Some of my Mates

Lawrence was born in Christchurch and grew up beside the Avon River where he got into competitive rowing. He spent about 40 years of his life on charge of boats sailing around Bourgainville and to other parts of Papua New Guinea. He is great in the garden and I have watched him turn this wilderness area into a very productive patch.

Peter grew up in Ashburton, an hour's drive from here, and joined us a few months ago. I learned that he grows orchids and he had just completed building this shade house a couple of weeks ago, when I took this photo. He helps out in a parish several days a week and with his infectious humour keeps us in touch with what is going on.

Lawrie is our real "southern man" coming from Dunedin. He even drinks Speight's Old Dark beer. He worked as a groundsman for many years at St Bede's College in Christchurch and with his work in the pro-life movement, Christchurch is his second home. He is the kind of mate who when he sees something needs doing, slips in and does it.

Fred comes from Wellington (in the North Island) and so we have a lot in common. He has spent a lot of time teaching at St Bede's and at St Pat's, Timaru. He taught the last three Catholic bishops of Christchurch and on his 90th birthday recently, one of them paid a surprise visit. When he retired from teaching, he worked for some years in the Wellington Diocesan Administration.

I will introduce you to more of my mates later.