RANDOM MEANDERINGS

I decided today to put together the bench part of my life of grime. I've been playing around with making little items for the diorama the last few weeks, so whilst Mike was busy sorting the garage out to put our new freezer in i thought i would do something productive too LOL! The first part of life of grime is here The story continues below: Above: the sink attached to the backing board and now with slatted shelves underneath. $NZ2 coin for comparison Above: Backing paper now on bench back Above: Several layers of paints later, coming together Above: Some of the items i've made and bought place on the bench unit. This won't be their final locations, but i couldn't wait to see what it may look like! I will seal the paint first. Above: And another capture with a coin for scale and the pizza box out the way :-)

I have recently discovered the demise of my G G Grandparents Anthony [aka John] and Mary KENNEDY nee MCCOOK. Mary MCCOOK was born in Armoy, Co. Antrim, Ireland in 1849, to William and Lilly MCCOOK [nee MCLEAN] and was the eldest of 6 children. Anthony John KENNEDY's trade was listed as a carpenter. He was born in Co. Antrim, Ireland and was the son of William KENNEDY, a blacksmith. They married 20 November 1873 at the Balleymoney Registry office, Balleymoney, Co. Antrim, Ireland. Mary was 6 months pregnant and gave birth to their son Thomas Veruna Rowe KENNEDY on 20 February 1874 [he married Helen SELBIE] and within days the three of them were on board 'Varuna' via Glasgow heading to New Zealand. They settled in Christchurch and went on to have another 10 children William , Mary, Margaret Moore, John, Anthony, James, Arthur, Hugh, John William [my g grandfather] and Lena Theresa. Mary and Anthony had been an enigma to me for decades. From previous ...

What a beautiful day today, so Mike and I went out to Waikumete Cemetery [Auckland] to take photos of the newly erected headstone for Rifleman William Alfred PERREAU. Great to see that it is now where we expected it to be...in August it was put on the wrong grave! It so stands out! Such a sadly unloved area of the cemetery. I have updated Williams page on my website www.sarndra.com/perreau.html Myself at the gravesite...he's like an adopted great grandad! Side view of headstone Back view of headstone Front view 1 Front view 2

Still on the miniature bent... teaching myself a few new things...all the below are first efforts so i'm happy enough with them and will perfect as i go on :-) Cornet cones Hokey Pokey biscuits Kiwi fruit Lollipop Capsicum slices

Ronald Duncan SEWARD Originally uploaded by SandyEm Interesting that although he died in 1917, someone has put modern toys on his grave...i love that sort of thing :-)

What a beaut day today... opened all the windows and had the warm breeze blowing through the house. It's lovely living up on a cliff face and overlooking the harbour, it draws the air through the house. Thought i would do some more miniatures today. I have been keeping an eye out on trademe for an Atlas 150 pasta machine so that i can get the thicknesses of the clay sheets i'm making things out of. I might just end up buying one from the shop because they are just as expensive on trademe. So anyway... quite pleased with my efforts today. For my 'Life of Grime' diorama - a mucky jar of marmalade Pizza box Pizza and boxes Little Oreo cookies Little Oreo cookies again Jar of Liquorice Swirls

Thomas Seth LODGE, 2nd husband of Rosannah b c1833-1898 and Rosannah LODGE [nee WORT/WERT] 1831-1916 with 2 of their HAMILTON grandchildren With Temperance and Suffragist movement anniversaries this weekend, it only seems appropriate to write a bit about my great great great grandmother. So begins the story of my Rosannah. Great Great Great Great grandma Jane WORT nee WHEELER Mother of Rosannah born 1803 Berkshire, Eng -  died 1876 Christchurch, NZ She was born in London 6 April 1831, to George WORT/WERT, a hay salesman and Jane nee WHEELER. One of at least 4 daughters and I know nothing of her childhood. She was a loud voice in Christchurch for both the Temperance cause and the Women's suffrage movement, was an artificial flower maker and businesswoman. She married firstly William Henry MACE at the age of 18 on 14 October 1849 at St Mary’s Parish Church, Lambeth, Surrey, England. Three children were born of this union. 1 Susa...