Bara, have you read Rainbow's End?

[adcooper]

It's a memoir by Lauren St. John about her childhood in Rhodesia. I ran across it because a child asked me to order some of the author's books for kids. (I did.) The memoir (not a children's book, apparently) looks intriguing. And there's even a horse on the cover!

[Bara]

Thanks, Ann. No, I haven't read it, nor have I heard of Lauren. Thank you - I'll look for her.

Strangely, as I think I've mentioned to you, I've had a flurry of Friends Reunited mails. Two 'girls' I went to boarding school with at about age 11 - in Zambia. And one who was the only other 'youngster' at our first paid employment, straight out of Uni.

Even stranger - she lives just out the other side of London, so we're planning to meet in town for a glass of Chardonnay! I'll pass your book tip on to her.

After she made contact, I actually FOUND a picture of the two of us. I was about 22 - she was about 19 (Dammm her, she's STILL younger!) Imagine that. She couldn't believe it!

Now will upload that pic and post here. Do you know when Lauren lived there? I hope it's more cheerful than 'Don't let's go to the dogs, tonight..'

Thanks, Ann.

[Bara]

Dated or what! Especially as it's black and white and covered in coffee stains! It's over 30 years old, a miracle I still had it and that Sandy found me. I think of it as a 'period piece'!

She's the girl with the braids, and such a pity she has her back to the camera. She's a model - even all these years later (Did I say Damm her, already?) We weren't models in those days. I worked for the PR department and Sandy worked as the Photographer's assistant - so they just 'used' us as free cheesecake in publicity shots. We didn't mind! I'll send your book link onto Sandy, thank you!

[adcooper]

What a fantastic photo! No wonder they asked you to model for them--pretty young things. I keep bumping into people who draw my interest to Africa ( a man from Rwanda I met recently, the young couple in Mozambique who will marry here later this month, now this author). May we have a photo next of you and your long-lost friend reuniting?

As for the book, I'm enjoying it. It's not like the Dogs Tonight book, but her parents were more passionate than sensible at times. I suppose mild-mannered young couples don't choose to live in the midst of active conflict with their yound children. You couldn't call these people overprotective! (Well, up to page 72, anyway. We'll see how they look by page 213 or so!)

[Bara]

EVERYONE is pretty between 15 and 25, I think. I wasn't, especially, but Sandy was/is. I can still hear my mother's comment :

"Sit UP! Why are you both slouching?"

We worked for Rhodesia Railways, which, as far as I know, was the last steam train line in the world. May still be so, for all I know! As I was in PR and Sandy in Photography, we had to greet all the weirdos from all round the world who came on 'train-spotting weeks'. I could still (but I won't) repeat the blurb about '20th class Garret engines. Narrow Gauge lines. Fireboxes. Taking on coal.' Bet Sandy could, too!

Don't worry. I won't... If I was 22 - that pic would have been 1974. The war only stepped up the following year (though our trains kept being hi-jacked!)

I haven't got the Lauren books yet (come ON Amazon!) No. People weren't over-protective. You just got on with it.

Africa is still dangerous - but still worth it.



I've ordered a number of Lauren's books, thank you.