GHOST TOWN

 

I went for a long walk around Wellington yesterday to take advantage of the break in the weather.

I hadn't been for a walk in days so was missing it.

I walked from Thorndon to the Mount Cook area, around the Basin Reserve and back through Mount Victoria. I was half expecting to see Richard's little car at the top of Marjoribanks Street as he said he was staying in town near the Basin Reserve. Marjoribanks, a few kilometers away would be the likely place that the old guy would think to be 'handy parking'.

I enjoyed the walk knowing that it was doing me good and thought about Wellington and how much I've missed it over the years. I left in July 1981 nearly 45 years ago. Obviously there have been changes: Old buildings knocked down; new buildings put up; streets becoming one-way; some streets disappearing; new streets created; streets renamed; the waterfront being developed etc. Not all for the good but mostly so. Even with the many changes there was still a lot of familiarity. Ghosts lurked everywhere.

There's hardly a spot in Wellington that doesn't stir up a memory for me. I did, after all live here for 28 years before I left. Even when I was a school kid - primary, intermediate and secondary - I walked a lot around the city and the inner suburbs. When I had a bike I rode further afield to the outer suburbs and even, gasp, out to Petone and the Hutt Valley. Fortunately I survived.

As a 'paper boy' in Vogeltown I got to know all the neighbourhood streets, houses, shortcuts and walkways. As a 'paperboy' in the CBD I got to know all the main business houses and private clubs that I'd deliver to as well as the (now gone) pubs on most street corners. Later, as a bike messenger for C.M. Banks stationers I delivered stationery to offices in the CBD, The Terrace, Thorndon and most of the Northern part of town.

At university I rode a bike - a beautiful Carlton racing bike - and would go on little adventures around the greater Wellington area. Sadly some scrote stole this years later in Auckland. At university, when I was skipping lectures (often) I'd go for a drive in my car (initially the Triumph Herald and later the Hillman Super Minx) taking in areas that my biking never got me to.  At Murray Roberts and Co. Wine and Spirit Merchants, as a part-time job as delivery driver I, like Richard travelled all over the city delivering grog and again learned the short-cuts and best ways to get from A to B.  There aren't too many places I haven't been to and on my walks I rediscover them and uncover the ghosts.

The Specials song 'Ghost town' isn't exactly like my memories and might be more applicable to Richard's lament about how jazz-jamming isn't what it once was or should be but nevermind eh.

This town, is coming like a ghost town
All the clubs have been closed down
This place, is coming like a ghost town
Bands won't play no more
Too much fighting on the dance floor