Amanda Giorgis's Blog, page 9
November 28, 2018
Sophia’s house
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At Toitu, the Settlers Museum, in Dunedin there is an example of the kind of home that George would have built for Sophia. Cob walls with wooden rafters and thatched roof, it would have been a sturdy little building but quite cosy for a small family. Sophia may have lain grass on the floor, or perhaps woven a rag rug, and George would have made the bed frame from the branches of trees around them.
November 24, 2018
Flooding
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The South Island is unseasonably cold and wet. In the last few days we have had the sort of rain that filled the river so quickly that it got in the way of George getting home from a difficult lambing. Our braided rivers are fed from the Southern Alps and melting snow and consistent rain has swollen them to bursting point. At times like this you realise why the river beds are so wide – they really do fill with water, creamy torrents carrying debris and causing a mist to form above the churning water. Truly an amazing sight!
Here’s the report of the day’s flooding in Otago, a little further south than us, but territory with which Sophia and her family and friends would be very familiar.
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/highways-closed-flooding-hits-south
November 2, 2018
North West Arch
Today is a NorWester Day in the Mackenzie. Just like the day that Sophia had to rescue her washing as it flew off the line. When we first came to the basin we knew nothing of the strength of the wind (and we lost a couple of garden sheds because of it), but we are used to the routine these days, and have packed away the outside furniture and made sure the trees are still tied to their stakes. Now we just wait for the wind to turn on as if someone had flicked the switch. The line of clouds is forming above us along the ridge of the Ohau Mountains. Here is New Zealand Geographic’s description of this strange phenomenon :-
October 25, 2018
The faces of the early settlers
Toitu – the Settlers Museum in Dunedin was a source of much information in writing The Wideawake Hat. The portrait gallery is an inspiring place with walls covered in the faces of those early settlers. Here’s an interesting story of two young girls who would have been born at about the same time as Heather Mackenzie. http://www.toituosm.com/…/sta…/an-early-settler-time-machine
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October 18, 2018
Mackenzie and his dog
Something a bit different today for you country music fans!
October 13, 2018
Introducing FRIDAY
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Introducing FRIDAY. There is no doubt that Friday existed as James Mackenzie’s faithful and unusually clever working dog. There are differing theories as to what happened to her. (Yes, Friday is a girl – that rather surprised me when I was doing some research). It is possible that she was shot because she would not work unless spoken to in Gaelic, but one theory suggests she saw out her days at the Levels Station where she became something of a celebrity. There is even a photo of her there, although she would have been at least 17 by the time this was taken. Who knows? Read The Wideawake Hat to find out what I think became of this clever wee dog!
Photo Credit – Sheep dog owned by James MacKenzie. Ref: 1/2-007818-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23198202
October 1, 2018
September 29, 2018
The Wideawake Hat – meet the characters – James Mackenzie
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There is no doubt that James Mackenzie existed, but the details of his life are sketchy and obscured by legend. Here’s what New Zealand History Online has to say about him:-
the-legendary-sheep-rustler-james-mackenzie-is-caught
But, as you will find, our story will tell you more about James’ life and what may have happened to him in later life.
September 28, 2018
The Wideawake Hat – meet the characters – Atewhai’s family
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Our pioneers were, at first, suspicious of the native Maori people they met, but Sophia and Nancy become good friends with Atewhai, an elderly Maori woman who has a knack of turning up just when she is needed most. Her mother, Hinewai, taught her how to use things around her in nature to mend bones, heal sickness, soothe pain and make childbirth easier. Atewhai means ‘kind and loving’. Her husband is called Hunu, meaning ‘sun’. Although they were never blessed with children of their own they love their nephews, Taiko and Aperehama, and treat the children of the pioneer families as if they were grandchildren. Hunu enjoys telling stories to these youngsters and they, in turn, love to learn how the Maori people explain natural events through such stories.
September 26, 2018
The Wideawake Hat – meet the characters – the Baylis brothers
Photo by Donald Tong on Pexels.com
Watch out for those Baylis brothers, They will take your money and try to steal your wife! Simon, the younger brother, a man of few words but plenty of evil deeds. Thomas, the older one, tells a good tale but is always out to make a quick buck. If they hadn’t chosen to travel to Australia, and then to New Zealand, they may well have got a free passage as convicts!
