Finally I have got to the laptop to do this overdue post.
We have finally got 98% of the place under weed mat & bark mulch & are looking forward to sitting back wine in hand & watching the garden grow!
We are having our first Christmas in our new home which will be great but with all the garden work going on it's sort of snuck up on us, so tomorrow could be a long day cleaning up for visitors.
Since my last post we have been down to Coleridge Power Station in Canterbury for the centenary of its opening. My dad worked there from about 1928 to 1930-31.
We had been up there before but now it's run by remote control from Tauranga & there is no access.
We arrived in Methven on the Friday night after a trip down from Blenheim taking the long way to Methven via Geraldine so Lis could go the Barker's & stock up. Les just came for the ride!
Saturday morning we had a look around Methven, a very different place to my memories as a 5 year old starting school there.
Registration was at midday & once we had our grab bags & instructions we climbed onto buses for a trip up to the head of Lake Coleridge & past the surge chambers etc. We had an excellent commentary from some one who had been a run holder in the valley so lots of interesting information. The road to the village is now sealed but still quite narrow by most standards & our trip was highlighted when we caught up with one of the steam traction engines heading in for the parade on Sunday, luckily we got past & later came upon some of the many vintage cars also making their way to the village.
After our trip trip to the lake head we came back to the power station which was open with great information panels to explain what we were looking at. Then we had afternoon tea provided by some energetic ladies from the district. This was proper 1920/30's style. Everyone was sitting down at tables & all had a beautiful cup, saucer & plate. Our tea was brought to us & the middle of the table adorned with a tiered cake stand with an amazing array of delicious edibles for us to partake .
Back to Methven to get changed & head off for the dinner, lots of people with memories to share & the enjoyment of meeting & hearing of many experiences living in the village for many years in the time the power station was run by staff living on site.
The highlight of the weekend was at the open day on Sunday with a parade of steam traction engines vintage cares, tractors, motorbikes. When Coleridge was built there was no real road in more a track & everything had to be railed to Coalgate where it was loaded off the train & onto trailers that were pulled by steam traction engine to the station, a journey of 3 days.
Once at the station it was unloaded to be assembled & put in place.
Coleridge is a lovely place to visit probably better in summer, it can be very cold in winter.
There are some good walks in the area & an arboretum which is amazing with trees planted by the early staff to see which trees grew best in the climate.
That's enough about that, time to attach pictures of tiny shrubs & some of these amazing machines still running today.
to join in the centenary.
and was driving home the week following!
All the Best to All for 2015
