“Down Memory Lane”

19th Apr 2010

Last week I visited my home town, Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape. The last time I visited there was 22 years ago. So much has changed, yet so much has remained the same.

I went on a memory trip around Central and here are a few of the special places of my youth.

Edward Street. We lived on the right side, before I started primary school.It  is now  a company that sells cleaning liquids. It is painted my favourite Periwinkle Blue and white.

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Number 2 Las Palmas. This was the last of a few different flats that we stayed in,  in Glen Street.

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I went to Erica Girl’s Primary School. I think that my best school memories were at that school. Three teachers stood out in my primary school time- Miss Jooste, Miss Conradie and Mrs Gilchrest. It is amazing how a teacher can impact a child’s life in such a positively powerfull way. I have memories of ringing the hand held brass school bell, playing tennis set and hockey.  Erica Girls is now to be found in the old Pearson school building. There is now an Art design college at this beautiful building.

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Stanley Street Butchery, is still standing and operating. I remember being sent to buy chops for my Mom. They used to have straw on the floors(in those days).

 

 

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After my brief trip down memory lane, I needed to get back to my task of finding a table for Grandpa’s Doug’s TV.

 

On my way down Russell Street I saw a sign for second hand furniture, so I popped in. I found a solid pine table and much more, on going upstairs I discovered a treasure, called Cafe Ruwach. An art gallery with clothes, bags, and much more.  Look at their site www.caferuwach.cp.za. I unfortunately did not have time to stop for a bite, but will do so next time. The one entrance is a second hand shop and as you move further into the shop, it is transformed in a colourfull heaven, inbetween the used sandwich toaters, card tables, etc, a gem is to be . Up stairs, the Cafe’ entrance is in 70 Campbell Street, Richmond Hill.

Grandpa Doug and I had a great meal of roast lamb and vegetables at El Greco’s at The Boardwalk. Mike and Gail took  me down to the Oyster Cracker for dinner. What a lovely view, overlooking the harbour.

A short visit. I was so pleased to see how many houses in the top end of Central have been restored to their former glory. Traffic! – what traffic. I wish our traffic jams were as mild as those experienced in P.E. After a fleeting visit of three days,  it is  goodbye to P E once again and back home to my family. I really miss them all.