Circular No 799

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 25 February 2017 No. 799

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Dear Friends,

Emails follow:

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Oct 31 2015 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.

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:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=don+mitchell+anguilla

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.

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

http://abbeyschool2015circulars.blogspot.com/. 

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

https://www.facebook.com/groups/msbabbeyoldboys/ . 

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 2015 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 up hill 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 to see 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 lets get a few ideas, lets keep the museum open for now, until we find an alternate solution.

I look for the light thru the pouring rain. 

Best regards, Glen McKoy. 

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Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>

Nov 5 2015 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 Columbia 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 insurance and doctor, car information, ect, ect, only to find out that is not as easy as it sounds and now they have reduced my social security by $200.00 a month to pay for the medical insurance I now have –

I tell you alligators are eating up my ass – Hey, but I am the Bandit - a Mount Knight-

Anyhow, I 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 Columbia. 

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 ``òle man`` .

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.

Yours

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 awhile, 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 almost 80 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.  

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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laszlo kertesz <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 Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.

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Photos:

17LK2364LUNCH, Manuel Prada and Isaias Farcheg

15LK0121LKEGRP, Ladislao Kertesz, Anthony Obrien and Jorge Iwaszkiewicz

YEAR TAKEN, Gangaram Rampersand photo  help help names and year

08KA0217KAUJSA, Kenneth Austin and Jimmy Samaroo