Newbie from the South Island of New Zealand

**Celtic Kiwi** · 28th December 18, 01:04 AM

Greetings and thanks for all the advice and info to get me going in this forum. First a bit about myself. I'm a 4th generation Kiwi (New Zealander), my forefathers arriving by sailing ship at Port Chalmers around 1850-70 then setting up business either contracting, farming or trade. All bar one came from a Celtic background being Cornish, Scottish or Irish the other from London so I grew up as a lad with the stories and customs they brought with them to New Zealand. In the South this is strong and is reflected with the formation of the City of Dunedin or the Edinburgh of the South. Currently I wear the Monaghan Tartan Kilt relating Grandma Kelly but Grandma Anderson is from Paisley and that is the next kilt.

However, my parents moved to the top of the South Island and settled in Nelson which has a warmer climate and not unlike a sunny Devon. Having left Nelson College I took a trade as a Carpenter, then studied some more and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a Works Officer (Civil Enginer). After many posting about New Zealand, I retired to Christchurch which is a provincial city in the South Island and a place where my wife had a very satisfying and permanent position with a National Museum.

Recently and sadly my wife of 27 years passed away from an incurable illness, but I have many happy memories of our time together which will carry me on.

My interests include tinkering with and riding motorbikes, being with my family, furthering my knowledge Celtic and being a Freemason, all of which I enjoy and in many cases I am able to combine several of the interests with others of a like mind.

I have followed this forum for a while now and enjoy what I have read, hence my becoming a Newbie.

So, I look forward to a time of enlightenment and enjoyment as I engage with my fellow kilt wearing fellows.

Aye,
"Celtic Kiwi" or Rob Angelo