Tea Rooms Kaimai Summit

I have often mentioned to my family that when we were kids there was a shop at the top of the Kaimai range road.

The Tauranga Historical Society published this story on their very interesting blog.

Link

 

Beach Boys

Who's going first? 

Harbour Action

I was taken by this unusual looking ship, the Saga Explorer. The topside overhanging structure are two gantry cranes with weather protection covers. The Saga web site describes it as follows.

The tug Sir Robert is returning to base after another job helping the larger tug Tai Pari manoeuvring out a departing log ship, the Enishi

• C: Rain covers

   

  The cranes are fitted with retractable roofs, which cover the whole working area including the outreach area which enables operation in unfavorable weather. Some vessels are also equipped with curtains on the sides that enable work possibilities in even the most adverse weather conditions.

 

Meanwhile a Gannet is hunting in Pilot bay

Ramp

Lewi trying new ways 

Lewi. A big brave move

The lads growing up together as good mates and occasional adversaries. Thats what brothers do.

Goal

 Jay. Three attempts to touch down

From 2006 Tauranga

 Paragliding over Mauao (Mt Maunganui)

The wet version in Tauranga harbour

Flight Delayed

 It occurred to me just now that if Hell ever fills up you will be sent to an airport lounge for eternity 

Birthday

 I had a special day yesterday.

The ladies at work filled my office with birthday artwork, very cool. Plenty of good wishes on the text as well. The grandkids and my kids came around in the afternoon bringing drawings, gin, cafe vouchers and big smiles and we all had cake. Robyn was in her element feeding out the sweet treats to everyone despite the howls of objections about all that sugar...from other adults.

Later a couple of beers outside on the park with my boys as we watched the kids play.

Family News. No Italian Connection.

I suggest search 'Thomas Durham' on this blog at top left for previous entries about this.

 The question has been who were my grandmother, Agnes Leahanora's birth parents?

We have thought for some time now (since 2010) that her parents, Antonio Wett and Felistea were not her birth parents. Now we have a first hand account of her earlier life from an interview Robyn had with Joan Holt (née Reed) Leahanora’s aunty, just before her death.

Joan said 
Lea’s (Leahnora) mother is thought to be Lydia Durham (Felistea’s daughter-to a previous marriage in England) her father is unknown except to say it could be John Holdane who she had other children with. Lea was adopted by Felistea ( Grandmother) and Antonio Wett and raised as their child. She worked at the Pa where they lived. She worked as a servant to Kuia (Elderly females) at Matangi (Nearby Pa at what's now known as Auckland Point*) Joan said Lea was charming, well liked and had a good singing voice. She had a propensity to sell possessions (I recall that story from later in her life where she kept up the practice). Lea was not a great house wife. And she was messy! (When I knew her as a kid she was very messy and lived in her room smoking continuously and we could smell her room through closed doors and it was also a mess)

*While Joan specifically said Lea worked at Matangi pa, which is at Auckland point in Nelson, another information source mentions Antonio living at the Pa in Cable bay. 

As a side note, Agnes Leahnora (Lea)and her husband John Henry Reed had 6 children. My mother was one and another Lily (in the picture) who they named Lydia Felistea Reed. She died at 21 from TB.