Our three day weekend was cloudy, windy, rainy and dismal.
On Sunday night Kai and Tash held their birthday party, a silent disco! A silent disco is where everyone wears special headphones that played 2 channels of music. For instance we had green and blue (lights depending on channel) some parties have thousands of these headphones with up to four different channels. It was so much fun! I hope we have another silent disco some time soon.
Now to the Catlins! A Doc camp ground at Papatowai was our host for two nights. We wandered the beaches spotting seals and resting.
Unwinding at the beach.
Then on Thursday we drove down the road to the lost Gypsy gallery where Blair has created an intriguing collection of ingenious inventions, this is a must do experience.
Our next adventure was at Curio bays petrified forest. Although the trees were no longer standing, you get the feeling you are in the middle of a dense and ancient forest.
What an adventurous week! Next weekend Invercargill and Stewart island.
Dress up time! My favorite thing about Omarau is all the cool old clothes they wear. Omarau is New Zealands steam punk capital.
Hipsy and Purple sure know how to dress up!
On Thursday night Mum and Dad went on a date leaving Csalym and I babysitting the boys. It went really well and with a bit of bribery, “Big ice-creams tomorrow!” we managed to put them to bed without a fight.
On Saturday I tried to take Lettie to the White-stone Museum, unfortunately we were to young to go by ourselves. This made me really upset and powerless because I think that we are completely mature enough. We did get to see the Americas cup pass by on its tour of New Zealand.
After that fun filled weekend we moved on to all day bay where we spent three nights playing, schooling and resting.
On Wednesday morning we left all day bay and headed for Moeraki boulders where we parked the truck and went to trotters gorge for a bush walk. I didn’t want to walk up the hill at first, but when I reached the top the views were great and it definitely worth the walk.
Weta experience! Opps I mean what an experience! I laughed in the face of danger and screamed in the face of Weta! After that we drove to Dunedin where we parked the night at the beach.
The next day we woke up nice and early and zoomed off to the oval for our interview with the breeze. It went swimmingly well even though we missed hearing it on the radio.
After the interview we went on a tour through the Cadbury chocolate factory.
I thoroughly suggest going there, it ends with a chocolate waterfall! After that we were joined by Tewai and Lettie at the Dunedin Museum, exploring a new exhibition: The Permian period, creatures before Dinosaurs!
Well that’s the end of that wonderful week. See you next Weekend Dunedin.
Beep, Beep, Beep! Zooming down around the loop honking our horn is one of my favorite things about Timaru.
Unfortunately Timaru was not as welcoming as Ashburton, we were greeted by grey cloudy skies and stuttering rain. The rain continued all weekend and on Sunday we had to cancel our shows. We did not mind though, it was nice to have a break.
The weekend was the usual play, music and laughter with a couple of hours in the pool added in.
On Monday we trucked off to Waimate with my friend cashlym who came with us for the week. We went to the tame wallaby park where we fed and patted Wallabies. The next day Dad went out and shot two wild ones, he didn’t get much support on that!
Mother and Joey!Peacock showing off at Wallaby park.
Cashlym and I made the best ever Lemon meringue pie. Yum!
Good team effort on a multi part recipe!Really sensational!
Wednesday saw us heading for Elephant rocks. The unique limestone rock formations a great place for hide and seek.
After a fun filled few hours we headed for Oamaru and parked up in the Victorian precinct.
I love Omaru. The old limestone buildings make me feel like i have traveled back in time. Mum gave Cashlym and I $20 and we went off on our own to explore the precinct. On our trip we visited Purple, she kindly gave us three pairs of steam punk high heels.
I am looking fowards to dressing up for this weekends steam punk themed Extravaganza!
On Friday morning we set-up at the Ashburton Domain right next to an awesome playground.
In the winter time our beloved Madame Feather died so this weekend we had a pot-luck dinner in her honour.
Here is an interview I did with Madam Feather last season. Thanks Feather.
Last season we had some trouble with local kids stealing stuff, so we took turns patrolling through the night. It was a fun weekend full of laughter and play, and it just kept on going with a sleep-over with Tiwai and Lettie on Monday night. That was the last straw for me, I came home so tired and sick but I did have fun!
Dad fixed the truck and we finally left Ashburton on Tuesday afternoon. We ended up at Peskys park with Sue and Dave near Geraldine.
Our friends Nicole and her two little boys came to camp with us and we explored Mt Peel forest together marveling at the giant Totaras. It was little boy hell!
Pretty little waterfall at Mt Peel.
The Dragon boys!
Next weekend Timaru. I will get to see Cashlym (Salem).
Late at night we arrived at the Christchurch working-mans club right next to the fair grounds and parked there also were Tiwai and Lettie! It was so good to see them again! We went to sleep and woke up buzzing with excitement, today was set-up for the Extravaganza! Driving into the grounds I raced outside and gave everyone hugs and kisses.
Then started the bustle of activity, just like Bees they buzzed around doing their busy Bee business, setting-up for the weekends Extravaganza! The weekend flashed by in a daze of new shows, wild romps and ended dramatically with most of the big trucks getting stuck including us! Again. Luckily we heaved on out leaving a trail of mud and destruction behind us.
For two days we stayed at the working-mans club playing with snails and an old shopping trolley.
Portable snail farm fun.
Then we moved on to Mount Huts Awa Awa Rata reserve which was home to some great bush walks through native bush.
Foggy above the bush line at Mt hutt.
All and all Christchurch was an awesome start to the season and a great fair. See you next weekend in Ashburton.
Touch down! Stepping off the plane crip clear fresh air engulfed us, and the full moon welcomed us back to Queenstown.
The next three days were a frenzy of flat batteries, impromptu dinner parties, long sleep-overs, busy pack-ups, good byes and finally a late night dash to Cromwell.
A warm cozy feeling swept over me, we were going home, back to the Extravaganza. On the way we stopped for dinner at my friend Vanessa’s house in Wanaka, then we sped on through the Lindis pass.
We stayed in Tekepo for three nights, soaking in the hot pools, playing and getting ready for the seasons first Extravaganza!
Dallas and Jaz having fun in the mud and rain, just before they realised their gumboots were completely stuck in the mud and Dad had to rescue them!
I am excited for all the adventures ahead, the ups and the downs, the good times and the bad times(maybe not the bad times), the Extravaganza and life on the road in the seven months ahead.
Shopping, shopping, shopping! In Palmerston North after the fair we spent the morning shopping for winter cloths for the boys. We went to the bank and Mum and Dad paid us all for the North Island. I felt proud of myself. To celebrate we went to a cool cafe.
We drove to Masterton in a flurry of excitement. Through the Manawatu Gorge which is now closed indefinitely due to a massive slip.
We parked at Auntie Carolyn and Uncle Des’s land with Jola Josie. It was a lovely family filled two nights including a sleep-over with Nana and Pa. Next it was off to Lyall bay, Wellington.
Lyall bay is a place in Wellington from which you can see the Airport with planes taking off and landing. You can also see the ferries going to and fro. There are lots of cool rock pools to play in as well as pretty Paua shells.
On Thursday we had a town day. We went to Te papa and the Sushi train restaurant with our cousins Deleshia and Ijaan. It was lots of fun and very windy.
We set up for our very last fair of the season in Petone!
It was only a one day fair because we had the end of season party on Saturday night and did not want to trade the next day.
All ready to end of season jungle party.
We spent Sunday getting everyone out of the mud before a strong southerly wind hit and blew waves over the grounds. We missed our ferry since we were stuck in mud. By the time we got out, crossings were cancelled because of the wind. We crossed a day later and it was rough enough.
On Tuesday morning after the Extravaganza Mum and I had the girls date I had been waiting for since New Plymouth. We went to see the new Beauty and the Beast movie, its amazing! My favorite scene is when the Beast is starting to be kind and she realizes that in her heart she is starting to love him. I also loves the singing the dancing and the costumes. If I was going to be in a movie it would be that one!
After the movie we went to Ujazi cafe. Did you know Ujazi means to provide in Swahili? Then we went to meet up with Dad and the boys at Haumoana where we stayed two nights right next to the beach.
Writing for my blog at Hamoana beach.
Dad went hunting and shot a Sika deer then hung it in a tree outside the truck. Mum and I were disgusted but the boys were intrigued. Mum got confused and wanted to become a vegetarian. But I will remain a picky omnivore till the end of my days!
We were so so tired because we have done so many Extravaganzas and have worked so hard. Palmerston North was just a two day fair and on Saturday night Dad and I and most of the Gypsy’s went 10 pin bowling, I even got a strike!
Museum of Art, Science and Technology in Palmerston North.
Its hard to believe that this is the second to last Extravaganza of the season! Next weekend Petone.
Marae’s , majestic Maori carvings, expansive ocean, rocky cliffs, winding roads, so many horses, dilapidated houses, rusty broken cars and staunch friendly people.
House for rent. cheap!
This is what I saw out of our truck window while traveling the east cape.
When the locals heard about hotmail they realised they had to move with the times!
We traveled the east cape with Tiwai, Lette and Simone. We spent the first night at Waiou bay where we went to the Pub(the one from the movie boy) for dinner. Yum!
Afterwards we made a movie called girl.
The next day we moved onto East cape. We stayed at a beautiful camp ground(paddock) next to the roaring sea. That night it poured with rain. Drip, drip, drip, my roof leaks! In the morning the sun broke out as we drove to the East cape lighthouse.
All on the road to east cape.
As Dad walked backwards to get this shot we all heard a loud “Bugger!”
Bugger!Meeting a friendly local.
We had to walk up 800 steps to get to the light house!
A view worth 800 steps. As east as it gets.
I love churches! (I am not religious). We went to the Tiki Tiki church on our way to Anarua bay. I was so surprised to find a church completely filled with beautiful Maori designs. This church is a must see.
Anarua bay is a lovely place to stop. We stayed there a night and in the morning I did my school work then played and played at the awesome beach with Tewai, Lette and my brothers.
Finally we made it to Gisborne where we set up for another Extravaganza. On Saturday night we had a Goat potluck. It was Delicious.
Helen Stokes, the lady who kindly gave us her late Husband Murry’s magic props came to visit us at the Extravaganza and watched our magic show. Later she told us she had not been sure how she would feel to see his props in action again. Happily she found it wonderful to see them being used once more. Dad and I were delighted to have her come along.
Helen Stokes visiting us at the Extravaganza.
That weekend was very hot and quite tiring. We all got quite grumpy, but all in all it was a lovely week/weekend.
Oi !Oi! Oi! Punk party! Riley had a punk party to celebrate his ninth birthday. It was Awesome! Punk is is a vicious vulgar society of people who are anarchists.
On the Monday after Papamoa we climbed Mt Maunganui. The veiws from the top are so beautiful. The horizon stretched out before us. On one side is the great wide ocean and on the other the sprawling city of Tauranga.
Top of Mt Manganui
This week we were off to the Sundaise music festival with the whole Extravaganva. Hipsy called up on Monday saying we have to get onto the grounds early because of the forcast for torrential rain. So we went in on Tuesday. It was a quiet rainy week helping set up for the weekends festival. On Friday as the people started arriving the heavens opened and it started to rain hard.That night we went to sleep never expecting what was to come…
It was midnight when Mum and Dad woke us up saying that the river had broken its banks and we have to get to safety! By that time the river was already rushing past our truck. We hopped aboard the adults backs as they took us to Ange and Thornys truck which was safe… for a while. All the other kids went there too, we were all white faced and wide eyes shivering from the shock of it all. Then we evacuated to a hay barn on the other side of the river. So many families were squished into that one barn it was unbelievable, while outside it was raining hard.
We stayed there for about three hours, then the river retreated back into its banks. We were able to go home. When we looked at the clock it was 3am! We had a big toast feed then went to sleep at last.
In the morning we woke up, opened the curtains and looked shell-shocked out the windows at the floods devastation. That was so so so scary. I have never been in a disaster before.
