Wellington Vintage Machinery Club Part 1

The Wellington Vintage Machinery Club are one of the many organisations taking part in the September Heritage Month and were holding an Open Day. Knowing that our friends also share an interest in this sort of thing, we invited Dot and Derek to join us to a visit to the clubrooms in Mangaroa, Upper Hutt.    The club rooms themselves are vintage and have have their own story to tell.  Starting off as a dairy factory, it is now the only remaining example of a dairy building in the Wellington area.  Then it was changed to a bottling plant, and during the war was used as a munitions store.  After lying derelict for many years, the club acquired the building on a 20 year lease from the Council 10 years ago.  Tucked away inside is a huge collection of machines from earlier times, and the 40 members work hard to lovingly restore these vintage treasures.

Wellington Vintage Machinery club rooms

Just inside the door was a display of dairying implements from days gone by, such as buckets, milk separators, and early examples of suction cups.  The photos on the walls showed  milking sheds from long ago,  with just a few cows hooked up to early mechanical milking machines in quite primitive conditions.   Containers of milk were then put of the back of a cart and taken to the local dairy company – every small town had one of these.  How things have changed in the dairy industry.

Display of milking shed implements

Our caravanning mate Russell had a small 1910 Petter engine all fired up and puffing smoke out of the chimney.  The weather was quite inclement so the engine was working in the shed doorway.  When the weather improved later on we saw this engine moved outside, and put under load to make it work better, we were told.

Russell watching the smoke puffs

The pride of the collection is a majestic black 1911 steam traction engine, built by John Fowler and Co, Leeds.  This was owned by a former club member who has since passed away, and is on loan to the club courtesy of the family members.  Wouldn’t this make a wonderful sight all steamed up in the great outdoors and doing the farm work it was designed for? 

 1911 John Fowler steam traction engine

When we visited the Trentham Race Course a couple of weeks ago we didn’t realise that one of the engines that had kept the tote running in earlier years was now an important part of the club’s collection.  This is a Frisco Standard 16hp pedestal engine and dates from 1910.  After a few adjustments the club member had it up and running as a demonstration.  

Frisco Standard Pedestal Engine

There was a huge Tangyes engine, made in Birmingham, on display, and came from Odlins Timber Company in Petone.  Interesting enough, both Robin and I were employed at Odlins at different times in our lives.  (This was well before we were fated to meet).  Robin worked in the factory as a teenager during the school holidays and can remember this huge machine  quite vividly.  The driving shaft was under the floor of the planing mill and the leather belts were running through the floor to the finishing planes.  The belts used to squeal and when the machine was engaged and wound right up to speed, he remembers the noise sounding like a jet engine.  My time with this company was spent doing accounts work in the office, so I did not really venture into the noisy factory.  A deep pit had to be dug to accommodate this engine before it could be installed in the club room, and it is now run on electricity for demonstration purposes. 

 

The Tangyes engine from Odlins Timber Company

The club rooms and sheds out the back were full to overflowing of all sorts of interesting machines.  So tune in tomorrow for Vintage Machinery Part 2.

Mini camping show

There was a small local show on this weekend promoting new caravans and campervans.  Not that we are really in the market at the moment, but it is always nice to see what is on offer.  Six of us keen campers arrived to see what took our fancy.  First up we looked through two new caravans from Southern Star.  We particularly liked the fact that all windows are double glazed, and have the three part window treatment of insect screens, pull down blinds and curtains.  These window features have long been standard on English and European caravans, we understand, but have only recently started to be built in New Zealand caravans.  Southern Star caravans are an upmarket version of our own Leisureline caravan, and manufactured in the same factory.  The owner of the company was in attendance at the show, and was very helpful when Robin approached him about a problem we were experiencing with our water heater.  A trip to the factory to sort it out will be arranged shortly.   

Our group in front of the Southern Star display

The flags were fluttering in the breeze along the street in front of the campervans. There were displays from both Pacific Horizon and U.C.C. manufacturers.  We checked them all out, comparing this layout to that.   Sleeping arrangements varied considerably.  One offered a fixed double bed, in some you would have to clamber up to the overhead Luton, others had pull out double beds, or the option of making up singles.  As to be expected, the larger the campervan, the higher was the price. 

New campervans on show

The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association had a stand at the show to promote both the NZMCA and the Wellington area group.  They are also very keen to pass on the message of “clean green camping”, advocating correct and proper waste water and rubbish disposal.  We belong to both  the Heretaunga Caravan Club as well as NZMCA – so we have a foot in both camps.

NZMCA stand manned by members of the Wellington group

NZMCA banner

On our way home we called in to Ngati Toa Domain.  Parts of the domain are available for occasional freedom camping, and the outlook over the estuary is delightful.  Water fowl were swimming, fishermen were trying their luck with rods, and boats were buzzing around.  It would be a very pretty place to stop for the night, and there was a large American Pace Arrow campervan doing just that.  There are a few rules to meet, such as having self containment, and no tents or awnings allowed.

   Ngati Toa Domain

Hutt River Trail

We have been a little remiss about getting out for our morning walk over the last week, I’m sad to say.  But enough of the excuses - after a few morning chores we laced our sneakers up and set off briskly in the cool windy conditions along the river bank.  The Hutt River Trail runs from Birchville in Upper Hutt down to Petone, the 29km trail is an easy scenic walk and cycle path. It also allows access to the river for swimming, fishing and kayaking.  We were certainly not walking the full length of the trail, but just a short local portion before heading back home. 

Hutt River Trail sign

Our walk took us past the Norbert Street footbridge, 106 metre cable-stayed bridge, completed in 1993.  Built for pedestrian usage, the bridge was designed  to provide emergency vehicle access across the river if required.  If you look carefully, you can spot Robin posing on the bridge.

Norbert Street Bridge

The Hutt River, looking upstream 

This walkway is well used by joggers, cyclists and walkers galore, often accompanied by the family dog.  A good brisk walk works wonders for a feeling of well-being, and we can feel the heart pumping and the blood circulating, so it’s got to be good for us.  Then it was back through the streets, around a few corners and we were almost home, when we spotted a Tui singing away above our heads.  There he was, high up in a tree bare of leaves, singing his little heart out, with the tuft of white feathers at his throat contrasting against his dark plumage.  While we were admiring the Tui outside our neighbours house, their large Rottweiler was barking and growling to let us know that he was on guard duty and that we shouldn’t be loitering around his property.  Just as well he was well contained by a stout fence. 

Tui singing away

Our Cheap Date

One of the up-sides of being a “senior” (and not having a great deal of money) is the Cheap Tuesday Movie deals on offer.  So…. any film that takes our interest, we wait to Tuesday and get to see it at the princely sum of $8 for a senior ticket.  Can’t get better than that now, can you?  We were very keen to see “Billy T James” which tells the story of this much loved Kiwi comedian, and filed into the theatre with three other oldies for the 10.00am showing.   Born William James Te Wehi Taitoko, by the time he died of heart failure aged 42 he had won numerous awards and wide acclaim for his talent as musician, singer, comedian, actor, writer and artist.  He honed his talents as a singer and comedian on stages around the world as part of the Maori Volcanics Showband.  After his return home an agent discovered Billy performing cabaret in the Avondale Rugby League Club in 1978 and he was cast as Dexter Fitzgibbon in the television variety series Radio Times,  and later went on to star in  the TV series The Billy T James Show. He is remembered for his infectious chuckle, black singlet and yellow towel, and his ability to poke fun at all Kiwis, Maori and Pakeha alike.   This film also touched on the cultural differences that took place after his death, when the wishes of his Pakeha wife were over-ruled by his iwi (tribe).  It revealed another aspect of how Billy’s bicultural identity brought about conflicts from both sides.  The coverage of the so-called “body-snatching” at the time of Billy’s death made headline news, and the film presented both sides of the story.  Never-the-less, this action of going against the family’s wishes (by force) certainly shocked ordinary New Zealanders.  In the official press release for the film, the makers promise that "audiences will leave with laughter in their hearts and tears in their eyes."  And we did.

Billy T James on screen

Our cheap day out continued as we lunched at the local Cossie Club.  Robin had received a birthday voucher which was cashed in for a free meal in the bistro, and enjoyed a Kiwi Burger for lunch, complete with beetroot, salad, bacon and egg all on a beef patty, just the way he likes it.  And I had enough points on my own Cossie card to purchase my meal of pizza and a large latte.  So our lunch was consumed without any hard cash changing hands.  The Cossie club was strung with flags in case anyone needed reminding that the Rugby World Cup games were taking place throughout New Zealand.  It certainly did look nice and colourful.

Flags in the bar area

Happy Birthday, Robin and looking back

It’s Robin’s birthday today and he had birthday cards and a couple of pressies to open at breakfast, plus several birthday phone calls during the day.  Then of course we just had to have a meal out to celebrate.  We dined out at a local restaurant with friends and enjoyed a nice meal, with good company.

  Derek and Dot, Kathryn, Jenny and Robin

On a more sombre note, we have vivid memories of the aftermath of another birthday meal out with friends ten years ago.   We went out to a Malaysian restaurant with a group of friends and enjoyed a very tasty meal.  However, when we went to pay by credit card, the electronic system would not work, and the owners had to retrieve their old manual machine to take our payment.  Then we had the same problem when we called around to the service station on the way home to fill up with petrol.  Once again, the electronic credit card system would not work.  What we did not realise till later was that the credit card transactions from New Zealand are all routed through banking systems in the Twin Towers in New York, and that the towers had been destroyed.  We went to bed that night without listening to any radio or TV news, unaware of the devastation taking place half a world away.  Next morning we were up bright and early to get ready for work and heard the news on the radio, and watched the terrible pictures on TV in horror.  It is hard to believe that all this happened 10 years ago, and the memories are still very fresh.  With the difference in time zones, September 11th in the Northern Hemisphere is September 12th down here in New Zealand, Robin’s birthday.

Our thoughts go to all those who lost family, friends and loved ones in the 9/11 tragedy.

Curry, levitation, and cake at Camp Elsdon

Camp Elsdon is only a short drive down the hill to the bustling Porirua shopping centre.  Peter and Elaine fancied a curry for lunch and knew of a favourite restaurant with very reasonable prices.  Who would like to join them?  Six of us drove down to partake in an Indian lunch at Curry Village. 

  Under the covered walkway to Curry Village

We perused the menu and made our choices.  The $12 charge for lunch included a curry of our choice and came with rice, a big round, puffy naan bread, and a soft drink.  The restaurant was nicely appointed, and the service was excellent.  Our lunch companions were top notch too!

In the evening we gathered in the kitchen around the large family sized wooden table.  Peter and Elaine had organised a couple of competitions to test our brain power.  As usually happens, some of us did better than others.  Then he produced a top and told us he could make it levitate while spinning in the air.  Did anyone believe this claim?  Of course not – but in all seriousness, it did happen, right before our eyes.

The levitating spinning top

This is marketed as a “High-tech permanent UFO magnetic suspensible flying disc”, which is certainly an accurate description.  Peter purchased it after seeing it demonstrated in an Australian market a couple of years ago.  Seems the secret is a very strong magnet or two in the blue box.

The next day Don and Pamela provided a delicious chocolate cake for  Sunday morning tea to celebrate their recent 200 rally award.  As the weather was not the best, no-one wanted to stay on for lunch.  Much better to pack up and head for home before the rain came down.   

Celebrating 200 rallies

Camp Elsdon - Friday Night is Rugby Night

This was our first visit to Camp Elsdon, situated on the foothills in Porirua by the entrance to the Colonial Knob Walkway Track.  The camp often hosts school trips, and there was a bus load of school children all the way from Papakura, Auckland  staying in the large dormitory block all week. 

The camp has two grassed areas for camping.  The top area is full of permanents staying on site in caravans and campers in varying degrees of roadworthiness.  The casual campers like us park up in the lower area, along with several big buses who couldn’t fit in with the other permanents, and a couple of tents too.  The backdrop of native forest which forms part of the Colonial Knob Walkway makes this quite a pretty camp, and the view to the north takes in glimpses of Porirua Harbour.

Camp Elsdon

This weekend was the start of the long awaited Rugby World Cup.  With 20 teams competing in 48 matches in New Zealand over 7 weeks, Robin is in “Rugby Heaven”.   New Zealand hosted and won the inaugural  event 24 long years ago, and since that time our team have not managed to win the prestigious Webb Ellice Cup again.  There was no chance at all that Robin was going to miss the opening TV spectacular and the first game of the tour, just because he was at a caravan rally.  The whole country is  wishing our rugby team, the All Blacks, well.  There are flags and bunting everywhere, and just down the road from the motor camp we noticed this sign.

Go the All Blacks

Four of us sat glued to the TV in our caravan on Friday evening as the opening ceremony unfolded.  This had a strong Maori flavour and the theme of the opening ceremony was "the journey", with the boats representing the settlement of New Zealand. Maori warriors who had surrounded the park took to the field, performing a powerful haka.

 
The ceremony concluded with a massive fireworks display set up in several different locations in Auckland City. 

                           

Photos courtesy:  GRAHAME COX/Sunday News

Then the first rugby game got underway between the All Blacks and Tonga.  The whole country heaved a sigh of relief when the All Blacks proved victorious, although the strong Tongan team performed credibly well.  So, in the view of the writer who is a non sporty person, that’s one game over, only 47 more to go.  Robin, on the other hand, is keen as mustard to watch as many of these matches as he can fit in.  Go the All Blacks!