EMPTY FARMLAND TO HOME
Rod and I purchased the land, 52 hectares, at Christmas 1994, but it took us until August 1995 to be able to start to build. In the interim we bought and lived in a thirteen and a half foot long caravan, which was placed in various, generous family members' gardens, long over staying our welcome! We did plan, very seriously, not to have any animals until we had a home and were earning a living. That first Winter we had three horses, a puppy and two kittens, so we nearly got it right.
In London we had planned, dreamed and hoped to be able to return to NZ, and we used to stroll over the South Downs wondering what best we could do to earn our living once home again. We knew that we wanted a hill, a river and some flat land, so when the estate agent drove us up the Taylor Pass and pointed out a hill, a river and some flat land - we were hooked!
This page will tell about the struggle against the elements - non stop nor west gales, wettest winter in history, the infamous " Long Drop"!!
I apologise for the much poorer quality of these earlier photographs but they were all taken on an old fashioned conventional camera. The photographs have been scanned, transferred to the computer and added to the site. Although smaller and not as clear they still give the impression of how basic life was here before electricity and running water were available.
In London we had planned, dreamed and hoped to be able to return to NZ, and we used to stroll over the South Downs wondering what best we could do to earn our living once home again. We knew that we wanted a hill, a river and some flat land, so when the estate agent drove us up the Taylor Pass and pointed out a hill, a river and some flat land - we were hooked!
This page will tell about the struggle against the elements - non stop nor west gales, wettest winter in history, the infamous " Long Drop"!!
I apologise for the much poorer quality of these earlier photographs but they were all taken on an old fashioned conventional camera. The photographs have been scanned, transferred to the computer and added to the site. Although smaller and not as clear they still give the impression of how basic life was here before electricity and running water were available.
The First Step - Building The Garage
No Trees, No Bushes, No Other Buildings - Just A Garage And Shelter.
Looking West. The Garage 1995
Looking West . The Garage 2018
Crane Needed To Off Load House
Lovely Clean Smell Of Pine As The House Rises
The House Starts To Look Like A House
The " Go For" On The Job
Telephone Goes In With A Mole PLough
View From Garage Door 1995
View From The Garage Door 2016.
Digging For Water After The Well Came In Dry. 1995
Afternoon Tea Anyone ?
In the photo my daughter and I are enjoying tea in The Parlour on a very cold afternoon.
Caravan Life
Tea Break For The Lonely Builder. Is That Muffins You Have?
