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--- 195706 [2016/05/01 17:20] – [The New Song Book] kennettj
+++ 195706 [2016/05/01 17:30] – [Seven Weeks in New Zealand Part 1V] kennettj
@@ Line 254: / Line 254: @@
 ====== Seven Weeks in New Zealand Part 1V ======
+Dot Butler
-Dot Butler.
+The first light of dawn lit up the ragged patchwork quilt of snow thrown over the sleeping shoulders of the Remarkables. It awoke the sleeping waters of Lake Wakitipu to blue life. It crept down the hushed hillside, through the eucalyptus and native trees, into the pavillion of the Queenstown sports ground. Three sleeping bundles stirred to life: "What's the time George?" Half past five. Time to get up. Remove the barricade of form we had erected at the shed entrance as a safeguard against possible grazing animals, roll up the 30f. of coir matting (the covering for the cricket pitch) which had been our bed for the past three nights - dip the face under the gushing tap among the white hemlock flowers - on with the boots - tuck in the shirt tails and tighten the belt - cook up a hasty breakfast on Snow's primus out on the grassy bank under the paling stars - stuff sleeping bags into packs, then off we dash to the bus terminus down by the lake for now we are away on the first leg of our real mountaineering adventure - a fortnight at Mt. Cook. It is a long journey hence the early start.
-The first light of dawn lit up the ragged patchwork quilt of snow thrown over the sleeping shoulders of the Remarkables. It awoke the sleeping waters of Lake Wakitipu to blue life. It crept down the hushed hillside, through the eucalyptus and native trees, into the pavillion of the Queenstown sports ground. Three sleeping bundles stirred to life: "What's the time George?" Half past five. Time to get up. Remove the barricade of form we had erected at the shed entrance as a safeguard against possible grazing animals, roll up the 30f. of coir matting_(the covering for the cricket pitch) which had been our bed for the past three nights - dip the face under the gushing tap among the white hemlock flowers - on with the boots - tuck in the shirt tails and tighten the belt - ,cook up a. hasty breakfast on
+Old memories followed me as the bus.sped'oVer,the familiar ground I had traversed some half dozen times before.- the well remembered pattern of green slopes and sheep and gorse - the'same age-old wilderness of rock and worn-down tussock covered hills - the same dry heat-- the same empty sky. And now at last the recognised lunch time stopp-f ing place at Lake Pukaki. Very soon now we would get our first glimpse
-Snow's primus out on the grassy bank under the paling stars - stuff sleeping bags into packs, then off we dash to the. bus terminus down
-by the lake for now we are away on the first leg of our real mountain-
-Old memories followed MB as the bus.sped'oVer,the familiar ground I had traversed some half dozen times before.- the well remembered pattern of green slopes and sheep and gorse - the'same age-old wilderness of rock and worn-down tussock covered hills - the same dry heat-- the same empty sky. And now at last the recognised lunch time stopp-f ing place at Lake Pukaki. Very soon now we would get our first glimpse
-eering adventure - a fortnight at Mt. Cook. It is a long journey hence the early start.
 ,
 of the Mt. Cook range, its peaks a sight to catch the heart, rising
@@ Line 354: / Line 352: @@
 ======  The Fed. Reune and Epilogue ======
-(Hitchint mit trimmins) --- Taro.
+(Hitchin' mit trimmins) --- Taro.
-I t14nk this. was the friendliest and easiest of all Fed. Reunes hard to say exactly why - it had that light feeling in the air te sometimes get.
+I think this was the friendliest and easiest of all Fed. Reunes hard to say exactly why - it had that light feeling in the air we sometimes get.
 The absence of so many elders turned it into a Carnival of Youth and this was emphasised by the all-night chain of song, laughter and shout - and be dammed to the drugged old fogies!,
-The campfire was worthy of one William Henley Esq. of Croydon Park and the still night made it a cert. Paddy overcame his shyness and managed to compere with great skill even though there was a difference of easily 50 between his front and back sides. The whole show ran well
+The campfire was worthy of one William Henley Esq. of Croydon Park and the still night made it a cert. Paddy overcame his shyness and managed to compere with great skill even though there was a difference of easily 50 between his front and back sides. The whole show ran well oiled without the sign of an oilcan - it was more like a close family reunion than an interclub affair. I missed the chatter of the babes and the whiskers of the aged - but this was a Carnival of Youth and how we all missed Yvonne at sing sing time
-oiled without the sign of an oilcan - it was more like a close family reunion than an interclub affair. I missed the chatter of the babes and the whiskers of the aged - but this was a Carnival of Youth and how we all missed Yvonne at singysing time But the law of compensation is in action and we have a new songbird in the Club, a dove from the far Mediterranean flown. She sang - in a soft true expressive voice - some strange wistful songs of her homeland; her name - Georgia. What a surprise! Even the tongues of flame eased their prattling to complete the deep stillness as she sang. How fortunate, above all, are we bushwalkers, to hear music in such fashion - the glowing sparking logs, lighting up every leaf, twig, branch and trunk of the listening trees; black ceiling, star and moon spotted; we, the elect, reclining at ease in chosen company; what gilded hall could compare? There was nothing to do but let the hours drift by with song and sketch so witty - coffee and trimmings laid on - chatter chatter - no trains to catch - no going home - time and clocks forgetting -blest bush.
-Always for me, at Euroka, the highlight is the early Sunday walk down the creek to the big water; and with a chosen few it was done a lovely sight was the big waters a water colour fantasy delicately rippled. The look-down rock at the track's end is a good spot for awakening sleep echoes. I had the flute and tried four notes of a chord, and lo! Amazingly/ out of the silence it floated back to MB like the song of a stroked harp. In a lifetime of fluting I heard it for the first time in its richest form.
+But the law of compensation is in action and we have a new songbird in the Club, a dove from the far Mediterranean flown. She sang - in a soft true expressive voice - some strange wistful songs of her homeland; her name - Georgia. What a surprise! Even the tongues of flame eased their prattling to complete the deep stillness as she sang. How fortunate, above all, are we bushwalkers, to hear music in such fashion - the glowing sparking logs, lighting up every leaf, twig, branch and trunk of the listening trees; black ceiling, star and moon spotted; we, the elect, reclining at ease in chosen company; what gilded hall could compare? There was nothing to do but let the hours drift by with song and sketch so witty - coffee and trimmings laid on - chatter chatter - no trains to catch - no going home - time and clocks forgetting - blest bush.
-So back to camp went we bushwalkers, passing many a lovely clean-7 limbed and colourful reuner.
-There seems a tremendous amount of day to spare in wandering from camp to camp so with the Ashdowns we ambled back and found we had 2 hours to kill for next train. Frank and Jean made straight for the highway to deliberately hitch. I followed in the hope of getting a bus for I can think of nothing more humiliating than standing by the roadside pleading for a lift.
+Always for me, at Euroka, the highlight is the early Sunday walk down the creek to the big water; and with a chosen few it was done a lovely sight was the big waters a water colour fantasy delicately rippled. The look down rock at the track's end is a good spot for awakening sleep echoes. I had the flute and tried four notes of a chord, and lo! Amazingly out of the silence it floated back to me like the song of a stroked harp. In a lifetime of fluting I heard it for the first time in its richest form.
-And then something happened:
-A sizeable utility going west slowed down, turned and stopped
+So back to camp went we bushwalkers, passing many a lovely clean limbed and colourful reuner.
-alongside us. Frank seemed to think it did this for us (brave Frankie)
+There seems a tremendous amount of day to spare in wandering from camp to camp so with the Ashdowns we ambled back and found we had 2 hours to kill for the next train. Frank and Jean made straight for the highway to deliberately hitch. I followed in the hope of getting a bus for I can think of nothing more humiliating than standing by the roadside pleading for a lift.
+And then something happened: A sizeable utility going west slowed down, turned and stopped
+alongside us. Frank seemed to think it did this for us (brave Frankie) and bold as brass piled on. I shyly asked if it included me - "of course" - and in two ticks on soft cushions we were gliding home at 30 m.p.h. Frankie asked me how I liked being humiliated - I was obliged to agree with this brand. Next, we slowed down, driver got out, asked would we like fruit and the Pommie liars roared out "No"; and even as a non-fruiter I roared out "YES". (Must teach these Pommies how to allow people to be affable). So back he came and thrust the bag at them and soon it vanished. Again, not much later, he stopped and said would we like some chips. Again the liars roared, "Then", said he, "You must.. You are now my guests." And out he came with 3 only bags of hot chips, the scent of which broke down the Pommie resistance; and so, while iggerent S.B.W.'s were waiting on Glenbrook Station we were spinning in a beautiful breeze and delicately nibbling chips for miles and miles.
+We still don't know where the magic came in - it could not have been any glamour act by Jean - her 74 inches of brake material would see to that: They dropped MB at Parramatta with the warmth usually reserved for rich uncles; a fine cove, lovely wife, and child -
-and bold as brass piled on. I shyly asked if it inlcuded me - "of course" - and in two ticks on soft cushions we were gliding home at 30 m.p.h. Frankie asked me how I liked beinghumiliated - I was obliged to agree with this brand. Next, we slowed down, driver got out, asked would we like fruit and. the Pommie liars roared out "No"; and even as a non-fruiter I roared out "YES". (Must teach these
-Pommies how to allow people to be affable). So back he came and thrust the bag at them and soon-it vanished. P.gain, not much later, he stopped and said would we like some chips. Again the liars roared, "Then", said he, "You musti.. You are now my guests." And out he came with 3 only bags of hot chips, the scent of which broke down the Pommie resistance; and So, while iggerent,S.B.W.'s were waiting on Glenbrook Station we were spinning ina beautiful breeze and delicately nibbling chips for miles and miles.
-We still don't know where the magic came in - it could not have been any glamour act by Tean - her 74 inches of brake material would see to that: They dropped MB at Parramatta with the warmth usually reserved for rich uncles; a fine cove, lovely wife, and child -
 AND
-they were New Aussies:
-Old Aussies have a lot to learn when it comes to catering for hitchers:
+they were New Aussies: Old Aussies have a lot to learn when it comes to catering for hitchers.
 (As one of the 180 odd Reuners, I echo your sentiments entirely, Taro. It was a friendly and easy Fed, Reune, no doubt about it. The story of your hitching episode runs something like Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother - any chance of a loan of the magic wand sometime? - Ed.)
 ====== This Months Puzzle ======