'The Stevie Wonder of Silverdale': Retired piano teacher plays for commuters
Kia ora neighbours, every Thursday Lorraine Sampson makes the 40-minute bus trip from Silverdale to Auckland’s Britomart Station to play the piano for commuters.
The 75-year-old, who is legally blind in one eye and has cataracts in the other, can no longer read music due to her poor vision, so she plays all her music by ear.
There was a time Sampson, a retired teacher, believed she would have to give up playing music altogether due to her eyesight, but she said she found her fingers remembered songs she thought she’d forgotten.
When Sampson discovered there was a free piano for the public to play at Britomart Station she began making weekly trips there to play and raise funds for St John in Silverdale, where she lives.
Read the full story at the link below.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
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Auckland SH1 holiday maintenance
Prepare for delays at SH1 Spaghetti Junction and the Harbour Bridge from Boxing Day evening until early January. Our crew will be carrying out essential maintenance during this time.
Consider taking the SH16/SH18 Western Ring Route and SH20 if you’re travelling south. Our summer works will continue on SH16 The Strand from January until March.