Family Celebrations

It was a day of family celebrations yesterday – one sad and one happy.  It was a year ago since Robin’s Mum had passed away and the family got together to inter her ashes and say their final goodbyes.  The garden plot had been organised and the plaque ready and in place.  Robin’s Dad had passed away quite some time ago and his ashes had been scattered, but the family decided that the plaque should be a remembrance to him as well.  The ashes were placed in the small hole, and the siblings said their goodbyes and we all helped with scattering a shovel of soil over the top.  Rest in Peace, Bonnie.

With the final goodbyes said, we went on to the fun part of the celebrations.  Second brother Gary had almost reached the grand old age of 65 and had already been issued with a Gold Card.  He decided that with their little sister Kaye travelling up from Nelson for the weekend he would have a slightly early birthday celebration.  We gathered at Gary and Debbie’s home and sat under the shady trees while the BBQ was fired up.

Gary and BIL Jan on BBQ duty

There was plenty to choose from, steak, sausages, chicken, potatoes and peas, plus salads and garlic bread.  Then we had desserts, ice-cream and strawberries, trifle, chocolate cheesecake, followed by Christmas Cake.  All very tasty, and no one went hungry. 

Kaye and Jan, Niece/daughter Suzanne, Gary and Debbie

It was a lovely restful afternoon, and the siblings had a good catch up.  Sadly, younger brother Neil could not be there, but his wife Michelle came along to represent their family.

Two look-alikes, Robin and birthday boy Gary

Is that Snow on the Ranges?

It's hard to believe that with just a week until Christmas there is snow on the Tararua Ranges.  Just a light dusting, to be sure, but snow in late December nevertheless.   Going out just before noon it looked like this.

And returning home a couple of hours later, we commented on the black clouds rolling over, bringing rain.  And rain it did, quite heavily, making us feel pleased with ourselves that we had made it safely home without getting wet.

After the dark clouds had dropped their heavy rain, they moved away and the sunshine came out again.  What a strange day!  Wonder what sort of weather we will get when Santa comes to call?

Ashhurst and Palmy

It was another busy pre-Christmas rush around sort of day today, heading northwards to Ashhurst and Palmy.  We had lunch with daughter Nicky - as a early Christmas catch up because we won't be seeing them on the Big Day. 

 Nicky and Jenny

And also to swap the pressies over.  We took along a big plastic bag full, and came back with a carton full, so it certainly looked like a fair swap.

We took these goodies home

Lunch over, we headed back to Palmerston North.  Notice the concrete ball looking rather like one of the magical Moereki Boulders?  Someone has taken the trouble to crochet a woolly cover for it.  Why?  We don't know either, but there is a label on it saying "Wooly Riot Palmy", so that's a good clue!

Palmerston North sign plus a wool covered boulder

We had to call into the Heatrite shop to get a few more things for our recently purchased Weber BBQ.  Such as the half size cast iron plate so that we can cook sliced oinons and mushrooms to go with the steaks on the griddle - otherwise they would fall through!  And the all important meat thermometer for when we take the plunge and cook our first Weber roast.  

 More accessories for the Baby Q

On the way home we came across a cyclist, all dressed up in yellow and black, merrily peddling away.  The interesting thing was that he was sporting a couple of solar panels on the back of his bike - goodness knows why.  We realise that caravanners, motorhomers and even narrow boats rely on solar panels these days.  Any keen cyclists out there know the answer?

Cyclist with solar panels

Baby Q, Flags, and Christmas Carols

With the recent arrival of our Baby Q Weber BBQ, the first rule of thumb was to try it out at home before we take it away in the caravan.  After all - the cook doesn't want to look like he doesn't know what he is doing, does he?  It's a new way of cooking on the BBQ for us, the meat goes on, and the lid stays down.  Perhaps it would be a good idea to watch the video that came with it?  Our first meal of pork sausages turned out extra delicious.  It will be pork chops tonight - and we really want to try a roast one day soon.

 Our Baby Q Weber BBQ

There are twinkling Christmas lights strung around our small patio area, and even twisted around the flag pole.  And talking of flag poles, we have two flags flying at the moment, our current flag, plus our pick of the new ones up for consideration.  The first flag  referendum has taken place, and our preferred flag took second place, not first as we had hoped.  The second referendum to choose between the existing flag and the winner of the first referendum will take place in March 2016.

We are flying two flags today

And as a real pre-Christmas treat, Rita from our village had a visit from the Salvation Army Band to play outside her home.  Once I heard those Christmas Carols start up, I walked down to enjoy the music and take a few photos.  Just a shame more of the neighbours didn't venture outside and join in too.  There is nothing nicer than those traditional Christmas Carols, is there?  The band had been "doing the rounds", they told me and were heading off to their last stop of the evening, where they had been promised Chocolate Cake!

Serenading Rita

Christmas Rally at Koputaroa

It was just as well it was not too far to travel to Koputaroa on Friday for our caravan club Christmas Rally. Our day was full to overflowing, to say the least. 

 It all started off with an emergency visit to the vet bright and early in the morning for our elderly cat Muffy.  She had lost one of her canine teeth and we were concerned that there may have been an abscess under her missing tooth which might require antibiotics.  Luckily she was pronounced abscess free and we took her home again.

Then later in the morning we attended a funeral, always particularly sad so close to Christmas.  Our lovely next door neighbour had been battling cancer for quite some time, and passed away during the week.  And finally, I had an appointment with a specialist mid afternoon, and as it was my first time seeing him, it all took a while.  We quickly packed the caravan and finally got on our way, to discover that we were the last ones to arrive - and probably just about the closest!

We were spending the weekend in the grounds of the historic Koputaroa Hall.  The original hall was built in 1922 and located further down the road.  It burnt down in 1937 and was rebuilt using donated materials and voluntary labour.  The hall was moved to the present site beside the school in 1997, at a cost of $75,000, raised by the local community, with the land being donated.  It now contains a modern kitchen and is in regular use by the school, the locals, and groups such as ourselves.

 Koputaroa Hall with Romany Rambler at the side

 Discussing the differing weights of individual tow couplings 

Several of our members decided that the hall needed some decorations to make if look nice and festive.  Lorraine brought along her Christmas Tree and Val clambered up on chairs to hang some decorations.  Being vertically challenged, Val needed a tall man to help her out!

 Be careful Val, don't you fall!

Romany Rambler suffered from a gas emergency on Saturday, just as we were due in the hall for our Christmas meal.  The fridge started beeping, the lights flashed red - oh dear, looks like the gas cylinder was running on empty.  And would you believe, this was the one time Robin had not packed his tool box.  With a bit of help and a borrowed spanner, the empty cylinder was removed,  a replacement bolted in place, the fridge was reset, and we hurried into the hall, a little late for our meal.  Luckily everyone had waited until we made an appearance, and we slipped into our seats.

And what a magnificent feast it was. Everyone brought salads to share, and the "piece de la resistance" was a boned loin of pork.  This was cooked to perfection by Don on his rotisserie at home just along K Road, then delivered to the hungry hoards.  It was delicious! As were the desserts: pavlova, chocolate mousse, trifle, local strawberries and ice cream.  It was a very big family indeed, as we all ate together in the hall, seated around the long tables. 

 Lots of lovely desserts

We only managed one 4zees out in the sunshine, and then the rain came down.   Once that had passed us by, the winds got up, blowing like crazy, shaking the branches on the line of large oak trees planted along the school boundary.  Before we knew it, the weekend had come to a close, and we enjoyed our final morning tea together in the hall.  Selwyn did the honours and passed around a tray of Christmas Mince Pies.

Selwyn, Bill and Derek enjoying morning tea

A few left early, and most stayed behind for lunch in the hall.  Then amid a chorus of "goodbyes" and "see you next year" we started off for our respective homes.  We didn't have too far to travel, just a mere 10kms down the road.  It was a lovely weekend, a great rally, great food, and most of all, great companionship.

Part 2 – Grand Circle Rail Cruise

After travelling through the Wairarapa towns of Carterton and Featherston, we soon entered the 8.8km Rimutaka Tunnel.  A member of Steam Incorporated had been through all the carriages selling raffle tickets to help raise funds for the $30,000 needed to fit fire suppressors to their own DA diesel loco.  This job will be completed early next year, and then  it will no longer be necessary to hire out one of Kiwi Rail locos on future trips. Once through the tunnel and the train stopped at Maymorn Station for a photo op.  It was interesting to find that once through the tunnel and on the Hutt Valley side of the Rimutakas the weather was quite fine with not a drop of rain to be seen.

Maymorn Station

It was rather like our old working days of our train commute Upper Hutt to Wellington, arriving to scenes of Wellington Harbour.  For quite some years we both worked in Wellington and travelled in and out by rail.

Oriental Bay

Our train pulled into Platform No 9 at Wellington Station, and the two locos needed to be taken off the front of the train, which was now the back, shunted the short distance  and hooked up again.  These plans were foiled when a electric train expectantly arrived at Platform No 8.  After a bit of patient waiting, the train went on it’s way, and the shunting of the locos could get underway.

  The electric unit finally moving away - now the loco shunting can begin

Kiwi Rail loco moving down the track, now it’s the turn of DA 1431 to be moved

This bloke made it all happen 

All the seats in our carriage were flipped over so that we continued our journey facing the front.  Then we were on our way again, through Tawa Tunnels No1 and No2, stopping at Paekakariki to let some of the passengers off the train.  Then through the familiar settlements of Te Horo, Manakau and Ohau.  Although we have travelled this route by road many times, it is quite a different perspective  looking at the view out of the carriage windows.  The train arrived back at Levin at 6.50pm, right on time, we were told.  What a great day, 360kms of rail travel, interesting commentaries, and good company.  What could be better.

Merry Christmas

Grand Circle Rail Cruise Part 1

With the alarm set bright and early, we were packed up and on our way for an early Christmas treat.  We were embarking on the 360km Grand Circle Rail Cruise with Steam Incorporated.  The trip was organised through our local ladies Probus Club who had booked  their own carriage, and Dot and Derek joined us for a day of rail travel.

Rail touring map

Boarding the train at Levin meant that we did not have to do an early morning dash down to Steam Incorporated's base at Paekakariki.  And here it comes, pulling into Levin station in the pouring rain.  According to the regulations, a Kiwi Rail Dfb locomotive was in front of the train.  This is to satisfy recently imposed requirements that heritage trains operating in the Rimutaka and Tawa tunnels be hauled by a diesel loco that is fitted with fire suppression equipment.  Next in line was a Da1431 Diesel Locomotive, built in 1957, with the two locos pulling nine vintage carriages and a guards van.

Here comes the train

Travelling northwards we passed by Shannon, and Tokomaru with it’s Steam Museum, spotted a couple of fishermen trying their luck in a stream before rattling over the 336m  bridge spanning the Manawatu River.

 

Fish for dinner, perhaps

The train stopped at Palmerston North Station to pick up the final passengers, and then we chugged along the rails hugging the side of the Manawatu Gorge, looking out at the road across the other side.  It’s quite sobering to see the engineering required to construct both the road and rail track through this challenging gorge.  Steel netting is attached here and there to stop rocks falling on the narrow road.

Looking across at the road through the gorge

Robin set himself up in the guards van at the end of the train for these interesting shots exiting one of the several tunnels and  looking back along the gorge. And to think that we have walked over this railway line, back in May 2014, read about the tunnel walk here.

Manawatu Gorge

After all that excitement we needed a nice cup of coffee, so I trekked along the rattling carriages, opening and closing one door after another and carefully walking between one carriage and another until I arrived at the Buffet Car.  Hot drinks in tow, carefully packed in a cardboard holder, back I went.

Happy staff in the Buffet Car

Our journey continued through Mangatainoka, where the world famous Tui beer is made, past Pahiatua and the Railcar Restoration Society.

Railcar at Pahiatua

The next stop was Mauriceville, where quite a number of travellers were getting off to be bussed to a Country Fair.  We didn’t envy them one bit, as the rain was coming down by the bucketful.  Next stop was Opaki, near Masterton, where more people exited to take the short walk to Paper Road Winery for a pre-ordered buffet lunch.  The four of us had prepared our own picnic lunch which we ate in the comfort of the train, without encountering a single drop of rain.  The lunchers came back, wet through and grumbling.

Derek and Dot, Jenny and Robin

It was great to meet up with Robin’s former workmate Fred (from long ago Post Office Headquarter days) and his wife Avis.  They had walked over to the winery and back in the pouring rain and stopped to chat for a while before wandering back to their own carriage.

Avis and Fred

Then it was a short ride to Masterton Station, where the buses were waiting full of the passengers who had been to the Country Fair.  They too came aboard feeling a little miserable, clothes wet, feet wet, as the rain hadn’t stopped at all.  We were really pleased we had packed our own lunch – if it had been a nice sunny day we would have ventured outdoors, but we were quite happy eat our sandwiches in the comfort of the carriage.  The train started up and we were on our way again, travelling through the Wairarapa countryside.