Post 1 of 8. 1963 - 1967.

Genesis - In the beginning...

I was born on 5th November 1963 [Scorpio] via a forceps delivery/birth i.e. an assisted vaginal birth where an obstetrician uses forceps, a pair of curved, metal tongs, to help guide the baby out of the birth canal. It's used when vaginal delivery is in its final stages but not progressing, and when the mother or baby's health is at risk from prolonged labour. So you could say I possibly got a whiff of the world and wondered did I really want to come into it or not? At the end of the day I got here with some help thankfully. My mother was apparently advised not to have anymore children after I was born...her smaller body wasn't ideal for delivering babies. My older sister of four and a half years old had a baby brother. 

I have some fond memories of when I attended Newfield Kindergarten Invercargill in 1967 aged 4. We were allowed to play in the small metal pool that was suspended by legs from the ground. There were little scale boats in the water. But I wasn't greatly interested in playing with others at such an early age and essentially the first box was ticked 'doesn't play well with others'. I was interested however in scooping up water and flicking it at other children. And when in the sand pit...well...that was simply too much of a temptation for me and when an innocent law abiding fellow pupil had constructed a stunningly designed sandcastle...all I could do of course was put my left foot into it...such delinquent behaviour had consequences I would soon learn real fast. I spent some time at Kindergarten in the...'naughty chair'...This was a chair placed against a wall with its back towards the class and the naughty pupil had to sit in the chair with their face towards the wall. I can clearly remember occupying that naughty chair with some pride...I owned it - I'm sure my name was on it. Boy was I looking forward to starting primary school in 1968.  

I do have some baby/early childhood photos thankfully. 

Pic 1 is of myself at 3 months old in February 1964, taken in the lounge. 

Pic 2 is my older sister Joanne at 4 1/2 years old and myself at 3 months old February 1964. 

Pic 3 is my mother feeding me one of three [3] bottles of milk I consumed before bed, in the kitchen date unknown. 

Pic 4 is myself aged 13 months eating a leg of duck on Christmas Day 1964, my introduction to meat! 

Pic 5 is myself aged 13 months in the Alexandra Holiday Camp Christmas/New Year 1964, note I was of stocky build. 

Pic 6 is myself at 17 months May 1964 modelling an innovative Hilux Chair.  My father had bought into a printing business. He produced/printed an advertising flyer for the Hilux Chair and it featured 2 children and I was fortunate to be one! I never got paid for it either. 

Pic 7 is myself aged around 2 years in 1965 at my uncle Guy Oughton's backyard in Venus Street Invercargill. 

Pic 8 is myself at 3 years old in 1966 in my father's vegetable garden. However I was never destined to be an excellent gardener like my father...

PIc 1. Myself at 3 months February 1964.

Pic 2. My older sister Joanne 4 1/2 years, myself at 3 months February 1964.

Pic 3. My mother feeding me one of three bottles of milk I consumed before bed, in the kitchen. [date unknown]

Pic 4. Myself at 13 months old eating a duck leg, first introduction to meat on Christmas Day 1964.

Pic 5. Myself aged 13 months in the Alexandra Holiday Camp Christmas 1964. [note I was a stocky build]

Pic 6. Myself at 17 months May 1964, modelling an innovative Hilux Chair.

Pic 7. Myself aged almost 2 1965, at Uncle Guy Oughton's home in Venus Street Invercargill.

Pic 8. Myself at 3 years old 1966 in my father's vegetable garden.