I was often happy when we lived in Seacliff, first on the Coast Road, in a railway cottage with an orchard and a cob building that Bill used as a studio. He worked hard, sometimes out in the landscape. This drawing over the fence from the Coast Road house looks towards the hill we knew as Mount Charlotte.
We could catch the train or the bus into Dunedin, where Bill would sometimes visit our beloved friend Robin Mohi.
Robin would visit us too. I remember him sitting on the garage roof, playing his flute.
When we moved to Russell Road, at the foot of Mount Charlotte (to a house roughly at the top far right of the Coast Road drawing), Bill painted Robin playing his guitar.
Robin visited after Bill died and then sent photos of Bill’s work at his place. Beautiful to see, so many years later. Ngā mihi nui, Robin!
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No surprise: I miss the south. Especially places connected by the Coast Road between Karitane and Warrington, Ōkāhau. So about twice a year I jump on TradeMe to look at houses for sale along that coastline.
And just before Christmas, I found a house for sale in Ōkāhau, scrolled through its details and came across this image.
And recognised, above that mantelpiece, the matai tree that grew next to our place in Russell Road, just north of Ōkāhau. Remembered a matai drawing and a matai watercolour that Bill MacKay made, but not something this size.
Looked for a little while and decided that yes, the painting was Bill’s work. Probably oil on canvas. Who did we know who lived in that house in Ōkāhau? And contacted the real estate agent. Who contacted the daughter of the homeowner. Who said he bought it from our former neighbour Joe. Aha, I thought, I bet Bill gave it to Joe as a farewell gift.
I offered to buy the painting back. But the owner’s daughter texted “Dad said he’s more than happy for you to have it back. Are you able to collect it as Dad is now up [north] living with me, hence why his house is being sold.”
Such generosity. And more generosity from the mates who picked it up, packed it up and sent it up here to Wellington. Took weeks to arrive (Covid) but late one Friday afternoon courier N. delivered it and I cried.
And on the back we found the remains of another painting. And Bill’s own label: $360 was then a return fare to Europe, more or less.
And now Big Matai is on the wall at the end of the hall, above matai floorboards. And yes, that’s a kauri door to the right. Loss and love gathered in a single place.
lookinglikeseanconnery 