Jim's blog

I got an email last week telling me that my old friend Sam Sampson, the "Fluid Druid of Stewart Island" had died of cancer. I just got back today from his funeral/memorial celebration.



It's about 4 years since I last saw Sam on the island and he was obviously not well. The main problem apart from his ongoing battle with depression at that time was his emphysema, no doubt brought on by a lifetime of heavy smoking. I wasn't aware he had cancer although it didn't surprise me when I heard that.



He was cared for over the last year or so by the community on the island and there was no doubt that he was loved by the locals as much as he loved them and the island itself. There was nowhere else that he wanted to be.



Sam had a lifetime interest in education, and was one of the early initiators of outdoor education programs for high schools in the late '60s. He taught the natural and human history of areas he worked in (Nelson Lakes, Tautuku and on the island) and got the message acroos to his students through a mix of dialogues, story telling, singing of folk songs and whatever would engage the attention of teenagers. There are thousands of ex-students throughout the country who will remember Sam for who he was, if not all the lessons he imparted.



There were a variety of stories told in the community hall on the island yesterday that raised many knowing laughs. As a story-teller of some note himself Sam would have appreciated those. And the afternoon ended quite fittingly at the bar.



I don't usually enjoy whiskey but I downed a couple in memory of Sam. They went down well and seemed to fit the occasion.



I'll try to find some references and pictures to link to from over the next few days.



Here is the death notice that was published in most main centre newspapers last week. Quoted here 'cause I don't know how long it will be available on the NZ Herald web site.

SAMPSON



Charles William. Sam the Fluid Druid of Stewart Island. Sam passed away peacefully at home with friends on Monday 8 December 2008, at Stewart Island, aged 65 years. Privately cremated. Sam would like to welcome all his friends and colleagues to a memorial service to celebrate his life. At the Stewart Island community Hall on Monday, 15 December at 2:00 pm. Messages to PO Box 65, Stewart Island. Avenal Park Funeral. FDANZ.



Published : Saturday, 13 December 2008

Continue reading "The end of another era" »

Jo's new shop, L'affaire au Chocolat is now open in Berhampore. She is making and selling fine handmade chocolates from the shop at 464 Adelaide Road. Stop by for some special treats, gifts or a hot chocolate made with real high quality dark chocolate.

Her web site at http://www.affairechocolat.co.nz will be going live in the near future for on-line purchases.

Note that Jo has previously sold her chocolates under the 'A Rosy Affair' trading name of her company Delice Limited.

L'affaire au Chocolat is the new trading name associated with the shop.

It's good to see that after the sudden end of his dreams when Resolution hit the rocks on Great BArrier Island in June Charlie has another project under way. He is building a Tideway 14 and you can read his blog at Charlie's blog - Tideway.

The new button at the top of this page shows latest weather information from my weather station located in Berhampore, Wellington, NZ.

I am using the jpgrapg php library to present data captured from my Irox station by Brian Hamilton's Weather Display software. Still very experimental and may at times not work properly (or at all).