a summer camp for underpriviliged kids from Los Angeles for 4 months and travelled another 2 months before going back to JHB in 1999 to meet my wonderful husband Tariq, and back to Hartmann & Keppler as manager. We have a daughter Iman (means Faith), who is almost 7yrs old. I have had 4 miscarriages since her , quite far into my pregnancy so I am a bit afraid to try again, although that is not in my control at all ... I just need to submit and have faith (I knew in naming Iman, with her she would bring tests of immense faith for us as a family...) I would love to have another two kids. God willing.

We have been living in Cape Town since 2007 and I love it, the ocean the mountains and all it's many faces really keep me going. I knew I would be back here ... JHB has never felt like my home. I am currently in a half day position at my brothers company doing accounting - which I certainly cannot believe, as I do prefer the more creative aspect of work, but it helps and I can still see to Iman in the afternoons etc.

I plan on getting back into massage therapy, yoga for kids (qualified to teach, but all talk and no action), mosaic, crafts, and all else that I love. I really want to create a space where women in particular can feel uplifted and empowered in every aspect both superficial and spiritual ... offering services and products, love and compassion and true intention for wellness. God willing.

Sadia means Happiness , which is what I would love to bring to you all ...

Karin Calmeyer

After leaving school I wasn’t sure what to do so I started working for a dental laboratory. Not really my thing so I moved to a corporate environment and studied public relations and photography. I wasn’t involved with anyone and continued to hang out with my brother and the boys and the youth. I met Craig when organizing my 21st. around the same time my father was kidnapped. He was eventually released battered and bruised but my family lost everything to get him back. The police where useless and the perpetrator skipped the country with the money etc. there was no extradition treaty to get them back or anything. My father hated South Africa for a long time and decided to move to England. The time he left I caught my then fiancée with his boss. (a double loss) I was devastated. I ran away joined a band and went on tour. I sang all over the country and really enjoyed the life. I have met and performed with many great and talented people. During this time I fell for my manager and we had a whirlwind relationship, he never wanted to get married and certainly never wanted children so we parted on good terms. Chris was stable, I needed a rock in my life when everything else seemed to be crazy. During our relationship I met Deon and we became firm friends. I travelled to the Congo, England (looking for my father) Texas and Louisiana. I went back to corporate on my return, wiser, cheekier, and certainly more stable. Deon and I got together and have never been apart since. He is my passion and my great love. I can see his destiny and I know it is my place to help him achieve it because he has such a love and compassion for people. He is a fabulous teacher. (Biblically speaking) In life he is a personal trainer. But once again teaching people to live healthy and encouraging them to do so. I speak to large groups of people and I enjoy one on one. We moved to the coast 11 years ago and have mostly been happy here. I am still weary of people. I work at a retirement village where I arrange all the social activities of the members as well as tours and outings. I have been blessed to be able to travel to the Namaqualand flowers, Knysna, Cape Town, the Kruger park, various game parks, enjoyed the Cherry festival in Free State and so much more through my work. I think people are very eager to travel abroad when we have a wonderful interesting country with so much to see and enjoy. Married life certainly has its ups and downs. Thankfully the ups are fabulous. My experiences have made me very strong, I don’t allow many in, but connecting with my past has been very calming for me. Thank you all for all the stories. I love it.

God bless you all the I am so looking forward to seeing you in November.

Mariza Osorio

Awesome to see the faces, brings back so many memories - and for the life of you - not remember the names...lol.

I'm now back in Johannesburg, after spending a few years in KwaZulu Natal, have two gorgeous, beautiful sons. Richard is ten and an artist of note (if I say so myself...lol). Ross is seven and a soccer player of note (if I say so myself...lol).

I work for a non-profit organisation and have my own small entrepreneurial business, doing email branding, web development (www.osorioandassociates.co.za), business solutions etc. Plus have a little "home kitchen" making awesome treats (jams, marmalades, rusks - all things sinfully nice).

I recently heard that "Mrs Binda" - Maths Teacher is still alive and kicking! Wow! Did she pick on me - "Osorio" where's your homework..lol

Barbara's photos

Hi all,

Well, it's gone quite quiet, but I think that's to be expected. I don't think we could all have kept up with the rate of emails which were first flying around.

Barbara has been going through her boxes and has come up with some classic photos. Thanks Barbara, I love seeing the photos and remembering all the times everyone had.

Don't forget, if you have any photos lying around which you want to share, send me an email and I'll get them on the blog just as soon as I can.

Sarah

Duran Duran - FINALLY!!!! :-)

Anyone who remembers me from school, will probably remember most my rather large obsession with a certain band called Duran Duran (in particular John Taylor :-) ) and it was always my biggest wish to go and see them in concert if they ever came to town. Well, when they did come to SA, I didn't have the money to go :-( So, when I heard they were coming to Atlanta during their USA tour, I hooked with up some friends who were going, and last night we had the most amazing time. I actually got chills when they were playing their old stuff - new stuff, not so much. Honestly, they were brilliant and I'm so glad I finally got to see them. It only took 20 years!!!

Sarah

Update from Yvonne

Hi guys

Just a quick hello before I go off to the hospital. Have attached some more photos, although they say April they are from end April and beginning May so very recent.

Unfortunately on Saturday Olivia went blue again and they had to resuscitate her so she is back in an incubator and nil by mouth, her oxygen levels were very low so needs 28% oxygen in her incubator, she also had another blood transfusion as her haemoglobin level was low which was also causing the low oxygen levels as your red blood cells carry your oxygen round your body. She is slowly getting better just going to take time, she has gone blue four times now and I was there for it three times and it’s a horrible thing to see as they are not allowed to resus them too many times and give them oxygen as the oxygen can cause problems to their eyes…..things fix things and damage others so it’s a case of them getting the balance right.


Ella is much the same but being very feisty, she is definitely a madam. Does very well at having a bottle and guzzles it in 5 minutes we have to slow her down a bit, but she cries now before her feed is due and lies there with her mouth open wide, all the nurses say she is like a little bird in a nest! The nurses say they are both so cute and love looking after them, nice thing to say J

Their gestation is 36 weeks yesterday now, should still not have been born and they are now 8 weeks old…amazing.

I’m ok, roller coaster ride and cry every day, they have actually arranged for me to see the counsellor at the hospital which they arranged after Olivia went blue again. It will help to speak to someone who is a trained professional counsellor at the hospital who deals with mothers of premature babies. Everyone says I’m really strong but I think a little help from the counsellor will help me see things a bit better, its day 60 today – I keep a diary of what happens every day which is also a record of what the nurses say and what medication they are on etc so we can look back and make sure everything is right.

Hope you are all well and have a great week.
Lots of love
Yvonne xxxx

Catterina

I matriculated at Joburg Girls in 1988 and then went to Wits to do a B. Nursing degree. After I qualified in 1992 I decided to specialize in Paediatric Nursing. I finished my specialization in 1994 after which I traveled overseas. When I returned I went back to work at the Jhb Hospital. I had a fantastic job working in a Paediatric surgical and trauma unit which I loved ( I nursed lots of babies with NEC with superb results….so please hang in there Yvonne!!!) . I had a disastrous relationship with a chef / Mr Know it all for 6 years too long. I met my husband to be in 1994. He was doing a surgical rotation through the unit I worked in. At that stage he was engaged to someone to be married and I was still hanckering after the chef ( silly me!). Any way to cut a long story short he returned to work with me in April 1995 and at that stage neither of us was attached any longer and we started dating. We got married in March 1997. I carried on at the Gen until February 1999 when my eldest daughter, Micaela was born. As much as I thought I would be able to go back to work the idea of leaving my new baby was not appealing. At that stage I was lecturing at the Nursing College. It also happened to coincide with my husband going into private practice. I then took the decision to resign and I started managing my husbands practice. It was the best decision I ever made as I am able to work and spend time with my daughters. My second daughter, Chiara was born in 2002. I now manage 2 doctors practices and I do locums at a Pharmacy running their well baby and general clinic to keep my hand in. It is awesome to be reconnecting with everyone from school again. It is very sad but I had lost contact with absolutely everyone. I am really looking forward to the reunion.

Barbara

my new baby - Katja is now 18 months old!

I left JGHS end of 1986 to do Std 9 and Matric at Mondeor High School. It was quite something to go from an all girls school to now have boys in the class. Needless to say the skirts got shorter (although I never got slimmer) and the school disco’s were a lot more fun! Sad to say I forgot about all the old girl friends and life went on.

I moved out of home (to Hillbrow) quite early in my life (the stubborn teenager who knows it all!) and found out that life is not all so easy on your own! But I survived – with lots of hard work and having up to three jobs at once (Secretary by day/waitress or baby sitter by night!

I travelled Europe for a year (with the dream boyfriend at the time) and came back to find he was just not the one!. He left me heart broken but I recovered and eventually met my hubby – Gary. He is too good for me I know – but I definitely won’t tell him that! My step son – put me off kids for life – but I have 4 dogs & a cat to make up for it!

Two years ago we decided to move to the coast to enjoy our lives! We live in Scottburgh but found the nice house by the sea costs loads of money and is high maintenance – so we still work all day and find ourselves too tired to joll at night (not that there is any exciting place to go in Scottburgh and Durbs is 45 minutes away!). But when you sit on the patio and watch the ocean and wonder “what if” - it somehow makes it all worthwhile!

Looking forward to catching up with old friends!

Anyone is welcome to contact me on 072 242 1635 / 039 978 1077.

Barbara's Brats :-)

Liz Damiao (Lourenco) (1989)

I left SA in 1993 and moved to Portugal. I managed to stick it out there for 7 years but never really adapted but one great thing about my time there was that I met & married my lovely ex-South African husband (with Portuguese heritage like me!). We moved to London in 2000 and had Saskia in 2002 and Colby 2006 and now live in Colchester which is a great town to raise children in. I work as a PA to a Paediatrician & love my job! I also sell The Body Shop products in the evenings & do parties in peoples' homes - considering I was never that great putting make-up on, it's quite ironic I've ended up as a skin care & make-up consultant! It's loads of fun though & I meet new people all the time, which is what I enjoy most! Am hoping to come out to SA next year & see everyone!

Liz & Clint

Saskia (5) and Colby Thomaz (19 months)

Update from Yvonne

Hi everyone

Just to let you know things are much the same with me, babies still in hospital, Ella is now back in the same hospital as Olivia so makes things a bit easier. Still a very big strain on us and such a terrifying time to go through (life just isn’t fair). Ella had her op and part of her bowel removed – amazing she is now 6 weeks old even though born at 27 weeks, and now weighing 2 pounds 6. Olivia is scaring us at the moment as they had to resuscitate her twice on Saturday and still needs to be given oxygen every now and then when she drops, she now weighs 3 pounds 14. Both babies are still critical and we have been told we are not out of the dark yet, so have to be prepared.

Sorry I don’t email much as I’m at the hospital every day and not always in the mood or feeling up to checking emails when we get home. I have attached 2 pictures of them, amazing they are still so critical when they looks so perfect on the outside, they are so beautiful.

Lots of love to everyone
Yvonne xxx

Story from Poppy

Hello everyone.

Apologies for not sending this email sooner. I have been very busy – but have finally come to terms with the fact that there will always be something on my “to do” list and will never swipe the slate clean – so here goes.

Pascale has already posted some pics of me (and mine) on the blog.

I currently work with my husband in KZN (Ballito). We moved here 2 years ago to open a branch of his company, Prime Steel / Xtra Cover) We do steel fabrications, mini-factories and carports. We were blessed to get the bond-stores for Associated Motor Holdings – covering for +/- 12,000 cars – to get the opportunity to open this branch. I handle the office stuff. Things are going rather well – even tho’ it gets a bit hectic at times.
I am a database programmer by trade and have written some very interesting programmes, to date, for companies even as far as Tanzania. I developed my skills whilst working in the IT Industry (10 years). I worked for the first company given the rights to distribute Microsoft Products – The Company progressed into what we call “Datatec” today. I had to learn how to use every single software package. I was even a Microsoft Sales Specialist at one time selling/auditing Licene Contracts to large corporates like “Eskom” (maybe that’s why they’re having problems now?) blah blah blah – all very boring, “nerdy” stuff. I cannot stand programming – it’s so boring.

I’ve been self-employed since 2000. I was programming only at night (no interruptions). I was working all night and looking after my toddlers (then 2 and 3) during the day. I was a bit of a wreck but enjoyed every single second.

I’ve married my “Childhood Sweetheart”, Giulio (I started going out with him in Std 9). We have been together for 20 years and married for 16 out of those 20. We’ve had our “ups” and “downs” – but the “ups” far outshine the “downs” – so we are still together and he is my best friend.

I am also very interested in EQ and Metaphysics. I’ve done numerous workshops (NLP, EQ, Parenting Skills, Re-birthing) - and have read many books on the subject - because I strongly believe that “LIFE is what happens while we’re busy making plans” – so the better we know ourselves and have skills to deal with “stuff” the better off we are. I am not surprised that Pascale has the same interests – there’s no such thing as a co-incidence.

Sandra

Hello girls!!!

I am currently on holiday with my family in Zimbali and have not managed to download any emails for a few days but got them all today …..all 80 odd to do with the reunion……..to add to the other 300 work related ones! Needless to say I’ve ignored work and immediately set up a folder for all your mails! I have been reading some of the emails and who needs a novel to read on holiday when you have all this catching up to do!!

At fist I started to delete all these strange emails thinking they were junk but Nicole had told me to expect some so when I saw Melina’s name I realized and very quickly retrieved them all!!

If I were a betting women I would have bet that Pascale would be the one getting all this together! You go girl!

I have stayed in touch with Theo ( yes called Soula now and she married so her surname also changed….don’t ask!..... I still call her Theo and some of her friends think I’m mad!). Through Theo I got back in touch with Nicole and through Nicole I got in touch with Pascale and Roxanne. Other than those girls I’m afraid that I have not seen many of the others so you can imagine my excitement when I got all these emails!

Wow 20 yrs! I feel the same not sure about you girls but of course that mirror I look in tells a different story. Anyway, I have had the best life ever since school……never liked school much and frankly was glad when it was over! I married the man of my dreams in 2003 after dating for eight and half years (bad experience before that which made me take my time!) I have 2 beautiful children and a job I love which allows me the privilege of traveling and seeing the world. Yes it can be hectic but nothing good comes without a price tag! …..oh after school I did medical technology at wits qualified did honours only to discover they barely paid you enough to live!!! What a shame was a very interesting field which I enjoyed for 6 years but was glad to give it up to see the world!

I would love to be at the reunion ………can’t seem to find the original email …..where is the venue?……our old school? Haha! We would need armed vehicles its such a rough neighborhood now!

I hate to admit but some of the names are not ringing any bells so I may need some photos to refresh who is who!

(some of the girls I remember other than those I already mentioned are: Tanja; Melina; Bolinka; Mercedes; Felicity; Poppy; Vania; Panny; Yvonne; Andrea; Crystal ( she did Med Tech with me); Jane; Karen; Paula (Theo’s friend…in one of the picks going around…..I recall her Dad sent her and her sisters to Portugal in standard 8 or 9 to get her away from her boyfriend and would you believe 10 yrs later she came back and they got married (I went to their wedding) they married at that big Cathedral in Hillbrow near Ponte if you recall it!); Caterina ( saw her a few times when I worked at the Jhb Gen Hospital)……..sorry that’s it terrible memory!)

Anyway I’ve attached a pic of myself with my hubby Mark and my kids Julian (3yrs) and Bela (1.5yrs) ……..hope to get some from you guys …..I will have a look at the blog ….although I use email everyday for work I am so busy I seldom have time to explore all these things such a facebook and blogging etc so I’m a tad in the dark about them but I guess now I will have to get a grip!

Oh and as busy as I may be pls keep me on the mail list love the stories! Life is too short to allow work to rule your world!

Some more school snaps from Pascale

Is that the Magaret you are talking about - the one between Melina and Mary?
Is that Marina at the top next to Sandra? The blonde girl at the bottom -
Genevieve? Not sure

In the other photo with Poppy - is that Grace Poppy?

Tracy (as told by Dora)

A few of you have been asking me about Tracy ...... I only have these pics of her at work .... and have attached a recent one taken in Dec 2006.
Tracy's story ... she got married to a guy called Lucas who was a con master !! Things were very up and down and not going good between them, they had gone down to Cape Town where they got married. Then one day she phoned me to say he was beating her and I told her to come back to JHB. She did and found a flat near me in Yeoville and was just starting to get her life back together when he found her and she let him back into her life. A few days later she was in hospital, the doctors were not sure what was wrong with her, she couldn't swallow anything and was in a bad way. They finally realised that she had been poisoned with ' Thallium' which is odourless, colourless, tasteless etc and was apparently use in the world war. Lucas was working at some chemical plant at the time where they had to wear protective clothing etc so it looked very suspicious..... He pretended to be ill as well but the doctors sent him home. If I remember correctly she was in a coma type state and when she was awake couldn't talk ..... she was like that for a long time and couldn't move either. The accusations were thrown at Lucas and he ended up disappearing, the police couldn't really prove anything and to be honest I don't know how hard they tried. It was one of the hardest things to see my friend in such a state, I used to go every week with her Brother Kenny to see her in the hospital..... it was a very long time till we saw some improvement. She got chicken pox and all of a sudden got her voice back and could communicate with us again.
She has been living in homes ever since this happened as she is in a wheelchair and unfortunately her Mum and Gran have passed away. Her brother Kenny is now also living in the UK and is still looking after her as best he can, my Mum goes to visit her once a month. as she doesn't get many visitors. So if anyone can go see her it would be lovely for.
This all happened about 12/13 years ago .....

Poppy

My girls are Ennia (11yrs on left) and Gemma (9yrs on right).

My husband is Giulio - the guy I met in Std 9.

Attached are photos from Xmas Eve Dinner at Passionada (Restaurant at the
bottom of Ballito).

My husband is Giulio - the guy I met in Std 9.

We have been together for over 20 years.. I got married when I was 21
(1992) and had Ennia in 1997 and Gemma in 1998. Whew!

Rene

I am still living in Johannesburg and am married to Roger. We have been together for the past 18 years (engaged for 10 married for 8). I have a two year old son and am pregnant with our second child who is due in September

More photos from Tina

Katy Barocsi, Tina Eliakis, Dora Kovacs, Fleur Hirst with poodle & (?) hosing her head off in the background!

Heidi Kirschner, Tina & Veronica Kirschner

Rene Deakon, Yvonne Anderson, Angela Bant

Pics from Veldschool with Fleur, Dora, my afro hairstyle and red Benny Bookworm goggles!!!

Ingrid

Well, very briefly, my story...I went overseas in the middle of standard nine, came back after the year was up and could not redo my same subjects, so I started looking into other options. I always wanted to go into hairdressing so enquired into my options at Joubert Park Tech and started as a full time student in 1989. In July 1991, I had my son, Jeese and was a single mom up until 2001, when I married my husband. By December,1994, I bought over my sister's hairdressing salon in Kelvin and eventually when the shopping centre started going under relocated into Woodmead.

My husband and I battled to have a baby and after six and a half years of fertility treatment, I fell pregnant with this liitle miracle, one egg ivf baby. In August 2006 I had my liitle girl, who has turned into an absolute terror...my little angel! Cheeky little thing. My son was an absolute dream by comparison...and I thought boys were the naughty ones.

Anyway, now, almost 6 years in the new salon and I decide it is time to pay off my own bricks and have just moved the business for the last time into a house in Sunninghill. I have a beauticain, nail tech, lazer therapist and by the end of the month will have a massage therapist too. As far as hair stylists go, it is just myself and my baby sister and it is going to be a lovely set up. Actually it is already! We are all very excited.

So, that's the long and the short of it...

Anybody who remembers me and wants to be in touch, please don't hesitate...I am not online much as a stylist but can be reached on my cell...or leave a message and I promise to call back. Oh and I've added in a fairly recent pic at my sons confirmation last year...myself, hubby and kids.