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, no 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

Tuesday 4 - We've got questions

We've Got Questions

 Welcome once again to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.   It's nice to have you take part.

Here are some questions for you.....

1. Where did your mother and father grow up?

Dad grew up in Nelson at the top of New Zealand's South Island where he developed a love of boats and the sea. He made his living as a commercial fisherman.

Mum grew up In Greymouth on the South Island's West Coast. They met at a dance mum attended with her sister and brother-in-law.

2. Where did you grow up?

I grew up on the West Coast in Greymouth. Loved every moment of my childhood but it was quite isolated and a lot of people, me included, moved away for work.

3. What was your favorite meal your mother made? What is your favorite recipe to make?

We lived in my grandparent's home and the meal I always enjoyed most was the Irish stew my grandmother made followed closely by a full roast, mutton, potatoes, parsnip, pumpkin and peas. I've never been able to replicate my grandmother's Irish stew and wonder if that has to do with the long stewing process on top of a coal range. I like easy cooking and love vege soup which mum was great at making.

4. What are the advantages you enjoy where you live?

Small town life. Not far to any amenities, 15 minutes into the city and 20 minutes to beach, lake, river or countryside. And the mountains are only a few hours drive away. Not everyone's cup of tea but we enjoy it.

That's it from me just now.

If you'd like to join in or read other's experiences  here's the link:

https://tuesdaysplace.blogspot.com/

blessings,

Diana

Oranges and lemons

 Oranges and Lemons

Oranges and lemons,

Say the bells of St. Clement's.

You owe me five farthings,

Say the bells of St. Martin's.

When will you pay me?

Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,

Say the bells of Shoreditch.

When will that be?

Say the bells of Stepney.

I do not know,

Says the great bell of Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,

And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!

I've just been reading a book with 'oranges and lemons' in the title and it got me to thinking about some of the games I played as a kid. 'Oranges and lemons' was one of them. 

We played on the street, ours was a short street and everyone knew each other. We were in and out of each other's homes and only went back to our own for meals and bed. 

The street I grew up in taken from the hill end. This must have been taken at least 40 years ago as our house is still standing in this photo but it has actually been knocked down along with a few others and pensioner flats have been built there. My aunt at the top right of the page and some of the boys I grew up with at the bottom right and on the bottom left.

Other games we played were cowboys and Indians and the boys were actually allowed to play with toy guns and bows and arrows. None of them grew up to be murderers. Skipping with a rope someone's father had brought home from the wharf, one girl at either end and 2 or 3 jumping in the middle. Hide and seek in the dark and ring a ring o' rosies.  The boys played cricket with old apple boxes for wickets. Our neighbour had a bay window at the front and the ball frequently went through it. Strangely by the time she made it to the street to see who the culprits were there was not a kid or an apple box in sight. These are just some I can think of off the top my head. Did anyone else play these games. I'm thinking some in my age group would have.

At the top end of the street was a farm on a hill. As long as there were no sheep in the paddock we were able to climb over the stile and play there. There was a large piece of exposed rock at one side and generations of kids used it as slide, I'm sure our knickers and shorts all wore out more quickly than they should have. Poor mothers. Mind you some of the parents had grown up in the same street so had inflicted the same thing on their mothers :) 

It was a great place to grow up, even if everyone knew everything about everyone else :) It was a real community.

******

Thank you for your kind comments on my last post. I really wasn't fishing for compliments but appreciate what you all said. My mother was a writer in that she wrote stories for her grandchildren as well as short stories and was great at writing poems but never had anything published. I suppose I take more after her although I don't write poetry :)

Until next time. 

Look after yourselves and keep well.

Diana

The end of an era

On Monday morning we got an early morning phone call to say my aunty had died. It was a shock as although she was in her 80's there was nothing to indicate she was ready go and her daughter who rang was quite distressed.

 

Aunty Colleen was Mum's youngest sister,  just 13 months

younger than her. They were very close and our two families

spent a lot of time together as we were growing up.

 On Tuesday we loaded the car and left for the West Coast.
Greymouth to be specific. My GKB decided we would do
 the trip in two days, he's over driving long trips if he
 doesn't need to.

 

The funeral was just what Aunty Colleen would have liked, a good send off for her. Not too much fuss and a good family gathering.

All of the families were represented apart from the Aussie branch who couldn't make it so it was a great time of cousins catching up.

Our lovely aunty was the last of her family of six siblings,

so she ended an era which started before the first World War.

We all loved her dearly and she will be sadly missed.

A photo scavenger hunt

I am joining in a photo scavenger hunt this week with Hawthorn and friends over at I live, I love, I craft, I am me. Some of the photo's are from the archives, some I have used recently and some of you will have seen them before but I hope you still enjoy them.

1:  The setting sun

We had been up the coast to visit the blowholes and the pancake rocks. At the end of the day we headed back to daughters holiday accommodation for a pizza tea. This is the view we had of the sunset over the Tasman Sea from the upstairs sitting room :)

2:  My local wild place

This is a garden in the town where my GKB grew up, so although it is local it is not local local. It is on a hill on the other side of the city. It was established by the artist Ralph Hotere and overlooks the Otago Harbour. All of the plantings are native trees and bushes and those legs you see belong to a sculpture by Shona Rapira Davies titled They do cut down the poles that hold up the sky. A lovely peaceful place to sit and relax and enjoy the native bush without leaving the city.

3:  Mug of favourite drink in the garden

Christmas Day 2016. The family had gathered at youngest daughter's home to celebrate. Dinner was over, the dishes were all cleaned up and put away and it was time to take a cup, or glass, of our favourite drink and relax somewhere and chat. The photo below is me, my daughter and grandaughter sharing a quiet moment together in the backyard. The other two possibly had a glass of wine but my drink of choice was instant coffee, made the way I like it :) Goodness knows where everyone else was, there were at least 20 of us there for the day.

4:  My kind of beautiful

Isn't she beautiful? Well I'm guessing this is a she, cos she looks pregnant to me. Anyway I love these big draught horses and you don't see them around much these days. Don't ask me the breed, I couldn't tell you, I took the photo from the car while we were doing some sightseeing last time we were up Middlemarch way .

5:  Look to the skies

On the same trip up to Middlemarch this was early evening sky at the camping ground we stayed at. My GKB took this photo and some people have said the cloud formation looks like a giant hand in the sky. Anyway I think it is quite dramatic.

6:  Mini beasts

Well you can't see the mini beasts as they are inside the nest. 

This is the nursery web of a nursery web spider and the babies stay inside for couple of weeks. I guess if you don't mind spiders you won't think of them as beasts but if you see them magnified they are very definitely little monsters.

7:  Rain

One evening late last winter we had a shower of rain. Or maybe it was early in spring as I see new buds on these branches. Overnight we had a good old frost. In the morning my GKB took a sequence of photos. The raindrops had frozen on the bare branches of this bush and it looked rather pretty with the early morning sun shining on them. A little like the spindly little bush had been draped with a string of diamonds :)

8:  Something summery

Flowers always say summer but this is 
a photo I love, taken one hot day last summer.

Wouldn't you have thought it would be easier to just get under the table instead of clambering up on top of it to find the little bit of shade afforded by the sun umbrella? This puppy is a real character :)

9:  Urban wilderness

What can I say? An urban area in the wilderness. 

Queenstown, New Zealand.

10: My own choice

Parked up for the winter, caravans on a
 bleak winter's evening in Central Otago.

I hope I haven't been too wordy

See you next week.

Diana

A family reunion

 Easter weekend saw 76 members of our extended family gather in Greymouth on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Home for the older generation of cousins and somewhere most of our kids had never been! 

On Friday afternoon we set up the hall. What could have been a big job was made easy when people just kept arriving and we ended up with an old fashioned working bee going. The men got to work putting  the tables up and the women got to work in the kitchen.  Some things never change :) When all was set up it was a quick dash back to our motels for a shower and change of clothes, then back to the hall for our 'meet and greet' evening.

We had hired a church hall and were very impressed with all the facilities provided. Because it was Good Friday we had fish and chips, hot cross buns and whitebait on the menu. This was supplemented with fruit platters and small cakes, with wine, beer and soft drink as well as tea and coffee. One sister, who shall remain nameless, ordered a slab of cake, thinking she would get something big enough for everyone to have a small piece each - it came in a wooden box and took up the entire back seat of her car! She'll take a while to live that one down.

We had a lot of fun that evening, meeting family we hadn't see for decades in some cases and also meeting their kids and grandkids. People had brought their photo's along as well as other articles of interest, the family bible, some iron ore from a mine our ancestors worked in England - the owner had smuggled it out of the mine when she went to see it. The family tree was there for anyone to take copies of and the family historian had interesting letters and other papers to look at. We decorated with daffodils and flags, Granma's favourite flowers were daffodils and Grandad's nickname was Flags, so we thought it was appropriate.

When people first arrived they took a balloon off the stage and had to find the person whose name was on the name tag. I was a bit iffy as to whether the men would take part but I think most of them found a kid and did it with them, that way it wasn't really them playing with balloons :) I loved seeing the big age range. I think the youngest was about 7 years old and my Aunty was the eldest at 86. At the dinner on Saturday night she told us all there was one week and one month between her and Mum, what she meant was one year and one month. We all had a good laugh over that. That's her below with balloons all over her wheelchair. We were all very proud of her as she had a stroke earlier in the year but managed (was determined) to attend most events for at least part of the time.

At 9:30pm when it was time to go everyone pitched in again and it only took about an hour or so to clear everything away and make our way to our beds. Well, those with kids headed to their beds, my branch of the family met up again in my youngest brothers motel and we spent a couple of hours reminiscing and catching up with each other. Two of us live in NZ and the other two who were there are living in Australia, and two didn't make it. My daughters and their families didn't join us either as they had to drive quite a way to where they were staying. We socialised with them later in the weekend. And that completed our Friday night.

Did I say it poured with rain all day and night on Friday? Well Saturday morning when we were due to go to the cemetery to put flowers on our grandparents grave we were still being blasted with torrential rain, the tail end of Cyclone Cook. Those of us who grew up on the coast weren't at all fazed as this sort of rain is quite normal for the area but I think one or two of the younger ones wondered what had  hit them. We had a good turnout of people at the cemetery, mostly the older cousins as we were the ones who spent time with our grandparents, but it was nice to see some of the younger ones there as well. And as you can see, although it was grey and cloudy the rain stopped and the weather continued to get better and better as the day wore on.

My eldest cousin (the family patriarch) said a few words 

and we had a minute silence before  we all went our 

different ways for the rest of the morning.

My GKB and my son and daughter in law and I all went down to the beach which was just below the cemetery. It was cold and blustery but it was nice to relax and take a walk before we all gathered again at Shantytown after lunch. My son takes some quite arty photos and I followed him trying to get the same shots - but mine are not arty at all :( 

And Shantytown is going to have a post of it's own, 

so I think I will stop here and continue another day.

That's more than five photo's and probably not quite

 five minutes of reading but I'd still like to take part in:

Five on Friday

********

I would also appreciate prayers for my little mother as she has been staying with me since Easter and is on complete rest. We travel to Hamilton on Monday for a CT scan (don't ask) and the plan at the moment is that they will send us home again on Wednesday then send us another appointment to go back for her heart operation. We are praying the operation will be done while we are in Hamilton without the need for another trip. We live in Dunedin in the south of the South Island, Hamilton is in the middle of the North Island and we will be travelling for about 4 hours. Many thanks.