Here we all are posing for the “official” photo at the Wairarapa Caravan Club 70th Birthday Celebrations.
Our blog of travels both near and far, in our wonderful country New Zealand and occasionally overseas.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Happy 70th Birthday Wairarapa Caravan Club
27 caravans and campervans accepted the invitation from the Wairarapa Caravan Club to come to Carterton Holiday Park and join in the celebrations on their 70th birthday. That’s a long time for any club to be in existence, especially one that started in 1940 during the War years. The wonderful warm Wairarapa sunshine made the weekend all the more enjoyable, as caravan friends from near and far renewed their friendship. The weekend festivities started on Friday with a Wine and Cheese Evening. We mixed and mingled, caught up with old friends, and introduced ourselves to folk we hadn’t met before.
The Wairarapa guys got busy with the barbeques at midday Saturday for the Sausage Sizzle. The huge overhanging branches of the golden elm trees provided us with welcome shade as we sat chatting, with the delicious smell of sausages and onions cooking wafting around. A piece of bread complete with a barbequed sausage, onions and tomato sauce, what could be nicer or more tasty for an informal lunch?
That night a bus was provided to take us down to Carterton RSA club for the Celebration Dinner. Club members from years gone by had been contacted and invited to attend so there was much reminiscing between the Wairarapa Club members. The meal was very tasty, and the conversations and banter were flowing freely.
After dinner, Harry, the current President of the Wairarapa Club, related a potted history. The club started in 1940 and in those days, the caravans were home made. The first Annual Subscription was set at 5 shillings, and in September 1940 the Club was invited to attend the the opening of the new Martinborough Camp Grounds and Swimming Poll complex. Wairarapa Club maintains a good relationship with other local clubs, and Harry made mention of the special friendship between Wairarapa and Heretaunga Clubs, we have been both friends and competitors over the years. Craig Silbury, President of CCNZ, presented the club with an inscribed hammer and gavel from the CCNZ organisation. The cake was cut by Una, an early club member who was one of the special guests at the dinner.
The weekend rally concluded with the Sunday Morning Tea, taken once again outside in the sunshine. The Wairarapa Club thanked everyone for coming from near and far to make the 70th Birthday Celebrations such a success. Thanks, Wairarapa, for a great weekend.
Friday, 19 February 2010
All packed up
We are all packed up and raring to go, all ready to set off on our 2 week adventure. Packed the BBQ, clothes and food (just need to put the last of the perishables in the caravan fridge). Topped up the coffee and tea containers. Checked to make sure there is enough soap powder onboard for two weeks washing, and I know I have plenty of $2 coins to feed the motor camp washing machines. I always say, “Happiness is clean laundry”. Cameras, books, stitching to do in case I have spare time, I think we are just about there. Oh, oh, don’t forget the lap top. We can write up the blog when we are power at any motor camp, but finding an internet connection can be difficult while travelling. We do not have one of those mobile internet connection thingees yet, so will probably have to visit public libraries or Internet Cafes to do our uploads. Or maybe, if we are lucky, we may find a free connection at someplace like Starbucks if we buy a cup of coffee.
First stop will be Carterton, in the Wairarapa. There we will be joining in with all the other happy caravanners to help the the Wairarapa Caravan Club celebrate their 70th Birthday, a wonderful achievement. From there we will be heading off to explore Whangamomana and beyond. If you are wondering “Where the heck is Whangamomana?”, check in again in a few days time and we will let you know! Once we find out ourselves, of course.
Monday, 15 February 2010
Goodbye to Murray
Murray the cat is no more. This big beautiful black and white boy belonged to our grand-daughter Emma and lived on the family farm at Kiwitea. Murray was the most laid back cat we had ever met, nothing seemed to bother him. He was doubly precious as he originally belonged to Emma’s boyfriend Geoffrey, who died tragically a couple of years ago.
Murray the cat met his end last week when he was out and about one evening. He was crossing the road and was hit by a speeding car. Understandably, the family is devastated. Goodbye Murray, we will all miss you.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Valentine’s Day Brunch
“Happy Valentine’s Day”, we said to each other as we exchanged cards this morning. Plus a little chocolate – just a small amount as we have both had the “eat less and exercise more” lecture from the doctor lately.
What would be nicer than enjoying a leisurely brunch out on this special day. A new restaurant had opened up in our suburb and was close enough that we could stroll down in the sunshine. It was our first time in this establishment, and it is owned by a very keen young couple. By all accounts it is doing quite well, and we have heard that their Sunday Roasts are delicious and reasonably priced. We will have to try that out at a later date.
We looked over the brunch menu and soon made our choices. Corn fritters and bacon for Robin, and French Toast and bacon for me, both served with maple syrup. Lovely grub! We followed this with a nice hot cup of coffee each. I think the proprietors could tell that we were a long married couple as Robin had brought the Sunday paper with him to read at the table!
All ready to tuck in
Hope everyone is having a Happy Valentine’s Day with their special someone.
Friday, 12 February 2010
Seen around town
What’s this I spotted over a fence down our street? It looks like a canon to me. However, I have it on good authority that is not actually a canon at all, but in fact a mortar. Not a real one of course, but a garden ornament. Why anyone would want one of these in their front garden is beyond me. Perhaps this is a matter of “Don’t mention the War”?
Small cars are easy to park, that’s certainly true. But this small car is verging on the ridiculous. The owner obviously is a commuter as it is often found in the railway station car park. Not parked in a proper car park, I notice, but squashed up in front of a tree! Note that the back wheels are over the garden edging. This tiny car would not suit Robin at all, he likes to drive a real blokes size vehicle.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Fridge fans
Summertime….. and the living is easy. That’s how the song goes. But summer puts an extra strain on the caravan fridge. When we have the awning erected, it goes right over the fridge outlet and restricts the flow of air from the back of the fridge which does not work efficiently. The fridge requires a constant flow of cool air over the evaporator to transfer the heat generated away. The answer, Robin has discovered, is to install a couple of little computer fans at the back of the fridge to help things along. He did this to our previous caravan and it worked well. First of all, buy your fans. This was the easy part, in fact they have been purchased for many months now, all ready to be installed. Bur you can’t rush these things, can you? Then, take the cover off, making sure you know where you put the screws for later use. Then he attached the fans to some all purpose metal make-up brackets and screwed this into place at the back of the fridge.
Wiring up was a bit more of a challenge. He attached the wires to the fans and wired them up to the newly installed on/off switch on the wall beside the fridge. My job was to hold the switch straight and still while Robin did this tricky job reaching into a very cramped space. Then came the very important check, to make sure the the fans were sending the warm air out from the fridge, and not the other way around.
Finally it was all completed and the cover was re-attached. This little job took several hours over a couple of days and the new fans will certainly make our caravan fridge perform more efficiently in the warmer weather. Robin needed a cold beer after all that work in the hot sun!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)