18 April
2014 – D.C.’s birthday
More Weta.
But
before I make a start on what we did today, I’d like to say more about last
night’s ballet. It was about 12.30 when I put the light out (much to D.C.’s relief)
so I didn’t get the opportunity to say as much as I would have liked.
Firstly
we got to the St James Theatre with about an hour to spare. We were not in our
glad rags; at least I only had my pretty top on. D.C. at least managed to wear
the jacket she’d planned to, but she also wore her new slacks and a less dressy
top. But over everything we had on our raincoats (without the warming linings,
it wasn’t that cold) and our waterproof over trousers. The theatre was closed
(we thought, so we wandered up and down the block, musing on the fact that we
were going to be seeing one type of dancing ladies, while all around were other
types. So you know what we’re talking about, one of the establishments was
Calendar Girls, which isn’t afraid to spend a bit of cash for some publicity.
For those of you who don’t know it, think of the movie, reduce the age of the leading
ladies, and add a bit more movement to the show.
On
one pass of the theatre we looked into an eatery and saw one of Whitakers eggs
that are scattered around the country. I’ve been taking photos of most that we’ve
seen, so we popped in to get a photo of this one using my tablet, which I had
brought with me. I couldn’t find the camera app, so I wound up using D.C.’s.
While I was trying to work this out, D.C. confirmed what she’d believed, that
this was actually the foyer to the St James Theatre. Once this had been
ascertained, we divested ourselves of our coats and over trousers, right in the
middle of the foyer. There was a cloak area set aside for jackets, umbrellas
and the suchlike, but I’d say that our over trousers were the only ones there
that night. The coat check-in lady said we were very sensible for being dressed
as we were.
The
theatre is beautiful and I wished I could have got photos, but as you’re not
allowed to photograph or record the performance I didn’t have my camera with
me. And without a tripod I doubt that I could have got a photo with enough
light in it anyway.
As I
said yesterday we were in the front row, right at the left side, so our view
was unimpeded (apart from a little bit of the stage) if off centre. But we were
able to see the net that’s strung over the orchestra pit in front of the stage.
We assumed that that was in case anyone fell of the stage; to stop them from
falling on top of a member of the orchestra. It would also have caught any
flowers that were thrown.
When
the ballet proper started it was simply wonderful. Finally we were able to
watch the dancers at full stretch on a proper stage, with proper sets, and a
proper orchestra. The orchestra wasn’t too loud and the music and dancing
sublime. We were lucky to see Lucy Green in the lead, Abagail Boyle as the
Gypsy Queen, and best of all Sir John Trimmer as Dr Coppelius. I hate to think
how old he is, but he’s still a great character dancer.
It
was magic. I was grinning all the way through.
Unfortunately,
despite D.C.’s efforts, her cold was coming to the fore and she couldn’t stop
hacking. She tried to restrict it to the loud bits, but that wasn’t always
successful. However I think the first interval ice cream helped.
It
was warm and not raining when we left, so we put our coats on for ease of
carrying, but didn’t bother about the over trousers. That was until I could see
this fine spray in the street lights, so we snuck into a doorway and got
dressed.
We were
sufficiently confident about where we were that we walked home, where I
continued with my blog.
Okay –
on to today.
Firstly
an apology. I have taken photos, but because of D.C.’s cold I’m in another
room. All my stuff is in hers, but having just traipsed into there three times
to collect things I needed, I’m not keen on making a fourth trip to get my
camera – and she’d probably agree.
Today
we moved out of the Travelodge and to Ann and Duncan’s. We managed to pack our
bags this morning and then waited until ten when they were due to pick us up.
As D.C. was paying the receptionist asked if we enjoyed our stay, and we said
that we wouldn’t recommend the place. The assistant manager came out to ask us
why, so we told him and then said we’d email him a list.
Things
like:
·
The
room was too hot. We never think of things like asking reception for a fan.
·
Everything’s
built for people six foot and over.
·
There
was only one place to place a suitcase (in a twin room) and no drawers.
·
Not
that we cared, but there was no mini-bar as advertised. (He told us they’ve been
removed from all rooms and they’ve got to change their literature.)
·
We
didn’t always get replacement shampoos and conditioners.
·
There
was only one type of tea, and that wasn’t always replaced.
·
There
was no way of washing any crockery we used (except in the hand basin where you
filled up the kettle) and no way of drying it. So we left it for the cleaners.
Yesterday we put a little mark on the bottom of one of the mugs and when we
came back in the afternoon we still had the same, now clean(?), mug. Where did
they wash it and what did they dry it with?
·
Not
enough coat hangers.
However
the bathroom was a lot better than the Mecure, apart from the cracked hand basin.
And it was a hang of a lot quieter, being back from the street.
He
asked what he could do to rectify it and we couldn’t think of anything. As we’d
paid a cheaper rate for the first two days and a dearer rate for the later
booked subsequent three days, we should have asked to have been charged the
same cheaper rate for all five days.
Duncan
collected us and brought us to their place, where we caught up with Ann who was
in the middle of baking a carrot cake, which we enjoyed as lunch as soon as it came
out of the oven.
Ann gave
us both birthday presents, which are much appreciated – especially the
liquorice. Then she was good enough to make us a roll and take us to Zealandia.
This is where I want my camera.
The
entry fee has dropped since we were there last. Now I only paid $17.50 and D.C.
paid $14. And, if we go back tomorrow, we will be able to get in again for
nothing.
It is
beautiful there. For those of you who don’t remember earlier blogs it’s a reserve
on the site of the former city water reservoir, which was retired when someone
realised that having millions of cubic metres of water backed up behind a dam
on a fault line wasn’t such a good idea. They’ve put a pest proof fence around
and now many native species flourish there. One of the first we saw free was a
Saddleback that flashed past, almost too fast to comprehend what it was. Other creatures
we saw were Fantails, Tui, ducks, Silvereyes, a robin, shags, a skink, geckos
(in cages), Weta, two Takahe, and what was really quite special (as was the
Saddleback and Takahe), several Tuatara of varying ages.
For
those of you not from this side of the globe, the first seven animals are
birds, skinks and geckos are of the lizard persuasion, Takahe are an extremely
rare type of rail bird (thought to be extinct for many years), Weta are
crickets, and Tuatara are living dinosaurs. To peer over a fence and see them
sitting on a bank sunning themselves was pretty special. So was seeing the two
Takahe grazing.
We
weren't there long enough and left the complex when it shut at 5.00pm, just as
Ann picked us up. Then it was back home to watch the Wizard of Oz, listen to a thunderstorm, and enjoy a delicious
Duncan cooked meal of roast chicken, chestnuts, potato, Jerusalem Artichokes, courgettes,
onions and carrots. Dessert was more carrot cake.
Then
Ann and Duncan let us luxuriate in their hot tub outside. It was warm, it wasn’t
raining, and it was lovely. I think D.C. enjoyed the birthday treat of soaking in
a hot tub, in the bush, at night, listening to the Morepork/Ruru (and
fireworks(?)), followed by a trip over the road to Wilson’s Bush (I’ll find out
the proper name later) to see glowworms in the bush. I even shone my torch on
one and could see the long case of the larvae form, with its tail sticking out
with the light on the end, and the long sticky threads that it used to snare
its prey.
Then
we came back to the house, set up my bed in the lounge (so I could sleep over
D.C.’s hacking and she could sleep over my blogging) and went to bed.
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