Reef Cottage Cafe

 

Last Summer we were visiting Reefton. As usual wherever I go I take photos of pretty much everything. I watched this man on his cellphone dodging traffic as he crossed the road. As for the cafe, I think we need to try their food next time we are there.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and the Weekend Roundup.

Steptoe's Coffee Emporium

 

Been a while since we've been in Reefton but each time we visit it seems this shop is usually very popular. According to the Reefton webiste, they make a good selection of pies. Kiwis are big on pies so I think we are going to have to try some next time we are there.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday and the Weekend Roundup.

Fog

 

Another one from our trip to Reefton recently. They had a classic car show in town earlier that day but unforuntately we arrived too late for it but several of them parked up at the petrol station across the road. 

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Ice

 

Another photo from the last time we were in Reefton a couple of weeks ago. This particular day it was very very foggy and we had to drive home with our car lights on. Some of you have asked why I take photos that don't seem to have many people in them. Well, here people get a bit weirded out when you take photos of them without permission so I prefer to be a bit careful in that respect. 

On this day though there were plenty of people mostly inside in cafes having lunch. We have had some lovely sunny days though in Greymouth, the odd bout of rain but nothing major. The fire hasn't been on much lately as our nightly lows have been around the 5 to 8 degree mark but as of tomorrow the temps are going to be back down to 2 again. We have plenty of firewood and driftwood.

I did see a news story a few nights ago about some tourist vans further down south in Tekapo that slid off the road after driving on black ice but we don't really get alot of that here, it's not cold enough.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Op shopping in Reefton

We were in Reefton after our trip to the Lower Buller Gorge last week. It's one of those old gold mining towns that was hugely population in the Victorian era. On our way home we stopped into one of the op shops in the town - the others we've visited have had some cool vintage stuff in them, expensive but cool. This one was ok, nothing to right home about so we didn't end up buying anything.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Reefton Oddfellows Hall

 

There are plenty of old historical buildings around the West Coast. This one in Reefton is on the corner of an intersection was constructed in 1872 as a gathering place for people in the community.

If you don't know much about the Oddfellows organization, from the information I've looked up it seems they are similar to the masons with their lodges. So originally the Oddfellows here in New Zealand had the purpose of providing workers and their families with financial and other assistance before government departments were invented. The first lodge was formed in 1862 with members being people such as politicians and leaders in society who had the power to develop the country.

When social legislation came about here such as welfare grants etc, there was a decline in the membership. Apparently the organization still continues to quietly help not just families but also charities and hospices.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world, All Seasons and Wordless Wednesday.

Mobil

One from when it was Spring in Reefton and this is a town I really like, if it wasn't smack bang in the middle of nowhere I would've moved there. This was back when petrol prices had a brief discount on prices because everyone was affected by covid but a recently this came off and prices have soared. It's one of those old towns that originated because of gold mining.

Now a few months later Christmas is nearly here and I'll be glad when it's all over. I think working in retail on and off since I was 18 years old has given me a type of bah humbug attitude including hearing the same tunes on repeat along with 5 different covers of each song. I've been working a few hours here and there on my days off at my new job just to try and get some training in so that it won't be so "what the heck am I doing" when I finally do start in January.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday, All Seasons and Tom's Signs.

Open

Another one from our last visited to Reefton. If there's something I love it's a good second hand bookshop and although most shops in the town are a bit pricey, I did manage to find a thick book "A column of fire" by Ken Follett. My favourite books to read are biographies and historical. If you read what's your favourite?

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Nana Ni's

I don't know who Nana Ni is but I saw this cafe sign in Reefton recently. People watching is sometimes interesting as well as amusing and I do love this very neat, pretty town but sadly buying anything there is a bit over-priced.

So we've had leaders debates in the last couple of weeks from the larger and smaller parties in this year's election and there's a reason why I don't bother watching them, more like so I don't have to listen to people talking over each other and finger pointing. It just gets a bit much.

Linking up with Weekend Reflections and the Weekend Roundup.

Reefton Courthouse

Another one from our visit to Reefton in early Autumn this year. Built in 1872 it was used during the gold rush to settle disputes, leases and miners rights. It was designed by William Henry Clayton who also was responsible for other court houses around New Zealand. It finally closed in 1972 and now court cases are heard in either Greymouth or Westport. It is now listed as a Historic Place Category 1 building.

 Linking up with Blue Monday and Mosaic Monday.

Inangahua Centennial

In early Autumn we visited Reefton which is about an hour away from Greymouth. I loved this little town, it's very pretty, tidy and well looked after.  While we were there I spotted another band rotunda like the one I saw in Westport last year. Just about every town in the country has one of these. 

This one is in the King George V Jubilee Park and looks similar in age to the others I've seen - coming from around the 1910-1916 era in time.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and All Seasons.

Things of yesteryear

Sometimes when I venture into op shops it can be a bit dangerous. Recently in Reefton we popped into the local traders and I spotted this rather old vacuum cleaner. Can't say I'd buy it but I do wonder how good of a job it use to do compared to today's modern ones?

I did however buy this little Choysa tea caddy which probably was part of a promotion once upon a time. It now stores my teabags in it and will be perfect in my new kitchen.

Not many people know I have an obsession with vintage hats so when I managed to buy this one online made of faux fur - I was very pleased. I will definitely be wearing it in Winter.

Linking up with Through my lens, Ruby Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Horses

We drove out to Reefton last week and while we were walking through the town I saw this mural depicting the town's coal and gold mining history on the side of one of the old buildings. Painted by Jean Davidson in 2021 it looks so lifelike, especially the horse.

Linking up with Mural Monday.