The Durban Days

Mom, dad and I lived in Durban. We frequently went to the beach and I used to pitch up in Jo'burg in the height of Winter as brown as a berry. I was often threatened by the family (group areas act was prevalent) that I would be escorted out of the white area in which they stayed!

Sunscreen? What was that? We had no intention of preventing as many of the suns rays from finding our bodies. We would give it all the help it needed. The sun for tanning – we needed to attract the sun! Suntan oil was sold. I know friends who used the weirdest concoctions on their skins to attract the sun. Coconut oil was one, baby oil was another, Brylcreem as well – anything that would attract the sun. There was a brand that was very popular – Coppertone.

 I heard of surfers who used motor oil.

We did not build up slowly. The first day in the sun was usually as long as we could make it. A couple of hours later we were in agony. My dad had a solution. Buy the vrottest tomatoes in town, have a cool bath and rub yourself with tomatoes until the pain subsided. I have no idea if there is now any scientific proof but boy it worked! So we went around for a few days smelling like a salad steeped in oil of some kind! So what if we sported tomato pips wherever we went?

I can remember Ma and pop bringing many family members to Durban for a holiday. And Oh sacrilege! I was allowed to take a day off school now and again. They usually arrived on a Sunday so Mom, Dad and I were able to meet with them and help them settle in their hotel (The Coo-ee If I remember correctly). Joan and Aunty Joyce could not wait to rush off to the beach.

First night blues consisted of the two girls fighting for the cool bath and rotten tomatoes! Moaning and groaning all the time. Once Aunty Joyce's nose was so sunburned she walked around with a tomato more or less attached to it. Come the next holiday you can be sure there was a repeat performance!

The beach was not popular for a few days – the peeling would start and then the tan would get motley!

The beach front had so many attractions:

There was the little top, the mermaid lidop, the swimming baths, A whole indoor play section – I think it was called Kenilworth – a boat that went through a tunnel by the paddling pond. Later there was the log.)

(for pics see http://www.worldisround.com/articles/62925/index4.html )

My dad worked for the whaling station (put that down – I know it's not PC nowadays but we were ignorant then) Every year after the flat bottomed whalers had an overhaul they needed to be checked. A cruise was arranged from Durban to Port Shepstone and back. It co-incided with a Lynch family holiday. So dad organised the family as the passengers. When we got to the esplanade the palm trees were bowed down with the near gale that was blowing. A few family members chickened out. Joan and I taunted the others until a sizable party made it onto the boat. The water in the bay was extremely choppy. We stood on deck as the boat made its way to the harbour mouth. Joan turned to Aunty Joyce and laughed "Joyce – you look green!" Joan turned to look at me and we both had the same thought at the same time – lean over the side and feed the fishes. As soon as there was nothing more to expel we were led downstairs to a cabin with two bunks – a bucket each was deposited next to us. All I can remember is rolling around on the bunk and wishing either that the boat would stop and throw me off or that I could die. Pop kept on coming down to let us know what we were missing. "I saw some flying fish. Come on deck – you must see this!" "oooooo" reverberated from the two bunks.

Dad kept coming down to clean us up. Fortunately as we were halfway back to Durban the waters subsided and Joan and I were able to take interest in the cabin. I think it was Pop who came down with some sandwiches to replace that which we had lost. However the filling was sardines so needless to say the buckets were once again put to good use!

Out of the entire group most had not wanted to go. Joan and I were desperate to go and used every trick in the book to get the trip underway. No-one else was seasick. Neptune sure has a strange sense of humour!