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Shelly's
Memories.....
Grandparents:
As a child, I got to experience both the city life - with the down to earth Johnstone side of the family in Wanganui, as well as the country life visiting the distinguished Broadbridges in Marlborough during most school holidays.
I feel privileged to have had exposure to such diverse people / activities / cultures.
With the Johnstones, I remember going to the "Cossie" club for meals, or eating Nana's fabulous roasts (and her kitchen in Hipango Terrace always reminds me of the little medicine glass that dissolved disprins were dispensed in, and wine biscuits - that were either delivered to us when we were tucked up in bed or were fed to the numerous goldfish who resided in the pond outside the laundry). And of passionfruit - one of Nana's ever-present desert treats or icing ingredients.
I remember playing with dinky toys - lining cars and trucks up around the fireplace edging - and the joy at getting a turn playing with the humpty (inflatable ottoman).
And of that awful smelling Vicks which Nana would rub on your chest if you dared cough at her house.
I remember Nana sharing so many craft talents with us - helping us to try out leatherwork, sewing, tri-chem, pottery or making paper flowers or Christmas decorations. I also remember making numerous cards at her house (often for Mum when she was unwell). Nana's amazing creativity and willingness to help us channel our energy was boundless.
Nana also strongly encouraged me to write poetry. She even kept a notebook of the poems I had written.
Cogi was a wonderful grandfather - so friendly, and always willing to listen and talk to us. I remember him tickling us and chasing us round the house to make us go to bed. His wonderful smile and chuckle are my two main memories of him.
I'm sure all the family join me in the pride I feel knowing that my Grandfather had been to the Olympics and his contributions to rowing and as a member of the gun-runners in the war add to our admiration for such a quiet spoken, yet commanding man.
The Broadbridges were almost a complete antipode to the Johnstones. Their style and approach more formal, their public image more stylised. But that added another great opportunity for exposure to a variety of things.
I remember visiting Gran and Grandad in Wairau Valley during the holidays, with Mum and Dad. At other times, just staying there with Carl and Tracey - including a stay of several weeks when I was 6 years old while Mum was in hospital.
As children, the opportunity to play around a large farm property was fantastic. We would make grass huts, play hide and seek, feed the pigs, play in the caravan and go for walks to the creek - or to visit the locals.
Gran and Grandad's house held such aristocratic values. Jam was in crockery pots with special jam spoons, butter was to be served with butter knives, and dessert was to be served with both a spoon and a fork. Meals there seemed so elaborate to me as a young child. And the joy of being able to have "soda-stream" fizzy drinks always made my day.
Gran took us to town to the shops, and we would stop at the CWI (Country Woman's Institute) on the way home to "freshen up".
Gran exposed us to the arts - taking us to plays and musicals. I remember going to My Fair Lady and other local shows. Gran encouraged us to play the piano (and tennis) and to get involved in the community - the Broadbridges were such a well-known family.
Grandad founded the family trucking business, he provided land for (and helped found) the first Wairau Valley Fire Station and was a foundation member of the local Golf Club. He was also a borough councillor.
The Broadbridges were up in the ranks of local society.
Grandad's pride in his wonderful vintage cars, his formal dress sense and his powerful deportment combine to remind me of his influential "presence".
The most wonderful memory I have of Grandad is him teaching me to say the alphabet backwards - something I will never forget.
The Broadbridges also went on family boating and fishing trips, in the family boat - the Cee Dee Bee. We sometimes stayed as an extended family down in Picton at one of the Council apartments.
All in all, I believe the strengths and uniquities of all four of my Grandparents bore a great influence on shaping my character and my values.
Childhood:
Mum and Dad were involved in car racing when I was growing up. Dad's passion and enthusiasm for car racing was as close as I ever got to being heavily involved in sport - so I am grateful I had the opportunity to be involved even in such a small way as being a spectator / supporter.
The fact that Mum also participated in car club events helped me to learn that women really can give anything a go - and that we shouldn't be afraid to get involved. I still remember our pride when she won trophies.
With the car club, we would sometimes travel to rallies or events around the country - and play along-side tracks where cars would occasionally speed by in a whirl of dust and noise.
Dad owned "Miss Piggy" a pink Morris 1100 which he raced - and it was our pride and joy.
I remember Dad working at the leather tannery. When we visited the factory I loved looking at all the amazing machinery and tanning barrels. My strongest memory is the smell - I loved the smell of tanning chemicals - and of the leather.
I always remember Mum and Dad working so hard. All our lives they have worked and worked. When we were still in Wanganui, I remember Mum working at BB's restaurant and cleaning the motels behind it. If I was off school sick I would sometimes get to go to work with her. All the ladies she worked with were really friendly.
We moved to Marlborough when I was eight years old - so Dad could join the family trucking firm as their mechanic. I really enjoyed the wonderful years we spent at the various properties we rented and owned around Marlborough. We lived on a farmlet just out of Renwick - and had a pet lamb that was unoriginally named "Lambie".
We also spent time living on a larger farm in Spring Creek - tending chooks and sheep and cattle. It was a great time - trying to catch baby quail and attempting to spot the elusive frogs that were always so noisy down by the pond. We were in Spring Creek during massive floods - and I remember how upset I was when we were evacuated from the farm. We had moved all the furniture up as high as we could and had to leave the house behind. Luckily, although the water extensively flooded the property, it came within centimetres, but refrained, from flooding the house.
In Renwick we joined in the fantastic community spirit of our street (Brydon Street). There were street parties - bring your own food and drink along in your wheelbarrow to the empty section - and many parties at the various neighbour's houses. The children would all play in the empty sections - building forts out of wood and playing on our bikes.
Inevitably, the empty sections were built upon, and neighbours moved and were replaced by people I barely got to know. I still remember those times as the strongest sense of "community" I have ever known.
I remember we would have lots of friends over to play. Mum was always really creative - either helping us to build huts with furniture and blankets, making gymnastic ribbons from a ruler and ribbon for us to dance round the lounge with - or setting up "Varley's Coffee Shop" in the kitchen to serve afternoon tea when my friends and I had been outside playing.
Dad joined the Orphans Club with Ian Mitchell from across the road - and our family and theirs spent many wonderful evenings at Family night. Yes, that's right - orphans with families - the name of the club has no relevance to its purpose. It is a club where people get together to entertain - by way of singing, playing music or doing humorous skits. Mum and Dad seem to really enjoy the camaraderie and entertainment that the club provides - and take pleasure in the trips that the club takes visiting other ones around the country. And I enjoyed performing on Family night - getting to read poetry or play the piano.
I remember us all being involved in the local industries - Carl and Mum worked in the grapes, we all had a go at cherry picking and grading, and garlic harvesting (by far the smelliest and dirtiest work).
The marvellous Marlborough weather offered us many opportunities for picnics, fishing and staying down the Sounds at a bach. I really enjoyed the special family time that provided. With no television, reading and playing cards were the nightly past-times - after days filled with exploring - in Dad's case for fish - in ours, for crabs or eels.
Barbeques, fishing, car racing, fun times with others, and a strong sense of family and of maintaining high moral ethics are all part of what forms my childhood memories. I am extremely thankful to have such a wonderful, caring, supportive family and know that I am privileged to have had such a marvellous childhood.
Shelly's e-Mail address is: shelly_bb@hotmail.com
