Cindy L. Mitchell

My Mum and Dad, who have passed on had a farm in Zimbabwe, in a mining district in Fort Victoria (Musvingo,), at the time known as Rhodesia, where I was brought up with my eldest brother John and my second born sister Gaye and my youngest sister Sharry. I immigrated to South Africa in 1980 with my children and have lived in this beautiful country since then.

I was educated at Dominican Convents in Bulawayo, Umtali (Mutari) and Gwelo (Gweru.) The nuns, I believe, used to tear their hair out where I was concerned, as I was a total rebel. I was made a prefect and sports captain at the various schools that I attended. I am sure to try and ‘iron out’ my rebelliousness and to keep me busy ‘leading instead of finding any ‘mischief’ to get into! (This did not always work though,) as somehow I always managed to take a different route to the one the nuns had mapped out for me. I absolutely hated learning.

Thank goodness my Dad had the foresight to send me to Commercial school, (no doubt at this stage despairing of my future!) My folks were probably quite taken aback at the quality of the pass rate I received in my commercial subjects.

I loved writing even at school and usually received the highest marks for composition, as it was called in those days.

I enjoyed sports tremendously and would much rather have been on the sports field at any given time, than in the classroom. I played hockey, tennis, netball and swam. I also tried my hand at diving too, which was very exhilarating.

I enjoyed singing and joined the choir, mostly to get out of the boring old classroom, as some travelling was sometimes involved.

I was a member of the Drama Society which I thoroughly enjoyed and played leading roles in most of the plays. One which really stands out in my memory is “The Magic Basket,” in which I played Face Ache the naughty goblin, who used to tease the Fairies and generally make a total nuisance of himself. (If you ask my friends, that has not changed much, as I am still a child at heart.)

As there was no TV on the farm when I was growing up, Dad, Mum and us kids used to listen to the radio a great deal, especially in the evenings and I believe that is where my imagination for writing took route. I especially loved listening to the radio play, “No Place to Hide.”

Even today, I far more enjoying listening to music or the radio, than watching TV. The different voices and stories on the radio make for more visualization as the words come across to me.

My ears and eyes are always taking in what I hear and see, for I find this is where fertile information is usually gleaned and stored subconsciously for future stories in my book writing.