Our bach was out on the West Coast. Funny little place, not much room inside but with a covered deck out-back overlooking the beach. It didn't even have a lock on the door for many years. Nobody was going to take anything, just borrow if they needed it. The famous prison escaper George Wilder stayed there a couple of nights when he was on the run. Left us a nice note to say sorry about the food. No one really minded.
Even when it rained there was still fun things to do. Card games, board games and picture puzzles. There was never a TV. Who would ever put a TV into a bach? Get the kids outside having fun, that was the way of the bach. The kids loved it, we loved it and we have some great memories of that place.
Sadly when my husband had his accident it had to go. Brought by a property developer who made us an offer we couldn't refuse. If only we'd waited six months longer. It would still be there today with us still the owners.
This stamp issue celebrates the bach, sadly becoming a place of by-gone days. This is New Zealand at its best. What we are at heart. What we should be keeping.
The Stamps.
40c - Green Roof 'Paua Cottage' / Paua Shell under stamp value.
For a country so small, it's amazing that we have two names for our holiday homes. But that's the way it is - the 'bach' in the north and the 'crib' in the far south. However, both share the same characteristics: they are refreshingly simple, humble abodes, a destination away from the stresses of everyday life in which to indulge in lazy contemplation.
40c - Red Roof Holiday Cottage / Sunflower under stamp value.
The traditional bach has the simplest of structures and is made of the most basic materials - fibrolite, corrugated iron or weatherboard - often painted in the kinds of colours you'd rarely see on New Zealand's suburban streets. Inside, they are havens of comfort that shun the trappings and timetables of sophisticated society.
40c - "Wakatu Nelson" Holiday Home with White Roof / Lifebuoy under stamp value.
The years between World Wars I and II heralded the heyday of bachbuilding, with another burst of activity in the 1950s and 60s. They were eras of kerosene lamps and woodburning stoves and outside the woodshed, washtub and 'long drop' toilet. Interior design was true 'Kiwiana' - Formica tables and chairs, lace curtains, patchwork rugs, candlewick bedspreads and lino for the floor.
40c - Blue Roof Cottage / Fish under stamp value.
Days at the bach are never dull, and summer is always going to last forever. After a late start or a swim before breakfast, we go fishing, investigate rock pools for crabs or collecting driftwood, or just lie back with a good book while the scones bake for morning tea. Late afternoon barbecues, after dinner walks, singalongs with the guitar around a bonfire… such is life at the bach.
40c - Green Cottage with Orange Door and Yellow Boat / Fishing Fly under stamp value.
Bach life is undoubtedly a reflection of the Kiwi culture, where everyone pitches in to help - whether it's with the cooking or the odd coat of paint (to the minimum of course; at least to last until next summer). It's a community existence, where people treat each other as family more than friends and no one is judged by their bach or their possessions.
40c - Blue Holiday Home with Matching Caravan / Graphic under stamp Value.
The bach has become a Kiwi icon, up there with jandals, pavlova and Buzzy Bees. Unfortunately, though, it may be under threat, as coastal properties become increasingly popular and therefore valuable and highly sought after. Many bachs are giving way to far more luxurious dwellings that are much less 'holiday' and much more 'home'.
First Day Cover - 6 November 2002.
Technical information
Date of issue:
| 6 November 2002 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Six |
| Denominations and designs: | 40c Paua, 40c Sunflower, 40c Life Buoy, 40c Fish, 40c Fish Hook, 40c Caravan |
| Stamps and FDC designed by: | Cato Partners, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, Dunedin by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 40mm x 30mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | De la Rue 103gsm red phosphor stamp paper |
| Perforation gauge: | 14 |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode, value blocks and logo blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least two stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in both A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 5 November 2003. |
Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ
You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/
Information for this post came from.
I enjoyed the personal story about your bach Mary. Our family had a bach up at Red Beach near Silverdale. It's all gone now of course. Been developed for city housing now.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
An interesting post but I would have enjoyed learning more about each cottage.
ReplyDeleteGraham