family Archives - 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young

The Best Laid Plans!

Gaynor Young — Fri, 15 May 2015 04:28:54 +0000

I had a brainwave!
My friend, B, was going up to Johannesburg on the 14th because her flight departed from O.R. Tambo Airport on the 15th. Why not fly up to Jo’burg with her and then go to the Naledi Awards that evening? The Naledi Awards are the Johannesburg theatre awards held in Gold Reef City. Every year I was invited and every year I politely refused. This year I would joyfully accept. We booked an extra flight ticket and contacted Dawn Lindberg who was in charge of the Awards. No problem. Tickets for the Naledi were put aside for us. We were set! I was so looking forward to seeing my old theatre friends once more.
But what to wear? The Naledi Awards are smart and I wanted to look ‘drop-dead-gorgeous’! It seemed a new dress was called for. B and I made our way to the Mall and our search began. We were in Edgar’s and they didn’t have any dresses that called out to me. As we were leaving my attention was caught by a pair of denim dungarees. Forget the dress! I left there the proud owner of a beautiful pair of denim dungarees!
Just as we were heading for home, I was stopped by this sensational necklace. Maroon crystal beads interspersed with diamonds. Not real diamonds obviously but so delicate and fragile. This necklace would look stunning with the dress I had worn to the Durban awards twelve years ago. It would also look magnificent with my dungarees! I went home that day tremendously happy. A beautiful necklace and dungarees! What more can a girl want!!!
We left for the airport at eight. Our plane took off at nine thirty so once we had checked in, B and I sat and chatted over cups of steaming coffee. Finally we meandered our way to the airport lounge. We had three quarters of an hour before we boarded so I opened a book and B her I-Pad.
“Excuse me, are these seats taken?” a vibrant faced woman asked.
“They’re all yours,” I replied as she and a young man sat down. Surreptitiously I watched them over the top of my book. Obviously very much in love, hands held and eyes touching constantly.
I looked at my watch. We should have been boarding ten minutes ago. I strolled to the window and standing on the roof of an SAA plane was a man attacking the engine with a what looked like a spanner in his hand. I called B. “That looks like our plane,” I said dryly.
“Oh, shoot!”
There was an announcement that our plane would be a little delayed. Well, as long as it wasn’t too long, I thought. But an hour later, there was another announcement saying that the pilot refused to fly that plane. They were getting a different plane down from Johannesburg. Boarding was delayed until two. Shytenhauzen!
We phoned a friend, Jan, and she came and took us out for a lovely brunch at Travelbugs Restaurant. Then it was back to the airport and the book and I-Pad once more played their part. At about one thirty they announced that there would be a further delay.
By now, B’s I-Pad was forgotten. She was like a caged lion, pacing up and down, continually glancing at her watch. The young ‘in love’ couple were in a state. I discovered that they were on their honeymoon. Apparently they were flying to Johannesburg and then boarding their flight to Singapore. There they would be spending two nights in a five star hotel.
“What time does your flight to Singapore leave,” I asked.
“Six.”
“If we leave here at two, you’ll be in Johannesburg by four. You’ll make it, don’t worry.”
At 2 o’clock, there was no plane in sight. At three the distraught couple were assured that although there was a delay they would be leaving soon. B asked if SAA would pay for a taxi from the airport to Gold Reef City. They literally laughed in her face. To cut a long, drawn out, frustrating story short, our plane finally took off at a quarter to five. The couple missed their flight to Singapore and as a result their booking for the five star hotel fell through. Were they reimbursed for the missed air flight and the already paid for hotel? Don’t make me laugh!
The good news was that my brother met us off the Gautrain at seven. I usually only get to see Patch and family once a year at Christmas, so this was a real bonus. The bad news was that there was an outage in Sandton. The traffic lights were dead and as a result the traffic was manic. We arrived home at 7.30. It had taken us almost twelve hours to get to my brother’s house in Johannesburg! I was exhausted: Forget the Naledi Awards! We curled up on chairs in the kitchen with glasses of wine and hot chocolate and chilled with family.
What a total waste of an air ticket and your time, you are thinking. Smile – no, not a waste at all! It gave me a whole extra day with my special friend, B. A time where I could simply sit with her and chat. There was nothing rushing us and no extra commitments. When B stopped her manic pacing and relaxed, it was a blissful, happy time of unwinding and farewells.
I look at my dungarees and beautiful maroon crystal necklace and smile…..but you might not see me booking an air ticket with SAA in the near future!

The post The Best Laid Plans! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

On the Crest of a Wave!

Gaynor Young — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 04:18:22 +0000

“There was a magic about the sea. People were drawn to it. People wanted to love by it, swim in it, play in it, look at it. It was a living thing that was as unpredictable as a great stage actor: it could be calm and welcoming, opening its arms to embrace it’s audience one moment, but then could explode with its stormy tempers, flinging people around, wanting them out, attacking coastlines, breaking down islands. It had a playful side too, as it enjoyed the crowd, tossed the children about, knocked lilos over, tipped over windsurfers, occasionally gave sailors helping hands; all done with a secret little chuckle”
― Cecelia Ahern, The Gift

I think of how like the sea my life is. It has had so many changes all reflected in the sea. It has had it’s “magical” times; it’s “opening and embracing” times; it’s stormy and “breaking down” times. It has also had it’s quiet, becalmed times. At times it was so becalmed I wanted to churn the water up and get it moving in sheer desperation. I have been carried high on a wave only to be crashed headlong onto some rocks. Then I have been scooped up by the ocean once more. Let me share with you one of the phases of my “sea” life……

I look at the book lying in my lap, My Plunge to Fame by Gaynor Young. It has a picture on the cover of Neil McCarthy and I playing Cassio and Bianca in Othello. We look so incredibly young. I was 27 and just launching into life. So many plans and such great ambitions. I had my accident eighteen months later. Those plans and ambitions changed.
My acting stopped. I became a writer and a motivational speaker. I pick up my book and I think back to the launching of My Plunge to Fame.
And I smile.
I was nearly sick with nerves for the Durban launching of my book. I had to give a speech. Well, Gaynor had been doing her speeches for years, you’re thinking. Yes, that’s true but the speech I had been doing for years was actually my one woman show. And before my show opened, I had four weeks of rehearsal. I had to give a totally new speech at this launch for my book. For weeks beforehand I tossed and turned in bed. I was literally paralysed with fear, trying to unscramble my thoughts about what I was going to say.
It’s pathetic the way I always turn to the Lord in situations like that. When I was an actress, every time I went onstage, my entrance would always be preceded by prayers of extraordinary heat and fervour. A similar situation occurs now that I am a speaker. You can only imagine what they were like when I had to step forward as an author! I didn’t know how to be an author. Authors, I imagined, should be incredibly cool and utter remarks of great philosophical relevance. They should have this dry, cynical wit. Can you honestly see me fitting into that category?! I had to appear as Gaynor Young presenting herself as…well, as…Gaynor Young. Scary! Indeed terrifying!
But.
Laugh! My speech went too wonderfully for words. I didn’t once have to look at my notes. The things that I meant to be funny the audience laughed at and they also cracked up with hilarity at things that I hadn’t meant to be funny. Made me wonder!
At the launch we had an extraordinary turn out of people. Far more than we had anticipated so people had to stand at the back of the room. And they all bought books. Everyone did! And some bought more than one. Some bought three, some five. I know one person that bought ten! I couldn’t actually believe it. They were buying my book!

Me ‘listening’ to Judith Saulez

Carte Blanche, the investigative documentary program, filmed me the whole of the next day. They had a divine crew and I really got on well with Derek Watts, the host. At that stage I had no Cochlear Implants and I was relying on my one hearing aid. (I was totally deaf in my left ear so a hearing aid was not even considered.) I found that by holding a person under the chin I was able to pick up the vibrations of their voice. This helped me a tremendous amount in deciphering what they were saying. I obviously did it with Derek the whole time. I was terrified that I would miss what he was asking me. Afterwards people that saw the programme accused me of flirting dreadfully with him. What utter garbage but I must say that he’s got a beautiful chin to clasp!
My Jo’burg launch also went amazingly. I was even more nervous for that launch than the one in Durban. All of my theatre friends were there. They had known me as an actress, a good actress. I was terrified that I would now dry up and forget what I was going to say or express myself badly. I didn’t want to do that in front of them. But my fears were groundless. As with the Durban launch, it went fantastically.
My entire family was there. Megan had flown out from New Zealand , Liz came up from Cape Town, Mum and Dad from George and Patch was in Johannesburg. They sat in the front row so my eyes instantly fell on them. Mum was crying but knowing Mum that was to be expected. But Dad! He was a complete basket case. I went up on stage, smiled at everyone, looked at my family and saw my Father in this little puddle on the floor. This is the man who fifteen years beforehand was very reticent about showing his feelings! My precious, beloved Father. At the end of my speech I got a standing ovation and everyone in my family was weeping. For them, it seemed to be the final rounding off of my recovery. Des and Dawn Lindberg then sang a song that they had composed for me. Naturally, I couldn’t hear a thing but felt honoured that they had gone to that trouble.

Me and Fiona Ramsay

Afterwards I felt positively drunk with happiness. I mingled with all my friends. A few of them I hadn’t seen for absolute ages. Yet they had all turned up, wishing to see me through this new start in my career. When I had my accident, I thought that all my friends would turn their backs on me. They would get bored with having to talk slowly. They would get impatient with having to put up with this spastic child. Oh, ye of little faith, Gaynor! Today I not only have all of my old friends but also a host of new ones.
The next six days were packed full with interviews. I got back to Durban exhausted. But oh, I had had such a full, fun and exciting time. There were fifty-five emails waiting for me. Many of them were people congratulating me on my launches and others were from people who wanted me to speak for them. Wasn’t that exciting?
Throughout our lives we all go through ups and downs. At that moment I was riding high on the crest of this full, massive wave and the feeling was quite exhilarating. I was aware that it would soon run down but that’s was fine. I would just tread water until the next swell gently buoyed me up to the top once more.

The post On the Crest of a Wave! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

Twas the night before Christmas………

Gaynor Young — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:49:50 +0000

Harmonising – thats me, far left!

What were your childhood Christmases like?

I’m so lucky. For me, Christmas was the most magical, enchanting time.

We spent every Christmas with my Mum’s sister’s family – the Nel’s. There were four daughters in their family, Anne, Margaret, Karen and Judith, plus Liz, Megan and me in ours. Is it any wonder that my brother, Patrick was spoiled rotten! It was a case of finishing lunch and “Girls, would you clear the table!”

“What about Patch? He must also help.”

“No, leave him. This is girls work!”

Can you frigging well believe it? This was during the 70’s. At that time, feminism had not reared it’s wonderful and necessary head in the Young and Nel households. I find it so amusing that now in each us “children’s” families the kids clear the table, female AND male alike! The only children that are excused are my children, Perdita and Spencer. A dog and a bird are not all that au fait with clearing the table!

Those Christmases are filled with memories for me…..

The girls would take it in turns making the mince pies. We would turn the record player on and sing along. The house was filled with records of Christmas carols. Yeah, records not CD’s. Something that the younger generation have no knowledge of! Records of Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas, and Winter Wonderland, Oh Holy Night, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Please Daddy don’t get drunk this Christmas.Our favourite though, was definitely Boney M!

Mum, Libby and we girls loved to sing. And we did. Many an evening was spent with Anne, Margs and on guitars singing. It was so wonderful because we were taught to harmonise and let me tell you we made a pretty good singing group.

Joseph aka my sister Liz & heavily cushioned Mary, my cousin Kari

Every Christmas would involve the Christmas nativity play performed by us eight children. Patrick was naturally cast as Joseph which he endured for a few years but finally he had had enough of playing “the namby-pampby Joseph”! He had a far better idea. He would play a rough and tumble innkeeper instead and…he would set up a star that moved all the way across the lounge! And so complete with washing line and pulleys the star finally hopped and jumped haphazardly setting the path for Mary and Joseph. Elizabeth and Kari played Mary and Joseph. And what a Mary Kari was! She was about fourteen months pregnant and this Jesus was a large boy! She was stuffed cushions which slipped and slid, fell out and were re-pushed back in as she and ‘Joseph’ followed the star. They finally reached the stable where they were allowed to spend the night. Joseph set about delivering Mary’s baby. Libby’s maid, Josie, had had a baby in October. His name was Bonsela, which is Zulu for “present” and he made the perfect Jesus! Kari lay there saying things like: “Oh, Joseph, he’s coming now and he feels great!”

Joseph in turn declared: “You’re looking a little pale. I shall go and get you some water!” (Thoughtful husband, huh!) and Liz then scurried out and returned with Bonsela carried beneath a towel. Kari then threw away the third or was it the fourth cushion saying: “Oh, much better!”

At which Liz said: “And you’ve had a son and you shall call him Jesus!”

Bonsela’s black face grinned happily at us.

I am the king with the ‘black’ face & fetching orange towel crown!

Anne, Margs and I were always the three kings. Libby had wonderful clothes in which we adorned ourselves. Every year we would have the same argument over who was to wear the beautiful embroidered jacket! (I still lust over that jacket!) Margs said: “Let us follow yonder star. It will lead us to the baby, the Saviour of the world!” We three kings then set off across the lounge following Patrick’s star singing “We three kings of Orient are…” The star was meant to move to above Mary, Joseph and Jesus but instead it got half way there then stopped. And refused to budge another inch! We three kings were meant to finish our song and say: “Look, the star has stopped over the stable…” Let me tell you the star was nowhere near the stable. It was stuck just past the piano and refused to budge! Patch said: “Hold on, just let me adjust the…”

Me and the angel-fairy-shepherd!

At that moment, Megan who was meant to be an angel-shepherd and was dressed in a little ballet tutu, a straw hat and carrying a walking stick came flouncing past us in her own little four year world:”I’m a fairy shepherd, I’m a fairy shepherd!” she cried. “Look at me dancing…”

“The Angel is showing us the way,” cried Anne desperately.

We literally fled across the lounge till we reached a shed made up of draped towels. There, with Megs “fairy-shepherding” in and out, the rest of us sang “Away in a Manger” with gusto. A rainbow nativity scene in the 70’s! Joy to the World!!!

We had no fireplace so we used to arrange our Christmas stockings under the Christmas tree knowing that Father Christmas would find them there and we would wake in the morning to bulging Christmas stockings at the end of our beds! We also put out mince pies for Father Christmas to fortify himself with. Dad suggested a beer as well, to give him extra strength because he had a long way to go that night. Dad is always full of good ideas!

Eight highly excited children went upstairs to bed. I hugged myself when I lay in bed that night. I just loved Christmas. At 5.30 on Christmas morning we were all awake but we couldn’t get downstairs because the adults had locked the gate. So we sat on the stairs and sang Christmas carols and generally made a noise until at 6.30 the adults unlocked the gate. They opened the lounge doors and we gasped in awestruck delight. There were mounds of presents everywhere! Each person had their own little pile. Eight children, four adults and Gran. As I say, the lounge was teeming with brightly wrapped gifts!

And playing on the hi-fi was “God rest you merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day….”

I am so blessed to have such joy filled Christmas memories.Today I watch my nieces and nephew in their nativity plays and I smile at the enthrallment they carry with them. Family is the enchantment giver! Of that there can be no doubt.

So to all of you, may this festive season be filled with enchantment, family, laughter, friendship and most of all – Love!

The post Twas the night before Christmas……… appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

The Great Escape!

Gaynor Young — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 05:06:38 +0000

One Christmas when I still lived in Durban, I flew to George to spend the holiday with my family. Because Mum and Dad’s house was so full of guests, for my first four days before Christmas I slept in the back room with my nieces, Kirsten and Sarah. Oh yes, forgot to mention a vital point…..Pandora, my cockatiel, always came with me. So while I flew normal economy class, my poor Angel was put on with the baggage. As the baggage disappeared from view she shrieked the entire way and two hours later as I stood in George airport waiting to collect my luggage, I gave a joyful sigh as I heard the familiar shrieks emerge with the baggage once more. Pandora had arrived intact and was letting the world know. So I must amend that sentence. I shared a room with Kirsten, Sarah and Pandora. What a Goon-show!

On Christmas Eve, Mum very kindly said: “Should I take Pandora through to your room for you?”

“Thanks, Mums,” I was in the middle of a discussion with Dad. “And then could you cover her for the night.” It was Pandora’s normal time for bed – 10.30pm. So Mum and Pandora duly left and I continued talking.

Now in order for this story to have any impact I must first describe our house’s layout from the lounge to my room. It is a large lounge which you leave by turning left into the dining room. Then left once again and you find yourself in our kitchen. Which is large! Mum is “in haar noppies” because at long last she owns a BIG kitchen. Then you go down a passage which in turn passes the shower and loo until finally you reach the bedroom of Kirsten, Sarah, Pandora and Gaynor.

Fine the plot is laid out and now the story can begin! Da Da Da Duuuuuuummmmmmmm……….Just some slightly suspenseful music to get you in the mood. (I can see your smile beginning, admit it!)

About half an hour later I got up from the chair I was sitting in and went to kiss Dad goodnight. I took a step then turned back to him to make a final remark. That was when I heard it.

“Bbbrroooppphhh!”

There at my ankles was Pandora! I looked at her in stupefaction. How had she managed to get out of her cage? Even more important to my way of thinking: How had she managed to find me? Well, okay, I did speak fairly loudly at that time, this is pre-cochlear implants, so she must have simply followed the sound of my voice. But she was only able to walk. Just before the holidays I had cut her one wing. I often had her out her cage and I wanted to make sure that she was completely landlocked, if you know what I mean. Have you ever seen a cockatiel walk? It’s actually amazingly cute. They waddle from side to side. But it takes a total age for them to move any distance! Now here was Pandora, who had promptly travelled half the house to find me. And…..wait for it…we had two large cats who often regarded Pandora sitting in her cage, literally pulling a tongue at them, with great feline avidity.

Mum was nearly in tears when I tackled her about it.

“But I shut the cage. I would never leave it open. And then I covered her….”

I actually believed Mum. So I have no idea how Pandora escaped and set off on her mission. And no, Kirsten and Sarah were dead to the world. I said to my parents: “I just thank God that one of the cats didn’t devour her. If that had happened I would probably have spent Christmas in a mental home!”

My Mum didn’t find that remark very funny (after my accident she was told by one doctor to ‘put me in an Institution and forget she ever had a daughter!’), but at that moment humour was the furtherest thing from my thoughts!

But can you believe it? My Angel-Face escaped and found me!

I loved that little golden bundle of joy!

The post The Great Escape! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.