A Double 70th!!

Val and Bill were celebrating their respective 70th birthdays and caravan club members joined them at their home, together with family and friends for a birthday BBQ. Also sharing birthday honours was grandson Gus, who had just turned 6.

Guests arrived, we found seats outside, and delicious plates of nibbles were passed around.  Oh, that crayfish was heavenly – like most of us, it had been a long time since I’d tasted crayfish.  All the seafood, the crays, whitebait and paua had been caught by Val and Bill’s son.

It looks rather like a caravan rally

The BBQ was fired up, and delicious cooking smells wafted around the patio.  The cook did a great job!  There were sausages, chicken, and kebabs cooking away.

Lunch was announced, and we wandered inside to fill our plates.  The table was groaning with food - everyone had brought along a contribution along for the meal.  And after the mains, we went back to check out the dessert table.

Just look at that lunch!

Happy Birthday to Bill, Val, and Gus.

Christmas Rally, Koputaroa Road – 9-11 December 2016

We had a good turn out for this years’ Christmas Rally. In attendance were Webb's (Hosts), Turnbull, Canvin, Fisk, Benton, Wylie, and Fitzgerald.

The vans on the front lawn, unfortunately we missed out the Turnbulls

By about 4pm all were onsite on the Friday. Most had 4zzzes in the sunshine, the opportunity was taken to update the channels on Webb's caravan by Robin and Don. Later we all congregated in the conservatory where BBQ hamburger patties were cooked and everyone made up their own con-concoction. The evening also included some light entertainment provided by Geoff Herewini.

Geoff Entertaining us

Don Cooking the lovely thick Meat Patties

The evening concluded with general chatter with ample lubrication until we retired to the vans.

Saturday started off nice and warm and sunny, after morning tea of Christmas Tarts a few games of Disc Bowls and Quoits were entered into. There was also a game of Croquet on offer but no-one partook, perhaps they did not consider themselves to be old enough.

Glenys, and Dot playing Disc Bowls with Derek umpiring.

Later on the rain began to fall and in the process of packing things away, closing windows etc. poor Don had a fall and severely cut his leg which required an ambulance and stitches. He had planed a rotisserie for us on the Saturday night and this fall put him out of action so the remaining men of the club pitched in and did the cooking for him. The cooking of the meat did not go without a hitch as the rotisserie mechanism failed to operate properly and had to be repaired, but we got there with a little help from son-in-law Nick.

Who said you can’t watch cooking while internally basting with a cold beer.

Done to perfection, note the Heath Robinson fix to the Rotisserie mechanism, the other end was worse.

Doesn’t that look nice

Master Carver Dennis in his pinny

Sunday dawned slightly better, so it was agreed that the car rally which was postponed from Saturday would now be held immediately after morning tea, which it was. After lunch which consisted of cleaning up the left overs from the xmas evening meal, we all broke camp and headed for home.

What a very enjoyable rally. Thank you to the Webb's for being fantastic hosts and putting on a great weekend, that is going to be hard to beat. On second thoughts I am not going to try.

See you at the next rally which is Kahutara Primary School, South Wairarapa on Anniversary Weekend 20-23 January 2017

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Stay safe on the roads if you are travelling.

Happy Retirement, Dennis

The instructions were – bring a bottle, something for the Barbie, and a smile.  Being well trained caravanners, we went one step further and took our folding chairs along too.

The happy hosts

People arrived, glasses were filled, nibbles were passed around, and everyone was sitting chatting, and enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.  “It’s my party, so I’m not cooking on the BBQ”, Dennis declared.  So two of his former work colleagues rose to the challenge and spent an absolute age cooking up scores of sausages, chicken skewers, patties and steak.  The two ladies did a marvelous job, and the cooked meat was taken away to keep warm in the oven.

 

The cooks hard at work

They had a neat trick to clean the Barbie when they had finished cooking – one that we didn’t know about.  Cut a couple of lemons in half, and drizzle the juice over the hot plate.  Then use the cut side of the lemons to wipe it all down.  Easy peasy, and seemed to work a treat.  Then we were called in for dinner, and what a wonderful assortment.  Everyone had brought along salads (or desserts) for the meal, and there was plenty for everyone.

A wonderful assortment of food

Dennis had to be persuaded to cut the cake, and when he finally came back inside to do the deed, he made a short speech, waggling that sharp knife in front of him like a man possessed. 

The Retirement cake

Thanks Dennis, we had a great time wishing you well for your retirement.  Best wishes from the Heretaunga Caravan Club for many happy trips away in your van.

Happy HCC members