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***** Update ***** Update - 29 January, 2009 - Fred and I are back in contact again - click here... ***** There I was - fast asleep at 01:15 Am on 30th April, 2002 - and the bloody phone rings........ Fred!! Brilliant, brilliant…. What a boy you are!! Great that we’re back in contact… Sorry if it took me a while to warm up last night… we get so many wrong number calls here, that’s what I’d expected my beauty sleep to have been interrupted by – it had been a slow night on the Cable TV – so I’d been in bed since 22:00… never mind…. Onto the reminiscing and coming up to date…. Firstly some excuses….. I have no pictures or documents to remind me about years 1943 to 1993 – so its all down to memory. All the photos we took of each other when we had the Nikon/Pentax – gone – dunno where they are. The loss is down to 2 causes – Almuth splitting and taking 50% of what we had to Germland. Then, anything I’d retained, I’d stored in my mother’s old house in Denham – and I sold that in 1999 – and threw everything out – Buddhist style – no physical possessions – what I did retain – is somewhere in Somerset (with Britta). So excuse memory lapses. You have to see the proof that I’ve been searching for you…. Go to mikecurley.netfirms.com – click on “Friends”, then scroll down a page or more – Fred Boulton – there you are!! Beware… anything you say in emails may get posted in that web-site (I’ll be sensible and not allow slander etc.. to be leveled at you) – but check out “1900 emails” – which is very long – and is basically KPJ and I reminiscing about the times in SA – I feel another bout of publishing emails – coming on. Now – how to organize this..?? I think: - Last night’s phone call and how that came about, then - Last meetings – I think there were 2, maybe 3 then - What has happened since then - Reminiscing about late 1960’s – early 1970’s - News and details of “the Boys” Last night’s phone call and how that came about I’ve been searching for “Fred Boulton” for years, even emailing people in Australia that had some additional “quirk” that made me think – “ooops – the boy has forsaken SA and moved to Oz” – only to get “sorry mate – wrong bloke" replies. So there I was about a week ago – searching – and “Jack Curtis” got a couple of “South Africa” hits – “it has to be” – says I – and hammered off a quick email – the rest you know – brilliant! Well done Jack! Last meetings I can remember you visiting us in Wheeler Avenue, Tylers Green, Bucks (a new house on an estate where there were about 4 different types of house – the one we had had those silly mock-Tudor white plaster and black wooden “beams” at the front and to the right of the front door was a double garage – small back garden – and this is where it gets fuzzy – I think that was with Erika?? – and that has to be earlier than 1984. Then, there was another visit – I think with Samantha – had we moved house by then?? To Manor Road in Penn, Bucks?? It had a small swimming pool in the back garden, and Bassy lived in the same road which was “private” and had speed bumps all along it. I can remember pictures of that visit – did Fizzy and Rog Fieldhouse visit for the day?? You have to put me right about the details. I remember keeping a business card for Erika – something to do with Jewelry?? And I had your McCann Erikson contact details and I did try both – can remember talking to the switchboard lady at Erikson, she remembered you – said you’d left a long while ago, that she’d try and find some contact details for you and she’d phone me back – I’m sure that would have been around 1995 – but I never heard from her. The contact details I still have for you both are: Tel: 679-4926 1136 Barbados St, Wehevreden Park, Extension 341170, PO Box 48758 Roosvelt Park 2129 Are you still there?? Almuth, the kids and I, visited SA, December 13, 1988 to 5 January, 1989 – did we meet up then I seem to remember meeting you for lunch at or near Café Mozart???? I can remember driving up to Illovo and finding the house I stayed in – bulldozed and filling up the empty swimming-pool. Stayed in Joburg a short while – then down to P’burg, Durban, Port Alfred and Cape Town. What’s happened since then: I’ll take it from 1983….most of that year I was working in Saudi Arabia (see web-site) – boring.. then a couple of years back in Scotland finishing off a project with Bassy, then into the City for a few years, Inga and Britta both moved to boarding schools in Dorset around 1985 and 1987, we all did the South Africa trip in 1988 (spent a lot of the time with “The Haywards” – last night you didn’t seem to remember Moira – she was secretary to Brian Stoate and Caroline, Jim Cummins – blonde – she had 2 sisters and the family lived in Observatory – I’m sure you came round there a few times) and Almuth and I split up shortly thereafter. Basically with the kids away in school – we would ignore each other in the house, listening for noises to identify where the other one was – and then take the opportunity to maybe get into the kitchen, make some food, listen again… creep into the TV room etc… silly – she got bored and moved out and eventually moved back to Germland – living in Hamburg – we didn’t divorce – just seemed like a waste of money – so we’re still married – funny. I moved into my mother’s house in Denham, Bucks – she was in an old-peoples home just half a mile up the road – I spent about 30,000 quid on the place completely transforming it – and was very settled – Jack the lad around town – 3 lady friends (2 were Asian – and may be pointers to what happened later) at one point – Brittsy had come to live with me, whilst Inga decided to leave the Boarding school and lose a year, but go live with her mum, and start school in Germland. My mum died in 1991, kids started and finished various colleges and universities – both have very useful degrees – which will keep me in vodka for the rest of my life…. Britta – History of Art!! And Inga – Zoology!! All that money wasted on private education, and all they want to do is look at paintings and save the world!! What about looking after their old dad?? In May 1993 I decided I ought to try “retirement” – so that it wasn’t such a change when it actually happened… didn’t work out too well. As I see it now.. the spending didn’t decline much (still had a house with gas, water etc.. expenses) also a fairly expensive car, and out enjoying myself most of the time and after about 6 months I was saying to Britta that retirement wasn’t working and I may have to get another contract – she just got hold of my hand – marched me into the kitchen, opened the fridge which contained about 8-10 bottles of Champagne and said “when you’re retired, you don’t drink Champagne” – which I thought was wrong – surely that’s when you DO drink Shampop?? So that reinforced the idea that if I wanted to retire and drink the drink – I’d best get some work and save more money. One evening I was phoning around – trying to bum a dinner off of some friends when I called Mike Waller (ex-1900, but I don’t know if you ever knew him??), got his wife – who said “guess what?” – I immediately thought “they’re divorcing”, but came up with “You’re traveling” – and she said “yes… I’m going to join Mike in Hong Kong” – I didn’t even know he was there – and Bugger!! No dinner there!! Next morning – he was on the phone – “do you want a contract for DHL in Hong Kong??” – yes – and I was there within the week!! What a great place!! The contract was excellent – lasted 2 years, met Janet within the first few weeks of being there – and haven’t been able to shake her off yet!! She got transferred to Singapore back in Sept/Oct 2001 – we’d been here lots of times before and always felt it was boring compared to HK – but it has its advantages – and we’re well settled again. After 2 years at DHL – I got contracts with Banks in HK and then did a Y2K (year 2000 roll-over) Contract for Dresdner Bank – which was really good – responsible for the project throughout Asia – lots of travel – London, Frankfurt, Tokyo etc… and when that finished – March 2000 – I retired for real!! Lots of holidays – Australia two or three times (scuba-dived the Great Barrier Reef on 31/12/2001 – then walked up Sydney Harbour Bridge a couple of weeks later), USA Grand Canyon (by helicopter), Oklahoma, San Antonio, San Francisco etc… a couple of times, skiing in Canada (Whistler with the kids) and Europe a few times, Maldives (nearest we got to SA), Cambodia, kids have backpacked all over – Thailand, Malaysia, Tahiti, USA etc.. Inga just spent the last 15 months in Australia and New Zealand, popped in here a few weeks ago, then went to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and is now in Laos before coming back through here on 16th May. Currently Janet and her daughter are attending a family wedding in San Antonio, Texas and will then spend 4 weeks in New Orleans, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Britta was living in London for a few years but got pee’d off with it – and about a year ago upped sticks and moved to deepest Dorset – a thatched cottage – Tumbleweed, Capton, Somerset is the address – apparently very rural, quiet etc.. and she loves it. I haven’t been back to the UK since 1999, and have no plans – phew!! What about you?? Parents still alive?? Living south of the river if I remember – not Brixton, but thereabouts?? Reminiscing about 1960’s – 1970’s So – I remember first meeting you (and Sue – she married Dave Stewart and last I knew they lived in San Francisco – tried to meet up with them one of the times I passed through – no answer from their phone!!) at the Astor Hotel the day I arrived – off over the road for Monkey-gland steak!! There was of course – the punchy 404, then the little Lancia, the flat in Berea (Hillandale?? – just popped into my head) – the bean-bags and plastic roll-around armchairs, buying the Sunday morning papers from the little sellers at Robots on our way home after a late Saturday night – Jean – are you still in contact?? Give her my love/best wishes etc… if you are… “Frrriiiiiieeeeeeaaaaaddddd, laaaaaahhhhh stuuulll” – do you remember it?? “Fred Lie still” – ha-ha!! Café Mozart and the follow on place up Bryanston Way – country club type place… Bellingham Grand Cru – the weekends away – on the strip roads in Mozambique and the technique you had for swerving as if out of control – to force the oncoming car off both strips!! Xai-Xai, Zavora, Clive and ??? Lewis – where are they now?? New York I thought…. Laura van Zyl… I think she married Becky Boy?? Durban View Hotel, the drive down to Durban on a Friday night, or to Swaziland (Mbabane) or into the Drakensbergs – photographing everything, the LP’s Moody Blues, The Band, Spooky Two, etc… (one of the Fred Boulton’s I found was a big Spooky Two or similar devotee but I couldn’t get a mailing address for him – wasn’t you was it?? Prattled on about “…. I’ve got all their albums but am missing XXXXX, has anybody got it …. Etc..”), Commissioner St offices, the Oak downstairs in the electrical shop, the Kroeg Bar down the rad for lunches, Juno Ridge flat etc… Memories….. The Boys See the web-site – 1900 Programming – I have contact details for a few of the boys – you’ll be up there soon.. same day I found Jack – I also found Dave Burchell – he replied, and I replied to that – but haven’t got anything since – no news from him at all – just “Bloody bollocks – is that you Curley??” Stoatey – living in Kent with Vonnie, I email just about every day – he had a holiday in New Zealand a couple of weeks ago (April 2002) – and popped in here on both legs of the journey (good chatty times) – 2 daughters Andrea and Tabitha – Andrea got married a year ago – Tabitha is marrying 8th June. Rog Fieldhouse – living in Doncaster, married Elaine (old school girl-friend) they operate a Post Office but are hoping to sell-up and retire soon. We email about twice a week. Pictures for both boys are on the web-site 1900 Rogues Gallery. Bassy – has done well for himself – still lives in Monte Carlo, has a flat in Belgravia, Porsche 911, a big ocean going yacht that he’s sailed across the Atlantic to the Caribbean – I have a picture must put it up on the web – only email him about 3 or 4 times per year. Ken Johnston is landlord of The Sorrell Horse in Suffolk and his emails are stored on the web-site – very enjoyable – also see The True Story, haven’t heard from him for months – must rattle his cage. His daughter Claire apparently is the lead singer for Mango Groove (never heard of them, but he says they’re famous in SA). Fizzy Fieldhouse – they divorced a while after you saw them in London, and she joined her parents in Perth, Western Oz – she’s not remarried, but daughter Amanda married and settled near Fizzy and is the email point of contact – otherwise its snail-mail for Fizzy – last heard form her about 12 months ago – she went on holiday with Almuth!! Tony Hird lives near Heathrow, visits SA every few years, I think visits John Greenfield and/or Brian Strappini – still married to June – 2 daughters I think, works in a Software House. Last I heard form him – 3 months ago – he’d bought a flat in Cape Town and they will retire there. Moira Hayward/Stewart – married Ken – two daughters one son, living in P’burg – massive house with beach house somewhere else – doing VERY well!! Stayed with them back in 1988. She is a well respected artist – had exhibitions in London etc.. and charges hundreds/thousands per portrait. That’s all I’ve got… you have to add some details – and provide more names… like what’s happened to Dave Lewis – you said Chiswell went to Canada (daft idea!!)?? – any other news you have I’d be pleased to hear. Fred, that’ll do for now – you’ll get a headache if I write any more – there are millions of other topics to discuss – work hard on your email skills – as you can see from the KPJ mails, I can waffle on for hours!! Brilliant to hear from you – also great to hear from Erika again (silly girl, 20 wasted years!!) – there again I guess she can count the boys as “positives”?? MC PS - see still more to ask/say - who are QA Research?? You?? You and Erika or a regular company you work for?? __________________________________________________ Then Fred phoned again a few days later - this time it was only midnight!! Fred - 8 May, 2002 I can see your dislike of emailing – you’ll have to get over that!! Stoatey reckons I’m a sad person, just sitting around all day, scratching my bum, waiting to pounce on an incoming email… well he’s wrong – as ever – I’m just supremely efficient – don’t waste time on the phone (email instead) , never write things down (always use the PC), never keep a diary/scheduler (use PC Outlook or whatever for that) etc.. so as you’d imagine – I have plenty of time to rattle other less efficient beings’ cages!! Good to chat the other night – also with Sharon, she sounds a very nice lady, what’s she wasting her time around you for?? She’ll get you organized with what the Doc says – cutting down the ciggies, whisky and stress – Janet just recently took up Yoga – and she and a couple of ladies from her office, do it on our lounge floor once a week – the teacher man comes in – nice guy – and on the first lesson he asks why each of them want to do Yoga – Janet said – to stop her smoking (which I thought was a bit weird) – anyway he says…. Don’t worry – if you do the Yoga properly, you’ll just turn off smoking, you won’t want to do it… which I thought was a nice easy way to start – and already Janet has said that her coffee in the morning and the ciggies are starting to taste unpleasant…. Eeeeeehhh – its magic!! Now come along…. News about Erika please… does she still work?? with jewelry (if I remember rightly that was what she was into??) – what does she do?? Also – is QAResearch – Fred Boulton’s own Research Company – if so – Congrats, and news please.. when was it set up, how many people, what does it do etc…?? Is QAResearch in Randburg (or where??), or do you live there (or where)?? Or, have you moved out of Wehevreden Park?? If so – new address please, and when did you move?? Why?? Etc.. How many sinks do you have in your kitchen – HHHAAA-Haaaa… do you remember that one?? – Anne Basson was trying to “one-up” on you all night – failing, and that was her last attempt – she said they had 2 or 3, and you replied….. I never go in the kitchen, that’s the servant’s area, so I don’t know!! Brilliant!! The boys… James is how old(16,18)?? Matthew is how old(16, 18)?? Which of them has just done the rugby tour?? Are they both sporty (like their father – ha-ha!!). news of the boys please…etc..?? You …. still into photography?? Switched to Pentax yet?? Scan some piccies in and email them to me – I’ll put them on my web-site. I haven’t heard from the UK yet about where my Punchy Pentax is, may have to buy that digital camera soon… What car are we driving these days?? I haven’t had a car for 8/9 years – brilliant – no petrol, parking, running costs – Hong Kong was definitely NOT a place to own a car – about 50% more expensive than the UK – and rental of a parking spot in our apartment block cost 20,000 quid per year, then if you drove anywhere – public car parks were always full and very expensive!! Singapore is a bit better – but new cars here cost about 200% of the UK price – silly money!! Recent trips…. Have you been anywhere?? Been international traveling?? As a family I mean – not on business – what about inside SA – weekends at the Coast or in the Drakensbergs – are they still possible/sensible/doable?? Or has it all changed?? I’ll tell you some history (that you may not know) so that you don’t feel too pressured with this questionnaire type email. I’ll do it historically (maybe): 1972/3 – the return from South Africa…. Almuth was pregnant ( a couple of months only) and we flew back to Germany initially, only for a couple of days, then over to London.. I can remember the plane landing at Heathrow, must have been around lunch-time on 2nd February, 1973 – and we came down through thick clouds, down, down – I couldn’t believe how low we were getting and I still couldn’t see the ground – down, down… and then slowly I could see the Bath Road, yellow street lamps were on, grey miserable, foggy, raining – I thought – people are going about their business like worms underneath this mass of suffocating cloud/muck – and we won’t have any servants – what am I bringing Almuth back to?? I think Paul and Anne and my mum met us, we stayed with my mum for a few weeks. I remembered that when I went to SA (1969?) a house with an acre of garden in Gerrards Cross cost 15,000 quid and I reckoned I’d be able to buy one of those… alas prices had risen during my absence – it now cost 40/45,000!! – so we found a little new house (terraced), made mostly out of hardboard – with that crappy warm air central heating and settled in. I can remember trying to build double-glazed windows (stupid) – I of course tried my handiwork out on the biggest window we had – bought the wood, measured the glass – got it cut/delivered – it was about 6 foot by 3 foot – very difficult to handle – and of course I hadn’t counted on the actual window being more of a parallelogram than a 90 degree quadrilateral – so that was a complete bog-up. Britta was delivered ( I was there – helping – very impressed with the way the babies changed colour when the umbilical was cut – did you see that??). I worked in a software house that Bassy had set up (money only) – but after a couple of years that died – I can remember going into the office – over the east side of London – Woodbridge - (because the MD lived in Essex) – 2 hour drive, into the office – and it was the Miners Strike, and the three-day week – freezing cold – no lights or heating in the office (because of said strike – all power was reduced/regulated) – so we got those Camping Gaz stoves – and used them for heat, light and heating drinks etc.. – what a crap country, crap time!! We’d initially got an MGB Hatchback (cannot remember what they were called) – it collapsed after 3 months so we sold it – I got a blue VW beetle from the Software House (also unreliable) – then I got a white Renault 4 – great car!! Except that the clutch pedal was difficult (almost impossible) to depress – and I can remember nearly standing on it one day – and the bloody thing broke off – right in the middle of a busy cross-roads – what do you do?? When you’re in neutral – and your clutch pedal is lying on the floor?? That takes us up to 1974 – enough for now…… I am not a sad person!! MC ______________________________________ From Fred - 16/05/2002................... Dear Mike, This is coming as an attachment via Sharon’s (my partner) PC. I have no idea how to send e mails and have developed an intense dislike of computers and, apart from using them for work purposes, stick to pens and paper and the telephone. I also hate cell phones. Difficult to know where to start after all this time but will kick off with some updates. Looking For You - During the several trips I have made to the UK since we last met, I tried to trace you via old telephone numbers and addresses – directory inquiries, etc. but with no success. Stopped short of Interpol and the missing person’s bureau. By pure accident, I did meet someone here who had been a boyfriend of an au pair girl that used to work for you. She had red/ginger hair. Met them at your house when Erika and I visited that time. I got a couple of telephone numbers from the guy but with no success. Came out of the blue when Jack contacted me. Haven’t been in contact with Jack for a few years so it was good to hear from him. We met up a couple of days later for lunch and a few beverages. Family - Erika and I are coming up for our 25th anniversary next year. We live in a house in Randburg. Been here about 12 years. We have the two boys, James (18) and Matthew (16). We did not expect to have any children - some past medical problems for Erika and I thought I was just too old a fart. Anyway, they both suddenly arrived out of the blue. They both attend a college in Randburg – James is in his final year and Matthew two more years to go. Thank goodness – education has become very expensive here. Jean remarried and has a son, Stuart, aged about 14. My daughter Samantha is 28 and has a very successful career as a dancer both here in SA and also overseas. She is a single (her lifestyle – lots of travelling) make it a bit difficult to form relationships but she now has a boyfriend that seems fairly serious. When she is in SA she stays with Jean but is busy buying her own townhouse. Jean and I keep in touch and have remained on good terms. Erika’s parents passed away about 10 years ago, and mine about 5 years ago. Don’t know if you remember but I have a sister (Renee) living in Walton-On-Thames and a brother (Roy) in New Zealand. Renee is coming to visit here in September – first time to SA. James is a very keen rugby player and has just returned from a tour to Australia and New Zealand where he was able to meet up with my brother. With James visit to NZ and meeting my brother, I have started to think about making a trip to NZ, perhaps via Singapore. Matthew also plays rugby and is the ‘academic’ son. Business - Your memory seems better than mine – I think that I was at McCann Erickson the last time we met and Erika was with a jeweler (Tanur, Tigers Eye). Probably shortly thereafter, I moved to another advertising agency (BBDO) for about 4-5 years. The agency fell on some bad times and, before I was given the boot, decided to get out. Wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and this is where my partner, Sharon, comes in. I had been doing market research for quite a few years and Sharon was one of the companies that we used. We had become good friends and when I told here I was leaving BBDO she asked me to join her company, Q&A Research (stands for questions and answers). Now been with Sharon for about 12 years and which has been most enjoyable. We conduct market research surveys on various things and my main job is to design the technical specifications and analyse the data. Nice to be my own boss and not have to play the corporate games and politics. Essentially, have been semi-retired for the last few years and try to work on a half time basis and earn enough to keep the wolves from the door. Business has been pretty good for us. We have kept the business small as both Sharon and I want to keep administration and staff problems to a minimum. We are just six people in total. We bought a house to operate the business from and which provides a relaxed working environment. Have been able to indulge myself a little – had a 911 Carerra Targa for a couple of years but got rid of it last year before I scared myself to death. Now driving a BMW 316I. Erika has had her own catering business for several years. When the boys started school, she decided to do something that would give her time with them (transporting them around, watching sporting activities, etc.). So she left the jewelry and public relations business. Runs the business from home – the kitchen runs almost 24 hours a day – up at the crack of dawn to prepare and bake to supply several home industry shops and supermarkets with the produce. Friends - Again, not sure if I am right, but didn’t we meet for lunch at the Sunnyside Hotel when you were visiting SA. Seem to remember that we had just sat down and I got a phone call from a friend/client – Dan White – who insisted that I go to see him at another restaurant – Gatriels I think (do you remember the place?). When we arrived, there was Dan and Erika sitting there – was a big joke for my birthday I think. Anyway, Dan moved to Zimbabwe a few years ago to run the Colgate company there. Haven’t heard from him recently and last saw him a couple of years ago when he was visiting SA. Clive Lewis is now living in Miami. I think he has basically retired from day to day business but consults for some companies. He and Majak divorced quite a long time ago and both have remarried. I last saw Clive a few years ago when he was visiting here. Clive is an ardent e mailer – I have his address somewhere and will forward on to you. Did meet up with several interesting people during my advertising agency days. One guy was Matthew’s godfather, but haven’t seen him for years. Decided to replace him with another godfather who (subsequently) I also haven’t seen for years. Must be a story in there somewhere! SA - As you know, bringing up a family is time consuming (and expensive) so I’ve become a bit of a homebody – have a few acquaintances but no real mates. Still listen to a lot of music and enjoy discussing with the two boys. Amazing how much of the stuff we liked has become popular with the younger generation. Took me a long time to accept that LP’s were no more and eventually succumbed to CD’s. Haven’t done much photography at all – still have the old Nikon somewhere. But I have started to get interested in getting a digital camera and start again. With the boys getting older and leaving the nest, I need to have a hobby to keep occupied (apart from keeping the whisky business in profit). Old Haunts – Don’t think too many of the old places still exist (restaurants and pubs, etc.). I am sure that you would not recognize the place these days. There has been so much growth and development over the last 10 years. I haven’t been into Johannesburg city centre for years. Most business have moved out to the Sandton and Rosebank areas. Hillbrow, Berea, Yeoville have become almost no-go areas. Midrand (around the old Snake Park) has developed into an immense business and residential area. Johannesburg and Pretoria almost join now. The business enables me to travel around the country quite a lot. I still visit Umhlanga Rocks often both on business and for holidays. You wouldn’t believe how it has grown. No longer the quaint little seaside resort. Now has the biggest shopping centre mall in Africa! Health - Not keeping too bad considering age and the past (and current) indulgences. Still smoke like a chimney and enjoying sundowners. Have picked up a bit of diabetes. Runs in the family (mum and sister) so hereditary. Don’t have to do anything drastic – as the GP said, just stop drinking, smoking and worrying and eat more carrots! Easy. Otherwise, I might not reach 80! That’s all for the moment. Fred P.S. Mango Groove - Claire Johnston – Yes, has been one of the biggest and successful groups here. Claire went solo recently and is very successful.
20/05/2002 - Fred!! You’re a dinosaur!! With maybe only one redeeming feature – the hatred of cell-phones. You have to get PC’d – one at home – with Broadband (not 56K Modem), and a decent email provider – this use of pens, and what was it…???... paper??... and ..oh yes… the telephone….. too expensive… too slow…. Too uncertain – no backup copies of what you said/didn’t say…… As for the cell-phones, I’d have thought you’d be a great proponent of them if you rely so heavily on the ordinary phone…?? Not so?? I’ve never owned one, and never want to be that “contactable” – during the Y2K contract I did in Hong Kong I had to carry one – we even went as far as buying a satellite phone, in case the mobile-phone network went down – but I can remember never ever being able to use it properly – it was an Ericsson or Nokia or something and had 2 buttons “Yes” and “No”, and alas the bloody thing rang a couple of times – I was so shocked, that I panicked, grabbed the thing, looked at it… misread the “No” button for an “On” button, pressed it…. And got no call…. This happened at least 3 times … useless!! Also, the only people who’d want to contact me would be the kids – asking for money – so why be so available?? By the way… have you noticed how long its taken me to reply..?? This is me being considerate… not pressuring you with speedy replies.. going at snail-mail response-times – hope you noticed!! Anyway… on to replies to your missive….. Looking for you..me…I reckon, you and Samantha visited the UK around 1983?? Are there any dates on the photos you have of us/the Fieldhouses etc…?? If that’s correct.. we stayed in that house with same Tel nos until 1989 and thereafter split to the four winds. I moved to my mum’s old house in Denham – but no reason for you to have/find that address etc.. How amazing – meeting au-pair’s boyfriend etc… Family – congrats on the up-coming 25th anniversary, mostly to Erika – what has she gone through?? Beggars belief!! So with “past medical problems” and the boys just “appearing out of the blue” – does this continue the saga of “Boulton – Africa’s Mr Fertiliser” – so potent he could people the earth?? Just a quick comment on the boys/education etc… I thought when my 2 went to University, that Private school fees etc.. would disappear and things would get easier… they didn’t!! Bloody costs of living away from home, books etc… just as expensive – so don’t give up yet… another 3 to 4 years of shelling out to come….sorry!! I’m still trying to place Randburg – I know the name but cannot place it – here’s how I remember things……..so where is Randburg on this very detailed map??
Jean and Samantha are doing well – Inga (my number 2 was here the last week – and she remembers Samantha very well – and says “hello, love, best wishes etc..” and all those other silly things girls say…) shame about parents (Erika’s and yours) dying – yes I remember your brother & sister – very sensible people getting as far away from you as they can….(had you noticed??) - Wow – first-time visit to SA for your sister – taken her long enough!! And now – maybe a Boulton World-Tour to New Zealand… its funny how everything is currently turning Kiwi’ish. About 3 years ago I was trying to plan what I’d do when I retire, and decided I’d cycle round Australia – as one of my many projects.. the more I thought about it, I decided that Oz is “too hard” a place to experiment with – maybe I should see how I go with somewhere less formidable – I wasn’t thinking of the miles but more camping in the middle of nowhere with snakes crawling all over you – now that would be nasty, but how would I cope with more mundane things like the mileage, the camping etc.. without all the Oz hardships.. so I saw New Zealand as a brilliant one to start off on. So I read all I could – and reckoned – great place!! Britta (number one daughter) had been there years before and reckoned it was a fab place and the people were great too.. Then Inga decided she’d go there – and now reckons she is going to settle there, because it is so fabulous…. Meanwhile Stoatey came through here – on his way to and from NZ for a 2 week holiday – and he wants to retire there too… and now Boulton is possibly going there too… what does it all add up to?? We all have to get to NZ!! Business – Yes – I reckon it was McCann Erikson and the Jewelry place last time we met…you seem to have settled very nicely with Q&AResearch and Sharon, sounds like a nice set-up, and as you say the less politicing and ladder-climbing, arse-covering there is – the better. Still into the cars I see… Bassy has a 911 in Monaco – I visited him one weekend back in the 90’s and remember the weekend because of all the “name dropping” I could do thereafter….. I flew to Nice on a Friday evening – and Bass was there to meet me – in the 911 drove to Monte Carlo……, next day out on their yacht swimming and BBQ’ing at 18:00 moored just outside the harbour, with millions of others, to watch the monthly firework display overhead (very impressive – but seen better in HK), then motored down the coast a way to the Sporting Club, where Joe Cocker was in concert (the roof opens so we just moored and heard the music whilst BBQ’ing again) – around 23:00 he finished so we motored back towards the harbour through the remaining moored boats and we heard a piano playing, searched around – and there he was… Elton John.. giving a concert on the back of a big yacht for about 100 people – so we moored there and had another concert… next day – out on the yacht again… then Monday morning I helicoptered from Monte Carlo to Nice airport… top that!! Must say – you don’t get much in appearance for your money with the 911?? Quite bare/functional inside….there again I remember – as with Jaeger Le Coultre.. “If its functional… its beautiful”. Yes – a 316 would be less stressful I’d guess – I’m fairly “off” cars these days, as I said HK and Singapore are not places to own cars – but the last machine I had back in the UK (around 1991 to 1993) was a Renault 25 – lovely car – V6, automatic, 2.9 litre engine with absolutely everything “powered” and electric – great stereo – I really enjoyed that car and it confirmed that automatics are the cars for me!! Brilliant Erika!! And the catering business.. very impressive!! There is a parallel…. Janet has a brother in the Philippines and his wife got fed up with him being the bread-winner so she started her own catering business – about 15 years ago – been very successful – means he can ease off anytime he wants to… Friends – I’d forgotten all that – but as I re-read I think you’re right – Sunnyside and then there were the 2 of them on your birthday!! That must have been in December 1988, ‘cos that’s the last time I was in SA – good to hear about Lewis and Majak, I’d be pleased to get his email address and chew the fat with him a bit…yes… Godfathers.. they don’t take it seriously anymore…. When Almuth and I were together we had a couple of friends Maureen & Roger who asked us to be Godparents – and we declined – because we didn’t want the responsibility, but I reckon most people that are asked just reckon it’s a day at the church and that’s the end of it… anyway I’m too irresponsible to be a Godfather SA – I’m a homeboy too – spend just about 24 hours at home, except for cycling every other day or so, and like you, my last good mate was Ralphie back in HK – ugly bugger, English, looks hard – but as soft as arseholes!! Still email with him everyday. As for the music – I have a “Top 30” – which currently has 186 songs in it – and what has been enjoyable over the last 2 years has been using Napster (now replaced by KaZaa) to download them all, and to just leave them playing all day long (have my old Sony Hi-Fi linked to the PC) – fabulous.. Brown Sugar by the Stones, Rocky Racoon by the Beatles, Amadeus by Falco etc.. they’re all out there, on the web – just download them!! (full details are on my web-site) – I switched onto Thievery Corporation some while ago and have 52 of their tracks downloaded too – cool mon!! As for discussing the music with the kids – I’ve given up – years ago… I can remember seeing Top of the Pops on TV and a tune had just finished and on the screen came something like …” DoPratt Snoggy Fart – Wimble Shat Nasty” – one of which was the name of the group – the other, the name of the tune.. and I had no idea which was which – it was then I realized I was out of date! Around that time the kids were into a group called “Nine Inch Nails” – fucking awful!! There again, I may have myself to blame – when Inga was around 8/9 and was into Abba and The Carpenters or somesuch, for Christmas I bought her an AC/DC tape as a joke.. silly me!! As I told you on the phone, I had to throw out all my vinyl when I sold my mother’s house – didn’t have anything to play it on anyway – but still a shame… all gone….Chris Barber in Berlin, Lonnie Donnegan (found his version of Frankie & Johnny on the Web – downloaded – great!!) etc.. I’ve also lost interest in the photography – looking back – it may have happened as soon as we returned to the UK from SA – probably down to the crap weather being too dull to allow decent shots – but lots of kiddie pics and that’s about it. Haven’t heard from the people in the UK that may have my Punchy Pentax – so I reckon that’s a gonner – may have to get that digital camera now. What do you reckon..?? Every picture I’ve got on my web-site has been taken on ordinary film, printed onto paper, scanned in and then – to save space… put up on my web-site at about 50% the resolution of the scanned-in image…around 20Kbits/pixels. So that means, that if I bought the super Sony 707 which could provide 5.0 MPixel shots – I’d end up saving them at about 20 KPixel – so why buy such an expensive camera – and not use its resolution?? What’s with this Whisky fetish in SA – I thought the drinks of choice were Brandy and Cane, what’s happening there?? Old Haunts – Wow – what a shame – central Jhb etc.. are no-go areas and all the building in Mid-Rand and down on the Coast – you’re right I’d not recognize it.. So you’d not know if the Rand International restaurant where we used to have Geschnezeltes mit Rösti (had Rösti in a restaurant here 2 weeks ago – probably the first time since the Rand days!!) is still operating?? And what about the President Hotel – I liked them both. Bernie was the Oak in the electric shop downstairs from the Commissioner St offices.. true??.. why remember that?? Health – Good job the GP has his eye on you, keeping you trim. What do you reckon…I have 2 good strong Vodka and Orange drinks as Sundowners.. then 2 glasses of red-wine with the dinner – every night – without fail. Now I’ve been told that more than 20 glasses of alcohol per week is “alcoholic” – and I’m at 28, but I reckon its what you get used to?? I’m never pissed and rarely drink more – very controlled!! As for exercise – I am Mr Fit!! – not really….In HK I used to really enjoy walking up the hills – there was one route I used to take, took 2+ hours, and in 32 degree heat that was sometimes tough – but walked along the hill for about 2 Km’s then up for another 4, then up 550 steps to the very needle point top of one of those hills you see in every picture of HK – what a wonderful half-way point – a view-platform 10 feet by 6 feet – I was usually the only one up there – and 360 degrees vistas of sea, islands, hills, and Central Hong Kong and Kowloon side – fantastic – and sometimes I’d then run down that lot. Did I also tell you I did a marathon walk whist I was there in HK – it was just me going along a flat walk I also used to do – whereas now I’m into the cycling here – usually only 25 Kms but sometimes I double that – getting out in the sun – wonderful!! Ah-ha… now where was I… 1974 onwards……………………… Had to get rid of the Renault 4, and Almuth’s parents took pity on us and bought us a new Citroen Dyane – what a great car!! Everything opened – 5 doors and roll-back roof, all the seats came out/folded/moved, and it was only 600cc – so 45 mpg was normal, and 70mph was sometimes possible!! Moved into Wheeler Ave where Inga was born and you & Erika visited, I got fed up with Jim Davis and Systems 70 so resigned and went Freelancing – first contract was in Oxford – 1976 was “The Hot Summer”, Chrysler Alpine, VW Scirocco and a white Beetle were used up and in 1978 I went on a 2 week course in Nevada – very enjoyable – and then Almuth & I came to SA in 1978 December… did we meet up?? Took the Scirocco to Italy with kids and outlaw – so it was a bit cramped – but a good holiday none the less – then I started a contract In Dalkeith, Scotland where Bassy was selling Data General Nova computers into Charles Letts (Diary manufacturers) – I wrote all the Production Control software (and lots of other things) – and must say I was very pleased with the result and that it was used for 10+ years and they say “helped them continue in business, when it looked as though they were going under” – I met a lady there – Rossie with whom lots of things were done, and very enjoyable it was too – except that some bastard wrote a letter to Almuth telling her – All!! Bugger! (but that was much later…) 1981 we bought a BMW 320 from Brussels – saved 3,000 quid by doing that – great car!! Did a small contract in Boston Massachussets and stayed on Cape Cod with Mat & Jane friends from Penn who also had a holiday home in Cape Cod – Almuth and the kids came over too - good times!! Middle of 1982 went to Saudi Arabia for 1 year – came home every 12 weeks to renew work-permit – flew on the Aramco (that’s the Saudi oil company) 747 – which is all first class and only carries 120 people – very nice – I must say… Saudi was weird – boring, but the desert was great, also a bit of “sightseeing” up and down the coast and inland to some oases – but basically a crap place!! Enjoyed the work though… funny! So that’ll do you for a while – we’re up to 1983… only another 20 years to go….. All for now, MC We lost contact for a couple of years - then I'd sent a quick Merry Christmas email - Fred responded - and off we went again.................. 7/January/2009
11/Jan/2009 - He replied....
18/January/2009
Fred - I think
that'll do - for now.... episode 2 - awaited.... 20/January, 2009 - Fred had a bit of a blast (Outburst) at 1900 in general and everything that sailed in it - not recorded here - because of its sensitive nature - maybe it can be published in 30 Years time.... 22/January/2009
23/January/2009 - Fred replies....
Then - Jenny Morkel got in contact - out of the blue... Fred replied to her... 25/Jan/2009 -
I replied to Fred...... 26/January/2009
Jenny!! Thanks for emailing!! Yes, yes - I'm still here.... where-ever that may be...(currently Singapore). How did you find me?? Through my web-site - I'd hope... I'm trying to work out how successful it really is... I see Fred Boulton has emailed you - good old Fred - he is a dinosaur.. and over the years I'd tried to stay in contact with him (before the Interweb - of course - by snail-mail) - he'd visited us (I had a German wife and 2 daughters by this stage - and we were living west of London) a couple of times - but then... house moves etc... we lost contact - bugger!! Eventually finding him again many years later - he'd become a fossil - wanting to have nothing to do with PC's, emailing etc... we corresponded, lost contact again, and are now back - since about 3 months ago..... HOORAY!!!! If you've been to me web-site already, you'll have seen who I still am able to contact, and am very pleased to add you to the list.... What's your news....?? I of course remember the little yellow Fiat (I had a dark blue Fiat 500 before coming to Joburg) - and of course your marriage to Dave, then 1900 crashed - and we all got lost.... Anything you email - may I publish it on my web-site?? Or would you prefer it to remain confidential?? Fred has been asking for years "got any contact details for Dave?" - alas not - heard he went to a Sugar company... thereafter the trail runs cold... got any details...?? Hope to hear more from you, All the best, Mike C 29/January/2009 Jenny replies... Hello Mike, and Fred (do remember you too!) Well it's been a while! that was a different life.... I've had no contact with anyone from then, Dave I was once told drank himself to death, but maybe not if Fred had been in contact with him - I found your web site by googling myself. Don't mind if you publish this. My life - I was married for 17 years and have two lovely daughters, both married and living abroad, as most of our kids are these days. One is a barrister, the other a project manager. I went back to writing software when I got divorced. Three years ago I quit my job and joined a sail boat going to Brazil as crew/cook, then crewed on yachts in the Caribbean - the focus of my life lately has been scuba diving! I've been back and forward since then and am now trying to settle down in Cape Town. Anyone else still around? Jenny
Dear Jenny
How really good to hear from you. Are you in Cape Town or
have I misread your message? I hope not. I occasionaly get down there. My
two sons! Live in CT. One (James -24+) been working for an Ad agency and the
other (Matthew - 22+) completing his honors degree. So already two males I
can introduce you to!
Anyway, as you said, a long time ago. Memories of these days
a bit hazy. The 1900 historian (Mike) will recall more about those days. I
can recall when you arrived in SA. When I introduced you to Dave he was
gobsmacked! For a change he could not speak!
Not too sure of events after that. Do remember that I was
very fond of Dave. Last time I saw Dave was about 10 years ago (+-). Jack
Curtis asked me to meet for a drink. Arrived at the pub and there was Dave.
Did not seem much interested in catching up with the past but still able to
put on the charm. But he kept reminding me of when he let me take his
British Racing Green Spitfire whenever I had a new date (including Sue) who
I stole away from Willie Henderson. Was that the Spitfire or my good looks?
Perhaps Mike and you can jolt my memory a bit (a lot!).
Wasn't Dave my best man when I married Jean, or was that a different planet?
Sad when memories fade. We did have a lot of fun in the early days of 1900
SA.
Looking forward.
Fred XXX
Jenny!! Stay well - visit Singapore - good luck with your search -
though I think its a wild goose-chase - stay in occasional contact, Jenny/Fred, |
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