Who knew that you could grow potatoes outside your bedroom in the lovely courtyard area at Elmslie? That’s exactly what resident Bob Carson is doing because he’s fond of homegrown potatoes!
The 88-year-old is a relative newbie at Elmslie, having moved from Concord in Dunedin about three months ago, choosing Elmslie because it is close to his daughter, Debbie, who lives in Luggate.
Bob spent his formative years growing up in Hamner Springs, has spent time on the West Coast and can recall having many pets – cats, dogs, magpies and even a parakeet! But it was Dunedin where he lived for most of his adult life.
Married for 55 years to Margaret, the couple raised a family of a son and a daughter, and enjoyed many holidays at their crib in Mahinerangi where a popular activity was taking the boat out onto the lake and fishing.
Bob spent almost his entire career working for the railways, starting as a ‘fireman’, a job he loved. Shovelling four to five tons of coal on each trip, he recalls with fondness some of the antics him and his workmates would get up to.
“The train’s engine was the perfect place to cook steak and onions, sausages, and boiling water in the billy!” says Bob.
“We drove trains all over Central Otago, down to Invercargill and beyond. We had a lot of fun and have many good memories.”
For seven years Bob was a ‘fireman’ before getting his ‘ticket’ as a driver and would spend the next 40 years working for the company.
But working for the railways wasn’t Bob’s first choice of job. He was a keen deer stalker and was interested in pursuing it as a career but given its dangers, he was talked out of it by his father and the rest, as they say, is history!
His move to Elmslie, while taking a little time to settle in, has been a positive one. Having stayed at Elmslie for a fortnight to “try it out”, he decided to move permanently and is now getting to know other residents and join in various activities including morning exercise classes. Bob was always a keen vegetable gardener, so it’s little wonder he’s growing potatoes now!