Circular No 672

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

Caracas, 20 of September 2014 No. 672

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Dear Friends,

Den building by Scouts.

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From: Gmail Jan <jankoenraadt@gmail.com>

Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 11:01 AM

Subject: Re: ABBEY SCHOOL - THE MOVIE AND TV SERIES

I was good in den building, until some old boy discovered us.

Yeah, and you put in those guys who sent the basketball and volleyball way down the hill!

And I have a few cases the prefects pronounced us guilty until proven innocent with no permission to talk.

Jan Koenraadt

'63-'67

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Dec 20, 2013

So, you crossed the valley with den building and ropes, why you want to fly in the sky after that?

That scouting knowledge sure came in handy. Wanted to repair the tiles of the roof of a barn last two years from the inside with a scaffold, do it yourself way. But the scaffold wasn't high and wide enough, what to do? I put a few pictures on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/70756908@N04/sets/72157638850288943/with/11463330906/

(Is a dummy account, other pictures are also dummy but meant for other people).

Jan Koenraadt

'63-'67

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Dec 19, 2013

Ah, Attila,  you was one of the builders?

The old boy said he would be back in one hour.

So we planned to fool him.

Break down the den, put the dirt back, throw away all the materials at the other side of the hill, rub out all traces and go.

I remember him asking later where the den went to because he couldn't find it.

And an earthquake got you off balance huh?

No Holy Spirit from the chapel feeling sorry for you?

Jan

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Attila GYURIS

Dec 19, 2013

After you left I continued to build them dens in the most creative places . . .

Each one better than the last.  :-) 

All that scouting knowledge really came in handy.

Attila Gyuris

Mount 1964-1969

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On 2013-12-19, at 11:30 AM,

Attila GYURIS wrote:

As long as we are telling spooky stories.

I have another Mount story that I have never been able to explain  to this day ...

This was back in the Autumn Term in 1965, when I was still a small boy, in Form I.  

One Saturday night I and another classmate were banned from the movies up at St. Benet's Hall above the Refectory for not doing our homework or something like that.

The other boy with me was Michael Korda, from Venezuela, who stayed only for two school years ( 1964-1965, then 1965-1966).   

So we were bored and sitting around the back (the east end)  of the big school building,  towards where the stairs went down to the Physics and Chemistry lab, next to the small boy's dormitory. It was already night, around 8:30 pm or so.

If you all remember back then the school had a small Chapel, which was in the small East building,  next to the small boys' dormitory, and right above the Chemistry Lab.  It had white wooden doors that were kept locked. 

There we sat in the darkness talking and looking out on the lights towards the town of St Augustine and the plains below us.

The night sky was clear and starry.  

We were pissing and moaning about the big injustice and how unfair it was that we were not allowed to watch the movies. 

Suddenly, out of the blue,  the ground started to rumble and shake, (like an earthquake) and the chapel doors started to shake VIOLENTLY  and making a LOT of noise,  like they were coming off the hinges.  

The rumbling and shaking lasted for about 5-6 seconds then it stopped. I remember I lost my balance and I fell to the ground.  

We both were wide eyed and terrified shitless and didn't know what to do.  

So we started to run towards the little road up to the refectory.  

And just  then we began to see the first few boys starting to come down the road because the movie had ended. 

We started to ask our friends if they had felt the earthquake just now, ... and NOT ONE had felt or heard anything, and they thought we were crazy ....  

We could not believe they hadn't felt anything, while we fell down from the shaking. 

Up to this day I can't explain WTF happened theat night, ... but it happened.

Attila Gyuris

Mount 1964-1969

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From: Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>

Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 9:04 AM

Subject: RE: - Chapter 14, The Saint & His Knights.

My Dear Sir Anthony,  ( The Knight-Judge).

Muchas Gracias, Mi Hermano Y Mi Amigo.  

Four Great Knights, Sir Andres(Freddy), Sir David (bandit), Sir Jon, & Sir Anthony, have all confirmed, this whole story to be True, I just wanted to let all our brothers know, how Father Peter, became our Club Saint Of Protection and Guidance.,  

Now you know, all the stories, or Tales or Rumors you have heard, are one by one, becoming facts. believe it or not,

If you are in this Club, you don't need to read any mystery books, you are living in one.  

It takes a few Good Knights, coming together to reveal, these Secrets from within, this can be done, only after 50 years, after the fact, as was written, in The Book, The King Of  Hearts.  

Chapter 14, The Saint & His Knights. 

Long Live The Realm, Long Live The Mount.

Welcome To The Club Mis Amigos,   

Yours Faithfully

Glen McKoy.

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Roti Night at Rotilicious

Nigel P. Boos <nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca>

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 10:54:44 PM

Carlos,

Thanks for your kind comments and gentle reflections.

I am so happy that you found the time to come and share your company with us old guys.

Wasn't it wonderful how, in an instant, we were able to transcend time and space and put ourselves back into the past, back into our tiny world of Mt. St. Benedict, and, forgetting that we really had not known one another before that night, were able to come together as brothers in spirit and in the enjoyment of one another's company?

Marvelous!

I would really appreciate any help you can give me to identify the names and contact info for the boys who attended the Abbey School during your time.

In order to help you and to concentrate your mind, I have attached a file which, so far as I know (and I may be wrong) includes all of the students of the Abbey School between 1972-1982.  

Hopefully, you might be able to remember some of them, the years they were at MSB (approximately), how long (approx.) they were at MSB, any email addresses you might know, or any notes which you might remember about them.

Insignificant memories on your part can spark a whole wave of activity on my part. 

So here we go. Please see what you can do for us. And thanks, Carlos, in advance.

Nigel 

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On 24-Feb-09, at 3:42 PM,

GUIO, Carlos wrote:

Nigel:

Thank you for the invitation and for a fantastic night, and for the pix.  

I may have been quiet but the reflections and memories were …. unique.

I had not seen a scout scarf or belt like mine in 30 years or so…

My swimming medals looked like some of those we saw that evening,…..  

I still do not remember my patrol name….many of the stories were similar to those of my time, the places some of you remembered in the mountain, in the back, the little door to the mountain from the basketball court, the mangoes, oranges and honey ….

Whitestone, the view of Piarco, what an evening and great company.

Thanks again.

I will find some time to help with some of the names and dates from my time there.

All the best and kind regards to you and Jackie.

Carlos

(We have not received any news from Carlos, EDITOR)

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From: "Roger & Martine Ames" <americanpie10580@yahoo.com>  

Laszlo, my wife is complaining that you are blocking up her e-mail.

This is my address:  roger.ames@mac.com.  Keep up the work.

Maybe you could find the issue of Mount Inside that got me expelled.

My children want to see it.

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...11 nov 2010

From:  Art & Val Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com> 

Nigel,

Did I not send my (How I started OASIS) copied to you? Ladis claims he never got it?!?
Drop me a line.
How is life with you? I am in a bit of a medical struggle, as 2 of my medications are affecting my memory, and they are trying to fathom what to do. Other than that, all is fine with Val & I, and we will endeavour to drift down to Barbados end of Dec for 6 to 8 weeks.
How is your 'love life' going.
Please shoot me a reply; and happy Rememberance day.
As ever,
Arturo
 P.S. Maybe that is why I can't remember!

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From: ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com

Date: Sun, 4 Apr 2010 09:16:21 +0000

Hi Art,

How is the compendium of the OASIS story??

Hope all is well and you have had time during these cold months.

God bless
Ladislao

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From:  Nigel P. Boos nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca

Hello, Arthur,

Some years ago, I sent everything I had to Ladislao, for his own use.

I have retained nothing at all, so really, he has all the files I'd been sent.

I'm sorry if they have been lost - that would be awful - but I've done the best I could to get thee ocs off my hand, and that I did a looooooonnnnnggg time ago.

I'm sorry to hear that you're in a bit of a medical struggle.

They say that memory loss is normal for older folks, so maybe you're getting up there, old man??

I'm glad to hear that you and Val are going to Bdos for another stint in the sun.

Wish I could join you.

I'm doing my best to keep body and soul together.

It's difficult without a job, and I'm helping Jackie with her cupcake business.

It's developing slowly.

I'm also involved as an Associate with Pre-Paid Legal Systems, and I have hopes that this will materialize into something worthwhile.

I'm getting to enjoy my little grand-daughter about once every week, and she keeps me interested in what's going on.

I dread to think of the crazy world she's inheriting, and the need to teach her solid Christian principles is more pressing today than ever before, I think.

In the meantime, smile. Enjoy some good Latin music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf9ypRpbZMA&feature=related

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From: Art & Val Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com> 

Nigel,

They say, (whoever they are), that "we don't get older, we just get better!"

Yeah, right!. I will e-mail Lad and send him something (without attatchments) if that will suffice, even if I mess up the dates as I no longer have my old files.

We are now in the process of downsizing, as we are planning to move into a rental apartment, rather than drift around in this big house.

Had a fabulous Knaggs/Burke Family Reunion this Sept gone, with 85 bodies family and 'wannabees, (on our "Knaggs Island"); a little rock and tree infested 9 acre blob in a 7 mile boot shaped Lake Charlotte (our spot in the heel), and it served marvellously, fun filled years since 1981.

No work on our Island, just projects, with everybody a part and parcel of its growth.

Started with an 18 x 24 ft Cedar Log Cabin.

We now we have added one 10x12, two 8x10's, two 8x8 Cabana's (basically sheds, but added proper door and window), and that's it.

In the meantime, we just keep peddling water, being parents of our six offspring, and 10 grans, now all in Canada spread from here to British Columbia; four time zones stretched across.

Love to you and Jackie.

Keep smiling and "they" will never know when you are up to mischief.

Arturo

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Photos:

56DA0001DAMSCOUT. The nicest photo

68AG0001SCOUTS,  Contribution of Attlia Gyuris

14 TH2013THAGRP, Tim Healy in Trinidad

53UN0001SCOUTS,  All Unknowns