Signs around Norfolk

Around Norfolk, you will find some Landmarks or building entrances with some unique decorative entrance gates.

They were made many years ago by Scotty Nagle who did the relief signs in wet concrete.

Mary Christian- Bailey provided these photos of Scotty doing the Fletcher Christian entrance signs.

Mary thinks that the photos may be around 1977. Scotty lived here for many years with his wife Kathleen and they built their home 'Brigadoon' opposite Puppy's point. Mary recalls that he may have been involved in stage construction because he was always on hand to help with concerts, plays and productions, even the school ones and he made some fabulous set designs and scenery.
He also made a large relief picture of the interior of St. Barnabas chapel which hangs behind the bar at the South Pacific resort.

All of the signs around Norfolk are painted in the same sort of colour scheme of Brown background and cream lettering. When I was leaving as manager of Fletcher Christian Apartments back in late July, I wanted to leave the signs with a fresh coat of paint.

When I cleaned and painted the whole sign in a pale wheat colour, I had no intention of anything fancier than a reverse of the traditional colour scheme as the buildings are still he same brown colour and thought cream background and brown lettering would still match all the others, BUT....

With a new blank canvas, the colour scheme seemed to take on a life of its own.

The letters became a cranberry colour complemented by touches in the gardens and within the rooms and the border became a midnight blue colour.

There is an anchor on one of the signs that had just disappeared into the fancy lettering before, but now can stand out on its own with its own colours of a copper and gold mix and dark brown rope.

Teddy came out to help me to as we sat in the late afternoon sun and were encouraged along by passing locals beeping their horns or waving at us.

 

These entrances remind me of some of the signs around Noosa, they were produced by Peter Davies and his company Sandbag of Noosa which was near our place on the sunshine coast. His style really added to Noosa's unique look.

He carved his signs, pots, and ornaments (mostly gecko's, brightly coloured fish or mermaids) out of Hebel and then cast it in concrete,
   

We are fortunate to have been given a sandbag table which we recently brought to Norfolk Island with us, we look forward to many laughs with friends and family around the table this summer.
 
Sadly both Pete"sandbag" Davies and Scotty Nagle have passed away, but both have left wonderful memories of their craft behind.
 

The end to a very special first year.

at the beginning of the year on his first day of school

School has finished and it was a very special one for Teddy now 6 1/2.

Kindergarten is the first and most important starting point in everyones schooling lifetime.

I still have an extremely warm spot in my heart for my Kindergarten teacher Mrs Elizabeth Hancock who I admired so much and still remember marching around the room as she played piano to 'the ants go marching'.

Teddy had a rough start to the year as his Asperger's syndrome prevented him from settling into an easy routine and he spent the first month or 2 hiding under the desk or being coaxed out of the toilets.

His teacher Ms Delaney showed an amazing amount of patience as did he other Kindergarten teacher Mrs Mackie and all the helpers, gradually he began to not only settle into the routine but begin to love it.

After the middle of the year when he has settled into the classroom well, we turned our attention to the playground which causes the most amount of problems in every school for children with Asperger's as there is limited supervision and aspies lack the ability to pick up on the other children's social cues, therefore appear to be annoying or quiet and withdrawn. Teddy fits into the former category as he imitates the nursery rhyme of Georgy Porgy, he likes to kiss the girls (of all ages) or chase them, but when the boys come out to play our Ted runs away.

last day of Kindergarten with Ms Delaney

Ms Delaney came up with a wonderful lunchtime roster for Teddy which incorporated his loves at school and a few weaknesses too.
He could spend Monday in the library looking at all his favourite encyclopedia's about Natural Disasters,
Tuesday on the Library computers, Wednesday drawing with a friend, Thursdays choosing a piece of sports equipment and Friday is his favourite sandpit.
We appreciate everything his teacher has done for him this year and hope that he is ready to transition to year 1 and that his new teacher is more than ready for the adventures ahead.

Three years in Paradise

Today the McRitchie family celebrate 3 years since we arrived on Norfolk Island.

Every day is a blessing, some have been easy, some have had challenges but we certainly have not looked back as we believe that we are in one of the safest, most natural and enjoyable communities in the entire world.

Norfolk Island has always been in my heart and once Brandt came to the island on holidays it has been where his heart lays also.

It wasn't until we moved out to our house here at Bucks Point in August that Teddy really settled on the island and stopped mentioning going 'home' to the sunshine coast, Even though he has just spent his first year at school and came through with flying colours.

 Sienna has come along for the ride no matter where we are, but we will have all new challenges when baby number 3 arrives in January.

Here are the children 3 years ago when we arrived, amazingly Teddy now 6 will have spent 4 of his Christmas's on Norfolk Island and Sienna at 4 will have spent 3 of her Christmas days on Norfolk.

The weather is here is so perfect, who can complain about 24 degrees with 80% humidity to keep us warm and glowing, I feel so comfortable even at 8 months pregnant without those intense Queensland summers.

We are off to the Norfolk Island pageant and street party tonight which will be a fantastic celebration of the wonderful 3 years we have spent here, we look forward to many more to come.

  Merry Christmas everyone

Emily Bay Magic

This is going to be a lovely Summer.

Just look at the most beautiful Emily bay on Sunday.

Pristine Crystal clear waters full of tropical fish and corals, clean sand and friendly locals.

There are never so many people at one time that you couldn't find a 10 metre radius by yourself, there is plenty of room for everyone, not that you have to be alone, there are plenty of welcoming, chatty locals to talk to as they too enjoy the best that Norfolk Island has to offer, while relaxing on the warm sand or in the warm, clean water.

Children join in group sandcastles and are happy to share each other's sand and water toys or just swim and play together.
A favourite place to head to is a floating pontoon in the middle of Emily bay or 'the raft'. This has been here since I was a child and enjoy that my children are planning to swim out to the raft to jump off or meet their friends there.

I think these picture speak for themselves.

If you have never experienced Norfolk Island or Emily bay, please put it on your *bucket list, but then again, why wait? Hope to see you here soon.

*A Bucket list is a list of things to do or acheive before you die or...kick the bucket.

Tea Parties for the September Girls

There is something very girly about a tea party and very special.

As Adults, we run out of time to play tea parties with our friends, but as you may know, I have never grown up and am still happy to play tea parties with my friends and my childrens friends.

Sienna's early morning present opening.

Sienna and I both have Birthdays in early spring and we both decided to have tea parties. 

Sienna had a girly one and I had a high tea.

While preparing for Sienna's party, she entertained us with a fashion parade of all her new dress up clothes.

The glittery edible decorative letters on Sienna's cake were ordered online. They are beautiful, very affordable and handmade by Meagan Cachia who was very helpful in sending them through to us.

You can order these and many more cake topper decorations from Meagan

Meagan Cachia

My Top Hat Cakes

Cake decorating at affordable prices

0419 875 700

EBay Account My_TOP_HATS  *you can vew photos here.

This is the invitation to my high tea

To celebrate the start of spring, our new house, a wonderful life and all my lovely lady friends,

You have been invited to High tea at #2 Uncle Joes Rd,(off Martins road).Saturday the 19th of September 2009. from 2pm

The rules of high tea are that it is served between breakfast and dinner to keep all of us dainty ladies going.
Everything is served in tiny bite sized pieces, so all get to sample everything without filling up.

My rule is it is ladies day to have fun with, so we have to wear something flowery or a hat or something that fine ladies like us would be seen in while going to fashionable places like to Waldorf Astoria or the Plaza or to maybe the races at Ascot.

Tea and Champagne and lemonade will all be served and you are welcome to stay as long as you wish.

Please bring a small plate of tasties and a bottle of your favourite poison.

I hope you can come and enjoy some Fun, there will be a lucky door prize and a prize for the best dressed in a flowery sort of way.

Please see the attached document on the fine art and ideas for high tea.
Your friend,
Cristina

This was the write up in the local paper, Norfolk online, by my friend Jenny Jauczius.

HIGH TEA WITH CRISTINA


Last Saturday, from 2 pm onwards, a group of ladies gathered at Cristina McRitchie‘s place in Buck‘s Point to enjoy high tea‘, and celebrate the onset of spring.Sitting on the back deck, dressed in our best  many with flowers in their hair  it seemed the ideal way to spend a September afternoon.
 The view across their sunlit valley, with lofty pines spread out against the sea and white terns swooping and soaring, was superb.
 There was an amazing spread of sweet and savoury nibbles  dainty treats to tempt every palate  and the table, laid with pretty plates and vases of colourful flowers, was a feast for the eye.
 For liquid refreshment there was the traditional tea or coffee, lemonade and plenty of bubbly‘! The guests,freed from chores and other commitments for a few hours, were content to relax, chat and appreciate the tasty high tea.

Dressing up to eat elegant snacks and sip tea, in a lovely setting, is definitely a custom that needs to be revived. It was a bit like playing tea parties‘, but lots of fun.

Norfolk Online‘s own Gae Christian wore a bright, red frock with a floral pattern and won the award for best flowery dress.Cristina was a gracious hostess, making sure everyone was looked after, and a good time was had by all. It was quite inspiring; I‘m now looking for an excuse to whip up some scones and get out the tea-cups and cake stand at my place.
(Jenny Jauczius)
 
We had too much fun, and not wanting it all to end, I suggested we take ourselves and our tea cups or champagne glasses for a wander down the street which we did and it was a very pleasant way to finish.

 

Of course all good parties must come to an end, our little princess found it all exhausting, but I am already looking forward to the next one.