Thanks for the feedback on your 'project' progress. Several readers are taking the challenge of these lockdown weeks, and a few chapters have been written for upcoming books. Gardening and odd jobs are top of the list for others. Locally the walking numbers appear to have dropped recently, or maybe people are exploring different areas.
The local supermarket appears to be handling the numbers / restrictions, but it is near impossible to get a 'click & collect' time-slot at Pak'nSave or a delivery time for Countdown Paeroa.
Who would have believed the latest development, police are manning random roadblocks at Tararu, Kopu-Hikuai and on the Waihi-Whangamata Road. For once the message is GO HOME out-of-towners, our services can not cope with the holiday makers.
It has been confirmed that there are cases of Covid-19 in the wider district, but the Waikato District Healthboard refuse to (at this stage) to give statistics on specific area.
Our medical centres' reassure us that they are still open for 'other' illnesses, but initially all consultations are done via telephone, and medication is dispensed in monthly lots. Apart from that life continues at the Thames! While Thamesites try to keep up some level of normality to their day.
Dogs. My interesting observations on Thames dogs is that a) I didn't know there were so many, and b) Many couples have matching dogs!!!Today has been a busy day, it was rubbish day - the anticipation of getting ones rubbish into the big recycling bin and out by 7.30am. Anyway, that has been and gone, and just to make doubly sure, yes I wore gloves to get the bin back into my 'compound' and have disinfected it just to make sure. Oh what times we live in.
Almost forgot to record the most pressing need, and preparation slip-up that I made. I didn't stock enough variety of food for my cat and he is not impressed with all I have on offer, consequently is on a hunger strike!! On this note people are amusing themselves making captions for animal pictures showing they are equally fed up with LOCKDOWN.
We await to hear what tomorrow brings.
PS. Late update. The sulking cat won! (photo right) So we had to brave leaving the 'compound'.
Wow, reality hit, as we hadn't ventured out to the mall, and only once prior to The Green Grocer. The long lines, waiting patiently, many with masks, even more with gloves, you realise just how serious the situation is and how seriously everyone is taking the restrictions. What a relief to get home, back to the bubble - no more excursions hopefully necessary!
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Thames in the Thames Star 4 to 6 April 1945:
Thames Star Newspaper April 4:
- The Silver Fern Fruit Shop was open for business, near the corner of Richmond Street, the proprietor was Mr Jack Collins.
- If you wanted a drink, there were seven hotels to choose from in the advertisements (there were none filed for the Lady Bowen or Park Hotel in Brown Street; and the Exchange Hotel or the Warwick Arms Hotel at the south end of Pollen Street. Those advertised were: The Royal (H W Tindale), Salutation (J Mahoney), Post Office Hotel (D Craigie), Junction Hotel, Twohill's Brian Boru Hotel, Cornwall Arms Hotel (J Alwinger) and the Kopu Station Hotel (Jack Smith). The Kopu Station Hotel had a catch-cry motto: "Where all good sports and Farmers foregather."
- It was going to be a busy day at Kopu on the 12th April as a Special Heifer Fair was being held with over 500 cattle already booked in. [The sale-yards were located on the north side of the road opposite the hotel.]
- Reports of good fishing just off Te Puru, a 40lb Kingfish had been caught plus snapper weighing about 12lbs.
- Thames High School 'forms' [the yearly grouping of classes], were all raising money to purchase something for the school. Such as books, pictures and other equipment, for which Principal Dorrington was most appreciative.
- On the previous GOOD FRIDAY, the Methodist Church held a sacred concert, which included Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique. Mr Sutcliffe played the cornet solo, Miss Helen Twentyman was the vocal soloist and all joined together to sing 'Abide with Me'.
- War news took up at least half a page in each edition. Captain E J Wilton from Thames had been promoted to Major - son of Mr& Mrs E J Wilton of Moanataiari creek.
Thames Star 4 April 1945
- The Thames Hospital had converted the adjacent St George's Parish Hall into an isolation ward. The Hospital Board asked for calm, that there was no need to worry and that the present number of Scarlet Fever patients in the hospital were being ably managed. The hall could accommodate 30 patients - parts of New Zealand were experiencing a Scarlet Fever epidemic.
- Local pig hunters had reported good catches, including from the Mercury Bay area nine boars and three sows. The largest was 300lbs.
- The Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade held a run for the Dr Liggins' Cup.The winner was C Cameron, with A Fleming second.
- The Easter Bowling Pairs Tourney had been won by M Morrison and H Hayward of Thames.
- Church Services were advertised for St George's and St John's at Tararu; St James, Baptist Church, Church of Christ, Salvation Army and the Mission at the Oddfellow's Hall.
- The residents of Tararu had raised money for a memorial trophy in honour of Private Dallas Howe of Tararu who had been massacred by the Japanese on Tarawa Island. The cup was to be given to the Thames Sailing Club as Dallas had been a foundation member.
- Thamesites were reminded that when they travel on trains to care and respect the crockery!
- A sign the war was ending, Used Motor Trucks were to be sold on the 13th April 1945.
More to follow as the month proceeds - Kia Kaha from Thames.
