August 2020

Travel Group
Had a mini break to finish the year in style. While the weather was disappointing the food at Mosaic was delicious. Hopefully 2021 will see longer travel opportunities.
Karen and Grant

Theatre Appreciation
Our group has now commenced and will be meeting on the fourth Thursday of the month (next: August 27th) at 1.15pm in the Halswell Hub, cnr Sparks and Halswell Roads. Looking ahead we shall probably make up a party to attend Cas’n’ova’s production of ‘Good Grief’ early in October. Those who might be interested can look up their website for dates and we can make a decision at our August meeting. Discount for bookings of 10 or more.

Urban Explorers
Urban Explorers have welcomed 5 new members in the past month. We are planning a seaside amble for August from New Brighton up to Waimari beach with a number of interesting facts about the general area.

Scrabble Group
The Scrabble group has grown this year. It is great to have new players bringing new voices and opinions to our wide-ranging discussions. We can take two or three more players if you feel inclined to join us on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 1.30pm. We play at the houses of those of us who have the space (and enough chairs) to accommodate us.

Scribes
We continue to meet in Halswell Library at 1 o’clock on the first Monday of the month. We have a lot of fun and always are happy to welcome newcomers to join or just in or just pop in to see what we do, no pressure.

Family history group
This month’s discussion was ‘Searching Parish Records’ mainly in Australia but also in general. Members shared the sites and/or methods they have found to be of use. Members then shared how their research was developing. Following this we spent some time looking at old photos. This raised some good laughs as well as comments on the fashions of the days and the ‘looks’ of the subjects in their posed settings. It certainly showed the benefits of having labelled and/or dated photos but why do the recorders only use nicknames? We had no answer for that but many suggestions.
We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 1.30pm. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Quarry Group
Following Covid-19 and then several wet Thursdays we are hoping for future fine days so that we can continue our work releasing young plants and trimming foliage on the tracks. We welcome more assistance. We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 10.00 am at the Quarryman’s house for one and half hours.

Cycling
Our group meets on the last Friday of the month. We had our first ride since Lockdown last week with a trip into town from Halswell on the Quarryman’s Trail. It was great to get together after so long. We have lots of different rides planned for the coming months. Our next ride at the end of August will be on Old Tai Tapu Rd to The Store for a coffee and back. New members are very welcome.

Ferrymead Heritage Garden Group
One of our interest groups maintains the Cob Cottage and Church gardens at Ferrymead. Members turn up on the 1st Thursday of the month at 10:00am to enjoy the company of others while keeping the area tidy, weeding, planting, raking leaves and cropping seasonable vegetables. If you enjoy gardening and like to be involved in a community activity, then you are very welcome to join this team.

A report of the recent popular Ferrymead Night Market which is held on the 1st Saturday of the month, $2 gold coin entry.

“I was at Curragh House for the Night Market last Saturday, the first since the “lockdown” in March. The Park was heaving, the car parks were full, Curragh house was packed to the gunnels. I was on duty in the dining room in Edwardian costume. Boiling the kettle on the coal range, running a continuous teapot, serving cups of tea, food was available to be bought in our kitchen. Our volunteers do a sterling job baking up a storm and selling their scrumptious food very cheaply – fund-raising. For the first time we had a “white elephant” stall in the school room. Plus, for the first time we had a licence to have a bar in the Park – I think that may have been an attraction for more than a few.

To be honest I think the management were overwhelmed with the numbers on a cold night. We had five open fires roaring. I forgot how messy they are to be lit and grates cleaned out and they consume so much firewood. Certainly, it takes you back in time and brought back some long lost memories.