Life Trove

16 January 1996

Jo and Anthony's wedding

Video Highlights

My toast to the bride and groom

Anthony's speech

Gran and Gamps moments

Highlights

My Toast

Ladies and gentlemen

It is my pleasure to propose the toast to the bride and groom today. But before I do that I would first like to tell you all a little story. It is a story about a hero and heroine who are known to us all and it goes something like this.

Once upon a time there was a fine young chap called Anthony. He lived aa happy life in Pinelands with his three zany housemates but there were times when he felt he was missing a little special something shall we say. Then one cold blustery evening in the middle of winter when he was partiularly missing that little something, he was invited to a glue-vine party. He walked in and was just about to get stuck into the glue-vine when suddely, flash, bam, alla ka zam, his whole world crashed in front of him for there in front of him was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

Now if you ask Anthony about this moment, he will go into the most explicit detail. He'll tell you exactly what clothes sh was wearing, how beautiful her smile was, how her eyes sparkled, right the way down to the fact that her feet were bare and she was carrying a plate of sausage rolls. It was quite simply love at first sight.
You may be wondering what was going through Jo's mind at this time. Obviously for the purposes of our story it would be great to say that our hero and heroine fell instantly into each others arms at first site but it wasn't quite a simple as that. To be honest, when I asked Joanne to recall her side of the events, she couldn't quite remember Anthony being at the glue-vine party that night.

But Antony wasn't deterred. Being the hero he is he persisted, he made sure he bumped into Jo whenever he could and way and behold, soon she noticed him and thought he was rather delicious too.

Now it all came together a few weeks later when Jo and Anthony were together at a music concert and as they were jostled about in the crowd, Jo turned to Anthony and said "Antony, please take hold of my hand because I don't want to lose you. It was at this very moment, Antony being the perceptive chap he is, that he realised that thing were hotting up suffieciently to make his big move. So after the concert, he took Jo out for frozen yoghurt and while they were sitting there, he surreptitiously placed his hand on JO'S Knee.

Now normally this seductive approach would have been fine. Many of us budding Valntinos have used it very successfully since time immemorial. But unfortunately poor JO was not expecting it and as Antony's hand was icey cold from holding his frozen yoghurt, Jo got the fright of her life and leapt a metre and a half off her chair. So that is how Antony and Jo began their fast and furious relationship. Anthony was fast and Jo was furious! Anyway, after that, our hero and heroine blossumed together and after a while, they decided they wanted to live together for ever, and that ladies and gentlemen is what we are here to celebrate together today.

When I was asked to propose the toast today, I read some articles on marriage`to get into the swing of things. And I read an article that said something very interesting. It said the problem with modern relationships is that many a young man who falls in love with a dimple, makes the mistake of marrying the whole girl. Now this caught my attention as Jo has particularly beauutiful dimples. One must perhaps ask - has Antony fallen into this trap. Well you don't need to reflect for long to know that the answer is definitely no - for although Jo does have beutiful dimples, she has 101 other special dimples that really set her apart. To name a few, she is the most loving and caring person you will ever meet, she is wonderfully down to earth and she has a lovely sense of fun. Anthony is also a very special guy. No matter what he is doing, whether he is downing a tall glass of Guiness, winsurfing on the Langebaan lagoon, causing chaos and mayhem on the gold course, he is someone who relishes life at every moment and together Jo and Antony make a dynamic couple.

My grandfather once gave me some advice for husbands and I would like to share it with Anthony`because it must be pretty good. My grandfather has been married to my grandmother for over 54 years. So here is his magic advice. Never forget that marriage is a wonderful thing. It teaches you loyalty, patience, understanding and a whole lot of other things you wouldn't need if you stayed single. Secondly if you ever forget your wife's birthday, don't fret. Simly say "Darling, how can you expect me to remember your birthday when you never look any older. Thirdly, there are only two ways to make your wife happy. First let her think she is having her own way, and secondly, let her have it. And lastly, when carrying your wife over the threshold, rememer to carry her sideways because a concussion and two broken ankles can really put a dampener on your honeymoon.

My grandmother also has some advice to give but as she says, men are so much easier to understand than women so her advice is much simpler. Know that a man is a domesticated animal which if treated with firmness and kindness can be trained to do most things. And lastly, let your husband rule the roos, but make sure that you rule the rooster.

Joanne and Anthony, you are two very special people. We all congratulate you on your marriage and hope that as you journey on your life toghether, your joys will be doubled and your troubles halved. May the most you ever wish for be the least you ever receive. May your marriage be filled with love and laughter and may you live for as long as you wish and receive all you want as long as you live.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the toast is Joanne and Antony, the bride and goom.

15 January 1996

The Otter Trail with Rory

Memories don't come better than this...

13 January 1996

Holiday to Paradise Island, Mozambique

.Summary

An idyllic week spent living in a delapidated hotel that used to be very fancy before the civil war. There were plans to do up the hotel in the future to reclaim it's past glory - but in the meantime they allowed us "backpacker" types to stay there for a low fee. It was rustic to say the least, but great fun and the beach and reef were gloriously unspoiled after such a long time without tourists.

Where

Highlights

Lazing on the beach
Snorkeling in the beautiful coral reefs
Trip to nearby Mazaruti
The very run down hotel
Using candles in the run down hotel room for the week, then discovering the lights were in working order
Meeting Melanie and her sister and having lots of fun with them
Lobster
The tiny plane we flew in on
Coconuts off the tree

2 September 1995

Dad letter

24 June 1995

South Africa's Rugby World Cup Triumph 1995

As a South African, the 1995 Rugby World Cup final was one of the most electrifying and emotional moments of my life. The tension was almost unbearable as we watched the Springboks battle the mighty All Blacks in a match that went into extra time, with every kick and tackle holding the weight of a nation’s hopes. Jonah Lomu, the towering force of the tournament, had been unstoppable throughout, but our team’s resolute defense rose to the challenge, making the victory even sweeter. Joel Stransky’s iconic drop goal to seal the win was a moment of pure euphoria, and seeing Nelson Mandela step onto the field wearing Francois Pienaar’s No. 6 jersey was a poignant symbol of unity and reconciliation in a country still healing from its past. It wasn’t just a game—it was a powerful moment of national pride and a reminder of what South Africa could achieve together.

Match details

Against New Zealand
Final score: 15 - 12

14 February 1995

A tribute to dad (1939 - 1995)

Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad. Anne Geddes

Biographical details

Name: Ivor Gerhard Myburgh
Born: 6th February 1939
Died: 5th February 1995 (Aged 55)
Father: Lambert Myburgh
Mother: Doris Myburgh
Married to Jill Lesley Sorrell in 1969
Children: Graeme Myburgh (Born 1970), Joanne Boting (Born 1972)
Occupation: Dentist
Hobbies: Making model trains

My Memories of Dad

His wonderful (and often naughty) sense of humour.
The way his eyes sparkled while telling a funny story.
His green eyes (the same shade as mine).
Patting mum's behind when they hugged.
Calling mum "didums".
His excitement when he completed his first big locomotive.
Going round and round the track on his train.
His steam train hat and the train pins.
Often laughing so much at his own jokes that he would start coughing.
Holidays to Eight Bells (and the crack of dawn starts).
The trip to Knysna and the Swartberg pass.
Telling me the dead cockroach I found in my bed at Knysna was a bed bug (I'll never forgive him!)
Camping at Uilenskraal (big breakfast fry ups, walking round the caravan park at night).
Teaching me to fish and to tie on hooks and sinkers.
Sharing a canoo for 5 days on the Orange River and capsizing on the rapid.
SA trip to Zululand (Umfolozi and Mkuzi wild life parks).
His video recorder - and the "train videos" he made.
Our family holiday to Mauritious.
Visiting Uncle Stan at Melkbos.
His love of visiting gran and gramps for his 11 am whisky.
His very soft spot for gran and gramps.
Gramps trimming dad's beard.
His red beetle and old Variant.
Helping dad to carry his locomotive to his car.
His hip shirts.
Trying to encourage me to drink beer, not cider (a girl's drink!)
His soft spot for Julian and helping him with his engineering project.
Working on his trains and lathes in the outside room.
His beautiful steam engines.
His generosity.
The steam club - especially Jimmy and Derek.
His wonderful speech at Julian's 21st.
Visiting Stan in Melkbos for a braai.
His special relationship with Uncle Jimmy and Derek.
The Viste Nova fete.
Picking us up in the variant and the red beetle (and being told by Jo to hide round the corner. so her school friends would not see her).
Falling asleep on the couch watching TV.
Our saturday night family TV (Magnum PI,A Team) with coffee and chocolate.
Listening to classics with a beat and "Pomp and Circumstance" on long car journeys.
His love of classical music and his music system.
Braaiing meat on "the barrel" and starting fires with petrol.
Introducing me to his favourite childhood book about the blind lumberjack and his dog (title unknown).
Buying Lima trains with me - both equally excited.
Burping after a beer.
Family camping with the big tent.
Putting up our tree house in the garden.
Taking me to the St Georges cathedral to get my matric marks.
His stamp collection.
Combing his hair in car before leaving the beach (much to the chagrin of people wanting his parking spot!)
His love of books on history and "The World at War" series.
His chain-saw and chopping down our big tree (and how he hurt his goolies when he slipped)
San marco icecream and walks at Sea Point - and going on the "choo choo" train.
Videoing us opening our presents at Xmas.
Helping us wash up (mum washed, I dried and handed to dad, dad handed to Jo, and Jo put away!)
Sleeping out on the patio (I tripped over him at 5 am in the morning after a party but he did not wake up).
His pride in his (once very high tech) music system.
His mountain bike (not used much!).
Making Tina widdle with excitement by opening his arms in greeting.
Swimming in the pool.
His love of surfing at Muizenberg.
Lazing on Boulders beach and St James.
His love of "Finance Week".
His expletive: "Jesus Crept".
His old camera (a veritable dinosaur!)
His squirrel ways (and the resultant cluttered maid's room).
Throwing the ball for Tina and Meg and shining the torch for Tina to catch.
Cleaning the dogs with "Dermadeath".
"Servicing his car in the driveway.
His love of chocolate ginger.
Taking one of my teeth out in his workshop.

Excerpt from a letter written to Dad, 4 months after his death

Dad, I never told you that I loved you but I did. That always seems to be the most tragic of regrets, doesn't it? I loved you for never forcing me to follow a line - you always let me be what I wanted; to follow my own path. I loved you for taking me on camps when I was little; for the fishing and those delicious camp meals you cooked us. Sometimes the love was so much, my heart would swell and my eyes would tear.

I loved it when you and I would go on our drives across the country to Knysna and Zululand - our so called "Trips for the Boys." We had some real chats during those times. And, Dad, I loved your sense of humour, the jokes you told, the way your eyes would sparkle, and you'de laugh so much you'd start coughing. You were so much fun when you were in your funny mood!

I loved you at Xmas when you'd video tape us - I'm going to cherish those videos of you and us for the rest of my life. They symbolise all that was good about our family. It was always great knowing that you and mum were there to call whenever we wanted. You were always there when we needed you. You were also so generous with your time, it was one of the reasons that I knew how much you loved Jo and I. And you were such a gentle person.

What I'm trying to tell you, dad, is that I loved you - love you - for the person you were and the father you were and the things you did, and it hurts like hell you'll never hear that. There will always be a big part of you in me, dad, in so many respects. I am like you in many ways and in some respects I am different - but just about everything I am has been influenced by you - and you'll be with me for the rest of my life.

Dad as a boy