Comments on: Diamond Dogs

By: robert

robert — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:07:53 +0000

Oh yes I forgot to say, as kids we were given a fiver for every diamond we picked up in the street. It was not an uncommon thing to find a diamond. I kept finding diamonds that were too tiny to be concerned about and not worth handing in. I threw them back into the sand.

And semi-precious stones to us lot were just stones to be thrown at windows!!

By: robert

robert — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:05:20 +0000

I cannot tell you how many x-rays I had. As a kid going to SA to boarding school and playing sport at Springbok or Alexander Bay, than going on holidays with the family – it all added up to the point where two weeks ago I went to see a Consulting Dermatologist to ask what was happening to me.

Lesions had begun to appear on my torso. The first thought I had was that this is a result of the x-rays at Oranjemeund.

Thankfully they are not. Thus proving that the security giys at my place of birth knew what they were doing! We were not allowed radio-controlled model airplanes either in case we flew diamonds over the Orange in S Africa to a a waiting co-conspirator.

No private cars were allowed int the town while I was growing up. All cars had to be garaged at the bridge. Tinned food sent in parcels was x-rayed too. In fact so were water tanks for diving etc. Anything that could hid a stash was sent to the x-ray.

My dad had a few scares. His tobacco pouch had a few tiny stones (yes stones) in it. He was hauled off to a room to explain.

By: Rachie

Rachie — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:33:32 +0000

All I can say is that if anyone, ever, tries to persuade you to shop and cook for a long weekend for 28 people, punch them hard and run away while they’re recovering. No diamonds either. pah.

By: Kingston Girl

Kingston Girl — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 15:06:14 +0000

Bring back a diamond for me please. I’ve decided that I’d better get my own as it doesn’t look like any men are queuing up to buy ones for me!

By: Clare

Clare — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 06:28:34 +0000

My mate was in charge of the cooking at one of those VSO things once. He and another mate got so drunk it took them hours, well they were cooking in a potjke too. It was all ready to be served up when someone kicked the pot over….. bring emergency biltong!!

By the way, apparently you won’t find any birds near the diamond towns either, the guards shoot them because some people were using pigeons or something to carry the diamonds out. I have a great diamond-smuggling story which I will tell you offline!!

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 16:15:22 +0000

With a truckload of booze, what is the purpose of lentils or noodles?

Hope you’ll enjoy the time and return with lots of confetti.

By: Ria

Ria — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:58:23 +0000

Noodles would be handy too, just to make a change from the lentils. 400 bags?! *images of Blazing Saddles campfire scene*

Have a great time!