The Bird in the Chimney

Moira Goldie writes about her earliest memories growing up as part of a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins in Dumbarton, near Glasgow in Scotland. At the age of nearly five, Moira, her brother Gilbert and her parents set sail for New Zealand to start a new life far from family and friends. She tells of her 1950s childhood growing up in Woodlands Park, Titirangi, in West Auckland where -- with no television and no transport -- children really did make their own fun, experiencing a freedom and independence quite unknown for today's children.Author BiographyMoira Goldie was born in Dumbarton, Scotland, in 1944. She came to New Zealand with her family in 1949 on the passenger ship Rangitiki and spent her childhood in Woodlands Park, near Titirangi in Auckland -- living in a house built entirely single-handedly by her father, Gilbert. After various office jobs Moira settled happily into a position at Green Bay High School, where she recently retired as Principal's PA after 28 enjoyable years. Moira has two sons and a daughter, six grandchildren and a dog called Rosie. She still lives in Titirangi.