Holy Family Convent classmates, Maureen Jardim (nee Cunningham) and Olivia Schaffer (nee Getaz), who last saw each other when they were together in standard three - some 54 years ago - began a walk down memory lane together at a HiltonVillage.co.za Business Network meeting in May.
Recognition sparked slowly as Maureen remembered being at school with an Olivia, a name she had not often come across. By the end of the evening they were remembering friends and agreed to meet for coffee with me and share some of their common history.
In the sunshine outside Jaxx recollections of their old school days included acrobatic dance concerts in the hall that is now part of Rosewood Retirement Village, climbing huge trees, playing in the bamboo at the bottom of the school yard, lunch in the big dining room, hockey games on the fields by the Dusi, swim lessons at Buchanan Street baths and the smart black and red striped uniforms they wore with pride in winter. The 'Marie-biscuit brown' summer dresses were remembered somewhat less fondly.
Olivia lived in Hilton and would travel to school in Pietermaritzburg daily by train, she recalled waiting at the station on her suitcase for her father to finish work so they could return home together and arriving at Leonard's station asleep on her dad's shoulder, at the end of a very long day. Once they got a car they drove, unless it rained. In the rain Cedara Road became impassable as it was just a gravel road and in a heavy downpour became a mud track.
Olivia befriended a girl called Lynette who had a bicycle which was the envy of many of the girls who could not afford such a luxury. Olivia would happily push Lynette's bicycle all the way up West Street just so people passing would think it was her own!
Maureen lived in West Street and walked to school. Her biggest passion at school was diving, she trained at Alexandra Baths and recalled how it was with a heart beating fast enough to leave her chest that she began to learn this exciting skill after much time spent watching the professionals diving off the high board.
They both agreed that if the Jacaranda flowers in West Street were falling and you had not studied for end of year exams, it was too late to start!
Another fond memory was of their hockey and tennis coach Ruth Stevens who currently lives in Pietermaritzburg. She is the mother of retired South African professional tennis player, Greer.
The most fascinating thread that unravelled over coffee was that both Maureen and Olivia had lived in Cape Town in the eighties and been part of the same Jazz Art dance studio but not met face to face.
Isn't it amazing what you can discover at a business network meeting!
Maureen is the owner of ZEST Massage and Olivia is the PA to Patrick Greenaway at ActionCOACH.