Those sultry temperatures have departed for a while, thanks to a night of heavy rainfall. That certainly made sleeping so much more comfortable. Our friends Don and Pamela have now arrived, put their caravan on site, so now we are three. Their large awning was certainly handy to gather in last last to shelter from the wind and rain.
Three vans on holiday together
Our cat Muffy is showing no interest lately in venturing outside the comfort of the caravan. It’s so much nicer, she has decided, to spend the day snoozing away on the couch. But we feel that she really needs some fresh air so out she goes for a little bit of exercise and a change of scenery. The wet grass was not to her liking, and she shakes each foot in turn, with a look of disdain on her face. “Can I go back inside now”, she seems to be saying.
Muffy would rather be inside
Walking downtown today we came across many interesting historical buildings. This one in particular caught my eye, a 4th generation woodworking company. The door was open, and we poked our heads inside.
An interesting Carterton building
Daniel King set up his joinery business in 1887. As the town developed, so did the business, and expanded to incorporate builders, joiners, painters, furnishings and the town funeral services. Today, Kings are specialist joiners and cabinetmakers, and the company is still in direct family ownership. The company uses sustainably grown timbers, as well as recovered and recycled timbers. We were amazed at the size of the huge beech burr in the showroom, about five feet in diameter, and just couldn’t resist rubbing our hands over it. Now beautifully polished, the burr was dug out of the ground at Mohaka. Peter King told us that he has had many requests for this burr to be sliced and made into coffee tables – but he he always declines. He wants it to remain as it is, a piece of natural beauty which needs to be treasured and protected.
Polished beech burr
The company has plans for a museum and there are already a few woodworking items on display. This will be extended as time progresses, and Peter King wants to share his love of working with timber to the community. Timber is his passion, and it certainly shines through.
Wood working tools on display
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