“ON WHICH THE SUN HAS SET” has taken me thirty five years to write. It’s not that I write very slowly, but I had to spend the first twenty five years actually living the book. However, in an effort to avoid any upset or confusion, all the characters in the book are purely fictional, and resemblance to any person either living or dead is purely coincidental.
Mohales Hoek really did exist (and still does) and when I lived there from 1969 to 1992, the European population never did make it much above thirty souls in all, while the Basotho population was measured in thousands. By that time, the British District Commissioners had departed and the number of permanent residents were boosted by a succession of volunteer organisations and projects including the United Nations, the American Peace Corp, Volunteer Service Overseas from UK, the Irish, the Canadians, the Brits, the French and a host of others.
The Club continued to thrive up until the mid 1990’s but by then the glory days were finally over and I understand that it has now been closed down and sold off.
We did put on the production of ‘Hay Fever’ that Reg and Susie discussed; we held the Beery Golf Tournament for several years until alcoholic poisoning threatened to win the day; our dogs were all entered into The Mohales Hoek Dog Races and we held an annual Pentathlon. The Annual Dance became The Reverse Draw Dance and we finally ended Men Only Friday Nights and turned it into Club Supper Night.
We danced all night and then played tennis in our evening clothes; we survived several political upheavals, one of which resulted in my wedding being held during a military curfew; we bickered and fought, loved and hated, but when the chips were down, we all supported each other to the best of our ability.
I have completed my autobiography entitled "Cannibals to Croissants" which will be uploaded shortly. This is an account of the 23 years that I spent living in Mohales Hoek. But for the meantime, here is a look behind the doors of the Mohales Hoek Social Club and a peep into the world of Jeffrey and Betty, Jeremiah and Maletsatsi and Reg and Susie. Just remember, you won’t find any of them in the photos. Enjoy.
Mohales Hoek really did exist (and still does) and when I lived there from 1969 to 1992, the European population never did make it much above thirty souls in all, while the Basotho population was measured in thousands. By that time, the British District Commissioners had departed and the number of permanent residents were boosted by a succession of volunteer organisations and projects including the United Nations, the American Peace Corp, Volunteer Service Overseas from UK, the Irish, the Canadians, the Brits, the French and a host of others.
The Club continued to thrive up until the mid 1990’s but by then the glory days were finally over and I understand that it has now been closed down and sold off.
We did put on the production of ‘Hay Fever’ that Reg and Susie discussed; we held the Beery Golf Tournament for several years until alcoholic poisoning threatened to win the day; our dogs were all entered into The Mohales Hoek Dog Races and we held an annual Pentathlon. The Annual Dance became The Reverse Draw Dance and we finally ended Men Only Friday Nights and turned it into Club Supper Night.
We danced all night and then played tennis in our evening clothes; we survived several political upheavals, one of which resulted in my wedding being held during a military curfew; we bickered and fought, loved and hated, but when the chips were down, we all supported each other to the best of our ability.
I have completed my autobiography entitled "Cannibals to Croissants" which will be uploaded shortly. This is an account of the 23 years that I spent living in Mohales Hoek. But for the meantime, here is a look behind the doors of the Mohales Hoek Social Club and a peep into the world of Jeffrey and Betty, Jeremiah and Maletsatsi and Reg and Susie. Just remember, you won’t find any of them in the photos. Enjoy.
posted by coolcat at 12:33 PM
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