I
got to know Oom (Uncle) Piet in 1970 when my cousin married his daughter.
Later on he was the Stationmaster at Thompson Junction when I was
transferred there as a Centralised Train Controller.
We were both avid fishermen and caught Tiger fish in the Zambezi river. He was actually the one that taught me to catch Tiger, but I am transgressing.
We were both avid fishermen and caught Tiger fish in the Zambezi river. He was actually the one that taught me to catch Tiger, but I am transgressing.
Oom Piet
was going to Bulawayo with the mail train and I asked him to buy me
an arc welder while he was in town.
When he
arrived back from Bulawayo I heard him from miles away shouting at
me. What had happened was this.
He bought
the welder and had to cart it to the train at Bulawayo station.
Those who know the station know that you have to walk around the end
of the train in order to embark, meaning the trains were pushed
backwards into the station. This meant walking some distance in
order to get to your compartment.
This
welder weighed around 30 kilos and was packed in a box.
When the
train stopped at Thompson Junction, Oom Piet shouted to me to come
and collect this piece of lead because he was not going to carry it
one yard further.
We got on
famously and Oom Piet has since retired and living with his daughter
and son in law in Durban. Sadly Oom Piet died in 2006.
Ref. Rhodesia
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