Sep 5, 2009 | Friends and Family
This is a piece of family history. My grandfather was Professor Bromilow Bromilow-Downing (Brom to his friends, Prof to his students and colleagues, Major to some, just Grandpa to me), Dean of UCT Medical School for 20 years. He is honoured every year by a lecture given by someone greatly respected in the health care profession. This is known as the Bromilow-Downing Oration. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Oration.
From the SA Medical Journal, Volume 66, 6 October 1984:
The Bromilow-Downing Oration. The late Professor Bromilow Bromilow-Downing was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cape Town for 19 years from 1958 until his retirement in 1977. The professions allied to medicine, for which he did so much during his tenure of office, felt that an oration in his memory would be a suitable way to recognize this contribution.
I miss you, Grandpa. You were an extraordinary man. RIP xxx
Jul 22, 2009 | Friends and Family
My beautiful PA 😀
Happy Birthday!!!
See you later for more celebrations
xxx
Jul 9, 2009 | Friends and Family, Websites
HURRAH!
My Dad’s new website is live 😀
http://www.gone-fishing.co.za
My name is Pat Bromilow-Downing (@pbdphoto) and I am a 63 year old, semi-retired freelance photographer, living in Noordhoek, Cape Town.
I am on a journey of discovery.
My long term plan is to try and cover as much of the South African coastline , as possible in my little old Sprite Sport caravan, both photographically and fishing wise. I have already discovered that it will be unwise for me to try and get to places that are only accessible via dirt road.
I have now started the journey and am at a place called Brandkaros near Alexander Bay on the Orange River.
The first couple of posts are going to be catch up of how I wound up here.
Apr 23, 2009 | Friends and Family
Eish …
I don’t know whether to celebrate or commiserate!
But, she seems happy … she’s having a baby with “the man of her dreams” so I guess it’s all good.
Congrats Nats 😀
[ NO, NOT ME!! My li’l half sister in the States. ]
Apr 16, 2009 | Friends and Family, Kids, Personal
Just one more sleep until my “baby” turns 18 …OMG, there’s a whole lot of Over the Hill issues right there!
Jeez, I can’t frigging believe it. 18 years ago, I was in the middle of my 24-hour labour, gearing up to squeeze out my little girl. Yup, he was supposed to be a girl! I had pink blankies and everything wah!
Anyhoo … so tomorrow’s his big day and he’s organized a braai at a spot in Obs for all his nearest and dearest. That includes the X. And the X’s brothers …
So, yeah … that’s going to be tricky. Not so much with the younger uncle who I get along quite well with (he’s my age), but with the X’s twin, who lives in the UK. My last conversation with him was on the phone, just after the X had moved out. I’ll never forget what he said to me: “Yes well, if you were MY wife, I would have slapped you ages ago!” I haven’t spoken to him since.
I was incredibly upset at the time. Deeply hurt that someone could compound the pain of what I was going through with such unjustified cruelty. But then I decided “Fuck him. Fuck them ALL!” That whole side of my family was *obviously* going to side with their blood kin and I gave up trying to vindicate myself. I let them blame me, scold me and badmouth me because I knew that trying to defend myself to them would just seem pathetic and desperate.
They all lay the blame firmly at my feet. The X can do no wrong in their eyes and you know what? That’s fine with me because *I* know the truth and the people who matter to me also know the truth, no matter what lies were spread about me (and yes, I got to hear about some SHOCKERS). Not ONE of them bothered to talk to me about the situation or find out my side of the story. I’ve known these people for 30 years.
But, they are not my family anymore. I divorced out of their clan just over 2 years ago and they no longer have any hold over me. I’m not remotely interested in their lives and if I never had to see any of them again, that would be absolutely fine with me. But … I have to face them all tomorrow. And I shall, for my boy.
One good thing – SHE’s not going to be there. Her kids are though. That’s cool – they’re just kids and they had nothing to do with the ugliness. But she had everything to do with it and I told Son1 that I wouldn’t go if she pitched up. No way. Not for all the tea in China would I want to be around someone who (at HER bloody age) should have damn well known better but whom deliberately and cruelly set about to rip apart our family. If I ever see her again, I’m quite ready to beat the shit out of her.
Mmk, so then next thing that’s on my mind is that Son1 is doing his driver’s test at the crack of dawn tomorrow. (Good luck my boy!!!) And the X is buying him a car, which I am totally against. I’m not anti my boy getting a car, no … I’m anti the fact that it’s just being bought for him – a brand new Ford Fiesta (apparently). I think it’s crazy, over-the-top-spoiling. I would have liked to see him do something to EARN the car, instead of it just landing in his lap, with absolutely no effort on his part whatsoever. It’s not right.
*sigh*
Apr 6, 2009 | Friends and Family, Out and About
Friday pre-birthday festivities with my team at work 🙂
PREZZIES!!
Including THE most hysterical cow that dances to “I like to MOOve it, MOOve it!”
Vouchers for spa treatments. Chocolates and flowers. Cow cards.
Waking up on Saturday morning to find my phone just JAM PACKED with awesome
birthday messages. Feeling touched and loved.
Coffee and french toast in bed.
Pressies from Sir G.
Nine West voucher. Two Great books. New winter PJ’s.
Heavenly vanilla body lotion. More delicious edibles.
Teh Birthday Kitteh.
Happy Birthday serenade outside the bathroom door by 4 young lads with giggling apologies
as I emerge, wrapped in a towel: “Sorreh to catch you all half nekkid!”
PREZZIES!! Again 😀
Rad snakeskin drum sticks. Chuckles. More awesome spa vouchers. Fresh Woolies coffee. Flowers.
With 2 birthday cards that “totally weren’t made 10 minutes ago!”
A surprise delivery of magnificent flowers from SwissTwist.
Visit from my Dad, with more … PREZZIES!! And cards of specialness.
Divine book. External DVD writer. Gym ball. Mood ring.
Off to Forries for the arvy.
And EVEN MORE PREZZIES 😀
Big ‘n small kittehs. Squeezy cow pillow. The biggest birthday card ever.
Special shell. Coffee-flavoured cigarettes.
Another awesome book. Funky Springleap Tee. More gorgeous flowers.
Catching up with old friends – despite their overhangs and jet lag.
Meeting new peeps.
Chilipoppers that blew a couple of throats out.
Giving Matt a Blow Job WAH!
What a totally magic day 🙂
And I’m STILL getting birthday wishes … amazing.
Thank you EVERYONE for EVERYTHING you’ve done
to make my birthday TEH AWESOME!
