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Do
you remember how we used to go and sit on Snake Rock whenever
there was a crisis, a disagreement with a friend, no letter from
home or your kasuku had died? One year someone had said the world
would end and it seemed like a good place to be while we waited
for it! I had longed for many years to return there and this
year I did. |
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View from Snake Rock
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I
had wondered if my memories would be spoiled in some way by my
return and was prepared to be a little disappointed but it turned
out to be the most successful, rewarding and moving journey of
my life and not one bit was disappointing. |
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We
behaved like children as we drove into Kongwa and this
continued as we explored the school, squealing with delight
when we
recognised something. . . . like “A Block” where
I was first housed in 1952. The arches between the rooms
had been blocked off and it’s in ruin but – there
it was. |
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We
saw the playground where the baboons used to come and chase
us. . . and the old baobab.
We searched for the generator without success but did find the remains of the
tennis courts and, still behaving like kids at the end of term dance, did the
Gay Gordons on the court.
Just beyond that the foundations on the mess were just visible in the grass.
Amazing to find it all. |
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You’ll
have seen the pictures of Mnyakongo – built on the
foundations of our old Junior School. Just a few classrooms
for the 800 pupils, no pictures on the walls, a sad little
library – so poor, but none of this shows on the faces
of the children. They laid on the most amazing celebration
for us and afterwards provided a feast. We were overwhelmed
by our welcome.
Peter
and I climbed up to the Church, newly restored but still
without windows. Remember that view? |
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Peter
and I left the group in Morogoro and headed off to Mbeya to
explore more old haunts. Mbeya isn’t the sleepy town we left
in 1964 but it was worth the long drive and I did find
the church where I was married. We stayed at Utengule Coffee
Lodge - beautiful clean swimming pool, fantastic coffee and beautiful
views. Fiona (Silcock) and Francis Carlisle-Kitz
manage it so it was great to meet up with some faces from the
past
Back in Dar
we met up again with two others in the group and had a trip
to Mjimwema. I had expected high rise hotels but it is
as we left it - unspoilt . . . swimming in the warm waves
and soaking up the view was a fitting end to my wonderful journey. |
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Barbara
Laing (neé Larlham)
Wilberforce 1952 - 1958
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