From our Home to Your Home Christmas 2015
I still have a mouthful of teeth and a faceful of fuzz.
We hope this finds you well and in good spirits as we face another end of year festivities. As we take time to reflect on the true meaning and reason for Christmas. This year the highlight of our year, was a trip to the South Island for a month in March and April. Most of the images are from Aloma's marvellous little Samsung WB350F
The Samsung Smart Camera WB350F is like having a bunch of smart phone camera apps built into the interface of a point-and-shoot camera that has a 21x zoom lens and optical image stabilization. Early in January we had a visit from our Granddaughter Genevieve who had a stop over in Auckland en route to join a youth group doing summer missions in the South Island.
January and February passed with us getting ready to head off for my final year deliberating on the Photographic Society of NZ's Honours Board, in Nelson. We left home Sunday 1st of March and travelled that day as far as TeKuiti staying in the camping ground there. We found an authentic Indian Take-away and had a nice curry &naan for our evening meal
TeKuiti The next day we went to New Plymouth, where we got a caravan site on the edge of the cliff overlooking the port and harbour
We stayed a couple of nights and visited the Te Rewarewa Bridge, Pukekura Park , Egmont North Chalet, Stratford, Kaponga, Opunake, Manaia and round the Mountain back to New Plymouth For Aloma it was fresh territory, and for me a voyage of retracing youthful steps. When I was 13 as a Bible class we travelled to North Egmont, and I climbed to the summit of Mt Egmont . Then when I qualified as a Pharmacist I spent 3 weeks working in a Pharmacy at Kaponga. for an elderly pharmacist Mr Selwyn Lissaman
It was Autumn so no snow
at Pukekura Park
North Egmont Hostel
The site of the Kaponga Pharmacy
now gone.
The Hotel across the road from the Pharmacy my home for 3 weeks in 1959 From New Plymouth we moved to Wanganui having lunch at the Patea River Mouth
We moved on to Levin, where Aloma was able to visit two of her sisters, and spend some time catching up. We crossed Cook Strait on Tuesday10th March to be in Nelson in time for the Honours Board opening session on the Wednesday night with a Barbecue tea at Sally Mason and Don Kelly's home . We stayed the night at Havelock , and hurried to Nelson, as we had snagged the brake wires on the caravan when coming off the ferry at Picton. We booked into the Tahunanui beach Camp Ground, also had the misfortune, that the starter-motor gave up whilst here, however a kindly garage near by repaired brake cables, and starter motor, and all was well from there on.
This was my final year on the HB having completed my maximum of 2, Three year, terms.
PSNZ HONOURS BOARD 2015 Me, Sally Mason, Bruce Burgess, Heather Harley(sec.) Graham Dainty, Tracey Robinson and Brian Cudby. From Nelson we headed out around through Mapua, and Motueka and after lunch there, we headed over the Marble Mountain to Collingwood where we stayed a couple of nights. It was while I was at the Nelson Convention in 2010 and the weeks following as I traversed Golden Bay, that I had chatted on line with Aloma, and our friendship developed. So I wanted to show her the region where I had spent time sending images to her of Golden Bay
Mapua and over the Marble Mountain It rained whilst at Collingwood, but we went up to the cafe at the base of Farewll Spit and had lunch
Rainy Day Collingwood
Farewell Spit Cafe
Spoonbills Feeding Collingwood
and swans in Golden Bay
Golden Bay heading for the zig-zag Takaka Mountain Fruit smoothies at Riwaka The next day was somewhat longer than any of the others as we traversed the 375 Km journey to Kaikoura. Aloma snapped away as we drove capturing items she wished to share with her family.
A Dairy herd of Ayshire cattle.
Kaikoura Coast
St Oswald's Church Wharanui
Freight Train Kaikoura Coast
Getting tea.....................................a.$63.00 Luxury
The sea was somewhat wild
We stayed two nights at Kaikoura. Enjoyed our crayfish in the caravan, next day we had a look around the area.
Hunting seals
Successfully
while having a crayfish sandwich for lunch this Banded Dotterel came by.
The next day we travelled to Christchurch taking a detour to Oxford to have lunch at Jo Seagar's cafe.
Canterbury Lamb
Craft market at Cheviot
Aloma's choice Char grilled Courgette with Chicken and mine Prawn in Coconut cream Salad One of my luxuries of a S I trip was lunch at Seagar's ( now to be a thing of the past ) We spent 3 or 4 nights at the Caravan Park in Blenheim Rd, near the city centre. Four years before we had avoided Christchurch because of the Earthquake aftermath chaos. We visited Cathedral Square The Museum, The Hagley Park gardens, the Boatshed Cafe, Did the Tram trip, and visited relatives and friends.
Boating on the Avon
The Wizard entertaining
Sights of Cathedral Square
The Cathedral
In the Canterbury Museum
Aloma in the Paua Shell House. We then moved from Christchurch via Ashburton and Timaru to my cousin Tom's place in Oamaru
Driving through Timaru
Aloma prepared a meal from the Caravan for Tom and Atholea
Cousin Tom & Atholea with Aloma in Oamaru. We spent about 2 nights with them looking around Oamaru, before moving on to Dunedin. We stopped at Palmerston, where Aloma made some purchases in the Knick-knack shops, and we did the standard tourist images, with the Gold miners display in the main Street.
and so to Dunedin where we stayed 2 nights
Before heading off to Queenstown via Milton, Lawrence and Cromwell
Milton Lawrence Cromwell We parked our caravan at the Frankton Caravan Park and had a site right down on the water's edge, but it was uphill to all the amenities.
We once again viewed the sights of Queenstown and Arrowtown
Then we took a bus ride to Milford Sound, and did the boat trip on the sound . We left before sun-up and arrived back at sunset. A great day, and it saved a lot of driving. Early morning mists,a morning tea stop in Te Anau and a stop at the Mirror Lakes
Mirror Lake and so to Milford Sound and straight on the boat
Mitre Peak
Homer Tunnel
Lunch was served
An Indian Thali a platter of mixed Indian foods We went out to the open sea and back viewing the Stirling and Bowen Falls and other areas of interest
and so we were back on the bus heading to Queenstown
Glimpsing
Alpine
Lake and Bush
Rolling farmland
Homesteads
Sheep
Cattle
Cropping
Deer
Fodder & shelter
SKYSCAPES
and LANDSCAPES
Sundown over Kingston Arm Wakatipu
and so our day to Milford was over. Next morning the 1st of April, after a pleasant hour at Lake Hayes, a favourite spot of ours, we headed for Wanaka via the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell where we had lunch. Four years before we came via the Crown Range from Wanaka to Arrowtown.
At Lake Hayes
Heading through the Kawarau Gorge
Visited Old Cromwell Town
Lunch at an Italian Cafe, then off to Wanaka. This time we stayed at a camping ground near the town, and did the usual Glendhu Bay,and Cardrona.etc. We both had toothache in Wanaka, and as it was immediately on Easter, we decided to get matters attended to there. We were early this year avoiding the cold, that did not agree with Aloma 4 years before. However there was some autumn colour starting.
Poplar Sentinel at Glendhu Bay
Mt Aspiring gave us good views
There was a Vintage Ford Car rally at Wanaka and we had good views of some early model cars
A trip up Cardrona reminded us that last time, we found a road side apple that yielded good fruit. It was no easy task to find it, as the adjacent trees had been cleared and a new entrance way had been made to give access to the farm, but eventually I located it and the fruit was as good as ever.
A cup of coffee was had at the old Cardrona Hotel
The next day we moved on to Glen Tanner (Mt Cook) via Omarama, where we stopped for lunch and had a kebab
Kebab stall in Omarama As it was Easter, all the campgrounds were booked out, and we were fortunate to get a booking at a lovely campsite at Glenn Tanner, where we had a view of Mt Cook from our Caravan window.
View from our caravan We went up to the hermitage and had a look around. An interesting feature of the camp was feral Pheasants melanistic mutants - Phasianus colchicus, somebody must have let them go, in the area, and als nice glimpses of Dunnocks.
Dunnock
Dark coloured Pheasant
The next day was inclement and we drove to Geraldine via Tekapo and Fairlie, to plug in at long standing friends of ours Jim and Margaret Stewart As we left Glenn Tanner we were blessed with this Rainbow.
Rainbow over Glenn Tanner
Lake Pukaki
Mackenzie Country
Sheepdog Memorial Tekapo
Lake Tekapo and so, onto Geraldine via Fairlie, where we found an Indian restaurant for lunch
James Stewart retired Sheep Farmer We attended church service Easter Sunday with Margaret. The chap I am chatting to is John Parsloe For someone who has spent his working life on the sea, John Parsloe lives a long way from it. He and his wife, toymaker Sylvia, have lived for the past 18 years on five acres in Woodbury, tending to muscovy ducks, tumbling pigeons, Seamus the donkey, and a flock of hens. But for many years, Parsloe has periodically packed his bags and gone to sea. He is a master mariner and one of a small number worldwide who can call themselves an ice master – a seafarer with sufficient experience in polar regions to navigate ships through pack ice and icebergs. For his work in polar regions, he has been awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Geographical Society in London, nominated and seconded by the late Lord Shackleton and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, respectively. It was a privilege to meet such a distinguished explorer After a pleasant couple of nights at Geraldine we set off for Kaikoura it was 6th of April and our crossing was booked for 10th
En route to Kaikoura We stayed a night at the Top 10 in Kaikoura, and with great nostalgia, left Kaikoura, for perhaps the last time. I had very fond memories of Kaikoura, Crayfish, Albatross, Whales, Paua shell etc.etc.
Lunch at the Pub on the Pier Kaikoura On the 8th we headed off for Picton, it was a bit dull and showery
A quick stop at Prenzel Distillery Blenheim (near the Cob house) to top up our Butterscotch Cream Liqueur and a stop to take a snip of nostalgia (from memory) of the autumn coloured Cotinus (Smoke bush) growing on the side of the road on the approach to Blenheim
2011
2015
We stayed at Waikawa Bay Camping ground at Picton for a couple of nights, I like to arrive in Picton with time to spare, to avoid break-downs etc. Many years before in Picton, I ripped the spring shackles off the caravan about 2 hours before the ferry, and created panic and chaos whilst repairs were made late on a Friday afternoon. We took a drive to Havelock via the grove track Queen Charlotte Drive, on the 9th April, and gathered Banana Passion fruit from those growing wild on the side of the road
Banana Passion fruit Soon we were loading onto the Bluebridge Ferry
Boarding the Ferry
Farewell South Island
When we arrived in Wellington, it was dusk and raining, the trip to Levin, very wet.
We visited Aloma's sisters in Levin, before travelling on the next day to Taupo, to see her brother. Stopping at Taihape for lunch
we stayed at the camp in Taupo in Rangatira street, walking distance from Aloma's brother and family. Next day it was off home, after 6 weeks away, we called for a P & T stop at Roger and Margaret
Brownsey's in Tokoroa and after a stop in Tirau, lunch at Cambridge we arrived safely home.
Other Activities We have led a somewhat quiet life this year since then. I have attended bird club ( the South Auckland Branch of the Ornithological Society of NZ now known as Bird's NZ ) on a few occasions, judged the work of a few camera clubs, mostly at home by post or online. I Judged Christchurch Photographic Society, Dunedin Camera Club, and Whangarei Photographic Society, as well as the Miranda Shorebird Centre's 40th anniversary Celebratory Photographic Competition .Visiting a few of the Auckland Clubs and judging live. We have attended church and the associated craft and games meetings to socialise, In May Catherine came down from Kaitaia, as David had to be checked over by his Cardiologist at Auckland Hospital. Whilst down here she collapsed and ended up in Middlemore Hospital with an undiagnosed viral infection, at first they suspected Hepatitis. I think she just collapsed from exhaustion. It was a pleasant surprise that David, Brieanna-Joie and Emanoelle ended up staying with us for about a week which kept us busy, shuttling them to hospital to visit their mother, and keeping them occupied.
Aloma has spent most of her time cooking, making jams, pickles and relishes, and doing many craft projects making some lovely items out of shells, old glass lamp shades and the like.
I haven't spent so much time in the garden this year, and it is looking somewhat neglected. Weather and lethargy have been the enemies. Before we left for the South Island we picked Peach-cots, and Grapes, and had our first crop of pears off our recently planted Pear Tree.
Pears
Peachcots
Grapes
GENEALOGY
Kaukapakapa Churchyard Cemetery Plot Layout with Biographical details
Most of the winter I spent trying to finish a genealogical project I started some 20 odd years ago. Namely writing Biographies of all those buried in the Methodist Churchyard at Kaukapakapa the district that was the home of the Shanks for 4 generations. It was a major task. I hope to eventually market a DVD with a percentage to go to the Helensville Museum My latest update on the KKK Churchyard has been uploaded temporarily to the web at Part 1 Index http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_1_index_to_plots_only_3_oct_ Part 2 Introduction. Our European Heritage http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_2_introduction_with_index_3_oc Part 3. Plots 1 to 75 http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_3_plots_1_to_75__3_oct Part 4 Plots 76 - 150 http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_4_plots_76-150_4_oct Part 5 Plots 150 - 200 http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_5_plots_151-200_3_oct Part 6 Plots 201 -250 http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_6__plots_201-250_3_oct Part 7 Plots 251-300 http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_7_plots_250-300_21_oct_a
Part 8 Plots 301- 339 http://issuu.com/bruce.shanks/docs/part_8_plots_301_to_339_4_oct Just in case you have someone buried there, and wish to check the details.
Auckland Winter garden In June we were determined to see the Giant Flower, Amorphophallus titanum flowering in the Auckland winter-gardens. We made 3 trips, to see it at its best and the final day we queued for 40 minutes to get in. Was it worth it ?
The giant Amorphophallus titanum produces the world's largest flower and famously smells like rotting flesh when it blooms.
A 97th Birthday In July the 11th to be precise, my Mother's last surviving cousin Olive had her 97th Birthday, and we travelled to Matamata for a Reunion of some of the Spinley's . Mum's maternal grandparents were Spinley's.
Olive Poole nee Spinley formerly Barlow age 97
and those who celebrated with her.
Aloma's Birthday On 13 August we went in to Auckland to an Indian Restaurant in Mt Eden Rd to celebrate Aloma's Birthday
At the Satya Restaurant Mt Eden Rd
Aloma with a Papadom
We chose South Indian Thalis Thali is an Indian and Nepalese meal made up of a selection of various dishes. It simply means a round platter used to serve food., Aloma chose a Prawn Thali and I had Lamb.
Satya Menu
The aftermath of one of our plates. Following our meal, we went to some of our favourite spots around Auckland. Takapuna Beach being one of her favourites. Where she had spent a few days in the Caravan a fortnight after she had arrived here, whilst I was involved in an Honours Board meeting at Takapuna.
At Takapuna Beach.
Vehicle troubles The very next day we had a somewhat traumatic experience, when nicely stopped at a set of traffic lights, in Lambie Drive Manukau, we were shunted about 3 car-lengths, from behind, by a huge truck and trailer unit, staving in the back end of our Toyota Starlet exploding the rear window, glass all around us. Aloma's head slammed against the door window. The car was a write-off.
Aloma had "physio" for the whiplash for 3 months. Fortunately the Insurance Co., Fintel, a division o Tower, were very generous and prompt in paying out. Giving me more than I had paid for the vehicle 18 months before, and we were able to replace it with a same year different model Toyota Starlet , for less than the payout. and 1000 Km less on the clock at 94K.
Our new (to us) 1998 Toyota Starlet JHW303
BIRDING
A decorated tree at Mangere Bridge Village Three days after our accident, we took the truck, and went to Mangere Bridge Village where we go sometimes as an outing for a meal, coffee or birds. We had heard of a pair of Asiatic Curlews that could be seen at high tide there. Birding has been restricted to visiting the Wattle-Downs former Oxidation Ponds, Weymouth Beach, and Water-care ponds on the causeway to Puketutu Island.
The pair of Asiatic Curlew
Swan nesting at Wattle Downs
The resultant clutch A Young Kotuku at Wattle-downs ponds Aloma has had a lot of pleasure out of feeding the birds in our garden, and they wait on our Telephone and Power lines waiting for her to appear with some morsels. Mr Blackbird waiting to be called into the garden for his food,
We had an outing to Western Springs in June, I had heard of a report of a Hybrid swan-goose that had been seen there, but alas it had gone. However it was a pleasant outing and Aloma enjoyed feeding the pigeons and ducks from her hand
Feeding Pigeons at Western Springs In October we travelled to Hamilton one Sunday afternoon to attend a second cousin Brian Mair, from my Spinley side to celebrate his 75th Birthday.
Jan & Soong At the end of October Jan & Soong ( Malaysian friends) took us out to a "Yum Cha" at Papatoetoe. for luncheon. We enjoyed a bit of light hearted entertainment in November when we attended the Papakura Theatre Company's production of 'Allo 'Allo As the days get longer, we still enjoy a visit to Weymouth Beach at sundown. We eat our tea, and watch the dog-walkers, the toing and froing of the sea-birds, and the coming and goings of the big International jets to the airport at Mangere.
Crepuscular Rays over Manukau Heads from Weymouth Beach
Photography Zilch. After having been a member of PSNZ for 50 years, and exhibiting and competing even longer, a member of the PSNZ Judging Panel since 1968 I spent last (2014) winter collating my Collection of over 30 years of Wedding negatives and the Auckland Library took the lot . This winter I catalogued all my studio Portrait negatives, Candid camera negatives, copy photo negatives and Family History negatives several 1000 films in all Black and White and colour, and am currently documenting and copying all my camera Club Salon & Exhibition Print image entries since 1959 to 2009. Close to a 1000 16 inch by 20 inch Mount size. I am hoping the Auckland Library will take them, plus my 3 Fellowship sets. My camera is mainly used for copying these days. I have yet to start on the 1000s of slides that are mounted in rotary trays, either Paximat or Kodak Carousel. I still have a pair of Paximat Projectors and a pair of Kodak Carousel's How technology has changed. I still have all my cameras as there is no demand for film cameras these days.
What to do with them ? A fair bit of the year has been spent visiting friends in Hospital or rest homes, "the age and the stage" Derek Carter the husband of my second cousin Lois nee Jenkins, a Spinley descendant. who is now in full time care has taken up sketching and painting, and it is a good therapy for him. My mate Harold Webb who retired to Thames last year, sometimes stays overnight with us, when he visits Auckland, and so the year has past with a flurry of end of year functions in the last week. two camera Club functions, South Auckland Birds BBQ, and end of year Church functions at Manukau City Baptist where we currently attend. This past week Aloma has been suffering from Hay fever with accompanying cough, which has made her miserable. I seem to keep good health, but tire very quickly these days if working around the section.
Sunday afternoon at Wattle Down Ponds
Matching outfits Aloma with our latest car