May Returning to Thames
Boarded the plane at 11.40 am on the 1st
May cloudy around the hills, a bit bumpy
for awhile, knee was very sore (Knee was
injured while I was doing water aerobics
in Geraldine, Too many high kicks, lesson
learnt!!) arriving at Auckland at 1.10pm.
Janine waited and waited watching everyone
else exit the plane including hostesses finally
I arrived in a wheel chair, but only because
it was quicker than me hobbling with my stick.
Went back to Kaiaua and rang Lisa and Nadia
from the bedroom, to say I could not come.
Janine sent them out and they found me wow
their eyes were big.
The days have gone by fast, Adell’s graduation.
Trip to Wellington on Murphy’s bus with their
travelling club for 4 days of great companions,
interesting sights, including Te Papa, two
hour harbour cruise, the wind turbine getting
there was like nearly reaching heaven but
the road was hell. Thanks to our good driver
Pete we got up and down again safely. We
will never forget Beverly our guide. We also
saw parliament at question time (Did we really
vote this pack of children into parliament??),
Travelled the cable car, visited an early
settlers cottage. We packed a lot in but
at a leisurely pace. The weather was perfect,
warm and no wind. Arriving back home at 6.00pm.
Saturday and Sunday was taken up with the
10th anniversary of the Thames Small Guage
Railway. Giving rides over the 2 days to
over 1500 people, including two in their
eighties who had a real thrill and did not
stop at one ride.
Trains came from as far as Raumati Beach,
Palmerston North, Havelock North, New Plymouth,
Rotorua, Hamilton, Manakau, Whangarei. A
great collection of steam trains on the track.
A chance for old friends to catch up. An
abundance of steam, food and yarns. We had
the pleasure of having our youngest member
attend, the beautiful 3 month old daughter
of Jimmy and Kitty. 3.00pm arrived and we
were packing up very tired but pleased with
the weekend, weather was perfect and visitors
left saying they would be back.
Tuesday saw me pack up ready to fly south
for the winter Brrrrrrrrrrr.
Caught the plane back to the South Island
21st May arriving at Christchurch a 1.50pm.
Catch a bus was waiting arrived at Waimate
at 6.30pm.
The whole day was down hill all the way.
Muck up with my booking, landed in Wellington
where the plane was cleaned and more passengers
came on board. The hostesses were great,
because of my sore knee they sat me up the
front of the plane and used a wheel chair
to take me off.
Friday saw me out to Jan's at Ikawai where
we had a farewell to farmers moving on from
the valley, it was a great night.
Saturday I set off from Ikawai at 10.30am
heading for Mosgeil, went to the R.S.A for
tea and dance evening with Margaret Bates
singing and playing, oldies were doing sequence
dancing. Ihave not seen it done before but
the dancers kept going from 8am until midnight
very fit people.
Sunday I headed for Gore and the Golden Guitars
week. Nothing happening on Monday so I went
for a drive to Invercargill, saw the ticker
tec parade celebrating the Stings good netball
win.
Wednesday back at Gore where a heat for the
talent quest was being held at Woolworths
went to the next heats the next day held
at Countdown. The finals were held on the
Friday at H & S Smith, some good items
very hard to judge the best ones. Friday
night was the Mary Duff concert got to bed
at midnight. A 10am start on Saturday for
the Gold Guitars, some good singing, Country-Rock,
not my scene a bit noisy. Saturday night
saw the Gold Guitars song writers competition,
Kylie Harris won this, another midnighter
to bed.
8am start on Sunday this time traditional
country the place was packed, travelled back
and forth from different rooms during the
day watching various shows. The evening was
the play off for the finals in Gold Guitar.
A 30yr birthday bash after the show starting
at midnight, got to bed at 3am.
Went back to Invercargill to visit Trish
and Rusty Reynders enjoyed the visit where
Trish took me to Bluff, Heading back to visit
them in February. Left Trish at got to Balclutha, staying the
night in a camping ground, "Helped"
the economy of Balclutha by blowing my budget
on purchasing a large picture of a steam
train and station, the picture is powered
so when turned on the lights on the train
and station light up an awesome sight, bread
and water for the next week.Frosty morning onleaving Balclutha, met rain
at Mosgeil travelled through Dunedin and
up and over the hills in cloud, hair raising
drive, with visibility down to a few feet,
no where to pull over, was glad to see the
sun shine on the other side phew!