Reefton Girls

These are sisters, Trish & Mary Roughan who were born & bred in Reefton. I was delighted to have them visit today. I used to work with Trish, 25 years ago! (good grief).

The blue building in front of them is the Bank of New Zealand. Mary used to live up the top floor.

Trish was probably the last girl ever to work in the Reefton railway station.

The guy with them is Chris Cowan. He married the Stationmaster from Reefton - but that's okay because it was Trish.

Great to see you Guys.

Not Sure About This

New entrance to the village. Think i like the way it was. Still, it's done now. Maybe it'll look better when we put some punga walls on it and make it look "maori".

Yesterday we discovered that the bike & trailer can't go up the track anymore - won't fit through the new entrance. Bugger!

Had a Few People Come to Dinner

About 200 people actually. The end-of-year celebration for those who've attended this year's Nuturing the Future, parenting courses.

They came from all directions, all over the Coast, to On Yer Bike/Little Earth Model Village to see the village and have a barbeque meal. Most of the food was donated, by New World Supermarket and other anons.

The weather, for a largely outdoor event, was nothing short of miraculous. After 2 days of heavy, steady rain - including when Warren and his crew were all day cooking the pig on a spit over a wood-fire, it stopped raining about 1/2 an hour before they were due to arrive. The sun even broke through.

It was a great event and a huge success, thanks to everyone who helped. I didn't get any dinner though! The queues were too long.





Everyone there got a trip on the Haglund. Thanks Michael!



There was even a bus-load came down from Westport, thanks to a cheap deal by Cunningham's Coaches.



Each family was supposed to bring a Gnome for Gnomeland. Not everyone did, but the ones we got were great. Gnomeland's population has grown.

Reefton People!

These are George, Haidee & Bayley Smith-Murcott, who came to see us today.
George works at Reefton Motors and used to be Treasurer of Friends of Waiuta.

cheers

The Other Model Village

Before and after shots of Bushy Steve's Model Village - Gnomeland's first model village - with and without weeds.

We called it that because it was set up in the first place by Steve, who used to work here - he died. Steve had bushy hair & a big beard, hence Bushy Steve (there was also Little Steve, on the bikes).

It gets very weedy because the water-spout over top of the walking track up the hill gets directed across it by the blessed winds! It will have to be moved - one day.

Oops!

We had gale-force winds in the weekend - the sign broke!

Did i mention that i hate bloody boggery winds?

The Roadside Sign

We've got a new sign up above the road. Now we just have to wait & see if the council, or anyone else, complains.

Actually, when I was up there, putting it up, an asian guy stopped his car & took my photo - so it must be eye-catching.

Red-Haired Maori Boys!

Jarrad & Callum are over for a holiday and spent the day in the village yesterday. Jarrad says that when he leaves school, he's coming to work here. That won't be for a year or two.

Always great to see them.




This photo-board is proving to be a big hit. It gets pictures taken every day. We'll make another one, one day - when there's time.


cheers

A Waiuta Girl

This is Naelane Dale who came to see us yesterday, (in the rain!) She lives in Temuka now. When she lived in Waiuta, she was Naelane Magee and had redhair & freckles.

She went to school with my mum! And knew Reefton as well.

Always a joy to see Waiuta people - they're a breed apart.

Fairies in the Garden

It would appear that we've been visited by Good Fairies.

The other day i was walking past Gnomeland and saw that a gnome had fallen over - again! When i picked him up, i thought, 'Hello, I don't remember you.' Then i thought, 'Yes i do, i think. There's something different though?'

I put him down & carried on to what i was doing, i was busy.

Today, walking past again, i spotted the Rolling Gnomes and - hello! They look completely different! Obviously, some Good Fairies have been coming around and repainting the gnomes - they look great!

Maybe i should leave out a saucer of milk or something?

cheers

Reefton Girls

These delightful young ladies are Astley Clough and Caitlin & Tiffany Hampton and they came to visit us on Thursday.

They are making a scale model of their school - Reefton Area School - which is to be used as a map for directing visitors around. They think they're stuck, I disagree, I think that they're doing great - a lot of work done so far, just finishing touches needed now.

Hopefully, they will have some new ideas now.

A Cousin Of Mine

Our kids have gone home, but it's still school holidays, so we're still getting visitors.

Today there were people from Christchurch, the Maldives and Hamilton and from Reefton. Also, this lady, temporarily staying in Westport, came to visit.

Clenda Wockmer, (hope i've spelt that right!), is a (3rd i think) cousin of mine - her grandfather was my great-uncle Bill and we had the same great-grandparents.

Uncle Bill had a grocer's shop, on Buller road in Reefton - now demolished. I actually made the model from a couple of old photos that Clenda's mother, June, sent down. The colours are from memory - i remember it well.

I put a garden out the front, complete with gardener and wheelbarrow etc., because Uncle Bill was a great gardener. Most of that generation of Hunts were - dunno what went wrong there!

Great to see you, Clenda.

One Little Saturday

We went out the front and fed the birds this morning - not a good idea really 'cos that 'Tripey Tat caught one & killed it!


Warren came around and put a new letter-box up. I could've helped him, but he managed it himself.


Just me & my cousin


We went out to On Yer Bike, where Granddad's village is, and Michael gave us all a ride in the Haglund. Thanks Michael.


It was Cool!!!


Boys in the bath. where's the other one?


Oh yeah. In there - he's busy.


That's better.


We also went to the Warehouse so Kyle & Connor could spend their holiday money. Guess what I got? - Yeah, Heroes! (Mummy says we're going to need a trailer to take them all home).

Luke

Day Seven A'ready

One Little Mytton, (Day whatever).

Hi Fans! Here's my day from start to finish - they just made me hang around in bed all day.

No, we did get out & about really, but no-one remembered the camera. We went to town, to the Corrections Department. That was interesting. While we were there, i stood in the doorway and the door-bell kept going & going. A lady said, "I don't think you should be doing that, Little Boy". Hah! Some people think they can boss people around!

We walked over to town and back. Well, Fizzy walked - someone had to push the wheelchair. Vi and I rode in the chair. Very cool.

I did get out and walk for a couple of minutes. I told Vi to get out and walk now. She wouldn't! (How rude). She said something about "can't".

See that blood on my knee? The bad road hurt me. I quite like blood really.






cheers, Luke

One Little Mytton (Day 5)

Another day. More rain, more sun, more fun. Ho humm.

We went to the park. There were no other kids there - wimps!


Hey Mum! Can you say 'Whangai'?


I do like this football game. Everyone has to play. (It'd be even better if we had a ball).


Connor has been very busy, but still found time for football.


I think I broke my Granddad!


That's all.

Luke