Sounds Trip: Easter 1956

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SOUNDS TRIP : EASTER 1956. We (20 of us) set off on the Thursday night with a pleasant holiday feeling, especially as we had a comparatively luxurious trip down to Picton, having berths with approximately 4 of us to a 2 berth cabin tho' at times an all time record was set with how many people could get into a 2 berth cabin. As usual we were called at the crack of dawn and hung around the decks yawning and trzing to keep awake until breakfast time. After breakfast the sun was shining and we boarded the launch in an almost summer atmosphere, arriving at the homesterd to find that all the food had been taken up to the old house by the Greensills. Collecting a billy of milk we made tracks to our destination. Unpacking and having lunch did not take up much time and the party thèn split, some to fish, some to go mushrooming, others just to sit and think and Don and Johnny (Symes) set out with their rifles after deer. The mushroomers came back laden with spoils, the fishermen laden with stori S of the size of the ones that got away, so big that even the lines broke! Johnpy and Don arrived with steaks and 2 skins, having bagged two deer. By the sound of the language we heard it should have been 22! Most bodies retired early to bed, only to be awakened by a bellow, outdoing any bull, of"Get off my foot!" seemingly someone bad stood on Don's sore toe. Next day was fishing day so we were all up early and still in super weather set off. Plenty of blue cod was caught but Johnny (s) became the hero? of the day by just catching a Maori Chief, uneatable but a change after endless cod, and then landing the only schnapper catch of the day; photos of the biggest fish ever caught - plus catcher can be had on application to Les. We returned home via the Portage, the cooks rushing on ahead to prepare the meal, only to be greeted by an endless chorus of bangingspoons, plates and inharmonious voices raised in "Why are we waiting 11 in the words of the phrase of the holiday(coined by Pat) "we could have smashed their faces in.' 1t That evening we had a party, the piece de resistance of supper being thousands of beautiful mushrooms. The best mushroom cooker in the world MUST be Trev(Wal 1sh) - and the best eaters, well, Don, Joe and "Hori". As they peeled the mushrooms, the cook stripped to the waist fried them, called for more then in return for freshly peeled ones handed over the cooked ones, accompa nied by loud protests from Rod that he hadn't yet tasted ONE! When attempts were made to divert a few of the cooked objects the peelers formed a closed shop and refused to peel unless thay also received their share. It was only when the mushrooms ran out that the cook discovered that he had been well and truly had and that while he sweated over a hot fire (Ed. 1 a woman's work is never done') the eaters were licking their greasy chops. Rodney, meanwhile was still protesting and Dudley rejoicing that he had managed to sneak some out of the pan whilst the cook and the .eaters' backs were turned, in spite of all this nobody's I1 face was smashed in." Next day after breakfast we played a most professional game of softball ending with the ball bursting in two - fielders rushing madly after both halves and the opponents tearing around to base - lunch fortunately intervened, stopping a decision or a massacre. Weather still perfect most of the boys going in swimming and all of us managing some sunbathing. After tea the Monolopy school set up, the rest of us sitting around the fire and lazing except for one unsuccessful expedition 'possum hunting to gain a Davy Crockett hat for Betty, A ghost story session was he ld, Trev's life span being shortened by a roll of. white paper hanging from a beam in the ceiling being wrapped around his neck by a gust of wind. Monday's breakfast cooks were greeted by a new arrangement of "why, are we waiting" led by Joe playing the big brass bath, Don on the harmonium and Alex on corruga ted iron ( that MUST be how symphonies- are born) anyway it was a welcome change from "they call me lover" rendered by Don and Johnny (Symes). The morning was spent in gathering mushrooms to take home or in just wishing it wasn't time to go home. We had an enjoyable launch trip round the bays on the way back to Picton the usual rush for the fish and chip shop being made on arrival. It was an unusually quiet trip back to Wellington after a most enjoyab le long week end. The thanks of the party go to the Ieader Trev Walsh and to the Greensill family for their many kindnesses towards a successful trip. Party- Trev Walsh (Ieader) Johnny Symes, Johnny Armstrong, Dudley Morris, Don Jeffs, Les Sisley, Joe Barnao, "Hori"Hall, Harry Suter, Ted Dakin, Trevor Bain, Dave Cutts, Pet ter Miller, Alex Wallace, Rod Milne, Pat Hannan, Betty Williams, Mary Hall, Maria = ,Johnny Johnston. Johnny J.