Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School,
Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 12 of December2015 No. 736
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Dear Friends,
Emails follow.
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Don
Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>
Oct
31 at 6:01 AM
Hi, Ladislao,
How are you keeping? How’s the family? I do hope
all is well, and that the children are not producing too many ‘grands’, and
leaving them on your doorstep on an evening to babysit them while they go out
partying :-( At least, that is what I always imagined grandparents were
for. (only one, and he is in Madrid, Ladislao)
Maggie and I are well enough as we approach the
brink of that long, dark hole that is old age. We do less and less entertaining
and travelling now. I find solace in my teaching and writing, and Maggie in her
reading. As I sit here in my little office writing this, I am surrounded on
three walls by shelf upon shelf of her, she would say our, books. The corridor
leading from the bedroom to my desk is lined with bookshelves. So is the
bedroom and the TV room. The darn things lie in piles on every table, begging
for room to be allowed to stand upright. Only the bathrooms are mercifully free
of the moulding, fading spines I see around me.
I try keeping the joints and muscles flexible by
going to the gym once a week and walking with friends twice a week. It is
getting more and more difficult to keep up with those that are a mere five or
six years younger than I am. God knows what it will be like in another year or
two. I shut my eyes and try to banish the thought.
At least I still enjoy teaching the young people
some of the law I have practised for the past 45 years. The class size is now
much reduced, and not because there are fewer students wanting to study law.
The school has now, after much pleading on my behalf, hired a full-time
law-teacher, who handles the bulk of the students, those from first year. I
take the second year law students, after she has weeded out the greater part.
The first book was published earlier this month, and, if you are desperate to
look at pictures, you can see an image of it here:
There are five more volumes to come, if I can
get my act together sufficiently to complete the proof-reading. I had only
vaguely realised before how difficult it is in practice to proof-read your own
writing. Now, I know that it is an impossible task. I think, after all, I am
going to let them go to the publisher, warts and all.
I was wondering just yesterday, whatever
happened to your little schoolgirl, Victoria? I remember the photos of her
horse-riding that you were so proud of when she was about 10 years old. I
imagine she has long gone away, probably far, far from home. Well, console
yourself with the thought that children are not given to you, they are only
lent for a time. That, anyway, is what the book of life is supposed to
teach. (She is
living in Munich and doing her Masters, Ladislao)
It seems to me from the slowdown in production
that the Abbey School Blog of Circulars may be coming to the end of its useful
life
I also see that the Old Boys are busy exchanging
videos of singers and dancers, and indulging in the other excitements of the
digital age on Kazim’s Facebook page for the School
I have joined Facebook myself if only to be able
to visit and see the photos of my siblings and Maggie’s. I don’t bother to post
much stuff there myself, mainly the odd photo, and use the page as a vehicle
for peeping at others’ collections of photos. But, I get the distinct
impression that our old Blog may not be serving a useful purpose any longer.
Whatever you decide, it has been a wonderful past 15 years of helping you to
get the contacts established once again among our dwindling numbers of alumni.
Keep well.
Don
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Glen
Mckoy<mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>
Nov
5 at 6:16 PM
My Dear Big Brother & Friend Sir Don, cc. Sir
Laz, Sir Kaz.
Thank you for sharing the salt of life with us.
As you write, I can also anticipate the uphill climb, as I turn 60 next year. I
cannot swim as I use to 10 years ago, so in a small way, I think I understand
what you are saying my brother. O.K you
can't walk that fast and that far, at this time, so do less of that, but you
never said anything about your gardening, now that is what I want to read more
off? Sir Don I may have to come and visit you, so don't turn a hermit on me, well
you can to a certain extent, as we are mountain men ha! ha! This Club is a
unique family, so please don't hesitate to talk about anything, we do what we
can, we always try. We Care.
You said it is difficult to proof read your
books, I can ask Sir Judge Lucky or a few other brothers for help if you wish,
please advise. Now the Blog, that can never end, it’s like you stop writing the
history of our Alumni, I understand it may seem like many don't care, but
really, many just don't reply, to how much this Blog means to us. To me it is
everything, I really don't think, we have anything else that is more important,
to end the Blog is to really close the Abbey School. Don't pull the plug ha!
ha!
Now please Sir Ladislao & Sir Don, these are
our archives, you must make some arrangements, that it is always available to
the members or their families, anywhere in the world, I would like tosee the
whole thing printed and in a book.
One to be kept on the Mount forever, so a
visiting brother or family, can look at a book or a video of such a distinguish
group of young men, that made a difference not only on the island of Trinidad,
but around the world.
I love you two gentlemen, the price you have
paid to keep this group intact, your family is what comes to mind first, Sir
Laz must be burnt out, it been a long haul, so we do understand, so please
let’s get a few ideas, let’s keep the museum open for now, until we find an
alternate solution.
Cheers My Dear Brothers -
I look for the light thru the pouring
rain.
Best regards
Glen McKoy.
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Don
Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>
Nov
5 at 7:35 PM
Hi, Bandit,
I was not bowing out by that message!! I was
only telling Ladislao, from whom we have not heard for over a month, that I
would understand if he was leaving future communications to the young “Old
Boys” to continue the correspondence on Facebook, etc, and if he no longer had
any emails to share with us in a circular.
He has replied to explain that he is okay, but a bit stressed out with the
situation in Venezuela. He is off to Colombia to try to shake up a bit of work,
and promises to send me another Circular or two when he gets back.
I have promised that whenever he sends me one,
I’ll post it.
I may have sounded a bit mordant, but that is
just the style of an elderly gent facing the inevitable. I am sure we are all
there, or approaching there, even though I know you have a decade or two more
to go.
Hope you get the meds and insurance sorted out.
Maggie and I pay US$8,000.00 per year for our health insurance. It is killing
me to have to pay that much. On top of that is an extra US500.00 for the air
ambulance to take me off to Puerto Rico when I am dying. Needless to say, I
have no intention of ever using the service. However, it keeps Maggie happy, so
I bear it all and smile while signing the cheque.
Keep well.
Don
PS: Did you know that the psychiatrists
have long ago reported that moving house is as stressful, ulcer inducing, and
heart attack causing, as a divorce or a death in the family? Why would
you do such a dangerous thing as relocate?
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From:
David De Castro
Sent:
Thursday, November 5, 2015 7:53 PM
Hi, Don and Glen,
I have just moved from my last address in
Florida to a new address in Florida that is 4090 HODGES BLVD APT 3609
JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA 32224 PH 904-551-2878.and I am trying desperately to
settle in but what a a****night mare as I have to change ins and Dr car info
etc.etc. only to find out that is not as easy as it sounds and now they have
reduced mysocial security by $200.00 a month to pay for the medical ins I now
have -I tell you alligators are eating up my ass-hey but I am the Bandit -a
mount knight-any howI am so sorry to hear how Don feels all I can say is that I
am nearly 80 yrs old -so Don do not feel like that -you are wrong we all love
to hear from you -do not drop out -even if it to tell us all to go to hell.
there are still lots of us young or old with
much love.
MUCH LOVE "BANDIT"
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Glen
Mckoy<mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>
Nov
6 at 9:43 PM
Thank you for the feedback, Sir Don. Sir Bandit,
you moved? You have to settle down at your age ha! ha! Ah hope you with
same woman. Well we still communicating, ha! ha! Let’s keep doing that. I hope
Sir Laz. is lucky in his job search in the area. If not we will help him get a
job on the outside, if that is his wish. We are family, all my brothers
& me,
One Love- Glen.
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Don
Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>
Nov
5 at 6:33 PM
How good to hear from you, Glen.
Ladislao promises to continue, once he is back
from foraging in the airport hunting grounds of Colombia. When he produces
another Circular, I promise to post it.
On gardening, I’m now, as you know, specialising
in peppers in pots. As for the wider “garden”, the hurricanes which have hit
Anguilla regularly over the past 20 years have destroyed much it, and
repeatedly so. So, I keep the weeds down with Roundup, and cutlass the more
hardy bushes. I get good exercise out of it, at least.
Keep well.
Don
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Anthony
Cintra<celandaal@hotmail.com>
Nov
7 at 12:14 PM
Good to hear from you all, family, friends and
brothers
The last 5 months have been rather hectic for
this ``òleman`` .My eldest grandson, 13, said grandpa 15 plane rides in 4
months between POS and Hamburg with brief stops in Toronto and Vancouver is a lot
for a 75 year old, although I may look and feel as young as 40 year old Uncle
Sir Glen Mckoy ha! ha! Friends Glen is really 49 ha! ha!
Cintra and I return home on Sunday next.
Trinidad and Tobago is still my home although when I meet some friends (clongs,
another word for clowns) they ask if I am on another visit or holiday. I intend
to telephone Sir Glen later today.
Your Anthony
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Glen
Mckoy<mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>
Nov
7 at 3:53 PM
My dear Sir Anthony (Knight Judge).
Thank you for your telephone call from
Vancouver. Always a pleasure to speak to you, look forward to continuing our
conversation, when you get to Hamilton. You mentioned our brother Sir Colin
Imbert, please do give him our best regards. We lost contact with Sir Laz. For a
while, he has been found, I think Sir Don is O.K. now, ha! ha! False Alarm.
The Club is still here.Our brother Sir Henry
Bailey is doing some interesting work at UWI right now, please do check out his
up and coming presentation.
The island I was telling you about is Taboga
just off Panama. 20 mins by ferry. Sir Oscar & Sir Tony from Guyana can
come and hang out, when I visit my cousin next year, they have
a B&B. there.
If Fr. Cutty still making yogurt at over 90
years old, Sir Bandit move in to a new place at almost80 yrs. The rest ah we
will be liming and sharing ole talk, for a long time ha! ha!
Cheers Mis Amigos, thank you all, for your time & attention.
Cheers Mis Amigos, thank you all, for your time & attention.
One Love -Glen.
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GEORGE
MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net>
Nov
13 at 9:20 AM
Hi Guys
Have been reflecting on Don’s note while waiting
for a potential reply from Ladislao.
My suggestion is that we need to transition to a
new owner of the Circulars, or whatever is deemed to be the most valued
communication mode, while the major original creators/leaders/supporters are
still around to assist in the transition (Ladislao, Don, Nigel, etc.). I
believe that this transition would be appreciated and valued by the original
creators.
Ideally, new owner would be a member of the last
graduating class or so……highest probability of being alive for the next few
decades…..but has to have love, value, pride for the Abbey School and all who
walked in that beautiful mountain environment.
My simple thoughts after reading the tea leaves
and recognizing where we are today versus 15 years ago when this tremendous
effort was initiated.
May the Holy Spirit inspire and guide our alumni
group in this resolution,
George
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Don
Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>
Nov
13 at 9:53 AM
There isn’t any holy spirit, George, that is
just a silly myth.
There is only someone with an obsessive
personality who decides to obsess over the Circular like Ladislao does.
I don’t know any of the younger generation who
has any interest in this exercise.
But, perhaps Kazim or Glen does.
Keep well.
Don
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Don
Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>
Nov
1 at 7:26 PM
Hi, Ladislao,
Good to hear from you.
It certainly sounds like a lot of
pressure.
I am sure that Bogota will not be a bed of
roses.
Don
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Laszlokertesz
<kertesz11@yahoo.com>
Nov
1 at 10:24 AM
Today I shall try for two, Don
With the local situation, we are only working
half time.
I work one and a half, hahaha
Lots of companies are closing and makes me
worried.
So I spend lots of time with the computer and
when I get home, I do not want to watch another screen.
Hope that I can get up to date by the 20 before
I leave for Bogota for a week.
I am trying to get my Colombian company to do
some headway.
Bye for now
Ladislao
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EDITED by
LadislaoKertesz Kertesz11@yahoo.com
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Photos:
Bandit
p62x p63 The Early Times
13LK3187LKEGRP,
Valencia, Ladislao Kertesz, Gustavo Tar, Roderick Smith and Brian Goddard
95RE0001REL,
The mighty Trini, Robert Elias
63TF6860FBFOOTBALL,
Second eleven football team, UNKNOWNS
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