Maritime Carol

It's not the outside image or the seagulls that entice me into a fish and chip meal, it's the setting and queue of people.   Its also the buzz as diners weave their way between waiting customers and picnic tables. This must surely be worth the wait, and I too join the queue.  A notice in the window tells us that they need shop staff - for immediate start - and that their food is cooked in pure beef fat. The queue winds into the shop, and I glance down to see my first mutton birds - $20 for each little featherless brown body laying on top of each other.  Somehow I'd pictured them in barrels, transported on deck from outlying islands.  They don't tempt me nor do the Chatham Island Kina. The variety of fish for sale is wide & colourful.  There's Pink Salmon, Red & Blue Cod, Ling, Blue Moki and Blue Gill.   Add an extra $8 per order to chose a piece cooked for your dinner. The mussel fritters have already sold out and everyone is ...

Unknown to most historians, six local lads were responsible for stopping the Japanese invading NZ in the Second World War.    Forget the military forces, the Home Guard battalions, armed horsemen and territorial army, it was a fleet of small boats on Hellyers Creek that had the most impact.     "We patrolled our creek most weekends and were definitely responsible for stopping the Japanese invading New Zealand."  said two of the original Mosquito Fleet crew - Doug Day & Lloyd Mumme (both now deceased)  One of the Mosquito Fleet's boats was a seven foot canvas canoe known as MYSTERY.  She had been brought for fifteen shillings ($1.50) from Scratchy Taylor and came with a sail, rudder and centre board.  While anti aircraft batteries conducted constant aerial patrols around the coast, the Mosquito Fleet were on patrol on Hellyer's Creek.   Their regular patrol included Whidifod's Hill, past the lonesome dead pine and the wharf piles, ...

If you think about it, everything needs updating... even Joey & the Jet Boat. The dogs were way ahead of us as we followed the track through the willows. Purple & yellow lupins would soon flower and the Lower Shotover River's grey schist rocks were glistening in the sunlight. It was just beautiful. They had been here before - I was a visitor. "Joey will chase the jet boat soon." said my companion. "That sounds like a title of a book." I replied. Two months later, Joey & the Jet Boat was in print. And a few months later the original version was refreshed with an expanded story and sharper images.  And the difference was outstanding... It's the same as when we update everything - from our lives to our Operating Plans - they go from mediocre to outstanding. Everything needs updating... p.s. Joey never gives up & if you'd like your very own copy, please email me: carolfour@xtra.co.nz

German warships were already at sea when the Second World War was declared in 1939.   The A DMIRAL G RAF S PEE, was the first German ship equipped with radar.   Cruising at a top speed of 28.5 knots, this 186 m ship immediately attacked British & French shipping. Nine merchant ships were sank by A DMIRAL  G RAF  S PEE  during the first three months. Furious at loosing so many ships, the British and French mustered a fleet of battle cruises, aircraft carriers and cruises to capture the raider and her sister ship. Between Argentina and Uruguay, A DMIRAL G RAF S PEE was caught in what is now known as the Battle of the River Plate.    This was the first naval battle of the Second World War.   The ship was badly damaged with thirty six killed and sixty wounded.   She'd been hit over seventy times. A DMIRAL  G RAF  S PEE  limped into neutral Montevideo harbour. With the ship safely docked, the wounded in...

Finding a body in the sea is not a common occurrence, however it does happen and you may be the one who finds it... While speed at getting the body out of the water may be the key, the following guidelines should be followed: 1. Report the sighting on Channel 16 or dial 111 on cell phone 2. Activate MOB button to mark position 3. Record details in Log Book 4 Stay with the body but don't touch it 5. Photograph and video the body as soon as possible 6. Attach a buoy to the body if possible or necessary 7. If the body is likely to float away (rough seas) attempt to attach a line to the body and secure it to your vessel. 8. Call for assistance 9. Obey instructions of Police/Harbourmaster/Coastguard. 10. Make sure you've not implicated in the death of the person. So that's what you do - if you find a body in the sea...