Happy Birthday Donald J.

Congratulations. Not everyone gets to eighty seven years, good effort. And three parties in three days at three different locations......

Lions 2

Some time ago I mentioned the Lions, and recommended that you buy a steak at a Lions BBQ. In the above photo, the members of the Ohai - Nightcaps Lions club have almost completed buttering the bread, shifting the furniture, connecting the gas, and are now ready to put the meat on the grill. All in about 20 minutes. They fed about 140 including me with no fuss at all. A good selection of salads, fresh bread, really good meat patties.
Teamwork and practice.

Nightcaps Schools 125th Jubilee 2

John Curry is well into his 90's. Someone did tell me his exact age, but it is probably not relevant here. He was the oldest ex pupil from the Nightcaps district, and went to school in this area sometime between 1914 and 1923. He is bright, agile, has great conversation skills and was keen to get around everyone. His memory is second to none, and it was interesting listening to him talk to others about his time at school. Being the oldest at the jubilee, he was given the task of cutting the cake. In the above photo he is assisted by the youngest student currently at the school, whose name escapes me at the moment. I bet John Curry remembers it.

Nightcaps Schools 125th Jubilee

I have just spent a very enjoyable weekend in Nightcaps. I was very privileged to be in attendance at the Jubilee celebrating 125 years of education in the district. Several schools have been involved in this, but only one remains open.
In the above photo, 250 odd (I have not counted them) past pupils lined up on a very hot afternoon to be in the picture. The locals assured me it was not especially hot, they were used to it in that area, but I was getting the hurry up while taking this photo as they were complaining that they were melting. However one has to get thirsty before one can appreciate having a drink, and the ability of this group to enjoy themselves seemed limitless.
I wish to thank Graeme Sinclair for inviting me, Scotty and Biggles for putting the grandstand in place, Biggles' twin brother for shifting all the furniture, Pam for doing the sign, and Sandra King for organising my meal. There were heaps of others who helped the weekend go well, in fact everyone one in the photo, but maybe a mention should be made of the Polaschek Brothers for the entertainment. While I am at it I should mention John and Sandra Carmichael who let me stay at their place during a very busy weekend for them. Thanks guys.
It was a great weekend, and I reserve the right to put up more photos in future.

Colgate Games 2

During the lead up to the Colgate Games, I was dealing with one Barbara Jenkins. This dedicated lady is the Secretary Treasurer of the organisation, and is very good to deal with. But then when we picked up the program, we found her name beside no less than 4 functions in the organisation.
Without such dedication, events like this would not take place.
I would like to acknowledge here the value of the effort she has put in to this, and previous events, over a long time.

A good start

Last weekend, myself and 4 of our children were involved in the Colgate Games, in Invercargill. This is probably the biggest athletics meet in the South Island. For 30 years now Colgate have sponsored these games, and a good job they make of it. I think there were about 750 athletes there, and the usual number of supporters, some of whom were very dedicated. Between my son Andrew and I we did over 2000 photos of these guys going faster, higher, and whatever else athletes do. There were both girls and boys up to the age of 14, and a very full program to keep everyone busy.
I have called this post 'a good start' because before I took this photo, before the gun had gone off, these girls practiced the start over and over again. And then it was explained to me with a certain amount of surety by a 10 year old who seemed to know these things, that whoever got the best start had the best chance of winning, because of the tail wind. Then I thought I could extend it into a general lecture about giving ones' children a good start, but then when I look at all those who did not get a good start but who still do well, went right off the idea. The longer the race, the less important the start is, I suppose. I can tell you that some of these children are very fast indeed.
These games were very well organised, well run. Sport was the winner.

Sunday picnic

The Chef and I have, over the years, tried to have the summer's Sunday evening meal with the family on a river bank, or at lakes edge, or even just under some trees somewhere. This policy has meant that we know lots of good places to go in any conditions, and it has meant that our children are real explorers, if you know what I mean. Tonight we went to the Omeo Stream. It has Omeo Creek on the sign post, but some how stream sounds better. We were there only a few minutes when the boys produced six or seven fresh water crayfish. There seems just nothing like a small stream of clean water running over a few rocks to immediately captivate boys of any age. There is always something to find. Around here there are still plenty of these small streams, and we should work to keep it that way.
The above photo is of a New Zealand native fresh water crayfish. They live in any body of fresh water as long as it is clean. Though he was on my dinner plate, he was not keen on staying there for long. Even he seemed to know that he had to be cooked first. Fortunately for this guy, and his mates, we had other things to eat, so he went back in the stream.

Queenstown 1958

The above photo should probably be in 'the value of photos' section, but I have given it it's name for good reason. It was taken in 1958 by writer and author Ric Oram, ("An Autumn Journey" with Louise Joyce and "Pinot Pioneers - A history Of the Central Otago Wine Industry"). Ric was 15 when he took this on his Kowa 35mm view camera. Subsequently he spent many years as a reporter and photographer for The New Zealand Herald.
This is a very small copy of the original slide. Ric showed me this after some discussion about old photos of this area. My next door neighbour has a 1925 hand painted colour photo (he says it a lithograph, but I still do not think this is the right word) of Queenstown. It shows more of the town than the above photo, but this one still shows the extent of the changes all the same. In 1958 a farm was still a farm, not a plot suitable for subdivision. Anyway, we are now 50 years on from the above, and it is probably time that someone went up the hill and reproduced the modern equivalent. It looks to be taken from the old road to Bobs Peak, but I will stand corrected.
Ric is considering marketing this photo, so get hold of him if you need one.

Clever Kids 2

The Chef says she is very pleased with the magnetic knife rack. She says it holds even her largest knives quite securely. Michael points out that it took a long time to sand and polish the brass rods.
Clever kids.

Clever Kids

Michael, our 16 year old, says that some time ago he was watching a TV program, and saw a knife rack made with strip of magnet.

Faced with having to design and make something for a project at school, he thought he would use the idea and make a gift for the Chef, his mother. The above photo is the result. Now when he is asked by his mother for 'a hand', he will be able to say he has given her one already. In the next post you will see it in use.

The Value of photos 2

This photo, taken originally about 86 years ago, is of Vera Nolan. She is the niece of my Grandmother. She was one of the daughters of Michael Nolan and Olive Pull.
She married and had the married name of Vera Baldock.
Yesterday was her funeral. She was 89 years old.
RIP

Californian Poppy

One of my readers lives in California.
During the Gold Rush, in the early days of Central Otago, real keen miners came from the gold fields of California to here. Somewhere in the boots or cuff of trousers were seeds of this plant. Now they grow all over Central Otago, but seem to do best in the driest places. And, I have it on good authority from a visiting Californian, that the poppies that grow here have much bigger flowers than those that grow in their native land. I do not know about that, but I do know that this flower "glows" when captured on film. I have a large photo of two flowers on my wall, and they glow unlike any other flower photos I have taken. It does not seem to work as well with digital, but than I have not done any biggies off the digital.
These flowers are growing in my neighbours driveway. The colours are just stunning.

Hollyhocks

Sixteen years ago when we moved into this house, there were 4 or 5 hollyhock plants on our front courtyard. Now there are a lot more, and a great variety of colours. I consider these flowers to be among the best. The colours are just so strong, even when they are pastel. This year were have a variety of pinks, whites and yellows. Some of the reds are so dark they are almost black. And every year I go out and take photos of those I like the best. It would be nice if there was a market for the photos. I have to be quick, as Chef is often out there getting the best flowers for cake decoration.
I do not know where hollyhocks originated, but they sure do grow well here.