Val and Jan Windleburn came up for a visit today. What a lovely surprise for us.They had just brought a ex rental Motorhome in great condition and lovely and full of space. The smiles that they had when they drove down the driveway was wonderful to see.
I am sure they will have some wonderful adventures in it. Hopefully some weekends away with us as well.
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| Val & Jan in their new motorhome |
Mr & Mrs Bill Hone, Kohi Road RD1. Waverley 06 3465660 .
It is a gold coin donation for entrance. If you are in the area or passing through Waverley you would not be disappointed if you stopped and had a look.
Bill converted a old woolshed with his wife and family into a wonderland of history. From the entrance of the shed to see the old match boxes which many of us collected and now it seems be a dieing thing. To many old tins with scenes on them of all shapes and sizes, Teaspoons, egg cups. Many old sewing machines (Singer, Frister & Rossmann, Victory) . Different shapes of crib boards (card game for those that don't know). Glass bottles were a site to see.
Bottle openers from way back took over a quarter of a wall. Cooking pots and dishes , Irons that had to be heated by putting them onto the old coal cookers etc.
A switchboard which Val told us she used to use when she lived down south. Memory's are so wonderful. For the blokes, rifles of all shapes and sizes, War medals, spanner of all shapes some of these Bill is not sure what they are used for. A great guessing time. I even recognized the washing machine my mum had , Farm equipment. At the end of the museum it had a room just like the man shed.
Val, Jan , John and I spent 1 1/2 hours here . All the items were donated to Bill from the area .
Do take time out from your travelling north a visit to this museum you won't be disappointed. Give them a ring first to make sure they are home.
Jan and Val both said they would be going back to visit and take people with them.
After saying good bye to Val and Jan back to painting the fence and John started preparing the boxing for a path from the driveway to the house.
Lexie and Peter arrived on the Friday night in their bus for the weekend. We had decided last time they were up here to go and see the Tawhiti Museum and Traders & Whalers display as they had never been there before in Hawera.
In 1975 Nigel and Teresa Ogle brought the old Tawhiti Cheese factory in Hawera. The renovated the managers house and Nigel gradually built his pottery hobby into a small private collection which has now grown into a comprehensive visual history of South Taranaki. All the models etc are made on the property by his staff. The life size models are wonderful to see so real looking. There is also a Farm Power Hall, an impresive collection of vintage machinery for the enthusiest to look at.
The Traders & Whalers section is a boat trip back to the 1820 - 1840 period, In regards with the trading with the Maori's. There are plenty of native bird sounds following you around the tour.The tunnel that you travel through was made with the help from the Weta Workshops Production assistance and it took 5 years to complete. The boats are very easy to get in and out of.
The address for this is Tawhiti Museum 401 Ohangai Road, Hawera . 0800 921921.
Open form 10.00am to 4pm Friday Saturday, Sunday and Monday.web site http://www.tawhitimuseum.co.nz/
Cost is $20.00 each to visit the whole museum . Well worth seeing it. We spent 4 hours there and both John and Pete said that they could of stayed longer there.
We then went onto Lake Rotokare where we stayed the night in a wild life reserve. It has a 30 k fence around it to protect the birds etc. They have a pair of breeding kiwi's there. Had a lovely leisurely walk around the reserve with Lexie. The boys decided it was time for chill out and chat. Tea was vension thanks to Lexi and Peter with steam pudding for desert. Another place to visit if you are passing through Hawera and feel like a walk for some fresh air. If you are a member of the( NZMCA the no is 1117 )
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| Sunrise Lake Rotokare |
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| Reflection of the lake |
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| Male swan |
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| Lexie Clark walking the track around Lake Rotokare |
We were asked by the Waverley Library to take some photos of the local area and turn them into postcards. John and I have had a wonderfull time doing this, and seeing things from a different perspective. Pleased to say the out come was great and we have managed to print many different postcards for them. We purchased ourselves a small Canon Selphy printer which does this and many other things. It helps make a little extra dollars and so easy to use while in the bus.
We were told last week that we can now call ourselves locals. ?? We have now been here in Waverley 3 months working. We were quite chuffed with that as it came from a elderly person that walks pass us every day when we are out working on the property. He always stops and has a good chat.
28th October 2011,
We decided to make a trip to Taupo this weekend to say good bye to friends Pete & Barb Arthurs. Pete
and Barb own a signwriting business, hearing we were going to visit them John was asked to help Pete (if he didn't mind) in a change over for a real-estate company. No problem said John, he sure learn`t a lot about signs etc, A lovely weekend leaving them on Monday for Waverley.
Pete and Barb are about to move into there motorhome and do what we are doing around New Zealand.
Hopefully we will see them in Aussie next year for a holiday.
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| Marg, John,Pete and Barbara |
3rd November 2011,
Woke up to sun shine yah. Time to lay a concrete path from the road to the house. Matt came and helped John lay 3.5 cubic meters of concrete. One More job to do and that is finish the painting of the garage.
We have now finished the painting at Waverley, it looks great. Making our way now down to Waikanae to get ready for our trip to Aussie on the 21 November 2011 and say good bye to our friends.
Our next blog will be from Aussie.
