Posts by Lynley Chapman

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  • Southerly: Who was George Hildebrand…,

    This is a fascinating story.

    I have posted the basic data from your blog post here (ie Geo ALINGTON born, married, three children etc) to NZ Rootsweb giving a link back to your blog post for any genealogists out there who might be researching any or all of the people in your story.

    For those of us searching for "adopted" ancestors back in time it can be this sort of "find" that helps us solve the mystery. I'll follow this thread with great interest.

    Porirua • Since Aug 2011 • 45 posts Report

  • Feed: Saints Preserve,

    Back in the day.....melted paraffin wax was used to seal out the air when making chutneys, sauces and pickles. I've gone back to my 1974 edition of the NZ Woman's Weekly Cookbook by Tui Flower and she says this under the heading "Pickles, Chutneys and Sauces": "Chutney packed in jars should have a layer of paraffin wax poured over before covering with cellophane. This will prevent drying out and shrinkage. Store chutney and sauces in a cool, dry place."

    She also mentions using corks to seal sauces and even dipping the cork into the wax to make really sure about sealing.

    She is stern about clean and sterilised bottles and jars.

    These were the days of bulk preserving when the cupboards needed to be stocked to get through until the next harvest season.

    My Mum was a great preserver - "Waste not, want not" was her mantra from being a child of the Great Depression, WW11 and strong Scottish roots. Mum would wash jars etc in hot soapy water and then heat them in an oven at around 90C until the chutney or whatever was ready to bottle. Once the produce was cold she would apply the wax seal and then cover with a cellophane cover, label and date her bounty.

    Mum made a mean Crab Apple Jelly which my cheese eating brothers sigh over now she is no longer here to do the interesting process that involved.
    Cellophane covers are still cheap and available in supermarkets in the jam making section -a Green, red and white pack is one I am familiar with and they include labels and rubber bands, plus instructions!


    Op shops and rubbish tip shops often have stacks of glass jars as cheap as chips.

    Porirua • Since Aug 2011 • 45 posts Report

  • Feed: Saints Preserve, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    It is the birds who pollinate feijoas:-) There is also a pesty Bronze beetle that loves eating the new fruit buds on feijoas - they have been utterly rife in Wellington over the last two summers my friendly garden centre man tells me....mutter mumble.

    Porirua • Since Aug 2011 • 45 posts Report

  • Speaker: Need,

    We have a fantastic group here in Porirua http://kiwicommunityassistance.weebly.com/ who support various and many community agencies. They have received large quantities of toiletries, linen, towels, robes etc from one of the major Wellington hotels. Perhaps this is another avenue to approach for regular donations to the refuge? Hope this might help up in Auckland.

    Porirua • Since Aug 2011 • 45 posts Report

  • Busytown: What was lost,

    Jolisa I have just read the article, based on this post, in KiwiParent and wanted to let you know that I was deeply moved by what you wrote. I had missed your post here earlier this year.

    It is one of the meatiest, indepth pieces that has appeared in that magazine for a long, long time.

    The photo of the young man holding the placard with the quote on it "Any man's death..." speaks profoundly to me.
    Thank you for such incisive, authentic writing.

    Porirua • Since Aug 2011 • 45 posts Report

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