What’s this all about?
Well, after posting a few memories on Facebook a couple of days ago, a lot of old memories of growing up on the Kapiti Coast – Paraparaumu Beach in particular – came flooding back.
Since I enjoy writing, I figured, what the fuck, I might start a blog and document my life growing up in a family that was/is, True Blue, Hardcore Kapiti Coast since forever.
My plan is to quietly wander through my childhood, documenting what I remember of growing up in Kapiti, eventually arriving at the present day. I was born in 1964, so my earliest memories really begin around 1968-69 around the time of starting school at Paraparaumu Beach School in Gray Ave.
This will contain a fair amount of swearing, eventually there will be references to various (mostly harmless) criminal activities, possibly some violence and generally things that may offend you if you are offended by such things.
A lot of my memories obviously involve other people who I will not be naming.
I will make no apologies along the way, Anywhere an apology was necessary, apology was made.
So, that’s where this is headed, if you want to come along for the ride, all good. If not, that’s OK too.
A brief history:
Captain Henry Lynch arrived in New Zealand in 1846 and was immediately sent to work doing his part in what we now refer to as ‘The Maori Wars’. In around 1852 he was granted a block of land for his services in the “Maori Wars’ which he named ‘Emerald Glen’ and consisted of the land from about McKays crossing in the south to somewhere around the Maungakotukutuku Road – as understand it and without researching accurate boundaries.
My understanding is that the Mackay family (south) and the Howell family (north) acquired the bordering land in the same way.
Emerald Glen was farmed by the Lynch family through the generations until around 1967-68 when it was sold for reasons nobody in the family has ever actually told me.
From there, when I was around 3 years old we moved out to a relatively new subdivision at the beach end of Mazengarb Road, where we remained until …..a long time later!
That is pretty much where my memories begin, so that is where I start my journey through my brain.
None of what I write is an invitation to take a pop at me or my family, so don’t even fuckin’ start.
Whoo hoo, so far so good…..more please
am excited to roam back to my childhood in paekakariki and paraparaumu as you write.
Thanks for the memories Paul they are really great. As you remember the years I am sure that my brothers name will appear Ian Mudgway. I am enjoying reading them.
Unfortunately there was a despite between my grandfather Ossian Lynch who farmed Emarld Glen while his older brother Dermott was serving in the 2nd world war .When Dermott returned he wanted to take over the farm and homestead so they fell out over that ,there was no happy ending.
Yes I too in a sense grew up on the Kapiti Coast. Paraparaumu, Golf Road to be exact. But mostly in the Holidays.
My parents had an old batch which they built onto over the years. And I remember very clearly a Kena Kena Motor
Camp, Holiday Park, which one got to along the Beach front (Manly Street).Great childhood memories!
Kind Regards
Andrea.