We took Totty down to Rotary Park and had a look at the new wall. The water was eroding the bank where the wall ended and so they have continued the wall along and are making a very good job of it, putting rock slips on the front and they have put steps down to get into the water. It isn't finished yet but will look very good when it is.
Elizabeth called me last night to ask if I could pick up some flowers for the brides from a florist in Papamoa. We went over to a garden centre near Papamoa for coffee first and then had a look around the shop which sold, apart from plants and gardening things, children's clothes, jewellery and NZ cosmetics (made with lanolin, honey, kiwi fruit and Rotorua mud) and lots of other little bits for the house a really lovely gift shop and they also do picture framing all a bit of an odd combination but very interesting. We bought some peanuts with black pepper, some Mexican vanilla essence and because everything had 30% off O bought the lanolin hand cream and body lotion. I have liked this lanolin cream since we arrived here but only ever bought it for presents and every time I go into a shop that sells it I have a try and the smell lasts all day so I am very pleased I have my own now. We did really well with what we payed as the lady gave us 30% off everything and we think the prices on the labels had already been reduced but she said not so who are we to argue.
We then went to get the flowers. I took Heather to the Papamoa shopping centre when she was here and we found it to be quite small and I felt a bit sorry for the people of Papamoa. However, we had only been to half of it and my directions to the florist shop took us to another big area with lots of shops - Heather would have loved it! The flowers were really pretty. One bouquet was old fashioned roses with heather and the other white roses with an arrangement of big, wide, green and the lady did them as her donation to our fundraising.
We set off home and decided to go through Papamoa, we usually bypass it on the state highway. I can understand why so many Brits live down there it is just like a big housing estate although some of the houses are very nice. I have been told by a few people not to consider living there as it gets very windy down by the ocean and if, god forbid, there ever was a tsunami it would be washed away! We got a bit lost but managed to find our way out and popped into Bayfair to buy some sushi for lunch on our way home.
We didn't have long to eat it as we had to be down at the Tauranga Boys College to decorate the stage. When we arrived we got stuck in but it was a bit chaotic. Elizabeth had said I was in charge of the decorations but it was pretty bit task and so many ladies who all had their own idea as to how it should be done! Anyway we all pulled together and with two big arches to cover in ivy and lots of pot plants to be placed it all took shape and was eventually finished. I left to come home when they were still rehearsing. Only 87 tickets have been sold which is not as many as we would have liked.
I got back and Jon had gone to the gym and I set to to make a Thai lamb curry for dinner. Jon got back and took Tot out while I had a shower and got ready. After a few spoon fulls of curry I was back to the college for 6.30. Everywhere looked good and they had displayed three very old wedding gowns from 1930/40s and the stage looked good. My job was to be on the door with a lady called Colleen. Coleen plays golf at the Tauranga club where I had my lesson so we had a nice chat about golf!!!
People started to come in and we had to take the tickets and hand out programmes. We had 24 who payed at the door so all in all we did OK. I went in and sat with some of the other ladies on a seat I had reserved near the front so had a good view. Elizabeth had told me that there was a 'spot prize' hidden in one of the bags and due to the empty seats I was getting worried that it would be in one of the goody bags on the unoccupied seats. I knew it was going to be a nice prize as it was donated by Kairapiro Lodge Hotel who had also donated the main prize of a two night stay for two including wine and breakfast. The show went very well. I thought the music played by the girls college, although very good, was a little too serious for the occasion but they did it for free and they were very good.
The first brides were ladies who were married in the last year and some of the dresses were really beautiful. The second half was with ladies who had married a few years ago and some over 50 years ago and the dresses worn by granddaughters. Some were really lovely and in very good condition. I liked the one from 1953 which was strapless, very daring for the time and had a little bolero to go with it.
We had one winner chosen by the audience and one from the judges and one second prize which was a weekend in a very nice hotel here in Tauranga. So all in all a very good night after months of planning and a lot of headaches for Elizabeth our fundraising chairman.
After the show we had to clear up everything as the college was holding an Anzac Day service on Sunday morning so all the plants, balloons, bows and arches had to be dismantled but it took a lot less time to take down than put up!!!
When I got home Jon had a call from Kirsty and he had also been speaking to Heather about her dissertation which he is reading through for her.
I gave Kirsty a call to wish her a happy birthday and she sounded well. James has bought her a zoo keeper for a day present at Colchester zoo so she is very pleased with that. Our card and present hasn't arrived but I knew it was going to be late due to the flight ban. I just hope it does eventually get there.
I tried to call Mary but she had just gone out to the shops so I had a chat to Kathryn and I will try again tomorrow.
And then I went to bed very tired but glad it was over and went well.
WEATHER
Cool first thing and then warm and sunny and 22 again.
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