Saturday, September 29, 2007

Circular No 308





Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 29 September 2007. No. 308
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Dear Friends,
Another newcomer to the Circular.
Can we have a new one per issue? I know this is difficult but there are many TT ALUMNI that are missing from the new listing.
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RE: skippy...
Monday, September 10, 2007 3:42:27 PM
To:"Schaefer, Glen O. CIV MSFSC N02M"
Hey can´t you fowl fuckers spell my name correctly?
I remember Skippy; he was somehow related to Lennox Lake .
Skippy used to live in Australia before he went to Mount, hence the name.
Skippy, I lived in Australia for about 6 years and only returned to this xxx hole called Trinidad in late 1999.
Are u back in Australia?
(Who was Lennox Lake? Soca Star? Ed)
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RE: skippy...
Glen Mckoy ...
Monday, September 10, 2007 10:08:54 AM
Hi Skippy,
It was really good to hear from you, man.
I will cc. the other guys with you numbers, so hopefully people will drop you a line.
bye for now
Glen
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Subject: skippy
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 11:56:56 -0400
Here is my e-mail
757-443-5772 wk
757-838-1640 hm
757-344-1548 cell
757- 434- 0605 blackberry
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Re: Remembering Mr. Chow Fat ...
Attila GYURIS ...
Sunday, March 11, 2007 2:57:57 PM
Hi Lindsay,
Good recount on Mr. Chow Fat.
He was indeed a great teacher, and very popular with the boys.
I have had the same questions about this background and what became of him, but, unfortunately, it is unlikely that mystery will ever be solved.
He was too young and talented to stay at the Mount for long.
I am sure he went on to bigger and better things.
In addition to being the ordinary Math and Physics teacher in Form IV and Form V, he also taught Add Math in those grades, which I took form him all the way into Form V.
I did well on the GCE 'O' levels thanks to him.
He was most influential in my choosing chemical engineering as major in college, (as well as Miss Kitty Marcus, as my Chem teacher).
Yes, I remember too the twitching of his jaw-bone muscles when he was angry at some misbehaving student.
He also had difficulty with pronouncing the "...sks" in "tasks".
He would say "Take out your Tasksks..."
He was indeed good at aiming the chalk, but at least that was a darn sight better than Rughead throwing the entire duster (with the wooden back).
That hurt!
I also remember him being quite allergic to the chalk dust, visiting the school nurse for remedies and creams.
At one time he even resorted to wearing latex gloves in class, but that didn't last long. And he always wore dark or black pants, which were always covered with white chalk dust, because he would inadvertently wipe his hands on his pants.
If I were to guess, I would say he was in his late 20's to early 30's at the time, but I may be way-off on that.
Attila Gyuris
MSB 1964-1969
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Remembering Mr. Chow Fat
Andres Larsen
Friday, March 9, 2007 1:18:51 PM
Lindsay John Moffat wrote:
Andres Larsen asked, “Do you remember Mr. Chow Fat?”
Yes, I do.
Mr. Chow Fat was the mathematics teacher for some time (Algebra & Geometry) I think Physics also.
Like Mr. Yip Chock I had admiration for him too though I did not do so good at mathematics or physics - my fault not his - I simply could not maintain the concentration and lost interest.
I think the Chinese teachers were the best and very focused.
I remember him as being very skinny with spiky hair and looked very young too though I could not say his age then.
He had a way of instilling discipline without shouting or hitting or making a fuss - if one misbehaved he would turn to look directly at you silently, eyes like daggers and the muscles of his jawbone pumping rapidly - a look that made one feel like he was saying 'You stupid little boy' and made one's ego shrink to about the size of an ant.
A good way to shut you up without doing very much.
There was another trick up his sleeve though - If you played the fool when his back was turned (when he was at the black board for example) he could spin round rapidly and send his chalk flying, hitting you in the head with it with pin-point accuracy every time.
No one could ever figure out how he did that!
Needless to say he was good at sport - Ping Pong to be precise - so fast, focused and agile he was.
One of the reasons why I think he got on well with the boys during recreation.
Though I have often wondered I know nothing of his history.
How did he come to be a teacher? - how did he come to be at Mt. St. Benedict?
Where did he come from before that? What was his ancestry?
Perhaps these questions will always remain a mystery.
Dose any body know where he is now??
Lindsay John
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Hi there, Las,
OK, I've got the name/s o a few of the guys for you, and I hope this helps.
Others can fill in the remaining blanks for us.
#1 is Alex De Verteuil photo 57RB0001a9
This kid was, I'm sure, one of the Seheult boys, probably Peter.
He was a brother to Mac, and (I think) cousin to Hugh, Christopher, Roger 'Nylon" and Stuart (Cush" Henderson, Mike, Jeffrey and Hamish Herrera, Robert de Verteuil, and probably others as well.
#2 is Alex De Verteuil. 57RB0001a7
I think I even remember the day he shot the grouper, and if I'm right, it was down at Scotland Bay.
I think he said that the fish pulled him for quite a bit before it died.
Alex - where is your memory?
I've got to tell you about Alex, you know.
When we were in Form V, in 1959 / 60, we were allowed the "privilege" of walking back to the School after meals via the "long walk", which afforded us the opportunity to distance ourselves ( suppose) from the younger boys, and occasionally, of lighting up.
On one occasion, as we turned the last bend in the road, the one which had that magnificent mango tree where we eventually built a great tree house for liming, (but that's another story), there, on the roadway in front of us, stood a large cat, with it's head firmly stuck into a tin can.
"Good Lord, that's an ocelot", said Alex, the hunter among us.
(For those who don't know, the ocelot is the wild cat of Trinidad.)
Alex quickly took control of the situation and decided that somehow we had to get the tin can from off the big cat's head.
He asked a few of us to take a firm grip on a leg each, while he attempted to remove the tin.
I had the tail!
I remember feeling the power in that cat's tail.
It was so stiff and strong, and one could just imagine the power behind that animal's muscles.
In retrospect, we were stupid, I think, to do what we did, because that cat could have hurt us very badly.
We had a Chinese teacher who taught chemistry at the school, and someone suggested we should just pick up the cat and take it into the classroom, close the doors and windows and there try to remove the tin.
Hopefully, the freed cat would take over the classroom and we'd be able to get a day or two free from classes.
Anyhow, we did as we were told, and I held on to the tail with all my "might", prepared in an instant to let go if the creature turned on me.
I feel that everyone else had the same silent thought.
As for our hero, Alex went to the front of the cat's had and slowly began to prise the tin away from the animal.
He rocked the tin slowly from side to side, and kept up a running commentary:
"OK. it's coming. . . . . Hold it now. . . . . it's coming. . . . . Nearly there . . . . .OK, OK, it's . . . . . . . . . . . ."
His words were lost in the next flurry of excitement, as the ocelot, as soon as the tin-can was removed from it's head. simply took a massive leap and, leaving us all aghast at it's speed and strength, landed on the roadway below the one on which we were standing.
The last we saw of the beauty was a pair of leaping, bounding, racing back legs as it disappeared from sight.
What an experience!
I still think it would have been better if we'd used the classroom option.
But, that was out Alex.
Great guy!
Oh yes, what about the tin-can?
Well, left with the can in his hand, Alex looked into it and showed us the reason for the big cat getting stuck in that way.
Inside the can, quite dead, was the body of a little bird.
Quite an idea, eh?
How to trap an ocelot?
So, this is my contribution for 2007
Good luck to y'all, and 'til next time, Rejoice the Lord is risen.
Alleluia!
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Use the code on the photos when replying.
This is for now, keep well.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Photos:
57RB0001a9, group Alex de Verteuil, made some corrections
57RB0001a7, group Alex de Verteuil, made some corrections
58NB0104FORMIII, CLASS1960 taken in FORM III
OCELOT, by Nigel Boos

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Circular No 307



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 22 September 2007. No. 307
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Dear Friends,
Lost friends, wanted alive and in good health.
Can you help to straighten the records?
Thomas Jardin
John Hale
Ian Golding
Raymond Devaux
Wayne Hernderson
Jerry Bain
Michael Darwent
Esmond Lange
Herman Verkussen
John Miller
Michael Laughlin
Michael Kenny
Maroth de Marothy
Michael Chatterton
Peter Boos
Michael Scott
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Greetings from Michael D´Ornellas alias "Specs" in Trinidad...
Friday, September 28, 2007 4:32:54 AM
Michael D' Ornellas wrote:
Hi Andres / Stanley,
I should be in a position to organize the trip for Stanley.
Please let me know what day Stanley is available.
Take care and have a good week,
Specs.
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Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 10:19 AM
Hi Stanley,
Michael D´Ornellas´s ("Specs"´s) e-mail address is michael@elchicoeggs.com
He should be able to arrange a visit for you up to the Mount.
I am sending a copy of this reply e-mail to him.
Regards
Andres
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Achong wrote:
Hi Andres:
Have been just extremely busy with the activities at work and at home.
Hope you all had a good summer and all is well with you and the family.
During the period of Nov 12-14 I will be in Trinidad for a visit at the conclusion of my holiday.
I will be on the Princess cruise out of Barbados from 27th of October.
Do you think you could arrange a visit for me to the Abbey?
I would really like to take the opportunity to see some of the folks, especially Miss Marcus and Fr. Cuthbert whom I've not seen since my departure.
I may have forgotten some of the other Brothers etc but hopefully memory will return.
I will also like to leave a small monetary donation but don't know how to go about doing that.
Nr 35 sure looks like me; Nr 17 - possibly "Peter" Rampersaud; Nr 10 - don't think it is Josh, and in fact I don't think Josh in in this picture.
Regards, Stan
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Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 5:18 AM
Hello Stanley,
Hope everything is OK with you up in Canada.
Are you by any chance the chap under Nr.35 hiding in the middle behind the back of the second standing row ?
Nr.17 is a chap by the last name of Rampersad but I don´t recall his first name ?
Was it Kumar or something like that ?
Who was Nr.10 standing in front of your left side ? Perhaps Josh Schoemaker ?
Best regards
Andrés Larsen
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Re: Circular No.273, The Abbey School MSB...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 7:10:17 PM
Not # 10. That's not Josh Schoemaker.
He was in Form I, one class below (still with me), when this picture was taken.
Besides, I have the class picture of him taken at the same day this class picture was taken by Vush.
That's not him, I am positive.
The others are correct.
Attila Gyuris
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Comments on picture 66UN0001CLASS69????
This class was one year below me.
I would have finished MSB in summer 1968, so this class ended in summer 1969.
The year is correct.
I used to be best friends with Josh Schoemaker.
I am sure number 10 is not Josh Schoemaker.
I think 30 is Kennedy.
When JFK died I first thought they meant this boy.
Number 9 is the little brother of Dennis Gurley.
I recognise 7 as being Philip Laughlin and 12 as Derek Fakoory.
13 might be Edgar Rodriguez.
Greetings
Jan Koenraadt
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Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 3:02 PM
I think now that 10 is Josh Schoemaker; 17 is a chap with the last name of Rampersad; and 35 hiding in the middle at the back behind the standing second row very definitely is Stanley Achong
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Don Mitchell CBE QC ...
View Thursday, September 27, 2007 6:48:01 AM
That's great, Ladislao.
We are now nearly up to date.
My laptop has collapsed.
I am thinking of getting a new one.
I would really like the $100 one, as I only use the laptop when I am travelling to get my email and to type the odd document.
I understand it will soon be on the market.
Don
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Re: Re. Maneiro
Enrique Zanelli
Monday, July 16, 2007 6:59:23 PM
Hello Ladislao,
I do not have Maneiro's phone nr but I'm sure that Salvador Coscarart does.
If you want, I can get a hold of him and try to get it for you.
I know Salvador is out on the Gulf.
att but should be due back home anytime
As for the circulars, I have received a couple of them and really appreciate the job you are doing keeping the Abbey boys in contact. In your last email you had asked me who where my school mates in the Mount, so here is a brief bio:
I went to the Mount from 67 to 70. The Coscararts, The Moffies, Montiel, Glen Evelyn, Sarkis Farchak, etc, are just some of the guys from my generation. I used to swim with the Aqualads and competed in Pto La Cruz and in the Hermandad Gallega (Caracas) during that time.
After the Mount I went back to Caracas and enrolled in the American school up by Las Minas de Baruta, I don't know if it still exists.
But, I do remember the gringos trying to figure out my colourful and funny English accent, unfortunately now it has been replaced with a Texan accent.
I have been living in Houston TX for the past 23 years.
I'm married to a Nicaraguan, and we have 5 kids ages 19 to 6, 4 girls and 1 boy.
I own a couple of businesses.
I'm involved with construction equipment and the manufacturing of lowboy trailers for the construction industry.
So in between work and family, I stay pretty busy.
I first learnt of the blog and the circulars from my brother Victor.
He went to the Mount for just a year after I left.
It was dejavu all over.
I spent a couple of days reading all the blogs and letters, they brought back a lot of memories.
I hated the school when I was a kid, always thought that my parents had sent me there to punish me for being a bad boy.
Those were my thoughts when I was 10 years old, but now as a parent, what would I not give to have my kids get the same education that I had.
Its very sad to see how the School has deteriorated.
I have seen a couple of mails from the guys talking about doing something to revive the Mount.
That would be a great thing to do, just got to figure out what is the best thing to do up there.
It certainly is a beautiful, peaceful and unspoiled place close to nature.
Who knows, maybe a retirement home for us ageing Abbey boys.
Until next time, God bless and keep those circulars coming!
Enrique Zanelli
Choice Equipment Sales, Inc.
Ph: 281-646-8080
Fx: 281-646-8082
----- Original Message -----------------------------------------------------------------
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:38 PM
Dear Enrique,
I need the email address of Carlos Alberto Maneiro for the CIRCULAR.
Are your receiving the CIRCULARS???
Also to invite him for the monthly dinner if he is Venezuela.
God Bless
Ladislao
Editor
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Use the code on the photos when replying.
This is for now, keep well.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Photos:
66UN0001CLASS69??, Can you check the corrections. There are may still missing.
62UN0001CLASS66???, Still missing names.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Circular No 306



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 15 September 2007. No. 306
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Dear Friends,
There would be no confusion if there would be a writer at the Mount or a kind soul that would keep informed the ALUMNI of pertinent matters at MSB.
I understand that there is no one with the time to keep us informed.
So the latest on the new Sports Complex.
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...Re: What's Going On At The Mount?
Rafael EcheverrĂ­a

ViewWednesday, September 26, 2007 3:25:38 PM
Great to hear from you too Paul! God ... it's been such a a loooong time.
It is great to know about you.
And yes .. I will have the Sancoche ready (I kept the recipe !!) ... Calaloo ... and of course ... plenty of Roti... with plenty pepper !!!!!!
Take good care of yourself man ! Don't hesitate to contact me at any time and for any reason.
GOD Bless !
CheChe ....
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On 9/25/07, Paul de la Bastide <paul.delabastide@comcast.net> wrote:
Hey CheChe,
Your know that if any Trini comes to visit and you serve soup, it must be Sancoche
Just in case you don't have the recipe…. here it is. (Hah!)
(Great to hear from you old fart)
Pablo de La Bastide
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From: Rafael EcheverrĂ­a [mailto:
reglaw@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: What's Going On At The Mount?
Gosh ! ... I am soooooooo proud of you all.
I really do not know what is going exactly regarding the preservation of Mount's lands, but it makes me feel so proud to see how you guys take care of the most beautiful memories of My life.
And then I notice that perhaps they are also Yours !!!
I was thrilled and sad at the same time to see the latest pictures of the football field, I so much enjoyed, seemingly abandoned.
And the pool, the showers.
It brought so many memories.
GOD bless you all.
Please take due note of my address and phone numbers in Florida.
Keep them and use them whenever you want.
A Mount Boy will always have a bed to sleep and a plate of soup at home.
My Brothers ......................................... The Mount Boys !
You make feel privileged and proud !
CheChe
(Rafael Echeverria)
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On 9/25/07, Don Mitchell CBE QC < idmitch@anguillanet.com> wrote:
Thank you all for keeping me in touch with what is going on.
Don
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From:
Manuel José Prada Padovani
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 7:58 AM
Subject: RE: What's Going On At The Mount?
Dear John:
I believe that this confusion has arisen after having read Kertesz´s Mount circular.
I think it´s #298.
Please check it out.
The person in charge of a leasing and reconstruction of Mount´s sports complex is Bro. Rupert.
I know of this because he comes often to Venezuela and we have a close friendly relation, including Isaias.
Rupert is a very close friend of the Tangs, my trinidadian family.
The monks don´t want to sell or anything of the sort.
I understand the complex could be revamped and it would be of great service to the community as a whole and to the Abbey,specifically, as an important source of money.
This is what it is all about.
Please contact Br. Rupert or the Abbot.
Pud was just a very important and fortunate contact with the government authorities after Rupert made the comment to him and Rupert being sort of despaired for the government not having answered after having they made an offer in the sense that I have mentioned.
This last august was in TT for a very short visit:
A Tang´s wedding and a meeting with dear fat Pud.
I don´t have his new email but he can easily be reached in TT.
Hope this note clarifies things.
Do contact Rupert or his excellency the Abbot for further actual details.
Regards and promise to see you on my next visit.
All the best and God´s blessing to all Mount boys.
Manuel
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Fecha: 22/09/2007 16:27:26
Dear Ladislao:
I must update you on what is being done concerning the sport complex.
On my recent visit to Trinidad, late august 07, Dr.George Laquis, established a very important contact with Brother Rupert who is in charge of the project, his Excellency the Abbot and the TT minister of Health, who on behalf of the Abbey would re-establish conversations and the possible financial aid and solution that the TT government had previously proposed to the Abbey.
Now in late September I have had no further news from Br. Rupert and the results of the meeting that was to be held between the persons already mentioned.
I suggest that you call George and see what has happened from our last meeting with the TT Minister of Health or call Br. Ruperto to hear his briefing.
Please forward this mail to those interested in the issue.
Regards.
Manuel Prada
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From: jongolding@wow.net
Subject: Re: What's Going On At The Mount?
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:50:00 -0400
Dear Nigel and all recipients of this email
I am not sure what this is all about but if reading between the lines we understand that they want to sell off the field to raise cash perhaps we could all be informed about the situation, as Nigel has put it so well below, and find an in-house solution.
Some of us have on several occasions told the Abbot and Fr Cuthbert (and even Bro Vincent the night we saw Manuel in TT last year) that the old boys collectively have the resources (mental as well as financial) AND the motivation - to build a retirement retreat for us and our families - somewhere in the vast acreage - which would create a real community with considerable pedigree and support for the objectives of the Abbot and monks.
Can we know more about all this please?
Regards
Jon Golding
Geoff Golding
Ian Golding
MSB old boys (and getting older!!)
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From: Nigel P. Boos
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 4:41 PM
Subject: What's Going On At The Mount?
Dear Fr. Cuthbert,
I have just received a note from Manuel Prada indicating that some sort of discussions have taken place between Fr. Abbot and a number of the MSB Old Boys with regard to the Sports Complex at the Mount.
I must confess that I really do not get much information from the various attached notes, and I am wondering whether I could request a report by email from whoever at the Monastery is handling this matter, as to the plans for the various buildings , lands, Sports Complex, etc. which all form part of the Monastery's holdings.
The Abbey School holds many wonderful memories for all of us who were privileged to pass through its halls, and we must now consider that we were indeed blessed by the very fact of our isolation and togetherness, as these have hardened us and brought us together as a group, even though many years have passed since we walked on those grounds and played on those fields.
The shortage of vocations which is everywhere evident today is a sad reflection of our times, when materialism and consumerism have become the gods of our age and when, as was reported in the Tablet only a few days ago, in your own homeland of Holland, "The Catholic Church in the Netherlands numbers 1,557 parishes, with 1,112 priests, many of them elderly, 286 deacons and 774 male and female pastoral workers. Officially, there are more than 5 million Catholics (out of a total population of 16 million, of whom 1 million are Muslims). Less than 10 per cent of the Catholics are regular churchgoers. Most young people do not relate to any Church. It is expected that, by 2020, some three-quarters of the population will not belong to any Church".
This is very sad indeed, and now, we see that the day has arrived when the very Monastery where, individually, we received the greatest spiritual gifts that any boy could desire, is soon to close its doors.
What is to happen to the buildings? What to the lands, the playing fields, the swimming pool, the tennis courts, the Visitor's House, the Rest House, the Abbey School itself, St. Benet's Hall, the entire Complex? Surely, there must be a plan somewhere!
Is it possible that among the many of us who were fortunate to attend classes at the Abbey School, there might be one or two who are in a position, as Lawyers, as Surveyors, as Real Estate Agents, as Politicians, as friends, who could come to the aid of the old place and offer some advice and help?
With fondest good wishes.
Nigel Boos
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Use the code on the photos when replying.
This is for now, keep well.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Photos:
50UN0001MSBPC, Post Card of the MSB Complex.
03UN0002EDIMSB, Rear view of the Monastery
The first two numbers are the year the photo was taken, please help.
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Friday, September 7, 2007

Circular No 305




Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 7 of September 2007. No. 305
Dear Friends,
Some more of the travelogues by George Mickiewicz, this time Calcutta.
Must remind all the ALUMNI, that if you want to appear in the Circular, you must write.
I do not like to include the name of ALUMNI being mentioned by others as passed in history.
Let us know that you are well, that you have a large family, that you have visited TT, and that you are an ALUMNI of the Abbey School.
Maybe a short note on your most hated teacher!!!. Although I cannot think of any teacher who on the long run, after all the years can still be hated.
When we were young, we looked at all actions as good or bad, there was no middle road.
In my case, even Fr. Eugene whom all have classified as unfair, always handing out lashes, hated and feared by most, is not in my most hated list. (Although I must admit, I have never made such a list), but he was a most feared priest?
I did have encounters with him, but I always treated him from a challenge point view.
On the long run some of us (those who had open minds) managed to exploit his weak side.
An example: During the times when things got rough and lot of punishment was handed out, we helped him form the fencing club and joined the fencing classes which he adored.
We learnt the art of fencing and we never had any serious problems after that.
Those in the fencing class were: “Pepe” Braggio, Matias de Fedak, and others (can you help?.
When he punished the whole school, and kept all students from going down to the sports field, I did manage to get away because I needed to paint the TENNIS balls for one or other tournament (job that I managed as Bro. Vincent´s helper).
Those days I took over the football field to throw the Javelin and the Discus without endangering anyone.
In another time while the rest of our classmates were punished for one reason or other for a whole day, at the study-hall doing penance.
I got away and went to the Southern Games, as representative in the Javelin throw, of the St. Andrew´s team (I do not remember for sure the region that I represented)
Fr. Cuthbert drove us, a friend and myself, (sorry I do not remember his name) in the small Renault car to San Fernando. It was a pleasant day.
I have started the new section with Fr. Eugene, maybe some one can remember other events, or other teachers.
I know that it is not fair to write about stress-full times or moments, specially write on people who cannot defend their actions, but when I write is to recall happy and sot so happy moments, for posterity.
(Who says that the editor does not contribute 50 words to cover this years DUES)
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FAMILY PICTURE
GEORGE MICKIEWICZ
Friday, September 28, 2007 8:26:49 AM
Hi Ladislao:
Our family picture is attached per your request.
Our fourth grandchild is on the way with anticipated arrival in December.
Thanks again for your wonderful work, commitment and dedication.
May God bless you and your family,
George.
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GREETINGS FROM CALCUTTA - TRAVELOGUE 3
GEORGE MICKIEWICZ
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 6:34:20 AM
Hi Y'all:
Random thoughts, recollections, leanings and reflections of two trips to India and one to Singapore in the last 2 months captured during a flight today from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Calcutta (now Kolkata).
Due to the positive response to my two previous travelogues (some even suggested that I should become a writer), here is my third crack at this stuff.
I will be addressing religion, safety, culture, Bollywood/Hollywood, food, investments, economics and miscellaneous.
I will continue "trying" to mix humour with serious thoughts.
Let’s start with what is probably the most controversial topic in the world: religion
My colleagues tell me that India has the most Muslims in the world.
I had read or heard somewhere before that it was Indonesia .
Muslim men in India can legally (in their Constitution [pun unintended]) have 2 wives but Hindus can only have one; a real political problem.
Unfortunately Muslim women can legally have only one husband; those discriminating men!!!
Personal note: anyone who wants to deal with 2 wives must be crazy!!
[ guess that ladies may feel otherwise in that they only have to put up with their worst-half only 50% of the time]
Heard about the male Muslim terrorist who blows himself up, goes to Heaven and gets rewarded with 72 virgins.
The female Muslim terrorist, on the other hand, goes to Hell after blowing herself up and gets 72 eunuchs!!!!!! DISCRIMINATION
Switching to safety:
I am now assisting the implementation of Process Safety Management in a plant that on average experiences 1 fatality and 5-10 recordable injuries per month
It is a good feeling to be accepted and respected as an “old guru” by younger folks.
Quite a contradiction to what is occurring in the USA where age and experience are rewarded by being “downsized/eliminated/youngsized"
Good feeling to be able to influence culture and values that will lead to more people being able to go home from work safe and sound.
Singapore :
Nicest and safest pace that I have been to in my entire life.
People are kind, helpful, gentle and friendly.
Did not see a single police person in the 4 days I was there.
However, lots of camera everywhere; got the 1984 feeling
A woman’s shopping paradise; shopping centres, stores, restaurants, boutiques and other favourite feminine places for spending dollars.
All sorts of fancy and expensive cars; law prohibits >10 years old cars in the country.
Huge new modern terminal has been built to handle the A380 humongous Air Buses; Singapore Airlines will take delivery of the first ones in August.
Can't wait to fly on one of those big babies.
Talking about Singapore Airlines, WOW, the most beautiful and handsome attendants ever!!
Quite expensive, a good steak with a couple of beers cost $45.
Best Chinese food that I have ever had so far .
Bollywood/Hollywood
Those Indian female and male stars are really gorgeous and handsome.
Ran into John Stamos at airport (currently in ER, previously in other shows and ex of Rebecca Romijn [model, X-Men movies])
Miscellaneous
India is still reeling from their poor showing in the world cricket championship that took place in the West Indies earlier this year.
It feels different to be the only pale face in a sea of brown when I go walking in a huge park every morning.
Ate mangoes that come closest to the taste of Trinidadian "juli" mangoes.
For those folks who saw the movie The Graduate (1967?): remember the scene where a young Dustin Hoffmann is told by the pool "PLASTICS".
Here is ole George telling you "Indian Commodities and Infrastructure".
You can see the economy exploding in front of your own eyes.
CDs are returning 10% interest.
In my first trip in September exchange rate was 45 rupees per dollar.
Now it is between 38-39.
Still cannot get over the vast difference between the haves and have-nots; real sad situation but my colleagues here tell me that it is improving due to improvements in the economy.
May God bless everyone.
Be very careful, safe and sound,
George
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Use the code that appear on the photos when replying.
This is for now, keep well.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Photos:
57RB0004a5, Swim meet, the stands does not have a roof.
57RB0004a3, Fr. Abbot, Adelbert van Duin.
06GM0001GMI, George Mickiewicz.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Circular No 304





Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 1 September 2007. No. 304
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Dear Friends,
Here is the account of the reunion of two friends from the music world.
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Re: Bands at Mount
Norman Smith

Friday, June 1, 2007 9:00:05 AM
Querido Ladislao,
Here are some fotos.
The ones with CheChe were taken shortly after our reunion and we had a get together to introduce him and his lovely wife Norma to our friends.
The other ones are just fotos of me, my wife Maria Candelaria, and my daughters Cayetana, Rosana and Emilia.
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On May 30, 2007, at 8:46 PM, ladislao kertesz wrote:

Dear Norman,
I would appreciate the photos taken with cheche.
God Bless
Ladislao
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From: Norman Smith <nsmith@filmsmith.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 10:56:13 PM
Subject: Re: Bands at Mount

I'm sorry to say that I have no photos of those days.
All the images are in my mind.
I have some photos of the reunion with CheChe.
I will find them and pass them on.
Father Bernard was the principal and Father Eugene was the dean (he was the one who would give us the lashings.)
Father Cuthbert was very special to me.
He was the Scout leader.
We were all afraid of Fr, Ildefonse's hands... it was no fun getting your ears pulled by him.
I was there when the new building (new kitchen and refectory) and the theatre hall where we saw movies and performed plays and the Chains performed and practiced, was built... the stone wall that went up at the edge of the basketball court.
I was very influenced by the bamboo structures we made.
Many, many memories.
Too bad we did not have the digital cameras kids have today.
Saludos!
Norman
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On May 29, 2007, at 7:24 PM, ladislao kertesz wrote:

Dear Norman,
Now all that is missing is the photos.
Thank you for the email, it keeps the Circular going.
How about a little memory and lines on the teachers that you had.
Who was the principal??
Bursar??
God Bless
Ladislao
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From: Norman Smith <nsmith@filmsmith.net>

Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 10:01:27 PM
Subject: Bands at Mount
Hola muchachos,
The recent circular about music makers at Mount missed one of the most memorable years in pop music history... the mid 60s.
Besides the scout band for which I played the bugle (which I replaced with a cornet after being seduced by the music of Herb Albert) there was a band called the Interpreters
Jeremy deBarry and John Abraham had a band called the Interpreters that played calypso standards and did a mean "Walk-Don't Run".
I remember joining in with my cornet to play "Rose in Spanish Harlem".
Then the Beatles hit the scene and along with Rafael "CheChe" Echeverria on Bass, his brother Gustavo on Lead guitar, Henrique Gomez on drums and I, on rhythm guitar formed "the Chains".
We taught ourselves to play with the help of Jeremy de Barry and played a great number of Beatles songs and sounded just like them.
"If I Fell". "Words of Love", "I Saw Her Standing There", "And I Love Her", "Michelle", "PS I Love You", "Baby it's You",and of course: "Chains" among many others.
Upon my graduation in 1966, we were invited to play at the presidential palace in Caracas.
I went back home to Colombia to join my life long friend Ivan Dario Lopez in his group Los Yetis (you can google "Los Yetis" to find a MySpace page and a link to a compilation CD by our record label Discos Fuentes.
We made history as one of the first rock bands in Colombia and can boast to be the only band of the times to produce more than one LP (there were 4: "Los Yetis", Colombia a go-go", Los Yetis Vol2", and "Olvidate").
Jeremy de Barry visited me in Colombia and had a chance to live some of the excitement.
My interest and work with music continued after the band broke up with a duet with my pal Ivan Dario (Norman y Dario).
We recorded one LP for CBS Records and one EP (4 songs)... all of them original and mostly protest songs.
I stopped making music when I became a film maker specializing in editing, but music has always been an important part of my work.
In 1971 I went to live in New York and in the 70s and 80s was part of the birth of MTV... editing videos for the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis and the News, Bon Jovi, Carly Simon, The Rolling Stones, Rainbow, and others.
Since 1989 I live in Miami with my second wife and three teenage daughters ( I have a daughter from my first marriage who has given me a grandson).
I had the joy of reuniting with Rafael "CheChe" Echeverria after almost 40 years!
We sang and played as if no time had passed!
He has kept the music in his life despite having become a most successful lawyer.
Long live the music makers from the mount!
Norman Smith

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SAD NEWS

From: "Salvador Coscarart" salborbolla@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:48:12 -0700
From: infosanpedro@yahoo.com
Greetings Salvador
Pascall's cause of death was depressing, ( Dehydration & Hunger)
There were about 10 guys and Mrs Faria in attendance, a suggestion was made that The Abbey old boys register a NGO with a vision to assist those who fell through the crack,
In Trinidad there are available financial resources from the state and private oil companies for such humanitarian needs.
We understand that there are about 6-10 guys in dire needs.
Lets pray about it.
I met Fr Cutty at the supermarket and he sent his regards
Regards
Winston
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Salvador Coscarart wrote:
Hello Winston,
How are you doing, long time don't hear from you.
Where are you living now?
Neil told me you were in Tobago building condos.
Any way take care and God bless .
I heard about Pascal Baralt.
Sorry to hear about but god needed him over there with him so, that’s life and we all are going there sooner or later.
Bye best wishes. Abbeyboy for ever
adios amigo.
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Use the code on the photos when replying.

This is for now, keep well.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Photos:

04NS0004NSMFAM, Norman Smith and his girls.
07NS0003NSMGRP, At the Smiths
07NS0002NSMREC, Norman Smith and Rafael Echeverria
04NS0001NSMFAM, Norman Smith and Family