Archive (1372 life histories found)
'One day I saw an advertisement for a tutor for a group called Altram, which had just been set up.'
Now I needed to find employment. Cecilia had been applying for jobs for me before I got home and I had a couple of interviews but was unsuccessful. One day I saw an advertisement for a tutor for a group called Altram, which had just been set up, in…
Tags: Car, Gaelic, Irish Language, work
'...when I opened the door and came in I knew it was right for me. I always seem to have a sixth sense about houses.'
I returned home to Belfast towards the end of May 1997. The first morning after my arrival I bought my present home XXX Oldpark Road Belfast. My sisters, Cecilia and Jacqueline, had found this place for me after a lot of searching. I was limited to…
'We spent a wonderful few days with the Sisters who took us out and around the poorer areas of Johannesburg, where they were well known for their work amongst the poor.'
I was not very happy in Botswana although the wages were much better than anywhere else I had worked, especially with the conversion rate of three Zim dollars to a Pula. There were a lot more of this world's goods available in Botswana as well, and I…
Tags: Mercy Order, poverty, township, travel
'I had a red coat and I stuffed the pockets and sleeves with the cash and proceeded to the office to pay for the vehicle.'
I bought a Nissan Hi-rider truck in Francistown. I got money transferred from home for this. When I went to get a cheque or bank draft to pay for the truck, Barclay's bank wanted to charge me quite an amount for this, and so I requested that they…
'It was difficult to find decent accommodation in Francistown even though we had been promised housing as part of the deal.'
It turned out that I knew his wife already, but had never met Andrew Banda since he was always in Botswana. Andrew kept me up to date with everything because the others did not like to speak English, and staff meetings which might have begun in…
Tags: accommodation, bedroom, Home
'I do not remember a lot about the journey to Gabarone except that I had to fly to Johannesburg and transfer on to an Air Botswana plane from there.'
The Botswana Government was paying my fares to Gabarone at the beginning of January and so I was home for Christmas. I do not remember a lot about the journey to Gabarone except that I had to fly to Johannesburg and transfer on to an Air Botswana…
'His place was magnificent and his wife a very gracious lady, who was most hospitable to us.'
Between August and January I had no work and again applied to the Sacred Heart. I had His picture above the mantelpiece and each time I passed by I asked Him to get me something in the meantime. I met a Scot a few days later. He wanted to buy some…
'Sacred Heart, now you know the situation and you know what I need, so please sort it out!'
I got the chance to buy a semidetached house in 21 De Beer Avenue Paddonhurst, on deed of sale. This is where Romuald, Getrude and family currently reside. This was a lovely wee house with three bedrooms and large sitting room with dining area,…
Tags: intervention, Jesus, job hunting
'I taught him to drive and of course the bicycle I had bought for him was no longer the thing when he wanted to impress the ladies in his class.'
Life had its ups and down as anyone who has ever had the privilege of working with teenagers will testify. I had bought a Nissan Sunny car from Peter Aiken in Harare, and it was a beautiful car. Romuald thought he was the' bees' knee's in this car. I…
'He told me that I had wasted his life and I saw red, for I had truly gone out of my way to get him sorted.'
The college started and I had been suffering badly with a back problem ever since I had left home. It was getting worse and so bad was it that I was getting Voltarel injections from the sister in St Anne's hospital in Avondale. Harare. They sent the…
Tags: Bulawayo, Education, friendship, guidance, mentor