h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday evening I attended my 20-year high school reunion! It was held at our old High School, Pietersburg High. There weren't many people - not nearly as many as attended the 10-year reunion - but I was quite happy to see many of my old friends again, and to talk to them, and to the spouses some of them brought along. I heard some amazing stories about myself - heh heh! I think some memories are perhaps not working quite perfectly ... I hope it's not mine! Well ... it was very enjoyable. I can't believe I've been out of school for 20 years now.

I also got a nice surprise in the form of a CD of my friend Barries of his (in the sense that he's a part of it, not of owning it) band Luitenant X (Lieutenant X). They're very good - solid Afrikaans rock music, good lyrics and music. I will be talking to him and to my other musician friend Mario Santa Rita, with a view towards getting into the music business myself. I just hope I can find the time for all that!

Hi Willem,

What a super time you are having. I have never in my life been to a reunion. !! I hope however to go to the 2012 Olympic swimming in London. Just to see what I missed in 1948 - although this time I shalll not be competing. !! If there are any swimming officials there from Spoth Africa I shall quietly go and whisper in their ear.........
At last. !!

I saw a very sad documentary this afternoon about the crocodiles which are all dying in the valley in the Kruger National Park. It was really tragic, and although they are really very unglamorous creatures I felt very sad for this wretched loss of life.

Go well, and nice to hear your news.
Christiane

AlsoRan80

Sunday 25th September 2010 17.00 GMT

Hello Christiane! Thanks for dropping by, I always appreciate hearing from you! I really hope you *do* manage to attend the 2012 swimming event.

I agree that it's sad about the crocodiles dying. I actually like crocodiles! Even though they're lazy, even though they're predators. I remember at a crocodile farm a long time ago, many of the kids wanted the crocodiles to *do something* when they actually just wanted to lie there! They (the croc farm folks) threw in some dead chickens but the crocs weren't interested. But you know that is the essence of a croc! They're extremely efficient - they actually need to catch prey only very infrequently. The rest of the time they just lie there! They can go for a year without food! I am sure this ability of theirs helped them to survive when the dinosaurs died out.

Hello Willem,

Doesn't time fly? I have been out of school for about 13 years now . I have just worked that out and shocked myself!

Did you find many, if not all, of your old school friends had spouses? This is one of the reasons I would find it hard to go to a reunion. It is hard to explain, but I would feel depressed that many of my old school friends had spouses and there is me still single. This is one of the reasons I would not go to a family meal now. Everyone in my family have got partners/husband or wife and I've got no one.

I did not like school as there were a lot of bullies, which I am still having counselling for now.

On a more positive note, the music venture sounds interesting. with that.

Take it steady,

Nigel

Hi there Nigel! Thanks for dropping by! How are things with you these days?

Yes time does fly. It feels like our 10th anniversary was just a short while ago!

Yes, pretty much all of my friends had spouses and/or boyfriends and girlfriends. (OK, it's 'or' rather than 'and' heh heh!)

You know it did not make me depressed. I have NEVER in my life even had a girlfriend! Never been kissed, not romantically. Yes I would like to have a girlfriend - wife even, and I would stay faithful to her for life, I am sure I would. But my circumstances are against that, and I accept it.

Anyways to tell you why I don't always envy my friends with their spouses/romantic partners etc. It seldom works out like the fairytale romance.

Many of my friends have been through divorces - sometimes several. Some have fathered illegitimate children, and some are having major problems with their kids.

On the other hand there are friends of mine who seem to have found or married wonderful people, and for them I'm happy.

And there are also some who have not yet married or found girlfriends/boyfriends. One girl who was very bright and very pretty - in fact she still is! - only 'found someone' very recently.

In my case I'm feeling more 'worried' about many of my friends being very rich, now. I'm not rich at all and I don't aspire to be. But I had no problem chatting with my 'wealthy' friends. There's recognition that financial 'success' isn't all that life's about.

I was never bullied ... I don't think it really happened much with us in our context. I'm sorry that it happened to you. Bullies are just insecure a**holes.

Hi Willem!

I'm not too bad. I have days when I feel very depressed, some when I am frightened to go out as I think something bad will happen, but I get through them.

The girlfriends I have had in the past were unfaithful to me, seeing someone else behind my back. I have spent a lot of money on dating websites in the past but had no luck!

I think I am trying to find that fairytale romance where everything in life is wonderful, and the woman of my dreams is going to sort all my health problems out!!

I am sure we will both find someone one day.

I did go to one school reunion and some of the rich people were showing off their big cars and wearing expensive clothes. I am not well off either and I think that people with a huge amount of money are not always happy. I wouldn't mind a bit of money and I still have my weekly go on the lottery, but I don't think I would like to be a millionaire.

All the best.

Nigel