The Traveling Kiwi

Sadly Covid meant that Joe and Shyna were restricted to 100 people at each ceremony and this was down from the 250 originally planned. I didn’t know quite what to expect, I had been to a muslim wedding before and the day before all the women got together and drew henna on the bride and on each other, so yes – another bad assumption – I thought this would be informal and all about the henna. No – the women were dressed in incredible outfits and the bride had the henna done earlier as it took over 7 hours. The brides family are Fijian Indian and part of the entertainment was a wonderful Fijian dance troupe, full of energy and smiles and everyone was ready to dance all night. The cleric allowed us to have wine and beer so there was nothing holding us back. The evening started early and we watched a glorious sunset then out on the football field to watch the lunar eclipse, what a memorable day on all counts.

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So I needed an outfit for Joe and Shyna’s wedding (I am Joes honorary auntie) and as it was an Indian wedding I wanted to wear something respectful and appropriate and when do I ever get to wear something colourful and sparkly :D. Time, couriers, cost and dithering meant that I didn’t have time to have something made, but they offered the option of buying an outfit “unfinished” Now how hard could that be to just sew up the pieces, obviously unfinished meant at least it had been started. (not, as it turned out, a good assumption) I arrive Monday in Christchurch and the wedding was Friday and Saturday so I had a whole 3 and a bit days, plenty… I thought.(definitely not a good assumption) The package had been sent straight to Christchurch to make sure it arrived and there it was waiting for me at my mum’s place. She had opened it and quickly closed it again, everything was there but nothing was cut out and there was no pattern or any sort or a guide, just long pieces of material. First hurdle, find some sort of pattern, buy thread and start to hope this is not as hard as its beginning to look. Mum is a very good seamstress and I knew she would help me figure out what to do. (Not as it turned out a good assumption) After the first evenings discussion I realised that Mums short term memory is fleeting compared to my last visit, the same questions were asked and answered repeatedly, I was going to have to try and do this myself. Day one, I found what I thought would work as a pattern for one of the pieces and I got started. It didnt work, undo everything and try again, nope, try one of the other pieces with a different material, nope, undo everything, start again. Day 2, go shopping to an Indian store and try and find an alternative outfit, OMG how much! and it will take a week to be finished! back to spotlight and I found material glue. YAY!! The beautifully embroidered fabric was sheer, stretchy and unravelling as fast as I cut it. But I found some ribbon and with the help of plenty of glue I got the Duppatta (shawl)finished. Now just the Kameez and the camisole and the pants, no worries. Day 3 almost done on the Kameez, fast trip to Northlands and found a ready made camisole. Phew now to finish the Kameez. Ok we are missing pants/skirt but will have to worry about that saturday morning as fridays function is already starting

Saturday morning mad dash to Save Mart and skirt three sizes too small, safety pins and a prayer and its done.

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Once a year 35 odd gardeners open their gardens to let strangers tramp through and this year it started fine and ended in a deluge, still the gardens were spectacular, passionate masterpieces by generous gardeners willing to share their knowledge and their seedlings. The rain curtailed most photos and it really is hard to really capture the magic – I spent 8 hours a day for two days trying to get around them all and still missed at least 10. All very different and all an absolute delight.

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A week away, back to the same place at the mount, with the same spring weather bouncing from thunder storms, rain, lightening to brilliant sun and unrelenting wind. Along with lots of downloaded books and two puzzles and a determination to not cook at all except toast. I succeeded in finishing the puzzles, reading all the books and making scrambled eggs for the toast. Pretty high achieving week really… oh and lots of walking with way too much of it vertical. But as you have seen before my passion at the Mount is trying to,capture the sunsets.

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In the middle of town there is a park that surrounds a large area of thermal activity. Huge old trees and winding trails through the thermal pools and steam vents, in places it’s like an English garden then around the corner it’s a wilderness.

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I am always late getting the spuds and tomato’s in but finally the garden is starting to look like the plants are growing faster than the weeds. The kowhai tree has been full of tui’s every day. The spuds are big enough to start mounding up and I even have beans and tomatoes on the go, a tiny carrot patch, peppers, courgettes and the obligatory broccoli. My rainbow beet is out of control and will,need to be slaughtered soon but the perpetual spinach is limping along. I have found a Yuzu tree in the citrus collection and it is surprisingly nice in sparkling water, a new favourite. It’s not really a very big space but I have plums and apples and pears, blueberries, raspberries, gooseberry and strawberries, passion fruit, rhubarb and I am trying to figure out where I can put a cape gooseberry. But Christmas I might be ready for the next lockdown 🙃 I get real satisfaction out of gardening, although it would be a hellava lot more fun if I didn’t have to weed. I don’t mind mowing with my tiny battery mower, it’s getting around to it when it stops raining that takes the most time.

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.. most of the time I just go to the supermarket or grab a coffee with friends, there really is not much to see in town. I am sure we have more second hand stores, dollar shops and tattoo places that most small towns. But sometimes there are unexpected delights in exploring your own back yard.

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A wedding in Christchurch and on a wing and a prayer hopefully I will be raising a glass to my “adopted” nephew marrying his sweetheart at a colourful Indian wedding in just four weeks. Time to visit family and catch up with my rapidly growing great niece. The time goes so fast and at almost 6 she is wise and thoughtful and absolutely hilarious, I am so looking forward to seeing her. I wish I could be closer and spend more time with her as she grows.

Her first original poem

Bear may be small but she is clever, and she’s my friend for ever and ever. I may just be a proud great aunt but I think she is pretty awesome.

A

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A bit south of Rotorua, inland toward Waikete Valley and down a road that winds along the Paeroa Ranges you can find a little spot thats just off the beaten track.

The entrance required clambering past an electric fence, then the grass was deep and wet and within moments my shoes and pants were soaked. But this tiny thermal spot is home to the rare endangered “Prostrate Kanuka” and who could miss that. ( row of laughing emoji’s)

After only 5 minutes walk you are greeted with bubbling mud and steam – it doesn’t get any better than that. A wee adventure and then back to plant the tomatoes.

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..to Alice. I feel like I have been down the rabbit hole these past few months. I seem to have just been wrapped up in a cocoon, missed birthdays and contact with friends and got absolutely nothing done.

So nothing else for it than a wee trip to wonderland, well….to the Blue Springs near Putararu. It was supposed to be a nice day out but the day became wetter and wilder the deeper we went into the Waikato. Still well away from the COVID border tho.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when arriving in a muddy car park festooned with signs warning of car thieves and recent horse habitation.

Once you started up the trail of buttercups and gravel you soon forgot the passing rain showers and standing sheltered under massive redwoods looked down at a winding stream of the clearest water filled with lime green weed and blue clay. The walk was a delight, changing views every few meters. No people, just tui’s and pukekos, swallows and fan tails and the occasional trout spotted lurking at the edge of the weeds.

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