Guest Book

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick note to say thank you to all of you for reading the "Blog" and for leaving a message in the Guest Book, Melina, Laurence, Paul, Lynn and everybody it was so nice to read your messages. Hopefully in the new year we can have lots of posts from everyone, so email me at the gmail address and I will create a mailing list to let you all know when I update the blog.

Take Care

Love

RED

Greetings from Karen -15/12/06

Received an email from Karen with all her news, thought I would share it with all of you:

Hi,

We still at the office - hoping to get away next week.

Planning on going up to Quissico, Mozambique (about 500km north of Maputo) Is a piece of ground between the sea and lagoon - we have an old pop up caravan there and tents.

Is really 'primitive' - only a borehole/spring for fresh water - and have now dug a loo (long drop style) and made 'rural showers( reeds as the walls in a snail form (so cant look directly in) and then a bucket for the water!!!!

What is so wonderful is that we are the only ones for about 7km then is next neighbour who has a 4x4 campsite. also the last ones on this track. If walk along the beach is about 1 - 2 km along the coast to them. Is so great as is quiet and no 'modern' things. Can really relax and be disorderly without anyone raising eyebrows!!!

Gert was in Nigeria and Ivory Coast for 2 weeks. Was an exhibition in Abuja(nigeria). Says that this city zillion times better than lagos. He will have a hectic schedule early next year - to pemba), Quelimane, Nampula and Beira and the Maputo to install machines. He will be travelling by car - roads not always so good - so will be a 3 week trip This is Jan

Then in Feb - it is a round trip - Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Doing a presentation for swedish company. Again will be in car - so lots of kms and plenty border > officials. Cant remember what happening in march.

Kids all well - Both passed - Christoph now going to gr 11 (std 9) Markus going to gr 6(std4) . Markus nearly my height. Christoph is a bit taller than Butch - but don't think he will get much taller.

Can you believe it was a year ago that you were here!!!!! I cant...................... time just seem to go by so quickly....

Wish you a Merry Christmas and may 2007 be a good year!

Cheers

Karen

Merry Christmas

I just realised that all the schools in South Africa will have broken up by now, and most people will be taking or about to take their Annual summer vacation, so I thought I should put up a last post for all of you!

I just wanted to say that it has been great to get in touch of so many of the ex-premier people after all these years, I have spoken to either on email or on the phone Lucia, Charlie, Andre, Dave, Michelle this year after not hearing from them in almost 10 years. Don't be strangers now, I am hoping that a few people will email in some photographs in the new year and we can update the blog.

Kenny took some pictures at the Secret garden so as soon as he sends those over in January I will put them up, Karen sent in some news on ex-prems which I will put up soon as well, and Michelle sent some info.

So until then I'd like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, lets hope that 2007 is a good year and we can create a few more ties. To all our regular ex-prem buddies thanks for all the emails, Pete hope to see you in Houston in July and you too Dave, if not in LA. Pierre looks like Jersey may have to wait another year, and all those in Oz may be another 2 years before we get there if not longer, but we're coming!

Till then, as David Gresham would have said "keep your feet on the ground, and reach for the stars" (no wise cracks from you, please Charlie!)

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Pierre on the 17th of November

Carol on the 17th of November

Mario on the 29th of November

Hope you all had a wonderful birthday!

The "Secret" Garden - Fourways

I am so envious that we are not going to be in SA on Sunday the 3rd of December to meet up with all the old Premier folk. I am sure whoever is going it is going to be an absolute gas, it would be interesting to hear your tales next week, so email me and I can put them up on the blog or leave a message.

Here is a link to more information about the place: http://www.restaurants.co.za/details.asp?resId=3048, it gives directions, menus and all other kinds of details. There is also another web site : http://www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberID-2298.html

The address is:

16b Penguin Drive
Norscot Manor Recreation Centre
Fourways
2055

If You are attending on Sunday, please, please, please take some photos and send them to me for the blog!

Anyway Guys - have a drink for all your missing collegues and send us a text message, we will be thinking of you all.

Yay South Africa won a rugby game !

A reunion with the "Balnaves"

Hi everyone

I mentioned in my last e-mail about us visiting SA on the way to Aus, and about trying to plan a meeting day. We have made a lunch booking at The Secret Garden in Norscot Manor, Fourways. I picked up the directions etc by searching for The Secret Garden in Fourways. It also gives you menus and prices (Unfortunately we cannot offer to pay for everyone but I think the prices seem reasonable). It has an outside childrens play area and big lawns. Also bring a picnic blanket because if the weather is okay, you can eat out on the grass (their food I guess, but they have cakes and snacks etc), and we can move out onto the grass after the meal

We are booking for Sunday 3rd at 12 noon for Sunday roast dinner. If you will be there for lunchtime they suggest you book. I have told the Secret Garden that if you are joining us, you will phone them and book yourselves, but ask that you be at the Balnave table (I have asked for either a big table depending on how many of you phone to add on to our booking or else tables that are next to each other and we can move around).

If you are not eating a big lunch with us, then please pop in in the afternoon (they close at 5pm so make it lots earlier) for snacks and drinks (see menu). You may want to book a table anyway for the later time, in case the weather is bad and we have to be indoors.I am sorry we are not going to have much time in SA but would love to see you. Please mention this to anyone you know who knows us, as not everyone is on e-mail.

The Secret Garden phone number is: 467 1191

Look forward to hopefully seeing lots of u.
Luv Jean, Kenny, Skye and Amy

Charles Castle ... watch this space

Photos

Does anyone have any photos from the old Premier Milling days? It would be so cool to put them up here for everyone to see. Send them to me if you do at the gmail address!

How did our mothers let us go out like that?

Do you remember those BIG specs? I told Gwen I wouldn't put this picture up on the blog but I couldn't resist. This was taken in June 1992 or 1993 when I was working at Premier.

By the way I haven't smoked for 15 months tomorrow and Derrick is going on 5 - pretty good!

The "Balnave" family Holdiday

Hi Kenny,

Thanks for the message in the visitors book, how about sending us some updated photographs for the blog, if not now then when you get back from your round the world trip to Australia, South Africa and the States. Who knows you may even get to see some of the ex-premiers.