Life is starting to quiet down here with us 3/4 of the way through Autumn. The weather has been kind, so many fine warm sunny days and not a hint of cold….yet. This weekend we have plans to visit another bush walk – watch this space.
Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom’s Signs.
This particular no longer used coal mine has some old relics and equipment and tunnels (which are unfortunately fenced off) and the whole area is dangerous to check out up close. The walk itself takes about 25 minutes mostly uphill to a lookout at the top.
The mine was in use in the early 1900s and is apparently where the idea of a lunch break began. The miners were unhappy with having a 15 minute break and so they went on strike for 3 months in 1908 demanding the right for a half hour break instead.
The miners ending up winning and Blackball was known as a town that stuck up for New Zealand workers.
Apparently the judge had told the miners their request was unreasonable while enjoying a 90 minute lunch break for himself.
The 1908 strike was important for union history in this country and some of the leaders were later involved in starting up the Labour Party.
The mine operated until 1964 but today it is a preserved site that still has a large chimney, fan houses and equipment scattered around like old wheels.
Some more old mining equipment…
And this is the view from the top over the nearby Blackball township which is about 20 minutes out of Greymouth.
Linking up with Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesdays.
Last weekend we drove out to Cobden (a suburb nearby) as I had heard that one of the window companies there were selling second hand windows. We are in the process of renovating the laundry to be the new bathroom. Currently our bathroom is located in a strange box like area which is very small so we have moved the laundry out the garage and the bathroom will move to where the laundry was.
We ended up buying 2 windows at a very cheap price. The one on the left is going to be the main bathroom window and the one on the right will be the toilet window, both chosen because with the type of glass, you can’t see in or out for privacy. The toilet window will be high up.
Today is ANZAC Day (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) and remembered every year for those who have fought in every war but specifically to remember the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing during WW1. I have relatives and ancestors who have fought in both WW1 and WW2 that we remember and most towns have dawn services and parades. I’m down with a minor head cold this weekend so I won’t be going anywhere.
Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and The Weekend Roundup.
Winter is approaching in a sneaky manner. This week the lower temperatures are here – we had 3 degrees on Monday night then 4 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
B and I have started preparing for some Winter jobs around the house such as sanding horrible blue paint off the 1930s vintage kitchen door so we can varnish it back to it’s natural wood look.
Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom’s Signs.
My daughter and I take her dog Bug to one of the local dog parks in town every Sunday morning to socialise with the other dogs so we thought we would stop off at Rapahoe Beach the day before to gather sticks for them all to play with. Near the top of the beach near the carpark we spotted this cross with flowers laid around it. I read on one of the community facebook pages that apparently it’s in memory of a family’s nana who loved this beach. I can see why, it’s our favourite too.
Linking up with Tuesday Treasures and Happy Tuesdays.