Teenage years
After Alexa’s birth then followed a period of great sadness for my parents. Unlike my grandchildren, an expected babe was not mentioned to us so we did not suffer the trauma and disappointment our parents did when, not one, but four little boys, one after the other, died soon after birth or before. It would have been an extra sadness if the little girls were asking, “Why did God take our brothers?” when they could not answer that question themselves.
At times Mother had girls to help and Winnie was one who stayed quite a while and became a great friend, especially to me. When Daddy bought the farm McMullens lived in the house by the entrance to it, but by the time I started school they had built the big house by the main road, and Winnie and her new husband, Gordon Attwood, lived in the other one and worked for Mr. McMullen and I was able to run up and visit them. They had a big white cockatoo, which was very friendly, and usually when they put their face near the cage and asked for a kiss it did seem to do just that. One day I thought I would try and ask for a kiss, but it bit my nose instead. I put my hand over my nose and ran home; sure it had bitten it off. Much to my relief it wasn’t even bleeding. Some time later when they had moved up to Huapai I went to stay with them and the paddock near their home was under water. Rabbits had been trapped and drowned in the flood and it was a truly sorry sight.
Several years later I went to stay with a school friend whose family had moved to a farm in Ohauiti and the sea of gorse down the lower end of the road and especially round about Poike Road really looked as though no one loved it, and there was one lone house in the midst of it. At that time there was a part of the sea by the railway bridge fenced around so the sharks couldn’t get in, for folk to swim in safety. Thus I was introduced to Tauranga and the Mount and had a lovely holiday with the family. That was in 1933 and when we moved there 20 years later the gorse was gone and several houses were in its place.
Highlights of my teenage years were Easter camps and Bible class rallies. These were held in different places on Queen’s Birthday and Labour Days – days of fun and fellowship, of challenges, both physical and spiritual. Easter camps were held in schools, and with the classrooms cleared of desks we slept on palliasses on the floor and if the school didn’t have a cookery room meals were served in a nearby hall. Both boys and girls were rostered to help prepare them. I rode my pony to Cambridge and Te Awamutu, but also went to Matamata and Te Kuiti – only cold water to wash in, of course. Church socials were enjoyed by old and young alike. We had four churches in our parish and they took it in turns to host the socials. I never did get to a BC conference, but many years later I went to an APW one in Napier. There we were billeted, which was a new experience for me, and a very happy one.
When my children were at school many areas set up campsites with huts and bunks and facilities and organisations were able to rent them when the schools were not using them. Church family camps I attended were at Finlay Park and Okataina – both lovely spots and lovely times together.