Shona goes WOW

WOW is a typically quirky kiwi festival called the World Of Wearable art - an amazing spectacle and show of whacky talent from around the world where models wear anything that can be called 'art', eg a sports car, a hill with sheep on it, a vase of flowers, a ships funnel etc etc!. These are some pictures of the ones in previous shows - we weren't allowed to take photos in the event. It wasn't just a catwalk of the spectacular wearable art, it was a complete spectacle with a Cirque de Soliel type stage show including an exploding volcano with lava flowing down it, a blues band and dance macabre, superb Maori dancing, trapeze artists appearing from the roof etc etc and lots of fun and mime shows. One of the best things I've seen ever!

I had a fabulous weekend down in Wellington where the show is held with our lovely friend Janet, who booked the whole thing. During our packed weekend in Wellington (so packed we didn't have time to eat on Saturday evening!!) we saw amazing things including the superb Gallipoli exhibition at Te Papa the national museum. The models were 2 + 1/2 times life size and were stunning and shocking - I had to sit down and be quiet for a while after seeing it. The models were made by Weta Workshop (which did all the models, weapons, sets etc for the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings/Avatar etc)

We also went round the Weta Workshops on a tour and met some of the people who made the Gallipoli models. Such amazing talent in this country.

 

 You can imagine the impact of these completely lifelike models at 2 1/2 times life size. - shocking.

 These LOR figures are at Wellington Airport.

We had a fantastic weekend, and laughed such a lot.

As it was arranged before we knew we were moving  we flew from Tauranga, which gave me the chance to see quite a few of my friends down there. I loved going back to the Hot Pools and my favourite coffee shop - Pronto. So lovely to stay with Mary and see the girls from the book club and visit my old mates in the Op shops!

 

It also allowed me to sadly say goodbye to my friend Sally at her funeral - a very lovely lady who was so very kind and welcoming to me when I first arrived.

Rugby fever!

My goodness it is like a national obsession here, every game and tactic of the Rugby World Cup is being watched, analysed and discussed through out the whole country! Even the food has changed colour to support the All Blacks!

 That is milk! not engine oil!!

There is of course at least one person wearing red (and one very proud Scot wearing navy blue!)

Now of course after a set of thrilling quarter finals - some watched at the local hotel bar at 8am (coffee and breakfast rather than beer!) we now are also donning black with silver fern trim! It has to be said that the Southern Hemisphere rugby seems faster and slicker - but at least the 3 teams who got to the quarters are learning from their kiwi coaches! This is something that the rugby commentators here are very quick to point out!
We had so much support for both the Welsh and the Scottish final matches from friends, it was lovely.

Now it is GO THE AB's

 hope you are supporting them too!

First week in the big city

Devonport is delightful! and the commuting has been a breeze so far, certainly in comparison to working in Manchester and Salford all those years!

The flat has the most incredible view as we are about 10 feet from the sea and looking straight across the gulf to the City centre - at night it is like fairyland! It is a small 1 bed apartment but we have discovered the sofa is actually a sofa bed so we can have folk to stay.

Well it is now a couple of weeks later - time is just flying here! Still missing Papamoa, Tauranga, Te Puke, the beach and of course all our lovely friends down there.

 

We are both settling well Malcolm is much busier at work and the office is very friendly and Shona is getting sorted with volunteering at the Hospice Op (Charity) shop in Takapuna and sending of the forms for volunteering at the Maritime museum, hopefully heling crew a heritage Scow sailing ship called the Ted Ashby - they were a type of ship built to bring the huge Kauri logs down from the Northland.

 

The flat is lovely and just a short walk to Devonport town/village, which is very 'Knutsford' in style, although less pubs and more coffee shops! Here are a few views of the flat. I'll show you Devonport in another blog - I want to get it on a day when the sun is shining - it has been a bit grey skied here I have to admit! Spring weather is often like this I'm told!

 

As you can see we are right next to the sea and a wee park with beautiful Pohutikawa trees, which will be glorious over Christmas covered in red flowers.

Glorious Glen Orchy

We had a quieter day driving to Lake Wanaka for lunch, then back through Queenstown to a place that Hamish has said was wonderful - Glen Orchy - he was right!

We freedom camped again beside the lake watching the cloudy sunset and bright sunrise over the superb snow capped mountains all round. I wonder if the original in Scotland is as tranquil and relaxing.

  Waking up here was about as good as it gets

 Made all the better by the bacon and eggs finished off on a fire on the beach (the gas cylinder ran out!!)

 

 

 A coffee to stay..... just look at the view

 

As Malcolm said this is the place that people drive to in their camper buses and then throw away the keys because this is the best it can get!

Like this one!

Definitely coming back here at Christmas time!

Then back to Christchurch for Malcolm's conference flew back to Tauranga, picked up the cars and a long drive to Auckland and to our new life in the big smoke! - perhaps we should have just thrown away the keys for the Jucy van???