Sunday, May 30, 2010

TIME

It's just over a week until I start work, and suddenly all the things I had time to do when I was unemployed for over 3 months have come to the fore and I have to try and get them done in a week ... I guess that is just not going to happen!


Macbeth:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Macbeth Act 5, scene 5, 19–28

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

cat stevens Wild World


I've been listening to a lot of Cat Stevens lately, I have always loved his music since I was a child, the words of this song are so true.

OCEANOS Survivors' Stories

I was delighted to receive and Advance copy of the book "OCEANOS Survivors' stories" in the post yesterday, actually it was while I was sitting watching the Oceanos production on NBC's website, that the door bell rang.  The post man had a bundle of stuff for me it felt like Christmas, and amongst this was the book from Ian Uys.   He even signed and dated it.

What was more unbelievable was that the book contained my whole story as I wrote it on my Oceanos blog, also majority of the photos that I sent him are in the book too.  So last night I went to bed early so I could read, and by the time I put the book down two hours had past, my story is intermingled with other survivors stories, which makes for fascinating reading as I know my story, but don't really know anyone else's.

My name and my photographs are all over the book and I am first mentioned in Chapter 1, page 1 " Cape of Storms" in the last paragraph and then all over the book, it's weird reading my story in a book.  I have not gained financially from this book, but who knows where it may lead to.

If you would like a copy of the book, you can order directly from Fortress Books, it retails for R195.00 plus postage of R20.00 per book.

Here are the details:
Fortress Books,P O Box 2475,
Knysna, 6570
South Afica
Call or Fax Us at:
Tel (027) 044 382 6805 Fax (027) 044 382 6848.
E-mail us at fortress@iafrica.com

For local USA orders contact:
Uys Enterprises

1159 Luthersville Road
Luthersville, GA 30251
partsforsale@uys.com
 



http://uys.com/fortress/index.htm

Monday, May 24, 2010

The Dream Catcher ... our little star

Our little angel took part in her second show at the Olympia on Saturday, and she really was a little star.  They had to sing "The Climb" which is a song made famous by Mylie Cyrus and song on the final of the X factor show in December 2009.  Overall the show was very good but not as good as the previous one.  Here are some pictures.

America, America

 was just surfing the NBC web page and came across an article about the USA citizenship, so I decided to take the test and not knowing anything about American History I thought I did pretty well getting 40% but obviously not.  Try the test yourself (that is if you are not American, although it may be interesting to see how many Americans fail this test).  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37279732/ns/us_news-immigration_a_nation_divided/

Could you pass latest citizenship test?
You answered 40% of questions correctly. Here's your rating: 

0-20%:
 Maybe you're still thinking too much about the Old Country.

25-40%:
 Mmmm. Do you really want to be a citizen? This kind of performance isn't going to impress those nice immigration folks.

45-60%:
 Not too bad, but you really need to break out the civics books again -- word is, the INS is looking for an 80 percent score.

65-80%:
 Hey, you may make a good citizen yet! Look at your wrong answers and a little revision should do the trick.

85-100%:
 Welcome to the United States! (And, truth be told, you know more about this great land than most Americans.)

Scroll down to see answers for each question.
 Also, please let us know what you think about the quiz. The feedback is appreciated.

Moving to Cape Town



A man walks into his bedroom and sees his wife packing a suitcase.  He asks, "What are you doing?"  


She answers, "I'm moving to Cape Town. I heard prostitutes there get paid R400 for doing what I do for you for free."  


Later that night, on her way out, the wife walks into the bedroom and sees her husband packing his suitcase. When she asks him where he's going, he replies, 


 I'm coming too, I want to see how you're going to live on R800 a year! 

Sunday, May 23, 2010

I got a job!

So the news is I got a job, in a way it is very strange how this job came about.  When I finished up with the company I was contracting for in Feb, the MD actually offered me this job, but at a very junior level and my words to him were, "if I am desperate, I might take it".

So for the next three months I tried to get something off the ground with contracting, but nothing was biting so I applied for tons of job, went for a few interviews. A couple of times I wanted to pick up the phone and phone the MD and say, if the job is still going I will take it - but I just couldn't get to put my pride in my pocket and do it.   Then about two weeks ago, I saw that the company advertising, so I sent my CV in just on the chance.  My immediate reaction was, I know I am not going to get the job because the MD had already offered it to me and I had turned it down and also now they probably had hundreds of applicants and I would not make the cut.

However, the lady that was interviewing for the position phoned me and said they were doing first round interviews and because they knew me, they would not ask me to come in for a first interview but would automatically put me in for the second round interviews.  In the meantime I was applying for other jobs as well.  So on Monday the lady phoned me and asked me to come in on the Tuesday, I did not even mention to D I was going for the interview as I just did not want us both to be disappointed, so off I went and when I got there all the guys I used to work with were close to the kitchen / reception area and thought I had just popped in to visit, but I had to be all professional.  It was so cool to see how happy they were to see me.  Anyway I went in for the interview and it went well, they told me they would let me know either way by next Monday.  I didn't really hold too much hope.

Then on Wednesday I had another interview with a personnel agency and Friday another one, but on Thursday night they phoned and offered me the job and their words were, now it is not because the MD has spoken so highly of you, it really is because you have the most experience and you will fit in so well with the team.  I slept on the offer and phoned her back the next day to say I will take the job.

But yet I feel apprehensive and I know it's because our lives are going to change so much now.  Em will be going off to an after school centre, and I won't have the flexibility to pick her up from school and spend the afternoons with her, so I am sad and especially as she is growing up so quickly before my eyes.  I also wish that I could have the summer off to spend with Emily, I was just thinking the other day that if I don't have a job offer soon I am just going to leave it until September.  Then I was thinking about how I could spend the days with Em, but I guess I no longer have to worry about that.

I guess at this point I have to be grateful that I have been offered a job especially with a company I love working for.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

"Miracle on the wild coast" - NBC, America

I just had a phone call and email from Justin @ NBC in New York to tell me that after many months of getting an Oceanos production together, they will be airing it on NBC tomorrow evening, 23rd May 2010, but here is the email he sent me:
Just wanted to pass along some exciting news. Our Oceanos program, "Miracle on the Wild Coast" is set to air here in the states tomorrow night, Sunday May 23rd. The show is Dateline NBC and we are on at 7pm (1900) EST (for any of your states-based readers.) So sorry about the last minute notice. I just found out myself a day or two ago and it's a bit of a sprint to the finish.
After our airing, most of the show will be available to watch on our website: www.dateline.msnbc.com   ...along with a slideshow and some web exclusive clips featuring more rescuers and survivors whose interviews didn't make the television program. The show, incidentally is an hour-long and reported by our correspondent Keith Morrison.
Here is a clip from tomorrow nights show.




Thursday, May 20, 2010

The Best Agony aunt reply I have read in a very long time ...


What The Cup Should I Do?

Thursday, May 20, 2010
Reads: 185 | Comments: 0 | 1700
Hi Shelli


I am a middle aged man living in South Africa. Everybody I know seems to have a tacky looking flag stuck on their car and some sort of wing mirror condom fitted. I can’t raise the slightest interest in anything to do with FIFA World Cup because I know we are all being ripped off by the Fat Controller (aka Sepp) and his merry men. How am I going to get through the next six weeks?


Peter (Parkhurst)


Hi Pete,


I know the purpose of this column is for me to be all gentle and supportive, but really, you sound like a bit of a whiner. I can only hope that you aren’t like this at work.


I could go into a lot of detail about your low self-esteem, deep-rooted anger at your father and slight homophobic tendencies, but every woman worth her salt knows that men never listen to a word we say. So it seems a bit of a waste of time, to be honest.


But if it’s any consolation, you’re not alone. In fact, my husband feels exactly the same way.


I, on the other hand, am trying my level best to get into the World Cup Spirit. And while I have bought tickets to the opening match and admittedly have a “tacky looking flag” stuck on my car (well, half a flag really - the flag bit broke off and so now I just have the little white stick), I am not that excited about ANY of it. And not because of any “Fat Controllers ripping us off” (I pay my Eskom bill every month, I’m used to the feeling) but because at the end of the day, it’s really just a group of men running chasing a ball around a field. And where’s the fun in that?


I feel the same way about Rugby. Early on in our marriage, before he lost the will to live, my husband took it upon himself to teach me the ins and outs of this strange game but ended up not speaking to me for at least three days when I happened to mention that it’s all a bit … gay, to be honest. And while I am quite happy with what people get up to behind closed doors, I really don’t want to spend an entire Saturday afternoon sitting on the couch watching men huddle up together in a “scrum” while surreptitiously touching someone’s bum. Long after the ball has disappeared.


Then there’s that funny little “lift” that Rugby players do when they are standing in a straight line. Two team members pick another one up (again by the bum, funny that) so that he can catch the ball. Which is thrown right at him, really, so it’s not THAT hard. Then they get all excited when it lands right in his outstretched arms, and there’s even more hugging. It has actually gotten to the point where I half expect one of the players to do a little happy dance when he’s told that he will be pulled off at half time…


Look, to be fair, Soccer is SLIGHTLY more of a manly game than Rugby because they actually have to score a goal, instead of Rugby players who just “try”. And soccer team members seem able to multitask by running AND kicking – instead Rugby players where one runs as fast as he can, the other one jumps on people all the time and another one gets to kicks the ball. But the truth is that I really can’t see myself screaming at the TV for six endless World Cup weeks in the hopes that one of the soccer coaches or referees can actually hear me.


But still, I think it’s important that I make some effort to support this national landmark. I’ll attend the opening match, I’ll cheer and shout where appropriate and try VERY hard to stay focussed on the players (instead of mentally giving the people sitting in the seats in front of me a makeover.) And I’ll attempt to look interested while the WCZs (World Cup Zealots) analyse each and every moment of each and every game.


And I would suggest you do the same.


Pretend.


Fake it.


Feign interest.


In fact, ask your wife or one of your ex-girlfriends to show you how. It’s remarkably easy.


Trust me!


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Oscar Wilde

I really need to read more, a friend of mine bought Em a book of children's stories by Oscar Wilde, now if at that time I had to think off the top of my head what stories Oscar Wilde wrote I wouldn't have been able to tell you.  Then when I picked up the book to read Em a story I saw "The Happy Prince" and remembered it from my childhood, our English teacher would read us stories like this in class.

I have a new appreciation for these stories now, they are brilliant and the softie that I am, when I read the stories to Em I have to fight back the tears because a lot of them are just so sad, especially "The Nightingale and the Rose", which is about love and how a nightingale tries to help a young man win the love of his life by creating a red rose using the blood from his heart, the nightingale dies, the young man picks the red rose to take to his love to ask her to go with him to the dance, yet she refuses because the young man is not of aristocratic blood.  So the Nightingale's death was all in vain, so sad.

The three stories I can think of right now that I loved reading were:

The Selfish Giant
The Happy Prince
The Nightingale and the rose

Definitely a book worth having on your book shelf.

Some interesting Facts about Oscar Wilde(Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, 16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) 
  • He was born in Dublin, his mother was a writer and his father in the medical profession, he attending Trinity College and later Magdalen College at Oxford university.
  • In 1884 he married Constance Lloyd and they had 2 sons she was from a wealthy family.
  • He is said to have been bisexual but mainly homosexual.  He went on trial for his homosexuality and was sentenced to 2 years hard labour.
  • After Oscar's downfall, his wife Constance took on the name Holland for herself and her 2 boys.
  • He was a Socialist.
  • Although a proficient and versatile writer, Wilde only wrote one novel during his lifetime: “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” published in 1891.
  • Went on a lecture tour throughout the United States, London and Canada to teach aesthetic values in 1879.
  • Regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of the Victorian Era, Wilde wrote and produced nine plays. 
  • Nine biographies have been written on Wilde since his death, one of them by his grandson, Merlin Holland, in 1997.
  • Several biographical films, television series and stage plays have been produced on the life of Oscar Wilde since 1960.

Where has everyone gone?

Wow, I really got a weird feeling today.  I had an appointment in town at 10 and thought if I left at 9, I should just make it fighting my way through the traffic.  Well to say I was gob smacked is an under statement, the drive into town was so smooth, hardly any traffic, after finding the place I still had 20 minutes to spare - I thought there would not be parking and I would have to park miles away as it is also close to one of the hospitals, but I was astounded to say the least that I have never seen so many parking spaces open in the middle of town before.

Leaving town I went up past Merrion Square, in this street there are only old Georgian houses which have been turned into offices, practically every 2nd house had a "To Let" or "For Sale" sign on it.  The traffic was also not normal Dublin traffic and I sailed home in a matter of minutes.

It seems like everyone has taken flight, I know a lot of people have gone back to where they came from and on a daily basis I see young Irish people queuing outside the American Embassy obviously looking for student and work visa's.   It seems like all the young people are doing what they did 20 years ago, finishing their studies and applying for their passports.  Ireland seems to be a scary place at the moment.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Aqua Aerobics

I decided to try the aqua aerobics today as it is part of the club, so logic said, your 2nd assessment is at 12:15 so why not do the aqua aerobics at 10:45, and then you will be nicely warmed up.
I have only ever done aqua aerobics once before in my life and that was when I was pregnant with Emily and hubby sent me to Powerscourt Spa for the day, and they had aqua aerobics.  From what I could remember it was gentle water exercises, nothing too strenuous.

Oh my word, I was so wrong when I thought this would be the same, my personal trainer took us for the aqua aerobics class, and she must be related to my old PT teacher because she worked us for 45 minutes without a break.   She also kept reminding me that I had a session with her at 12:15 which wouldn't have been so bad had I not been totally wrecked by the time I had finished, because you see before the aerobics I did about 8 laps in the pool as well and a few warm up exercises - I don't think I am cut out for all this physical torture, cut me some slack here. 

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Favorite's

I came across this one on Nubia, it was my all time favorite song that we sang in assembly in primary school  ... love it ♪♫

Saturday, May 15, 2010

FRIENDS

Never look back...
Never regret...
Never remember
the people you've met.
Never begin...
And never end...
Never say never
when it comes to your friends!"

People who love you
people who you love back
people that will always be there for you
through the good times and the bad
they make you happy when you are sad
they are angels that have yet to earn their wings
they are your dearest friends

"Friends are like your second family only closer"

"Who says there are no miracles? there are friends aren't there?"

"Friends are the roses of life: pick them carefully and avoid the thorns."

"Friends stand beside each other through thick and thin, every time you need me i will always be there for you. You make me happy, you make me laugh, you are the best friend anyone could ever have. BEST FRIENDS."


"Despite the advice about choosing your friends wisely, you really can't choose your friends. They choose you.

 "I may never get the chance to win the lottery. I may never get the chance to go on vacation. But I have the chance to be your friend, that chance I'll take."

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though they know you are slightly cracked

A person without any friends is like a tree without its roots."

We can't call people without wings angels, so we call them friends instead."

"Friends aren't jumper cables, you don't throw them into the trunk and pull them out for emergencies."

"Friends are like bras...they give lots of support"

My God, this is a hell of a job. I have no trouble with my enemies. I can take care of my enemies all right. But my damn friends, my goddamn friends. They're the ones that keep me walking the floor at night."

Good friends come and good friends go, but only the best friends stick around forever."

Met you as a stranger
Took you as a friend
Hope we meet in Heaven
Where friendship never ends"

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends whom we choose."


The making of friends, who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man's success in life."

 "A person is only complete when she has a true friend to understand her, to share all her passions and sorrows with, and to stand by her throughout her life."

Money might make you wealthy, but friends makes you rich."

"You don't 
make friends, you earn them."

"When your 
looking for friend don't look for perfection, just look for friendship."

Keep your eyes upon me, keep me in your sight, Help me don the crooked road, lead me to the light. The road I'm on is dark, I'm not sure if I know the way, Yet with you right beside me, I'm certain I won't stray. Protect me from the world, I know we'll make it through, Give me all the strength I need..... Let me lean on you."

You cannot say you've lost a friend. If a friendship is capable of ending, it is because it never existed."

Having someone who understands is a great blessing for ourselves. Being someone who understands is a great blessing to others."

 "You only meet your once in a lifetime friend... once in a lifetime."

 True friendship, unlike love, always lasts forever."

"If you are going to gain anything in life, gain a friend, they will always be there, and that makes all the difference in the world."

Most people come into our lives and quickly leave. It is the special few that come in and leave a footprint in our hearts. and we are forever changed."

False friends aren't always that bad because it shows you about yourself and teaches you to be strong and life goes on."  (NOTE TO SELF)

"Remember that every good friend was once a stranger"


 "When you ask God for a gift, Be thankful if he sends not diamonds, riches, nor pearls, but the love of real true friends."

Choose your friends by their character, and choose your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable."

 "One should try to make 
new friends everyday, without the company of friends life is barren, and has no meaning. One should learn the art of making friends, because at the end of the life we remember our friends"

Truth is the strongest bond that exists between two people. if you lie or break a promise then you have broken that bond, which only time can heal." 

Truths for Living

Friday, May 14, 2010

South Africa ... A funny blog!

While there are so many negative blogs out there about South Africa, and of course those that just publish the facts and all the doom and gloom, it is nice and refreshing to come across a blog about South Africa that is so positive and full of inspiration, I reckon anyone who needs to feel positive about South Africa should read Cam's blog "ParkLife", he is so witty and funny and he came up with a brilliant song for the soccer world cup!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Happy Anniversary Honey



Wow, 15 years and we have accomplished so much.  It's hard to think that when I met you, you were a computer operator at the company we were working.  I often used to have to come down to watch the payslips being printed or IRP5's and stuff.  You all had really good manners and I would just sit in the recess room and have coffee brought to me and sit and chat, that was 20 years ago - to think I have known you that long, half my life.

Although we only started dating a year before we married, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.  We both have flaws and the great thing is we don't notice them.  You taught me to appreciate nature and animals, I taught you that the world was a lot bigger than you thought.  And all the distances we have covered in our lives, both together and apart have brought us ever closer together.

I sometimes think I don't deserve you, you go out of your way to buy me special gifts even if I tell you not to buy me anything and always, always hunt for the soppiest card so that I can cry every time I read it, don't you know that tissues cost money :).

You are a wonderful Husband and father and I don't know what I would do without you, I hope the next 15 years will be as awesome and eventful as the past.  I love you very much!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Birthday Parties


It's coming up for the BIG 7th birthday this year, and for once I am at home to organise it.  I decided to surprise Emily by making her a Tinkerbell cake, I still not quite sure how I am going to do it, but the intentions are there.  I must say that over the past few years, it doesn't matter how shabby my cake has looked - but in Em's eyes it is always the best cake she has every seen.

I need to go past the toy shops and pick up a few bits and pieces for decorating and find a candy store too.  So wish me luck with this project, lets hope it turns out okay.


Here are some photos of Em's past birthday cakes: http://thetalesofrosieroo.blogspot.com/p/birthday-cakes.html

Monday, May 10, 2010

The road is long, with many a winding turn ...

So fact I have been at home since the middle of Feb now and slowly going out of my mind, so sick to death of people asking me "how the job hunting is going", I probably know how Malcolm feels now because I ask him the same.  I could possibly write a book about the Job market in Dublin at the moment.

Well I have been thinking about joining a Gym since the beginning of the year and even went so far as to do some research on line and go and have a look at one, but did not tickle my interest.  Then on Thursday I was at the shopping center and some guy was handing out free passes to the Gym across the road, which I had been into once before, only to use the loo and thought it was really nice.

 So on Friday the salesman gave me a call and normal sales talk if you don't take up the offer today, it won't happen again.  So after fetching Em from school on Friday, I went round to see them and ended up joining for a year - really good deal (if I use it regularly) and Emily gets to use the Swimming facilities for only an extra €4.50 a month.

Today I went for my assessment as part of the deal to sign up was you get a free personal trainer.  The personal trainer I was supposed to have wasn't there so Laura ended up doing my assessment and taking me for my first workout, she was great and the wonderful thing about her was she did not look like twiggy, and 90% of the other people in the gym did not look like Twiggy either, so I felt good!  I ended up doing about a 35 minute workout, and then spend about 45 minutes in the pool, heaven - I haven't swum since we were in Tahiti last year so it was so nice to be able to do 8 - 10 laps in the pool.

However, I had a shower and got dressed at the Gym and headed home but felt so exhausted like I was going to fall asleep behind the wheel, but I must say it was really good and I am going to try and keep up the routine now at least until I get a job and then I will have to change from going during the day to either 6 in the morning or last thing in the evening, unless of course I win the Lotto and then I won't have to work at all.

Awesome Week-end

So we never quite had the temperature, but none the less the weather was sunny and we had Lynn over from the UK for the week-end, so it was a bit of a deviation from the normal week-end.  Lynn arrived on Friday afternoon and D fetched her from the airport, we thought at one stage she wasn't going to make it due to the ash cloud but she did.

So after a quick dinner at home, we headed off to the O2 to see KISS, I wasn't really looking forward to the concert, but I think I had built myself up to it and it was nice to get out.  Outside the O2 girls and guys were getting their faces painted, and inside the O2 a few guys had the full KISS costumes on, one so convincing he looked like Gene Simmons.  The concert was really good and the pyrotechnics were awesome.  And of course the music, guitars and Drums really good.


Saturday we picked up Em and then headed to the park, had lunch, waited for Em while she did her dress rehearsal and then went home and just chilled.  Sunday we took it easy, had a big breakfast and then headed up to the hills for a drive and then all to soon it was time for Lynn to get her flight back.  The end of a really nice week-end.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Note to self ...

You got to toughen up girl and stop wearing your heart on your sleeve, the world is never going to treat you the same way that you treat it.  Your expectations of people are way too high, and you get disappointed over and over again.  You are never going to meet true friends again, your opportunities have come and gone and your true friends are the ones you can count on one hand, you know that because your mother used to tell you that over and over and over again.

Stop letting people walk all over you, stop being so generous, stop and remember that the only important people in your life are those that live with you and you don't need anyone else!  Because whoever they are, they are just going to disappoint you time and time again!   Stop being so honest and stop offering to help, because it gets you absolutely no where in life!  You have to toughen up girl and start being ruthless, start playing the same game that everyone else out there is playing.   Remember when people treat you badly you don't need them in your life, you have proved this, you're not the one who will be loosing anything!

STOP and smell the flowers and leave the world to get on with themselves.  You are the luckiest person alive and you need to remember that, you don't need false friends people who are only out to gain something from you, because you know you are generous and kind and not everyone is like that.  Time to get on with the rest of your life girl, and forget about things that aren't important ... remember not important in your life!

Need to remind myself everyday ... NOTE TO SELF

You got to toughen up girl ......

Monday, May 3, 2010

Dawn of the "Ice Age"

I always go onto Accuweather.com to check the weather, tonight was kinda of scary :

Forever Charlie ...

I don't know how many of you remember the song "Charlie" by Rabbitt, but this song will always hold a special place in my heart and I will tell you why.

When I started High School at 12 years of age, I had come from a very disciplined primary school which had high expectations of all it's pupils.  The High School I attended took in pupils from about 7 or 8 different primary schools, so it turned out there were 11 classes of Standard 6's with 40 pupils in each class and I landed up in the naughtiest class of them all.  The age group on my class ranged from 12 to 16 (some of the guys had failed 3 times and kept back).

Anyway to cut a long story short, I had a few friends in my class but used to hang around with Jenny and Jo-Anne, Jo-Anne started dating a guy in our class called Luis.  Luis was lovely he was Spanish, and lived in Regents park.  Luis had a special musical talent, he could sing, play guitar and the drums and in 1977 Rabbitt was on top of the charts and all the girls would go mad for them, so of course Luis would play cover versions of Rabbitts songs, he would often bring his guitar to school and then after school he would play for us, I always thought his version of Charlie was just so much nicer than the original and I even taped him singing.

After standard 6 Jo-Anne went to a different class, but Luis and I were in the same class for standard 7.  After standard 7 we had to choose what subjects you were doing up to matric and Luis went to a different class, we also didn't really hang out anymore, Luis & Jo-Anne split up but still remained friends.  Then one fateful night in 1979 Jo-Anne, her sister, another girl from our school Antoinette, Luis and another friend of his all went off to a nightclub.  On the way home they the driver somehow hit a lamp post in La Rochelle and Luis who was sitting in the front passenger seat and Jo-Anne sitting behind him were killed instantly.

Such a waste of two beautiful people and beautiful talents.  So every time I listen to Rabbitt and especially the song Charlie, I think of Jo-Anne and Luis.

I knew Luis had a little sister and because she was quite a bit younger than us, I never really thought about her.  Well I had some photos of Luis posted on Facebook under The Hill High School and Christina, Luis sister got hold of me on facebook and also Rui who is in this photo and was friends with Luis.