My Background

I grew up in a very conservative dutch home.

My father was born in Opperdoes in the Netherlands and after the war grew up in Flisinghen Zejland. He immigrated to South Africa with his family because there was no future for the 6 brothers in the Netherlands.
My mother was born in Boegoeberg, a daughter of German farmers from South West Africa . They were given farms in the Kanonkop Eiland and Upington area to farm, before WW2. My mom’s family spoke only Afrikaans. My mom was 1 of 8 children of which al 8 is still alive with their spouses. We have had a few 60 years and 50 years marriage celebrations already.

My dad learned to speak Afrikaans without any accent, so that nobody could hear his Dutch accent and label us as “kaaskoppe”! To him it was very important to be a South African and to be accepted as such. Half his family and our cousins were brought up English and the other half Afrikaans. It was always so interesting to hear the dutch, Afrikaans and English when the family got together. My dad and his brothers only speak Dutch to each other. I never had a problem understanding Dutch, even when spoken very fast, and often had to translate to my poor mom, who could get totally lost in their very fast speaking. My dad always made sure that there was a supply of dutch reading material, and with reading, I managed to keep track of the language, although the pronouncing of the words are not easy on my tongue . 2 of my dad’s brothers died at a fairly young age in a car accident and of cancer.

My dad was very strict, and my mom supported him in everything. She never did anything against his wishes, and us children knew exactly where the boundaries were. My mom never worked, and was a super organiser and housewife. She did everything for us and was always the one taking us and our friends to- where ever! She was a very strong woman.

Me, at the age of 2 in 1965

Middle sister at age of 2 1969

Baby sister at age of 2 in 1973

We grew up in such a protected environment, and didn’t know of half that was going on in the world out there. We were all very sporty. I played tennis, table tennis and hockey. I also competed in Athletics – 800m, 1500m and cross country. My mom and dad supported every match we played or races we ran. We lived quite close to school and rode bicycles to school and home.
My mom couldn’t finish her matric, as my grandfather became ill, and she had to go and work. Her dream was to become a teacher. My father was taken out of school when he turned 16, to go work in the family business. With their shattered dreams, they had a life mission to give us the opportunities they never had. They managed to send all 3 of us to University to do a degree without study loans. They could work with money like no one else if have ever known. Today they have retired fairly well, and even offered to pay any grand child that goes to varsity’s class fees and text books. To them the most important thing in life is to qualify yourself, so that you can support yourself. Their view is that nobody needs to inherit anything, as long as all the children have sufficient qualifications to be able to support themselves and their families

My DAD & MOM celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on the 1st December 2008.

They still support us so much & I speak to my mom every day on the phone. They surely are 2 wonderful people & he best parents anybody could ask for.