Tag Archives: Cherries

Wellington

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!

Tomorrow set up, this weekend Masterton. Bye!

 

 

Greymouth to Nelson

Greymouth (as usual) lived up to its name. The weekend loomed rainy and grey and we were grumpy and tired. The silver lining was…….. Pizza and movie night, featuring the greatest showman!!!!! On Saturday night there was a break in the weather and we scoffed pizza and snuggled down in the bean bags to watch the movie. We left the grounds Sunday night and booted it all the way up to Murchison, arriving late and falling exhausted into bed.

Monday morning Dad drove the truck up to Nelson for its C.O.F, which it failed. Mean while Mum the boys and I speed to Mot (Motueka), I was out of the car before it had even stopped “Bye Mum” off for a sleep over at one of my best friends Jasmines house.

Poor Daddy!

I spent a beautiful three days at my beloved Steiner school, reconnecting with my class and mt amazing teacher Margot, bliss! Mean while poor Daddy underwent a two and a half hour operation in Nelson hospital to remove his nasal polyps, bulbous fatty things that grew on the inside of his sinus’s. The nice surgeon minced them up and sucked them out his nose, poor Daddy!

 

Friday we setup in Nelson on new grounds, ready for a pumping Extravaganza. Not! Every year when we are in Nelson there is so much going on that our fair always seems abandoned. We did a half Circus without Dad as he was convalescing, just the pole, hoop and trapeze it went well considering the boys refused to practice our new little show. It was a bit of a betting game but in the end it was successful and fun.

Dressed up for the movies!

On Saturday night 41 dressed up wild Gypsies made their way across Nelson to the State cinema to watch Bohemian rhapsody, including me! The movie was super inspiring, but also sad that someone with such talent and personality was so alone, sad and had such a hard life.

Monday morning Mum had to drive me quick smart back to school for another 3 days, you’ve got to take opportunities when they come around and “Make the best of it!”. (Our family motto). Luckily for me I get the best of both worlds, I love road life and school life and I know I will see all my friends and school mates in the winter.

Wednesday night we drove to Graham valley with a new C.O.F. The next morning it was off to Cherryland!!! We go to Cherryland in Blenheim every year to load up on cherries at an excellent price. This year we got three buckets and ate as much as we could while picking them. Yum!

Ready to cross the strait.

Cherries and all we drove to Picton and boarded the Bluebridge ferry at 2pm(with about 10 other gypsy trucks and buses), sailing smoothly all the way to Wellington. We arrived later that scheduled at 6pm with luckily no cherry red mishaps. Ahhh, windy Wellington, its good to be back. We stayed the night with about 15 other gypsies at Lyall bay.

A fun and interesting couple of weeks. It was great to see my friends and class mates again and sad to say goodbye,but for me the Extravaganza lifestyle outclasses school any day. Tomorrow setup, this weekend Wellington. Bye!

 

Nelson to Wellington

We set up at Tahunanui Beach in Nelson. That Weekend was a flurry of screen printing, cooking classes(both thanks to Nico from Uruguay) and shows. I even got a visit from my Inspiration Andre Vegas the Illusionist, who watched my shows and gave me some ideas. He even spent a couple of hours sign writing the trolley I use in my Magic show.

While all the other Gypsy’s headed north we went back to Kina beach. We decided we were definitely coming back to Motueka for winter. It felt like coming home. On Tuesday I preformed my Magic show for the Motueka Steiner school. I was super excited to see my old school friends again and happy to know I would be going back there for the winter. After the show we went to Toad hall for real fruit ice-creams although I am dairy free so I had a coconut real fruit ice-cream. Yum! Then it was off to the resurgence for an icy cold dip.

The next day we spent a long boring day at riverside community while Dad fixed the truck, poor Daddy! That night we left for Graham river but just before we got there we came around the corner and slammed on the brakes. In front of us there was a terrible car crash. The whole front of the car had been smashed and the driver was badly hurt. Dad rushed to the scene and helped the man because he knew some first aid. It left me feeling shaken.

The next day we moved on from Graham river to Blenheim where we visited Cherry land. Cherry land is a cherry orchard where you can pick your own cherries for about half the price you can buy them from the supermarket. While you are picking you can eat as many as you want for nothing!

It was amazing how quickly we chewed through this bucket of cherries!

After that we drove our beautiful Mim onto the ferry, said good bye to the South island and hello to the North island. Wellington here we come!