Mamma

She worked for the education department for more than forty years. At the start it was mostly private companies and computer programming. These were the very first computers, ancient stuff machine language, assembler, punch-cards and monstrous tape-machines.

Also she tried one or two other things. After having qualified as a teacher and librarian she worked at the official state school library. More recently she went on pension but had still been doing contract work.

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My parents were young when they married she was highly gifted and really beautiful and he was strong and handsome.

She supported the PFP seen as radical left wing those days and my father was HNP at the far right. On election day he locked her in the house so that she cannot vote. This is what happens when a soldier marries a woman with backbone.

My father was very proud of my mother's achievements and supported her studies as far he could with domestics, cooking and so on. As a small child I remember her only as very beautiful and very kind but firm and strict. And she knew many things. Incredibly many. It was not wine and roses but they looked after us the best they could. He died tragically at the age forty.

There was a stepdad this guy was a treat he was a character all-right. He was very good to our mother and us. He was well loved by all. They went on holiday often and camping and birdwatching almost every weekend.

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In academic studies at school she did well a top place the national science olympiad too but the teachers expected more from her it sounds as if she was a bit frivolous.

Well remembered as always a prolific and a natural speed reader easily managing three paper back novels in a day. Personally honestly I feel she was overdoing this.

Through Unisa she graduated a BA in three years with four majors. That takes some doing. Then post-graduate diplomas in teaching and as librarian, and then some years later a Master's in Business Leadership.

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My mother was very active in community work promoting literacy and reading among the youth and especially children. As well as many years of being involved in more domestic kinds of charities, supporting and family counseling.

Even until last year she was very involved with literacy and opening of school libraries especially in more rural areas. She was then retired for a few years already.

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She always loved overseas holidays and touring including Europe as well as more local, that is, Africa. There have been many traveling holidays with family and friends. Sadly there were still many aspirations. She and an indian friend visited India not so long ago. She enjoyed it tremendously.

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In hospital for five months she passed away in February this year. We didn't always get along so well but there was time to make some amends I am grateful. Visiting her her eyes were trusting and compassionate. Still there are things for which I have remorse. I did not always treat her with enough respect, as my late father had often reprimanded.

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My last visit to the hospital I can recall clearly, she was on a ventilator and could not speak with the oxygen mask on. I asked her, mother where do you want to go when you leave? I asked if she wanted to go to her family, she shook her head. I asked, do you want to go to step-down? Again shook her head, no. I asked, do you want to come home? She nodded vigorously. So, that is where she is now.

Rain or shine she always had an excellent sense of humour and remarkably, to the last. Our mother had a full life with heartache and joy, good times and bad. She is sadly missed the house is quiet it feels empty.