It’s a Namibian Thing VII

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Here is a picture of the Oranjemund power station. This is where I learned to know what a turbine does. Directly in front of the plant is a large roundabout. The largest in Oranjemund. When I played cricket with my chums on it, (yes, anywhere relatively flat and with some green grass on it was just fine by us!), the trees were larger and there were more of them.

But what facinated me and kept me spellbound was the size of the structure that housed the plant which generated our electricity. Collectively I spent hours transfixed by the sounds and smells coming from the building. The large doors you can see were always open which allowed me to linger longer on the roundabout to observe the goings on inside. The attending engineers appeared to me to be dwarfed by the machinery. But then I suppose size ratios to a small child’s highly imaginative mind did get distorted and exaggerated out of proper proportion.

Michelle, can you see Olivia on the extreme right?!

One of the attractions to me too was the roof. Yes. Don’t forget that the Recreation Club’s roof was in effect passe’ and ‘old’ hat to me as a simple climb. But the Power Station roof presented something else that was in a class of its own. It was an enigma. A delicious challenge. An outrageous dream! Impossible?

I walked past the Power Station at least 3 times a week. To the left of photo across the road was the Park where we could swing, go on the slide and a couple of other apperatus for children. We could also gather there to fight.

A lot has been said about apartheid but not too much was mentioned about the white on white apartheid. I suppose it was inevitable in a town like ours to have two distinct factions created. English and Afrikaans. Us kids pepetuated the divide and I cannot believe that as I type I am recalling one or two huge events in our gang warfare. Yes it was puny and innocent stuff compared to what happens these days between gangs but back then as little boys, it was seriously sad that the only time we united was on the sports fileds against a common foe. It’s a Namibian thing.

I have been away too long. I will be back. I need to get earthed again.

It’s a Namibian Thing VII