Nappy Valley – can we have a rally without caravans?

 

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Wainuiomata was known as “Nappy Valley” as young families settled in this affordable housing development which escalated due to the spectacular growth of the Valley post-World War II.  In the 1950’s the air rang all day every day with the sound of hammering and sawing, and facilities in the Valley at the time were stretched to cope with the influx.

View of Wainuiomata from the top of the hill

From the single primary school which had served for nearly 100 years, this grew to 10, two colleges and two intermediates to cater for the population explosion.  These days the growth has now settled and four primary schools, a college and an intermediate have been amalgamated to serve the needs of the students.

Sign at base of Wainuiomata

We were visiting Wainuiomata to catch up with fellow caravan club members Bill and Barbara for afternoon tea.  We had a surprise in store with them, as our overseas member Dot from Gypsy Rover fame had just flown in from UK to catch up with her Dad, so we took her along too.

  Dot and Jenny

There was plenty of chatter as we caught up with everyone’s news.  Then two more cars arrived, and out stepped Peter and Elaine, and Don and Pamela.  Goodness me, the gangs just about all here in Wainuiomata, it’s almost a rally.  Can we have a rally without the caravans, we wondered.  Perhaps not, we will just settle for a good old chin wag instead.  Dot told us of all the news from UK, and about the Auto Trail motor home her and Derek have ordered.  Peter was in good form and kept us laughing with his seemingly endless supply of jokes.  There was plenty of hilarity as the cameras were set up and both Robin and Peter rushed to join the group before the little lights stopped flashing. 

Here we all are

We all stopped to admire Bill’s lovely goldfish pond.  This work of art was all painstakingly dug out by hand, and looks great with the little foot bridge and the shrubs planted around the edge.  Then it was time to say our goodbyes and head off to our respective homes.

Bill’s fish pond

Flashing lights stopped us at  Silverstream for breath testing.  Not surprising as it’s the silly season time of year with lots of festive drinking going on, and the police are out to catch the drink-drivers.  Not us though, with a non-alcoholic afternoon tea under his belt, Robin passed with flying colours.