Ghosts of Christmas Days past (1)
I awoke early, not from the excitement of a probable visit from Santa – he couldn’t possibly have known where I was – but from an alarm sometime after 5am in the motel unit next to mine. Delighted, I was.
A while later and suddenly inspired, I got up. Alas Dec 25th had dawned in wet, grey fashion and in fact summer was left wanting in many places around the country. At that time though it wasn’t raining and I would normally have gone out for a walk with my camera. However, a broken toe acquired just prior to leaving Wellington (couch leg 1, Hayley 0) rendered that impossible.
But I could drive around my hometown and make short hobbling photographic strolls – which I did (and will bundle those pics up with some others a little later).
The rest of the morning was spent with my parents and grandmother, my brother and girlfriend also making a brief appearance.
Early afternoon we piled in the car and made the half hour trip out to the end of South Kaipara Head, the area where I grew up. Lunch and a few hours were spent with an unwell elderly friend of the family. I’ve been to his and his late wife’s farm on countless occasions and the reality was that this could well have been the final time. With that in mind, I excused myself went out hobbling with my camera.
Our friend was a beekeeper as well as a farmer
This used to be a milking shed
Peacocks could be frequently heard but would flee on the approach of a camera
This was at the end of the driveway. Back in the day it was a 20 minute round trip to pick up our mail from these letterboxes and to ferry my brother and I to and from our primary school bus stop at the opposite driveway
Back in the day!
It’s a weird thing, walking around a place so familiar but knowing it might have been for the last time. Still, with so many rustic features to capture, it was a fun walkabout – and there was still the farm on which I grew up to go and see.
tall tales 
Wonderful images and memories. I’m eager to see your old family farm through your camera lens and words. Hope your toe isn’t *too* painful! Happy New Year!
Thanks very much Cindi – a very Happy New Year to you as well. The toe is more inconvenient than painful!
Happy new year!! Looking forward to many posts from you in 2014 as well 🙂
Hi Tina, HNY to you too! (And ditto!)
Happy New Year! The photos are lovely. Hope the toe recovers soon.
Thank you! I’m annoyed about how much walking I’m missing out on. HNY to you too!
Hayley, what beautiful pictures to share with your memories of happier times at the farm. It’s a horrible feeling knowing that you might never go back somewhere 😦 my favourite picture is of the bee weather vane, how original and qwerky, I love it. Sorry to hear about your broken toe, OUCH! I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with reading posts – bear with me! Happy 2014. Lottie xxx
Hola! Thanks so much, Lottie, and thanks for going to the trouble. I sometimes think that video would capture things more comprehensively, especially in that sort of circumstance, but I could be one of the few for whom that medium just doesn’t really appeal. I hope you have a fabulous year, señora! x