Inorganic Collection

Pleased to be able to announce that we got rid of quite a lot of rubbish from under the house, our old window frame collection, broken mirrors, old bags. All the good stujff was snaffled up by passing hoarders, foragers, gleaners or collectors like myself which prompted me to do the same in the neighbourhood too. Got some Australian novels to read while we are over there, replacement bags, a book case for Elisabeth and a blue enamel jug to replace the red ones I sold on Trademe some time ago. Well it is all very harmless and it is nice to have some new junk. There will be another collection in 2 years time so will enjoy them my new trove until then.

Upper Harbour Trip to Riverhead

Went on a Sunday boat trip with the German Club. It was all new territory me, at least seeing the North Shore sites from the water. Started off going under the Harbour Bridge, past Birkenhead Wharf, the Chelsea sugar works, then Beachhaven with some quite spectacular houses overlooking the water. Then came Kauri Point naval armaments depot, tucked away here, it is said so that if it exploded it would be away from Auckland City. Further on up the harbour past a marina on the Te Atatu side then under the Upper Harbour Bridge, past Paremoremo and a former Maori Pa site strategically situated on the entrance to Hellyers creek. Lots of seabirds in evidence waiting for fish. Then came Herald Island, connected to the mainland by causeway for many years, the Hobsonville Airbase, the former Clark Potteries and finally our destination, the tavern at Riverhead where we had a delicious barbecue lunch . Some of us had a walk up the road to see if there was anything to see - not much just a dairy and a garage and lots of traffic speeding along the Great North Rd.

Sydney Alan Gabb

It was the 30th anniversary of my father's death on 13 March. There aren't many photos of him that I could lay my hands on easily so I am listing one of him and my mother going out to some ball or other. Next there is a photo of me, my sisters , Helen and Mary, who died 10 years before my father at the age of 18, and my mother. On the back of this photo Mary has written "Taken when I was 14 1/4 . The night I got my first boyfriend!!". It was at a barn dance in National Park where we had a bach. All the locals were invited along with several inmates from the Rangipo Prison Farm. The following photo was taken a few years later in our family homein Jervois Rd, Herne Bay, a few months before I went off to Europe on my second OE.

Bay of Islands

We had a lovely 3 -day trip - lots of historic sites and houses, incuding Ruakepapeka, Waimate North, and Pompallier House, another at Butler Point and a whaling museum there, plus Pete's Transport and Colonial museum near Kerikeri, a chocolate factory where I bought gifts for March birthdays. Dieter kindly bought me a box too. It was wonderful to be back in Paihia, Russell, and Kerikeri - the town changed beyond recognition since our last visit, some12 years ago. Nice to go to the Stone Store, which is beautifully restored and stocked with typical things of the time, as well as new things, all tastefully arranged and available for purchase such as old fabrics suitable for patchwork. Kemp House with its beautiful garden was interesting as one of the earliest houses of the area. There is a bypass going in which will take heavy traffic which has a deletarious effect on the house and store with its vibrating noise, away from that area and bridge over the inlet . Everywhere we had conducted tours of the historic places trust houses with very knowledgable and enthusiastic people. We went to a kaleidoscope workshop and were able to look through different kaleidoscopes with different prisms at things like the big urn of flowers outside and see the most amazing patterns. One of the people bought one and passed it around the bus and if youpointed it out the window you could get a riot of changingpattern especially passing trees and hedges. They didn't come cheap but they were in beautiful kauri surrounds.
All our group were from the Silverdale and Districts Historical Society and older than us. We dined out both nights at the RSA in Paihia - very cheap mini roast dinner or fish meal for $11. There was a long wait but I filled it admirably with a couple of drinks from the bar. The photos are of Kemp House and the store, and the kaleidoscope factory where there was a huge pear tree.