Beloved Opal springs no more! We called Opal springs to confirm we could stay there but were told that they couldn’t lift the low power lines with a broom like they usually do to let us pass. Health and safety was the reason. Sadly we had to look for somewhere else to stay. We found salvation in Sapphire springs Holiday park, Katikati, which also has hot springs. I traveled in Simone, Tiwai and Letties bus to get there, then we all went swimming in the awesome hot pools.
The next Three days we spent schooling, swimming, swimming and swimming! There was a national heat wave, even the tar was melting on the road, so it was great to have a freezing cold stream right next to our truck. The second morning Dad made me get up really early and go running with him! I was sooooo grumpy (I love my morning sleep-in’s) I had a tantrum half way along the bush running track. Afterwards we jumped into the freezing river. Secretly, I felt amazing but I would never admit that to Dad!
Lettie and I laid out yoga mats and pillows and made our own honey and oatmeal face masks, creating the “Gypsy spa”.
Mum and Dad with yummy cucumbers on their eyes! Simone indulges in luxury.
One evening we were down at the river feeding the Eels when one miss-took my finger for a sausage and had a chomp. Once we had cleaned it up I realized the Eel had actually lacerated my finger!
On Thursday night we reluctantly left lovely Sapphire springs for Mt Manganui. Once again I traveled with Simones family, watching Pirates of the Caribbean the whole way. Friday morning we left the free parking spot by the port (really just a car-park by the sea)and drove onto the grounds near by. We set up and trained our show then Lettie and I baked Afgans for Gypsy bakers.
As for the weekend, it went perfectly; hot, successful and busy. We even had shade over our shows so we didn’t die of heat like usual. The only down side was dirty feet as the hilly ground was covered in short dry grass. Sunday we had dinner at the Pub/brewery next door to celebrate our lovely week.
It rained cats and dogs on Christmas day, we physically had to pull the last six trucks on to the Raglan grounds with the tug of war rope.
The rain stopped and our Xmas party/ secret Santa was safe. For secret Santa I got an amazing Croquet set(thanks Craig)!
Thanks Santa!
We had the first of our summer twilight sessions(DJs and dancing) on that three day fair. My brothers Dallas and Jaz lit up their fire-staffs for their first show on fire!
Tired and happy we booted it to Waihi beach in one day to set up and trade for another three days. Swamp thing played for our second summer twilight session on New Years eve. Awesome music and dancing! We counted the New Year in under the stars, dancing. I was a bit sad because Tiwai and Lettie couldn’t make it as their bus had broken down.
Now very tired and trying to stay “positated”(Dallas’s special word) we made the long haul through Auckland to Matakana, (once again with just one travel day) to set up for luckily just a two day fair. That weekend we sizzled in the hot burning sun.
We surfaced Monday morning exhausted after 13 days straight with almost no air;”just keep swimming, just keep swimming”.
Talking about swimming, we headed for Keri keri and Rainbow falls for a blissful 3 days of eat, drink, swim, repeat with a day of boating around the Bay of islands thrown in.
Rainbow falls.
Thursday night we drove onto Waitangi Marae grounds for our first ever weekend trading in Paihia. The treaty of Waitangi was signed here in 1840. Te triti(the Maori version) is considered by many Maori to be the true document.
We had a beautiful surprise welcome from the Komatua. They blessed us, they blessed our fair and they blessed our weekend. I had my first Hongi(mingling of breath with noses touching) with the guardians of the Waitangi Marae. I have to say I was a bit nervous, but afterwards I felt honored.
On Waitangi Marae grounds.
An exciting thing has happened! I have a summer job on top of all my other summer jobs. Working in the Lucky Star cafe. Its new and stimulating and gives me something to do! I am taking orders and handling cash at the counter. The first day was ridiculously busy and there was only two of us working! Thrown in the deep end and I loved it.
Lucky star crew Dan and Miejne,
That was the incredibly busy, fun, exhausting festive season. Now finally back to a normal pace. Next weekend Whangarei.
It’s hard to believe that Mum and Dad actually had a life before I came along, but they did, a whole 32 years of adventure! Evidence of this arrived in the form of their old friend Anna from England. She came to their wedding and joined them on their month long honeymoon around the south island 18 years ago. Anna arrived right in the middle of our circus training. After we had finished it was hugs all round. She has come to travel with us as long as it suits her.
Waitangi park is a a great place to be set up for the Extravaganza, right next to Te papa, the supermarket and Circa Theater, where we went to see “Puss in boots” the pantomime after set up. I’d never seen a pantomime before but I loved it. It was hilarious and amazing at the same time!
Usually the Wellington weather is a bit of a gamble , this time we got lucky. My Auntie Robbie (Mums sister) and my cousins Jaan and Delishia joined us on Saturday. Sweet Delishia loves helping in our shop!
Bike Rave? What’s a Bike rave? Evidently it’s a thing! Dad and I were tired on Saturday night but he managed to talk us both into dressing up and joining 12 other Gypsies on our bikes. We rode down-town to Bicycle junction( a shop that organised the Bike rave) to meet up with more than 120 other ravers, all on funked up bikes! These included a tricycle sound system pumping out awesome music, bikes lit up with fairy lights, tall bikes, short bikes, long bikes, rickshaws and much more. We dominated the streets of Wellington, stopping at the rainbow pedestrian crossing on Cuba street and holding up the traffic for blocks. No one seemed to mind. We partied there for 10 minutes then moved on to rave at another intersection. We toured the streets and back alleys of Wellington while pedestrians shouted encouragement, waved, clapped and took photos.
So that was a Bike Rave! Next year we will definitely be back with more decorated and funked up bikes. It was the highlight of the weekend! Here is a pro video which does justice to the occasion.
After hauling ass over the Rimataka’s we stopped at Featherstons lovely Book cafe, which we had discovered last year. I walked out with a supermarket bag full of scrumptious books and a warm cozy feeling.
We decided to have a couple of days peace and quiet at a new destination; Mt Holdsworth D.O.C camp, close to Masterton. Our bubbly friend Anna joined us there. Tues after school work we walked up to view point, then came home and watched a movie and went to bed. We had some crazy weather at Mt Holdsworth, hail, thunder, heavy rain, burning sunshine, sometimes all at once!
Wednesday we decided to start socializing again so we sped into town truck n’all to pick up a yummy fudgey slice then made our way through the suburbs to Nana and Pa’s lovely house. We had lunch then Nana and I made Belgium biscuits. I’ve made them before but not by my Great grandmothers recipe. They tasted amazing! Thanks Nana! Afterwards Nana and Pa dropped me off at my Auntie Carolyns and Uncle Des’s house which had recently been completed. All of my relatives in Masterton are on my Dads side, so we usually have an early mini Christmas and this year was no different.
Thursday morning Auntie Carolys and I went op-shopping at Savemart. I love op-shopping and this time I got a particularly good score, including a funky costume for Cupa-dupa (if you keep following my blog you will know what Cupa-dupa is sooner or later).
I’d been wanting to bake a cherry pie for a while now, so Christmas dinner was the perfect opportunity. Nana and Pa arrived and after a quick(not so quick) fashion show of my op-shop bought clothes, we had a delicious Christmas dinner, finishing off with my perfect cherry pie. Then it was present time. Mum and Dad are saving their presents to us for actual Christmas but I got a cute notebook and an amazing Anabell Langbein cook book.
Thanks Nana, Pa, Carolyn and Des! So that was our first mini Christmas of the year. Usually we have a few since our family is spread out in the North Island.
Well that was a lovely little week with the family. And an amazing cherry pie!
The Gypsy bakers have baked yet another delicious delicacy to sell on Saturday! Lemon cupcakes filled with lemon curd(as you can see I love lemons).
Last year in Invercargill we had two 30 degree days, sooo hot and sunny! But unfortunately this year the weekend was cold and overcast. I just hoped it wouldn’t rain on the boys birthday party on Saturday night, yet as Murphys law abides it did rain but only slightly.
The boys had a pirate themed party so the entire fair dressed up as Halloween pirates. That night we played lots of rowdy party games and ate junk food. Then it was cake time and the boys eyes nearly popped out of their heads when they saw what I had created!
I am so proud of them. After the party the silent disco started. My favorite! I danced with my head phones on until midnight. So much fun!!
Monday morning saw us tired but happy heading for Queenstown. We stopped in Winton to search for Minnie Deans grave. Minnie Dean is the only woman to have ever been hung in New Zealand. Her crime was infanticide. Times were tough and Minnie Dean started taking in unwanted children for money. Eventually she was caught, in her back yard were found three tiny bodies. Gruesome!
That night we arrived late and even more tired at 12 mile delta just past Queenstown. After schooling on Tuesday morning the social times began. Our first destination was the pole studio and Raha of course! Raha is Mum’s bestie. We trained and played then tumbled out for dinner at the Bombay palace.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” Today is Wednesday and it is the boys proper birthday. Presents, pancakes and a gorgeous 4 hour walk around Mt Creighton loop track (A.K.A Sam summers hut track). We find nature grounds us after every frenzied fun filled weekend.
\Now its trick or treat time! Oh yeah, have I said the boys birthday is on Halloween? Awesome! Guess what their birthday theme will be for the rest of their lives?
Dallas and Jaz looking pretty uneasy.
We invited ourselves to go trick or treating with my friend Mia. I was nervous about meeting all of her friends, but it turns out I knew all of them anyway. Lake Hayes is prone to migrant trick or treaters from all over Queenstown. The spooky decorations let the hordes of sugar crazed trick or treaters know which houses had lollies. My brothers got so scared at one particularly spooky house that they ran down the path scattering their lollies in the process! From then on they were super timid about knocking. I meanwhile was off in the neighborhood gathering a massive haul of sweets, my Mum’s worst nightmare!
Candy here we come!
Thursday greeted us with school-work. “Yay.” In the afternoon Raha took the boys and I for their birthday treat, The Odessy sensory maze. Odessy is not really a maze, it’s a series of rooms filled with a-maze-ing things you can touch, hear, smell, see and overall enjoy. My favorite room was filled with balloons far over my head. Even if a person was right in front of you , you wouldn’t be able to see them and the very loud rustling of the balloons masked any small sounds. Perfect for hide and seek!
That night we sneaked onto the grounds at warren park. We put up our awning ready for 100km/hr winds and torrential rain.
What an awesome fun-filled week! Bring on the weekend! (just not the rain or the wind!) Bye!
After our Christchurch and Ashburton fairs we rolled on to Timaru. If you ever go to Timaru I strongly recommend visiting Caroline bay down by the port.
To get there you have to drive the loop. A very fascinating piece of road indeed. The loop allows you to quickly descend down to water level from the town above the cliffs. We set up the extravaganza in a park right in the middle of the loop. Dad beeped the trucks horn the whole way up around the loop when we left. It was very EMBARRASSING!
Our cousin Ijann joined us for our Ashburton and Timaru fairs. He enjoyed making bubbles almost as much as he hated my cuddles!
Caroline bay itself is a wonderful piece of art. Theres the cool glass elevator and the quaint rose garden and of course you cant forget the
huge playground with the awesome slide and then there is the bird avery with all kinds of exotic and brilliant birds! Last but not least there is the beach, soft sands, gently lapping waves and great for swimming in the summer.
Opps! I almost forgot about the snails! They live among the rocks and early in the morning you can see their silvery slimmey trails. A tell tail sign that they have been there.
