Clock Museum

 

We have rain. It started on Sunday afternoon, just as we thought we might go for a walk. We were far too slow. It rained on Monday and showers on Tuesday, so we have had a good soaking. It is fine today, so I will go and do some more gardening this morning.

Nita is away for a couple of weeks and we are in charge of feeding the dogs. (Eddie really) Greg is doing any campers that might come in. There aren't any booked in during the week, but some bookings for the weekend.

I have booked myself a long weekend in Wellington. I am going down on the 26^th February and coming home on the 1^st March. I am even boldly hiring a car! The shuttle from the airport to the top ten camp where I am staying was $126 for both ways and the car was $101 plus fuel for 3 days. I don't expect I shall use a lot of fuel going from the top ten to Mum and Dad's.

Yesterday we went and looked at the Clapham clock museum. What an amazing place. Did you know that a grandfather clock is one that is 6 feet 6 inches tall or taller; a grandmother clock is 5 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 6 inches tall and a granddaughter clock is up to 5 feet 6 inches. I didn't know there was a granddaughter clock. There was one made out of mechano too.

Archibald Clapham was a great clock collector. He loved to restore them to their original state. He gave his collection to the city of Whangarei and the museum was born.

The cuckoo sound in cuckoo clocks is made by little bellows. Who knew!

This is a grand father clock.

This is a granddaughter clock

A grandmother clock

mechano clock

This is a huntsman clock

This clock has a deer head and 2 crossed guns on the top. On the left is a rabbit and on the right a pheasant. Below the clock face is a pouch that I assume was for the bullets. Very ornate. Around it are some of the cuckoo clocks in the collection.

There are grapevines here. We picked some grapes on Saturday and I made some grape juice on Sunday. Quite tasty too. Luckily I had a few bottles to use.

The grape juice bottled and ready to drink.