Wories - Fast drive & Curfews

[Tim-Gabz]

A vivid memory as an 11year old, growing up in Rhodesia, was a very fast drive, done by my mother in ‘76. We had arrived from South Africa, at Beitbridge late afternoon intending to stay over. The South African side had been slow and hot with national limit of 80km/h (50mph).We cleared the border checked in to Peter’s Motel. My father (had emphysema) had his first drink at the hotel when he started bad heart palpitations. There wasn’t a Doctor in town and the nearest was in Fort Victoria (Masvingo now) and the areas wasn’t safe after dark due to insurgents and sunset was at 6.30pm and generally not advisable to go out after 6pm. Some areas had sunset curfews.

My mum had us all in the car, dumped the luggage for collection, and we left at 5pm and covered the 188miles in under 1.5hrs. This was my chug along, sober mum. I recall looking over her shoulders and the needle was frequently at 140mph on the clock. The scenery passing fast the hills sweeping and twisting us, I barfed into my brother’s duffle bag!.

We arrived and hunted down the doctor who quickly found out that it was only the reaction of brandy with my Dad’s cough mixture (later withdrawn for that same reason) and nothing serious. My Mum sitting against the bonnet of the E-type in tears of relief. We checked into the local hotel and my mum was the one who had a stiff brandy. Dad had to settle for a Valium,,,,,,,,,

 

[Esav Benyamin]

She did what she had to do. And did it very well.
Good thing it worked out. I wonder sometimes how many problems are caused by medicine!

 

[sykes3170]

She did what she had to do. And did it very well.
Good thing it worked out. I wonder sometimes how many problems are caused by medicine!

Just about all of them. Either to much or not enough.

 

[Tim-Gabz]

My brother's godfather had the same problem same medicine and brandy at a major conference. What my old GP said that alcohol does not go with any medication. My Father was on a whole shebang of medications and there were occasional problems, but we had a superb GP, so old school he delivered my mother.......

 

[Steven65]

Cough mixture and brandy were probably the least dangerous things in Rhodesia in '76..........An E-Type does not have much of a back seat. You must have been bloody uncomfortable.........

How are your folks doing in Durban Tim? Have they settled in ok?

 

[Tim-Gabz]

The back seats for the E-type were cruel even for midgets. Beitbridge was also notoriously hot. That was the last time we did a family holiday in that car, and took the Triumph that had a great sun roof. The war was hotting up and the civilian convoys not in place yet. The following year was when the convoys occured on the border areas. My Dad was ambused twice later on in the E-type, the ambushes were set back and the E-type flying.

My Mum is faring ok, have enough to survive on. My stepfather is hustling for work at the moment to suppliment savings. They are safe and I will be going to see them this coming weekend. Their move was delayed more than they should have and they are battling to fit in with the bureacracy etc. Thanks for asking.