David stripped the paint off the staircase. Photograph 2026

Bob ran the house, planned and executed the  construction  repairs jobs, picked the paint, lived the whole thrill of being at home.

David: assist build, sand, paint.

The dining room.

1977 David and Steph

  1981  Maureen and Bob

 Bob and David replaced bora ridden floors with  Rimu. David stripped off nine layers of wallpaper  in this room.  He stopped at a burnt red one of choice. When peeled  off  carefully, it gave off   a Tuscany patina.

We sourced two Victorian  fireplaces for the house

 Maureen became a journalist and novelist. Maureen Garvie. c 1977.  29 George Street.

Life in 1976 became RANGIORA.
Steph starts Art School

1977  New Zealand . Four friends bought a house to love.
 Renovating.

 CANTERBURY.

        1977 HOME

 Facts in sum

In 1968 David, from Canada,  started  New Zealand Teachers college in New Zealand
In  late 1969  - late 1973 we travelled abroad

In 1977 we co-bought a house with friends Maureen and Bob Garvie.
The house  was a 19th Century darling. designed 1881,  built in 1882.
This was home when I was at Fine Art School studying film.

  Maureen taught High School English
and wanted to produce creative writing in earnest.
  David did an MA in Sociology and got to find a work niche.

  Bob sat an MA in Resource Management.

David and Vicki Buckingham 1979

David started working in the Probation Service

Garage sale. 29 George Street 1976.
Stephanie, Bob, Cresida Bishop, Gavin Bishop. 1976

Stephanie became a 16mm film  self-distributor, as she was commissioned to make a documentary film in 1977

Our family grew to five in 1977

 Top and Bottom right. Maureen Garvie.  The busy dining room.Garage sale 29 George Street Rangiora 1977.
 (Steph)  was compelled to leave the house and start upon my 'Thundering Through New Zealand Tour' with I Want to be Joan in 1978 after the tumultuous Premiere in the Christchurch Town Hall, 1977.Graphics, Steph on tour.

Bob kept the home fires burning.  Robert. H. Garvie.  Mark V jaguar ,purchased by David in 1974, partially restored by Bob Garvie.( Car purchased by Mr Vance of Vance Vivian clothiers in 1949. Purchase price 850 pounds. Eventually sold to the infamous Ron Jorgenson, aka Al Capone.