Our fair in Whangarei was very busy and hot therefore our inflatable pool was a luxury to sink into after sweating through our shows!
We left the grounds Sunday night and headed for the Mt Mania N.Z.M.C.A park over property (Some of us Gypsy’s had stayed the year before) only to find the old fart who owned the place telling us that we couldn’t stay there. Apparently last time we took over the place turning it into some kind of circus(thanks!). Personally I think he was just intimidated by our big funky trucks and our gold tights (you rock Regan!). So we spent the night there and on condition we moved on in the morning still smarting from the unexpected truckism. The latest issue of the N.Z.M.C.A magazine has an article dealing with attitudes to different members vehicles!
Having to change our plans we happily decided to spend the week at Te Arai, another gypsy fav. New problem! Just when we were almost there our power steering started making some very scary noises. We stopped in at a mechanics hoping it was nothing major but being fairly disappointed. We had to stay overnight at the mechanics, I was really bummed out. A mechanics yard wakes early, so we did too. The Mechanic got straight to work and Mum the boys and I went to Te Arai to swim and play with the other Gyspys. Dad and Mim joined us after lunch, it was a quick fix. Later we discovered that while it had been quick it wasn’t a fix.
At Te Arai we stay on the property of a friend. It’s where the festival “Shipwrecked’ is held and for a good reason. There are several boats installed around the property, the biggest is a massive upturned wooden boat hull with a piano underneath and the best acoustics. All these boats are perfect for us kids to play and have fun on.
A sand mining operation on the property has dug out a large fresh water lake, great for swimming in. There is even a pontoon!
I had a sleep over with Simone, Tiwai and Lettie in their bus. We swum played and overall just relaxed for the next two days.
On Thursday we made our way to Auckland to park in Point Chevalier in our cousins driveway, while Mum and Dad flew to Queenstown for the 10th anniversary of the pole studio that Mum started.
Our Auntie Ellie and Uncle Matt spoiled us, we had a blast. The next morning Mum and Dad came back early and we left to setup at Blockhouse bay.
Luckily we had got to relax a little in the week as the three day fair at Blockhouse bay was busy hot and fun. A photographer from the AA magazine came to take pictures of us and Mim for an article about tiny homes. He was a perfectionist so we had to stand in the hot sun for ages. Sadly on the Monday I came down very sick with fever and could not do our circus show. I managed to heave ho and pushed through my magic show and collapsed back into bed!
Next week Te atatu. Bye!