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This long weekend I spent at a family reunion. Sparked by the current owners of the High Country station my (paternal) grandparents and parents built up having constructed quite a cosy wee lodge looking up the river as part of their tourist operation, it at some point became a thing that the three kids (my aunt, father and uncle) and as many of their families as could make it should all get together up there for a couple of nights. There were in the end only a few missing from the assembled tribe although some were only able to stay the first night.
I was uncertain what this trip might bring emotionally. Apart from not having a heck of a lot in common with much of my extended family I had been back to the station only once since it was sold, a day trip shortly after the current owner* took over (so very late 90s or early 2000s) which left me feeling somewhat upset about the state the place had fallen into. The weekend was therefore always going to be quite draining.
* the second to have it after us; the first was a partnership which fell apart
Travelling up and back with my parents a couple of things struck me particularly; one being where trees had either been taken out in the interim of gained another couple of decades growth from my clearest memories making some sections of the road "feel" quite different, and two that the grass filling many of the little streams which used to flow down the mountainside and across the road shows that there has been significant less precipitation in recent years. As does the way the river flats have expanded in the absence of the floods which used to be an annual occurrence. (Further down the valley which has always had less rain it is starkly drier.)
We stopped briefly at "our old" homestead which is now also tourist accommodation to turn some heaters on; the lodge would not be big enough for all of us and was rumoured to be a bit cold and drafty so youngest sister and her kids planned to spend the nights "back home" instead. Oldest sister, her kids and my parents all ended up doing the same which left me the only one of our branch sleeping in the lodge (which really did not have space for all of the clan) on a quite comfortable couch in the main area. Rumours of cold and drafts proved false; the building is double-glazed and well insulated and well warmed by a wood burner.
We also struck it /very/ lucky with the weather; although we arrived to rain on Saturday afternoon it went right back; Sunday and today were both gloriously sunny and both nights were incredibly mild (especially given how clear it was) and brightly moonlit with maybe a touch of frost. Sunday afternoon the wind did get up, a strong nor-wester which in that area means straight off the glacier and down the valley. I had planned to hike up to a nearby knob and take a wider ranging series of photos, but like everyone else just chose to sit it out and carry on the process of catching up which had begun the night before / nap a bit.
I had slept lightly and was probably already feeling the effects of the altitude to which I am no-longer acclimatised. Mostly I tried to stay awake and listen in to the various conversations particularly those happening around the old photo albums and other historic family/station materials, many of which have been in my possession since my Grandma passed away (7? years ago). I had been going to scan them in short order but the project fell fallow and I only really started again last week ... resulting in purchasing a new scanner which as long as it remains set up on the office table may encourage me to continue. I don't actually have a head for family history myself, but what I /can/ do is digitise the materials and put them up somewhere other people can contribute the context.
Several of us did take a group trip down to the homestead area to have a look around the Old Homestead and grounds where my grandparents lived and raised their kids and the "yard" and buildings where as kids my generation also worked and played. That was heartbreaking; photos will come later but although it was disintegrating slowly while we were there all attempt at keeping it up has since been abandoned and it has simply been allowed to fall into ruin. The same can be said for various other structures around the property which serve no purpose to the current owners.
As was commented; you can see why my father and uncle particularly are less keen on going back for visits. My aunt moved away when she married but the boys took over the two runs which then made up the station from my grandfather.
One structure which /has/ been put to quite appropriate use is the old power-house where lived the little DC hydro plant which provided for a few electrical conveniences until my father had a much larger AC plant on a different creek put in in the late 80s/early 90s. This has been moved up to the new lodge where it now houses a spiffy petrol-powered generator for lighting and a few power points.
Much of Sunday evening was spent being reminded how left of much of my family my politics are :( So I was quite glad that everyone was a bit past it by that point and lights-out was around 9:30pm. I think I slept better that night but still lightly and with an epic-length dream.
This morning was pack out and leave time. My previous contribution to the chores having been helping dry the evening dishes (food and everything had all been arranged by various other family groups. There was a lot of food. We probably could have eaten for another night on leftovers) I attended to the vacuuming before the generator was turned off and to set an example to a couple of the boys (circa 8 y.o.) who seem to be at the stage where such things are considered "not mens work".
I did nap a bit in the truck on the way back to Christchurch, and again roughly after getting home but still feel pretty shattered and will be heading back to bed for an early night. My eyes in particular feel swollen and painful and my jaw tight and I can't tell whether this is due to tiredness, if I have become dehydrated or if it is something I ate.
~~~
Other elements to remember
- Playing card-game versions of Cluedo and Yahtzee with eldest sister's kids (I had meant to pack a couple of games myself but was a bit rushed on Saturday morning.)
- hearing about some of the Yes Ministerish inner workings from a frustrated relative who is currently in local government - and some of the issues with regional and central government.
- toasting marshmallows on an open fire out on the riverbed (something the kids had been promised)
~~~
Will link scenic photo gallery here when it is done.
Scenic photo gallery
I was uncertain what this trip might bring emotionally. Apart from not having a heck of a lot in common with much of my extended family I had been back to the station only once since it was sold, a day trip shortly after the current owner* took over (so very late 90s or early 2000s) which left me feeling somewhat upset about the state the place had fallen into. The weekend was therefore always going to be quite draining.
* the second to have it after us; the first was a partnership which fell apart
Travelling up and back with my parents a couple of things struck me particularly; one being where trees had either been taken out in the interim of gained another couple of decades growth from my clearest memories making some sections of the road "feel" quite different, and two that the grass filling many of the little streams which used to flow down the mountainside and across the road shows that there has been significant less precipitation in recent years. As does the way the river flats have expanded in the absence of the floods which used to be an annual occurrence. (Further down the valley which has always had less rain it is starkly drier.)
We stopped briefly at "our old" homestead which is now also tourist accommodation to turn some heaters on; the lodge would not be big enough for all of us and was rumoured to be a bit cold and drafty so youngest sister and her kids planned to spend the nights "back home" instead. Oldest sister, her kids and my parents all ended up doing the same which left me the only one of our branch sleeping in the lodge (which really did not have space for all of the clan) on a quite comfortable couch in the main area. Rumours of cold and drafts proved false; the building is double-glazed and well insulated and well warmed by a wood burner.
We also struck it /very/ lucky with the weather; although we arrived to rain on Saturday afternoon it went right back; Sunday and today were both gloriously sunny and both nights were incredibly mild (especially given how clear it was) and brightly moonlit with maybe a touch of frost. Sunday afternoon the wind did get up, a strong nor-wester which in that area means straight off the glacier and down the valley. I had planned to hike up to a nearby knob and take a wider ranging series of photos, but like everyone else just chose to sit it out and carry on the process of catching up which had begun the night before / nap a bit.
I had slept lightly and was probably already feeling the effects of the altitude to which I am no-longer acclimatised. Mostly I tried to stay awake and listen in to the various conversations particularly those happening around the old photo albums and other historic family/station materials, many of which have been in my possession since my Grandma passed away (7? years ago). I had been going to scan them in short order but the project fell fallow and I only really started again last week ... resulting in purchasing a new scanner which as long as it remains set up on the office table may encourage me to continue. I don't actually have a head for family history myself, but what I /can/ do is digitise the materials and put them up somewhere other people can contribute the context.
Several of us did take a group trip down to the homestead area to have a look around the Old Homestead and grounds where my grandparents lived and raised their kids and the "yard" and buildings where as kids my generation also worked and played. That was heartbreaking; photos will come later but although it was disintegrating slowly while we were there all attempt at keeping it up has since been abandoned and it has simply been allowed to fall into ruin. The same can be said for various other structures around the property which serve no purpose to the current owners.
As was commented; you can see why my father and uncle particularly are less keen on going back for visits. My aunt moved away when she married but the boys took over the two runs which then made up the station from my grandfather.
One structure which /has/ been put to quite appropriate use is the old power-house where lived the little DC hydro plant which provided for a few electrical conveniences until my father had a much larger AC plant on a different creek put in in the late 80s/early 90s. This has been moved up to the new lodge where it now houses a spiffy petrol-powered generator for lighting and a few power points.
Much of Sunday evening was spent being reminded how left of much of my family my politics are :( So I was quite glad that everyone was a bit past it by that point and lights-out was around 9:30pm. I think I slept better that night but still lightly and with an epic-length dream.
This morning was pack out and leave time. My previous contribution to the chores having been helping dry the evening dishes (food and everything had all been arranged by various other family groups. There was a lot of food. We probably could have eaten for another night on leftovers) I attended to the vacuuming before the generator was turned off and to set an example to a couple of the boys (circa 8 y.o.) who seem to be at the stage where such things are considered "not mens work".
I did nap a bit in the truck on the way back to Christchurch, and again roughly after getting home but still feel pretty shattered and will be heading back to bed for an early night. My eyes in particular feel swollen and painful and my jaw tight and I can't tell whether this is due to tiredness, if I have become dehydrated or if it is something I ate.
~~~
Other elements to remember
- Playing card-game versions of Cluedo and Yahtzee with eldest sister's kids (I had meant to pack a couple of games myself but was a bit rushed on Saturday morning.)
- hearing about some of the Yes Ministerish inner workings from a frustrated relative who is currently in local government - and some of the issues with regional and central government.
- toasting marshmallows on an open fire out on the riverbed (something the kids had been promised)
~~~
Scenic photo gallery
