Fish Story

One day in January 1974, my father went out ocean fishing for the first time and came back with this fish.  It was the first of the Marlin season and he got himself a nice silver plate.  Earlier in the day, I am not sure he even knew such an award was in the offing.  Almost right after this picture was taken, the whole fish fell off the back of the boat and started to float out to sea.  One of the fishermen (that is, someone somewhat more expert than my father - said fish excluded,of course) had to jump into the harbor, chase it down and lung it back to the boat.

Several years later a cleaner took Ajax powder to the awarded plate and it had to be re-plated.  So there you are our family fish story.

Originally published May 18, 2012

Tin Roof: Auckland City and Harbor 1972

Auckland New Zealand 1972

This is taken from across the bay from Auckland city which is on the other side of the water towards the right.  There's no question this view is probably almost recognizable today but I wouldn't know since I haven't been back since 1976.  The large tower building in the center is the city hospital and just to the left of that is the One Tree Hill and Eden Park.  Sharp eyes will also recognize the museum just to the left of the green patch.

On the right edge of the photo there is another tower building which is the Intercontinental Auckland where we were housed for almost five years.

(And yes, there is a big thumb print on this image; part of the charm and no charge).

Originally posted October 5th, 2012

Auckland Harbor 1972

The date is a bit of a guess since this is one of those images that wasn't date stamped.  This would have been taken from a plane as we landed in Auckland on a return leg from Australia.  In the old days most children would have been given a look into the cockpit and would have met the captain but of course not only has the glamor and uniqueness of air travel dissipated but with security you are unlikely to set eyes on the flight crew at all now a days.

I distinctly remember on one of these trips back to New Zealand, not only was I allowed to visit the cockpit but they let me stay right through landing.  Not bad.  When I was remembering this a few months ago with PND Senior he told me once how he went up to the cockpit on an Air India jumbo and the captain was sitting all alone in the cabin with his feet up on the dash looking out the window.  He was spooning his soup out of a cup and my father asked, "Who's flying the plane?" and the pilot says "Don't worry the autopilot thing is on'.

A more simple time.

Another weekly image from my archive. Click on it to make it larger.

In addition to the images I've posted on Flickr and those I've periodically posted on PND, I have now produced a Big Blurb Book: From the Archive 1960 -1980 of some of the images I really thought were special.

Pork on a Stick

Bacon on a Stick

Another weekly image from my archive. Click on it to make it larger.

Not your typical backyard barbeque from January 1973 in the North of New Zealand where we used to go for weekends.  We lived in Auckland for about four years and this would have been right before we left for Australia.  This was taken by by grand father but I must have been standing right next to him because I have a grainy black and white Instamatic image from almost the same spot.  Both are in my Big Blurb Book: From the Archive 1960 -1980   

In addition to the images I've posted on Flickr and those I've periodically posted on PND, I have now produced a Big Blurb Book: From the Archive 1960 -1980 of some of the images I really thought were special.

I now have an iPad version of this book for sale ($4.99) on the Blurb site which you can find here: STORE

I have to say, even on the iPad the book looks pretty good.

Lake Taupo and Mt Ruapehu, September 1971

Lake Taupo and Mt Ruapehu, September 1971

Another weekly image from my archive. Click on it to make it larger.

The PND family lived in New Zealand between 1969 and 1973.  With one  black and white TV channel there were few reasons to stay indoors.  A favorite place for week long visits was the Lake Taupo/Wairakei area which is located almost in the center of the North Island.

As you can see from this image it's (was) quite scenic.  There are hot pools and volcanic sites all around this area which make it even more interesting for young boys. So we had a lot of fun.  That's the family Brett's Peugeot up front on the highway.  Where they are now I have no idea.

In addition to the images I've posted on Flickr and those I've periodically posted on PND, I have now produced a Big Blurb Book: From the Archive 1960 -1980 of some of the images I really thought were special.

I now have an iPad version of this book for sale ($4.99) on the Blurb site which you can find here: STORE

I have to say, even on the iPad the book looks pretty good.