Another successful Parish picnic was held at the Pukekura Model Railway on Friday 8 February. This is definitely a popular venue, as evidenced by a good turnout of young and not-so-young. Although no head count was taken, Tinkle Bell (formerly known as Mr Whippy) was very popular and gave out 87 free ice creams.

The model train rides were also very popular and the enthusiasm of the drivers was much appreciated. One club member showed some of the older boys other models in the engine shed explaining how they worked . their construction and how they worked. According to his wife he had wanted to be a train driver when he was young but his father had discouraged this and he had become an electrician. Since his retirement twenty years ago he has been able to indulge in his unflagging interest in railways. This is the fourteenth year that St Philomena’s picnic has been held at this venue and long may it continue.

At the end of a very hot day and the first week of the school term we were blessed with a beautiful evening and the shade provided by the lovely trees was very welcome, not so the sandflies!

Fish and chips were the order of the day for many families, who mixed and mingled, and a lolly scramble rounded off the fun for the children.