Mapua Chalets

The Dancing girls

Hannah and her friends Rebecca, Millie and Emily all performed a hip hop dance at the Mapua Easter Fair.

They were brilliant.  I have to say a BIG THANK YOU to their teacher Emily Tate who runs Dance Inc. at Mapua Hills Community Church.

The start of the performance

The final Pose!

The Fair seemed to be bigger and better this year.  Live bands playing music, children dancing, crafty stalls, plants stalls, great food, and some amazing bargins.  Ben and Hannah had a fantastic time, but our wallet felt very empty at the end of the day!!  They went on the swing ride, the ferris wheel, bumper cars, trampoline (with harnesses) They loved it.

Hannah on the trampolines

Ben on the trampoline

On the go-karts

Ben and Daniel in the Boxing ring

On the wheel

On the wheel

The swing

The Sarau Festival was a great success again this year over in Upper Moutere.  There were more things to entain the children as well as all the favourites for the adults.  Tasting all the local products is great.  I tried a few things that I am now hooked on such as  Cheeses from the Neudorf Dairy  – and I am now a fan of Elder flower cordial too.

The Sarau Festival

Ben loved the Whenuiti station where they had to stack and stand on as many crates as they could!!

Crate Stacking

Whoops

Hannah Loved the horse riding and the Lamas

Hannah horse riding

Lamas that the children could pet.

Many of us flocked to relax in the park and listen to some wonderful Jazz.  It was our first time and I’m looking forward to next year already.

A view from the hill

Even Hannah loved it ……with the free face painting and balloons.  She even got to have a go at swinging some balls on a string.

painting

Hannah having a go with balls on a string!

England team line up for the national anthem

We took Ben to see the game along with Ross, Gary, Daniel and Frank.  The atmosphere in the AMI stadium was amazing!

Father and son gripped by the match

The opening ceremony represented the Battle of Britain which was fantastic

Who are these handsome All Black supporters?

Ben in front of the All Blacks during the warm up

Mapua Glow Girls, dressed in multi-coloured tutus, waded through the mud in true tinkerbell style. Unfortunately the weather was against us from the start and as the rain came down the mud track got even slippier. The weather didn’t manage to dampen the spirits of any of the walkers.

The emotions at the start of the event when survivors and caregivers walked the first lap inspired everyone through the night. We took it in turns to walk in 2′s to keep the baton going, returning to our team tent during breaks. The glow girls tent chattered and laughed through the night – topics of conversations very varied and top secret (especially Sue’s contribution to the conversation!)

We all walked the final lap just as the sun was coming up and it felt that because of what we had all achieved through the night there was a renewed hope rising with the dawning of the new day.

Nelson’s Opera in the Park really was a ‘Once in a Lifetime Experience’. Dame Kiri te Kanawa, one of the world’s best loved and respected sopranos, along with Jonathan Lemalu, (A bass baritone with a commanding presence on stage and a voice that is earning him huge accolades from audiences and critics world-wide.), Simon O’Neill (A talented tenor with engagements as far ahead as La Scala in 2012), Helen Medlyn (New Zealand’s favourite mezzo was fantastic too). Along with Vector Wellington Orchestra – Conductor Marc Tadd. Amazing.

We were so fortunate to experience and enjoy a world class concert in the relaxed setting of Nelsons Trafalgar Park.

The evening began with a picnic whilst we waited for the show to begin. And wow what a show it was. Andy and I are now hooked on Opera!

The fireworks were a brilliant finale to finish off a magical evening.