Bulawayo

9.)At this time 1966/67 my Dad was making news with Pest Control,they were the first company in the history of Rhodesia to cover an entire house(a double story with thatch roof)with plastic sheeting.This was in order to fumigate the home because of an infestation of termites.The Chronicle newspaper was there to record the event for posterity,we sure were proud of my Dad.It was a grand sight.

Consider this....

Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams;think not about what you have tried and failed.But what is still possible for you to do:To live is to change.

Use the talents you possess.For the woods would be very silent,if no birds sang except for the very best.

Credits.

I thank my Mother ; Anna Sophia Coffey for much of the material that I publish on this blog.She fills in a lot of the gaps in my memory,especially from early times.Love you Mom.

Salisbury to Bulawayo.

8.)At the end of 1966 we left Salisbury and moved to Bulawayo to start a new chapter in our lives.We were to spend six happy years there.

My Dad was to take over the recently acquired Pest Control,not to be confused with the opposition Paul,s Pest Control.He really got stuck in and worked hard but it was an up-hill battle because Paul,s was very well known and established in Bulawayo.Amongst many changes and improvements was the television ad that became very well known in Bulawayo : phone Bill Coffey at Pest Control,tel 5070.

We moved into a big house in the suburb of Burnside,just off Burnside Drive.It was a huge property mostly bushveld,with a small stream running through the bottom of the garden.Our gardener Japhet came across an injured pigeon which we nursed back to health,we named him Pidgie.

Sunday evenings after my parents had taken their "sundowners" on the front stoep we would have a curry and rice dinner in front of the tv watching "Daktari".This was a series about an english family living on a game reserve in darkest Africa.Just up the road from us lived a well known tv personality - Sonja Hattingh,she was on RTV(Rhodesian Television).

My younger sister Deirdre and I were en-rolled at Hillside Primary School,many miles away.However we had to ride to school on our bicycles,this was quite a daunting task especially for my small sister.

 

Salisbury.

7.)We then moved to a house on Inverleith Drive,our neighbours were a family called Nisbett who became very close friends of my parents.After the caravan holiday to Durban in the hired caravan the folks decided to purchase their own van.They went to the Sprite factory in Gwelo to collect the caravan and almost died of the cold that night,sleeping in the caravan.

My Dad and I built a treehouse in a large tree in the back yard,Deirdre very small still climbed up there one day on her own and got stuck,my Dad had to fetch her down.A pupil at Roosevelt High school where Mom had been teaching since January 1964,gave her a puppy which we named Mickey,she was a Maltese poodle.We had this dear little dog for many many years.This was also when I got my first bicycle and learnt how to ride.

We only stayed there for a year because the tenant living in a back room became a problem,we were not aware of him at the time we moved in.

We did a lot of caravanning with our neighbours the Nisbett,s.We would usually go to Lake Mc Illwaine where the Rhodesian Caravan Club had it,s own caravan park ;Rhocara Park.My Dad and Derrick Nesbitt used to get up to all kinds of antics,there were many fun events organised so everyone had a whale of a time.It was quite a co incidence concerning our car,s and caravan,s.Derrick Nisbett,s car was a green Plymouth De Soto and their van,a green Sprite Musketeer.Our car was a blue Plymouth De Soto and our caravan a blue Sprite Musketeer.

Jenny decided one day to go next door and visit the Nisbett,s,no one knew where she was! Turned out she and the youngest Nisbett,Darren made friends under the watchful eye of Granny Nisbett! 

This reminds me of another incident involving Jenny;the one day whilst we were still living at Jamelin Court madam went missing!Our house boy James was sent of on his bicycle to find her,as it turns out he did find her at the local cafe where she was quite happily being fed sweets by the woman that owned the cafe.She really enjoyed herself!Needless to say Mother was sick with worry!

God,s telephone number.

The following verse from the Holy Bible is known as God,s telephone no.Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me,and I will answer thee,and shew thee great and mighty things,which thou knowest not. (wow what a powerful scripture)

Carpe Diem(seize the moment)

Everything is gone Lord,our home,the cars,no savings,no pension.I have no employment.YOU are all that we have Lord God.Matthew 6:33. Amen.

Salisbury contd.

.)Many years later both of my sisters were to work for Cabs,but I am getting ahead of myself.My dad was offered a partnership by Jock Kahn in his business : The Institute of Pest Control,the largest of it,s kind in Rhodesia.Jock was spending less time at Pest Control and leaving the management of the firm to my dad,he was more interested in his toy factory.I re-call that my dad secured a contract with the Salisbury Municipality to spray the grass verges alongside the main roads,to kill weeds.For this he had to order a specially equipped tractor from South Africa,I remember well the excitement about this new challenge and my dad,s trip "down south" to see the supplier of the special tractor.

My father and Jock Kahn were considering buying a pest control company in Bulawayo,if so then the plan was for us to move there for a time, for my father to get the new business up and running.

We had moved out of the house in Msasa and were living in flats called Jamelin Court.There was a shopping centre nearby with a petrol station,above the petrol station lived a family named Gates,their son David and I became firm friends.David had a younger sister Leslie and an older brother Ian.His father was Harry and his mom was affectionately known as Bubbles.We kids did everything together,we were great friends.My own sisters Deirdre and Jenny were very fond of Leslie Gates.We were consequently very sad when the Gates family moved away to South Africa.I wondered if I would ever see David again?

At around that time a bunch of convicts escaped from a prison truck and came running and jumping over and through the gardens of the flats pursued by prison wardens,in a flash they were gone.It happened so quickly it was as if they had never been.This was also close to the time that I was playing with squibs(fire crackers) in the garage and accidently set fire to some garbage bags.My dad,s much treasured Rover three litre car was also in the garage and was lucky not to be set on fire.After my dad had finished with me my backside was on fire!

While we lived at Jamelin Court our houseboy James had one night been to his local beer hall and got completely sloshed,some tsotsis at the beer hall got our house keys from James,in his drunken state he also divulged our address! Whilst at work the next day they burglarised our home and made off with a lot of our household goods.James admitted to my dad what had happened,at which juncture my dad shouted at him....true to form James cried as he always did when he,d caused trouble.He had a very soft heart and kind nature,he was really good to us a family.

Inspiration for the day.

3/09/2011.Saturday.Some thoughts especially for the blog site:

God is the whisper in a gentle breeze that makes you smile;the urge that makes you want to love,when all you feel is the fear of being hurt.

God,s voice can be heard in a waterfall,urging you to forgive and go on.

When the world gets you down,He holds the light at the end of the tunnel to guide you.

He forms the inspirations in your life,the cautions and the courage....

The breeze is what you feel when he wraps His arms around you.

Salisbury.

 5.)Salisbury in the early sixties was a wonderful place,Jacaranda trees in bloom,the drone of christmas beetles at night,the fresh smell after the late afternoon thunder showers and in homes all over the city,sundowners on the stoep (porch) just before dark.You would also hear the soft calls of the servants as they parted for the night and made their tired way to the kaia at the bottom of the garden.In the morning the milk tokens would be put out for the early delivery of milk and Mazoe orange,as a Rhodie would say : mushie!(great stuff)Also expect the bread delivery man on his 3 wheel bike.In town you would see the hustle and bustle of a new day starting,the yellow Rixi taxi,s dodging in and out of   the traffic,the newspaper vendors selling the Rhodesia Herald,my Dad always bought his from the vendor outside Cabs Building Society just off 1st Street about 3 blocks down from Jameson Avenue.

Rhodesia - A poem by James Sturges(84)

Jacarandas,blue tinged trees,
Laughing children,all say please,
Smiling nannies loud and chatting,

Salisbury Sports Club cricket,Rhodies batting.
Braais and picnics,McIllwaine Dam,
Tanganda tea and Colcom ham.
Greeting friends to talk and talk,
Inyanga dams were safe to walk.

Snakes and mossies,flying ants,
Schoolboy rugby,winning chants.
Swimming parties,sleep-in nights,
Christmas carols by candle light.

Honest police,able and willing,
Gremlin rolls,ten for a shilling.

Sunday car trips,Sinoia caves,
La Boheme and Coq D'or,s Saturday raves.

Weekend outings to Shavinoia Falls,
Dancing and ballet in Curtain calls.
Beautiful gardens,Ballantyne Park,
Window shopping just after dark.

Burgers and hot dogs,Dairy Den ices,
Aromas from cafes of curry and spices.
Snow white tackies,Bata shoes,
Charity fetes,tombola and booze.

Clear blue skies or heavy rain.

Wish I could live it all over again.

Memories fade,so much to tell.

Oh yes dear Rhodesia,I remember you well.

(Many thanks to James Sturges where ever he may be.)

Memories of Southern Rhodesia.

At around this time I had to start school in KG 1(kindergarten)and was enrolled at Greengrove Primary.My best friend was a boy named Colin Hughes,a short blond child whereas I was tall and thin.It was at this time that a teacher told me that I could not do arithmetic,those words spoken over me had a profound effect on me,I was never able to do arithmetic or maths.Not two years later I was put into Courtenay Selous Primary where I was happy and had a great english teacher who instilled a love of the language in me.People should be very careful what they say because words have power.It was here at Courtenay Selous that my hot temper began to get me into trouble,I was often involved in fights.Come to think of it the first incident was at creche when I shoved another kid of the slide and he broke his arm.I really was a naughty little bugger.

After a couple of good years working for ITC my dad was making a name for himself in Salisbury,he was becoming known.

Memories of Southern Rhodesia contd.

We Rhodesians were determined to go it alone and we would not be bullied by Great Britain.

3.)Back to the farm; In the meanwhile my sister Deirdre Ann Coffey made her entrance into the world,she was a bonny lass blessed with a strong constitution and an even stonger pair of lungs! Needless to say there was great joy over this happy event and I was now to have a playmate.

Mother was now learning to drive at the hands of my father,somehow his nerves proved equal to the task! One fine day my mother came bowling down the road and turned in to the homestead,and just kept on going.... right through the diningroom wall! The Hudson,s brakes had failed,my mother was distraught and my dad was mad.

4.)By this time the writing was on the wall for Rhodesian tobacco farmers,because of UDI the UK and most of the world had imposed economic sanctions on Rhodesia.Our main buyer of tobacco had closed it,s door on us.My parents decided to leave farming and move to Salisbury.

My father got a good job as a tobacco buyer with the Imperial Tobacco Co,so we moved to the city and rented a house in a suburb called Msasa.

Salvation for the lost.

Remember dear friends that good people don,t go to Heaven,but beleivers go to Heaven.

Salvation for the lost.

Dear friends do you know that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?If you were to die today do you know for certain that you will go to Heaven?If your answer is no or you are not sure you are in a very dangerous place.The Bible says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD".The Holy Bible also says that "whosoever calls on the name of GOD shall be saved" You are a whosoever, so pray this prayer now with me and you will be saved. Dear Lord Jesus I know that you died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead, please forgive me of my sins,wash me clean with your blood.I now ask you to come into my heart and to be Lord of my life.Please baptise me with your Holy Spirit.In Jesus name - Amen.
Dear friend if you have just prayed this prayer and beleive in your heart, then you are now a child of the living GOD,I welcome you into the body of Christ.Please contact me via this blog site for any needs that you have,prayer,councelling etc.God bless!

Memories of Southern Rhodesia contd.

My name is Gerald Louis Coffey. I'll start with where I was born: My parents were farmers in Southern  Rhodesia in a region known as Umvukwes(the Horse Shoe Block)they were tobacco farmers.My father was farm manager for the owner a Mr Mckensie.My mother went to the capital city - Salisbury to the Lady Chancellor Hospital to have me.I was born on 22 May 1957,Denise Fuller our neighbour had her son Mark, two days after me,our mothers were great friends.The Fullers later left Umvukwees and went "down south" (South Africa)My memories of those early years are a bit sketchy however I will record what I can remember.I remember being in the charge of a nanny  who wouldn't let me out of her sight.I suppose my earliest memories go back to my second year.Everything about the farm seemed huge to me,I particularly remember the giant blue gum trees and the sighing sound they made on windy days and the sense of excitement about growing up on a farm.The sounds and smells were heavenly.I remember the huge tobacco barns and the strong smell of un-cured tobacco,the smell of oil and diesoline in the tractor sheds.All of the farm machinery fascinated me but I was not allowed to explore, to my disgust,however I soon became adept at giving my nanny the slip.I of course was blissfully unaware of the trouble she got into because of my escapades and continued to play truant.We had two dogs that I remember;both of mixed parentage,the larger was named Shumba(Lion in the local shona tongue)He attacked and almost killed the smaller dog one day.My dad was out on the lands and my mother was un-able to separate them with the result that Shumba almost killed Hunter,the poor dog was in really bad shape.My mother had in the meanwhile sent a messenger to summon my father.... on his arrival back at the farm house he sadly had no choice but to shoot Shumba,he took him away from the house to do this.It was no longer safe to have a dog that had tasted blood, around small children.This was a great shock to me and very sad for all of us.The farm also grew groundnuts(peanuts) in addition to tobacco.The local baboons held the groundnuts to be their very own personal delicacy much to the disgust of my father.The solution was quite simple but not easily executed!Shoot them!The old farm shotty(shotgun)was used in addition to the efforts of the farm labourers.Each evening at dusk the labourers would assemble to bring the day's catch of dead baboons for inspection by my dad.I know this sounds really cruel but remember this was the 1950's,conservation was not big in those days.It seems that there was a plentifull supply of baboons because they just kept on coming!

On the political front things were not very rosy,pressure especially from Britain was mounting for Rhodesia to hand over power to the majority.Sir Roy Welensky had stepped down as Prime Minister(I many years later went to school with his great grandson Bernard Welensky)to be succeeded by the great Ian Smith.The aforementioned was the architect of UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independance)by which means we seceeded from the colonial rule of Great Britain.Boy did that create a stink in Harold Wilson,s government!

Memories of Southern Rhodesia.

My name is Louis Coffey and I was born on 22 May 1957 in the Lady Chancellor Hospital,Salisbury,Southern Rhodesia.My parents Bill and Sophie Coffey were tobacco farmers,the farm was in the "Horse Shoe block" of Umvukwes.I will add to this blog daily,this will bring back memories for any Rhodesians who read this.