Stan Frost	Erna Frost

How many remember the company worker fumigating the houses with DDT. They also did the trees with the same stuff, which is when I trod on the caterpillars.

Kites and kite-making was something we did a lot of. How we survived, I don’t know as we would throw the stick with the string on it over what I can only assume were the power cables and use the wire as a means of launching the kite so as to get above the cable without getting stuck in them. How many of you recall the small piece of paper that spanned the kite and produced a buzzing sound whilst in flight?

One of the teachers of the school (Las Delícias) shot an alligator and dumped it in the shower at the school. Where it was shot I have no idea. My class was taken to see it in the shower to have a look at it. It looked very big as its jaws were up the wall with its body in the shower base and tail outside the shower, but undoubtedly it was not that big.

I remember that at the school was an open quadrangle, a hall where we would do exercises, and the music lessons where we marched around. Invariably I would get the triangle although I always wanted the drum or tambourine.

The morning after parties, we would run around the tables drinking the dregs (I know, but hey - I was a kid!), eating the peanuts, etc. On one occasion I was totally out of my head by about half-past seven in the morning (saved by Dora), my mother not finding out till some days later on that occasion.

I recall the birthday parties, which were always excessive (although we didn't think they were excessive at the time). If it was your party there would be gifts from all that came. Likewise going to a party meant taking a present. As often as not, the party would drift into the evening as the adults came to collect their little cherubs, and stayed for a drink or two or three and the barbeque might get fired up.

The beach and the hours spent there - I can recollect on one occasion that we had spent the day at the beach with all the kids and the mothers. The fathers joined us after work. The barbeque was fired up and a great time as always was being had by all. I remember the details, being filled in by my mother talking about it in later years as we did re-live our days in Venezuela. The women went out for a swim and the men folk, realizing that they were skinny-dipping, parked all the cars in the darkness so that the headlights were pointed out to where they were swimming and, when they exited the water, switched on the car lights. As I recollect, I've to this day not seen so many women run back into the sea, still separated from their bathing suits! I was far too young back then to appreciate the delights of female nudity.

I do recall the Navy coming to town and my folks throwing a party for them and getting to go on ships though the memories are hazy. But the photos show more than I remember.

I remember school days that started early. Getting home around midday for a siesta, we would sometimes sleep. Other times we would be running around having a cup of tea whilst my father listened to the World Service on the BBC. We would go back to school in the afternoon, do one or two lessons, and we'd end up at the club for swimming lessons. I'm sure it was not everyday, but it felt like it. Then we would drift into the evenings as the adults turned up to collect their kids. Often we would stay on at the club watching cartoons on the big screen in the open air cinema at the club. We might then go off to the Rincón (Rincón Borícua).

I remember that we had great times at the club pool and spent a lot of time there. Does anyone remember the foot bridge that divided the pool into the shallow and deep parts? We would swim under the bridge through a narrow gap between the bridge and a low wall. It was a bit of a squeeze. My father recounted that when the pool first opened the footbridge had no restrictions in crossing it. But so many adults fell into the pool on their way from one side to the other, as it was a shortcut. I'm sure that drink had no part in their falling in. But it was eventually fenced off - to protect the kids, you understand (see pictures 7 & 8, the barrier/gate/fence, whatever is visible in them).

My father told me of the time that the club management put a chemical into the water to embarrass those who would pee in the water when swimming. This chemical would turn the water blue around them if they peed. When the kids found out about it, there was no stopping them, so that idea was scrapped.

I remember a revolution and soldiers in the back garden, being told to stay indoors, thinking it was quite exciting. There seemed to be revolutions, but only once do I remember a soldier in our garden.

I remember sports days at the sports ground and cricket on the weekend and dad making chili con carne and rice by the truckload, big barrels filled with ice separated by bottles of Zulia beer, bottles of Coca Cola and Fanta - wonderful days that were so full.

I recall collecting metal bottle tops and swapping them for Disney characters from the Zulia deliveryman, doing swaps with the other kids. I seem to remember them all being white, don’t know if plastic had color in those days or if it was too expensive.

A rabid dog was killed in the back garden of the very last house on the left in Colónia Mazzei next to the waste land with a bow an arrow by an expatriate, who did archery. My brother Robert (aka BOB) was bitten and had to have the jabs in his stomach He later recounted his heroism in the face of death and showed his needle marks to the other kids.

Some of the photos show the orphanage visit, and Prince Philip's visit to Maracaibo talking to Ian McKechnie. Also in the photo is Ian’s wife Margaret, my Dad and my mother.

How many of you recall the rain and how heavy it could be. The front garden would be flooded to the depth of my knees, so that would be at least a foot. The thunderstorms and lightning were always short-lived and the air smelled so clean and fresh afterwards.

I can recount childhood memories of Maracaibo endlessly, which brings me back to where I started. We had a wonderful life that was carefree and very full. We had holidays in Barbados & Jamaica. When traveling home to see the family in the UK, I could not wait to get back to Maracaibo.

Since leaving, I've never gone back. I understand that the old Colónia Mazzei is gone now. But going back may spoil my childhood memories.

So there you have it. I hope that the photos bring back great memories for all of you.