Enjoying Greymouth

At the end of my last post we were at the railway station awaiting the shuttle through to Christchurch. The train is a once a day trip - Christchurch to Greymouth and back about an hour later. And far too expensive for us ordinary folk. So we caught the shuttle bus and it was comfortable enough with very congenial company. People chatted and shared food and one man loaned a blanket to someone who was not dressed warmly enough. 

But before we left there were things to do and places to see.

I went back to the school gates and took a photo and a close up of the poppies that had been crafted and attached to the gates on ANZAC Day.

On ANZAC Day Sis and I met up with our cousin and after lunch we went up to the cemetery at Karoro and put flowers on our grandparents grave and a poppy on Grandad's war plaque. It was nice to see the gravesite looking so good especially with there being no family living there now.

    

From the cemetery we took a short trip to the Karoro beach, it is a stony beach, not sand, and the stones polish up beautifully. We went fossicking - looking for greenstone or pounamu and we found some stones with a green tinge but I doubt it was the pure stuff. We did pick up some pebbles for the Aussies to take home though. Some are such pretty colours.

Karoro beach, you can see the Southern Alps in the far distance and on a good day can pick out Aorangi Mount Cook.

Lorraine and Peter fossicking. There was a lady and her children fossicking as well, she had a hammer and chisel to break stones open, we just spat on ours to see the colour :)

Another day Peter invited Lorraine and I to go to the Mawhera Pa with him. The pa is built on the site of the original Maori settlement, which surprised me as I had always thought it was about a half mile further up the river. So after lunch at one of the local cafes we went on an immersive learning adventure. It was well worth the money and time spent, a world class attraction I would think. I was really impressed with the quality of the exhibits. Below is a collage of some of the interior, small individual storytelling pods, small theatres showing movies/animations of life on the pa and the environs and a larger than life model of a Maori chief. Just some of the delights in this amazing cultural centre.

I think it was that same day that we went to the railway station and bought tee shirts for the kids, well I bought tee shirts I don't know what anyone else bought. And then i told the other two to follow me. They indulged me and were pleased they did as I was showing them the pounamu boulder at the end of the platform. It's enormous and one of several scattered around the town. 

 Another night we had dinner at the hotel next to the motel. It was nice to go and have a proper meal after cooking scrap meals at the motel and we spent a very pleasant hour or so just chatting about our respective families and having a proper catchup.

Occasionally Lorraine and I did our own thing when Peter was away touristing :) One day we took a bit of a walk along the flood wall of the Grey River but although it looks like a nice sunny day a cold wind blows down the valley and it wasn't very pleasant. You can see looking upriver that there were grey clouds and although it didn't rain it was cold. 

Then we went and had brunch at a little place just up from the quay. 

We had to wait until after 11am as Sis wanted whitebait, so whitebait we had. $16 each for a very big patty sandwiched between fresh white bread. It was delicious :)

That was pretty much it in Greymouth. It was great to visit our old home town. We went and looked for the houses we lived in but neither of them were there anymore. Even the hospital where we both worked and the nurses home we lived in have been knocked over and rebuilt - I suppose that's what happens after a major earthquake or two.

When we arrived in Christchurch I had about six hours before my flight down to Dunedin so we met up with our Christchurch cousins. Six girls, we sat and chatted for a couple of hours before the cafe closed. That was half the girl cousins, another six are scattered throughout Australia and New Zealand.

That's me at the back on the left. Look at all that white hair, lots of wisdom in that group :)

And now I think I should stop. I don't talk a lot but I seem to forget to stop when I'm writing. 

So, until next time, 

keep well and keep safe.

Diana 

Grey Main School reunion

We flew across the Alps just over a week ago, Sis and I, to our primary school's 150th reunion. There wasn't a lot of snow even though it had snowed a couple of times in the last couple of days. Our cousin was taking the train through and I thought he would have a spectacular trip with snow about but he said there was very little.

The weather was very kind to us and we had a day or so settling in and strolling around reminiscing. On Friday evening we had a meet and greet at a local restaurant attached to a brewery. It was a nice evening, with drinks and nibbles. I enjoyed it to an extent but was a bit disappointed that I never saw anyone from my class. Most people were in groups and Lorraine and I were by ourselves. I felt like we were a couple of little old ladies stuck in a corner. A couple of people came over and chatted, some came over and took the remaining chairs from our table but no-one invited us to join them. We stayed about an hour and then walked back to our motel. This photo was taken in front of a large picture of our old school entrance. Assemblies were held here until the hall was built. 

The restaurant is a nice place and pleasant to eat in and we ducked in one day as we were going past just to have a soft drink. 

Saturday was ANZAC Day and our intention was to be up in time to go to the Dawn Parade before going to the service at the school's old Memorial Gates. We slept in! But we made it in plenty of time for the school service and were shown to seats in the front because I have hearing problems, someone had remembered that from the evening before. School pupils attached poppies to the gates, one for each pupil who had perished in the two World Wars. It was quite a moving service with soldiers names, numbers and some personal details read out. This was mostly done by the pupils with one or two descendants reading as well.

When it was over, and we'd caught up with one or two people we walked over to the Cenotaph and then a block down to the RSA (Returned Services Association). Later we went to the cemetery and put poppies on Grandad's grave.

 

The afternoon saw us at the school, in a completely different place to where it had been before. Luckily our shuttle driver when we arrived was kind enough to do a short detour and showed us where it was, not far from the motel at all so we were able to walk. I met a girl outside who recognised me, she'd been friends with my best friend at school and so we hung around with her for the rest of the weekend. It was nice to have someone else to chat to and laugh with. We laughed a lot over the course of the weekend.

An ex teacher/principal (I'm not sure which) rang the old bell that had called us all to our lessons all those years ago. She was privileged - it was only the boys who were allowed to ring it back in the day. 

Then we were all sent around to the playground where the eldest ex pupil (96) cut the cake with help from the youngest pupil and one of the senior girls.

The delicious cake, it had been cut by the time I got to take a photo..

The junior Kapa Haka group entertained us...

...followed by the senior Kapa Haka group.

Afterwards afternoon tea was put on by the Parent Teacher Association and it was delicious. We also had an opportunity to wander through some of the classrooms, look at old photos and some old journals. There was a dinner on Saturday night but it was out of town so we didn't attend as we had no transport. No one had let us know there would be a shuttle until after we had registered. 

On Sunday we found ourselves back at the school for a delicious brunch. I only had the fruit and a cup of tea, oh and a piece of cake,  but I was cheeky and asked if I could have a croissant to take back to the motel for later. I was given two!  One of each of the different fillings :) So one for me and one for sis. There was hot food as well. They did a terrific job feeding us all. Farewells were said and all too soon it was all over.

A week after we arrived we were down at the railway station awaiting our shuttle through the mountains to Christchurch, the first leg of our trip home.

So, apart from a slight disappointment at the beginning of the celebrations I really enjoyed myself.

We also spent time with my cousin doing things but I think I've rabbited on enough for one post, that can wait for another day.

Keep well,

 look after yourself,

 until next time, 

Diana

Happy Days

Well Sis has been here for just on a week and tomorrow we head up to Christchurch by plane and then over to the Coast. One of our cousins is coming out to the airport for a catchup and a coffee between flights so we're all looking forward to that. I've been busy packing today, I keep thinking of things I've forgotten to put in but I think I'm set now. Not to worry though, there are shops in other towns if needed :)

 

And what have we been up to this week? Not a lot really but Lorraine (Sis) assures me she's quite happy. One day we went over to daughter Jacqui's house so Aunty could teach her to crochet, another string to her crafty bow. That's them up above and you'll see Jacqui did end up with a moon boot on her injured foot. She's happy but says it's heavy :)

 

 Lorraine is the quilting sister and so another day we drove over to younger daughter's place to deliver a quilt to teenage grandson. He was out and about with his mates so we put it on the bed for him. He was suitably impressed when he arrived home and saw it.

Sunday was a wet miserable day so after lunch we had a look through some old photos of Mum's. I'd been looking for old school photos to put up on the reunion page and hadn't found any. There was one box left to look at and that's where we found them. The last box! Above is one the class photos with me and two of my siblings. I was a year ahead of them and teachers taught two classes. We're all in the second row, my brother on the right, I am sixth in from the right and sis is three in from the left. Large classes with up to 40 kids was the norm and the teachers had full control.

 

And how could we not go out for a meal? Of course we did! Lorraine, Jacqui, Vanessa Bob and I all went out for lunch yesterday. Bob and his harem :) The meals were big, read huge, I brought some of mine home and had it for tea. If that was lunch I wonder what the evening meals are like. We went to the Concord Tavern, we haven't been for quite some time, last time we were there they were upgrading the dining room and it is so much nicer now. That's Bob up above, coming down the entrance steps. It was a great hour or two just enjoying being together as family.

Lorraine and I have also been out for a couple of short walks, dictated by the cold, wet weather, and we had an afternoon in the shop and dressed the window together.

That is all for now.

Until next time,

Diana

Socialising and a cyclone

 Preparations are almost finished for Sis arriving from Aussie on Wednesday night. All I have to do is run the lux (vacuum cleaner) over her bedroom and we'll be ready. Not that she will care if I don't get the floor done, but I will. Then after a week of catching up with people we'll both head over to the West Coast to our school reunion.

In the meantime it has been quite a social time here. We have a friend living in a rest home and her North Island family were down for a few days. I managed to catch up with them over coffee and cake one afternoon. Bob was coming but the man arrived just after lunch to install our new heat pump and was still here at tea time. Never mind, they'll be back again before too long I'm sure.

And on Friday we had a phone call from his sister. "Do you want to meet for lunch, we're on our way on the bus. It gets in just after 11." So we met them for early lunch, I was on duty at the shop filling in for someone, the reason for eating early, but we all enjoyed having a good old catch up on the family news. They usually come out when I'm not working and we can relax a bit more.

And talking about visitors from Aussie, we have friends over for the 50th Anniversary Otago Rally car event. This is the same couple who gave us both a run in his rally car when we were over there in August. I'm not really expecting to see them though as they are quite involved in the rally and now need to deep clean the car before it goes in the container to head home. But it would be nice :)

The weekend was quite eventful as well with Cyclone Vaianu bearing down on the country. It was due to make landfall around midday Sunday  over Auckland city but changed course tracking down the east coast and made landfall further south. I feel sorry for the people in the area, I think this is the third time this year they've been hit with some sort of weather bomb. Roads closed, trees down and slips. So devastating and demoralising for them, but thankfully no loss of life. We were very thankful as it was a big storm and covered the whole of the North Island and part of the South and we have quite a few family members up there. None of them reported any damage except for branches off a couple of trees, apart from that just some rain and not much wind. 

God is good. 

I think that is it from me just now.

Take care, keep well until next time

Diana

Easter Sunday

 Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Good Friday

The day started slowly with hot cross buns for breakfast and then it was out the door and off to the Good Friday service at church at 10am. It was a nice service with readings and songs and a shorter sermon than usual, followed by morning tea. More hot cross buns and biscuits. Yum :)

After lunch we delivered the Easter treats to our great grands grandparents as one was out of town and the other was staying the night. Eldest daughter Jacqui has injured her foot and is having treatment, if it hasn't improved when she goes back this week she'll be getting a moon boot. She's hoping so because she thinks she'll be able to get a bit more mobile. She's bored with mainly sitting and resting it. 

After visiting with Jacqui for a while and delivering Arlo's goodies we went over to youngest daughter Vanessa's and delivered Theo's treats. He arrived to stay the night with her just before we were leaving so it was lovely getting to see him, but he sure is a little whirlwind. And he looks cute with his new haircut just like his Dad's. A mullet!

So we had quite a relaxed day, a nice day, and we enjoyed it :)

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter - and don't forget, 

it may be Friday but Sunday is coming.

Diana

Touching base

Jacqui has a good crop of strawberries, I wonder if she has enough to share, though? Hmm..

Autumn has arrived and the weather has settled down to some extent. There's very little to no wind, mornings are cool and we sometimes need some heating on while we're having breakfast. Then at the other end of the day we can be sitting with the fan blowing the air around to cool us down. It's pleasant enough to sit out on the swing seat and read for a bit in the afternoons as well and that's always a big plus in my mind :) The picture below is taken from my granddaughter's office window, a city view, with the leaves just starting to turn.

The house next door has sold. Not the one with the new roof but on the other side. It has been empty for two years since the old couple both passed away. The family have been clearing it out and getting it cleaned up for sale. It took two years of family coming to get it done, about three months of intense daily clearing out of papers and personal items then weekends there was always someone there doing something. It taught me that I need to clear clutter out of our house before it gets too much for us and not leave such a big job for our kids. A young fellow has bought it, he looks to be in his 20's, and it'll be interesting to see what he does with it :) It needs a lot of work inside (and we wouldn't mind if he got rid of some of the trees on the fenceline). Just saying.

 

I'm looking forward to my sister coming over from Aussie next month. We're heading over to the West Coast for our primary school reunion and staying a week altogether. I wasn't going to go as both the girls I was really good friends with have passed away and I haven't really kept in touch with anyone else. And the old school building is gone so I can't even wander around there and reminisce - we'll just have to make do with photo's I guess. But sis was really keen and I didn't want to let her go by herself. I'm quite looking forward to it now and I'm sure I'll enjoy it once I'm there. One of our cousins is flying over from the Gold Coast to see us! He was thinking of coming over for a holiday anyway and thought he might as well come while we were at the reunion, he spent his early childhood there as well and wanted to do a nostalgia trip. So that's a bonus. 

This is the programme, or part of it, there is also a lunch 

on the Sunday. There's plenty of spare time to go gallivanting and looking up our old haunts, if they still exist :)

Not a lot has been happening, we're both in good health at the moment, have just had our six monthly checkups. And life goes on in it's own little rythm.

Keep well until next time,

Diana