Confidence, stretched valuations and shoeshine boys

Confidence, stretched valuations and shoeshine boys
Aunty Molly (centre front) with extended family. (Image: Ruth family)
Jenny Ruth
I have vivid memories of Christmas 1986. We had a large, extended family gathering in Martinborough and the weather was great. My uncle, Walter, and Dad's elder sister, Molly, had an all-day argument in Walter's kitchen over how their mother baked scones: did she butter and flour the tray or just flour it? Walter, a good cook, had triggered the debate by deciding to whip up a batch.Cousins and siblings were running relays from my uncle's house to Dad's next door to bring the rest of us up to date with the latest on the...

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