Waterfall wedding

I had the special privilege of being asked to be the celebrant for one of my students of many years ago. He grew up within metres of the native forest and knows the hiking tracks like the back of his hand. He told me all his life he had dreamed of being married by the twin waterfalls which were a couple of kilometres away from the family farm.

About twenty of us slipped and slid our way down to the site, crossing two rivers, before the bride was ushered in from behind a big tarpaulin to change into her gown. The air was cool and quiet with just the ever present rush of the waterfall in the background. The bush atmosphere mutes unnecessary noise and adds another dimension to any gathering of people.



Joe, the nephew, was the ring bearer.

After the ceremony, the little children threw themselves into the rather cool waterfall pool and teeth chattering were bundled up in towels before trekking our way back to the farm. Many of the oldies opted to use walking poles like this carved veteran of journeys around New Zealand. This venerable pole has assisted its owner on the Routeburn and Heaphy tracks and as of late, now the Eliza Mine track, to see a marriage in the bush. A bush, all the family love.

Summer fun

I am going to miss these wonderful warm summer days. Already there is a golden slant to the evening sun rays. A wee harbinger of Autumn days and cooler nights and probably more storms. This year they just keep surprising us with their ferocity. I am harvesting vegetables furiously too.

On the good evenings we have lazy evening meals outside and on one recent, glorious evening I was invited to fly up in the neighbour’s Chipmunk plane for a round of loop de loops, spins and rolls over our house and the harbour. Having never experienced G Forces, or pressure to the chest as you go up high, very quickly; I was too busy watching the earth appear above my head and marvelling at the toy like landscape below. I was on the biggest high for hours afterwards.

So when we can, we neighbours, share the good times. We are lucky to have a pine forest that loves a good get together. Bevan (81 in the shade) donated the smoking billy BBQ, Rog affixed the spark guard and the rest of us brought over salads and sweets to ‘pot luck’.

This is where our eldest daughter wants to be married in less than a year’s time. Smokey Billy will not be invited.