Street Hawker

I've always liked the hawking side of selling things...

second-hand clothing when I was a student, plants I'd grown as a gardener, fairground chances, or theatre programmes on Front of House duty. 

I thrive on the social interaction, the vibe of fairground or market place, swap meet or garage sale - and yes, the weight of coin in my apron pocket is rewarding, even though it might be destined for another's bank account.

But. I don't enjoy making money for its own sake. I have always had the security of a real job or my husband's income behind me. 

I have always had enough to live comfortably with: 

clean running water, safe sanitation and four walls, enough food to nourish me and enough clothing to warm me. 

My riches are my children and friendships and simple day to day interactions with people around me;

the blush of Dawn and the ravish of Sunset, the promise of spring blossom and the bounty of summer fruit. 

But. 
Without becoming a hermit and withdrawing from modern society I need to pay cold hard cash for things - like ratesandpowerandphoneandinsuranceandseptictankinspectionsandyouknowwhatImean. 
I do not want to be anchored by the Widows' Benefit for much longer. I am grateful for it while the children are still at school. It is a present security.
Two years ago today I made a resolution for the future. 
Two years ago today Elwin and I celebrated the purchase of this land, though he didn't relish working to pay off a mortgage for another 20 years. I decided that I would give myself two years to begin earning pin money, and five years to take over paying the mortgage.
So much has changed since 23 July 2010. Yet there is no reason not to follow this plan. 
Today I officially launch my second-hand shop. It was meant to have a concrete presence in the Skudder House on Auckland Street. Instead it has a virtual presence as Dunedin Street  on the Etsy Vintage shopping forum.
Setting up Dunedin Street is one reason that I have been less of a blogger lately, I'm sorry for that, and hope to get back to reading and commenting on all my favourite blogs again soon.
I enjoy photographing my stock, researching and describing the items. 
I like to think that even if people aren't intending to buy they can learn something worthwhile when the read my product descriptions. In that way it is an extension of Lady Mondegreen's Secret Garden. Dip in if you like!


Today I also realised that having come this far, I now have to work towards my five year goal. That's only three years away now! 

Oh Joy

I liked the old paper in our bedroom.

Such a sweet 1950s pattern.

But after sixty years it wore its stories visibly:

the betrayal of a knife slash right across one wall,

the water stains from travelling by truck in the rain.

worn patches from - well I'm not sure what - holes, and... Earthquakes!

Yesterday the Earthquake Commission finished their share of the work in Bedroom 1.

And the blue trim is still right in my eyes. But should I distress it for a touch of shabby chic?

Or paint it afresh, Hippy bright?
Thank you Bryony, for painting the replacement picture rail.

This room has had quite a few people working on it, apart from the EQC-contracted builders, plasterers and decorators:

Handy Andy attending to details;

Ingrid has cleaned reclaimed skirting boards and painted for me.

And I have had decisions to make.

I would have liked to remove this old fireplace alcove, but it was load-bearing, and would have required a building- consented structural change. So it remains, for the time being, a quirk of character.

There were some anxious moments when the decorator and I realised that the paper had been ordered for an alcove-free wall, and maybe I should chose a paint colour to finish the alcove, but in the end there was paper to spare.

 There are still plenty of finishing details to attend to, but for now I am giddy with the joy of my lovely garden room.

The wallpaper is Porcelain Garden (magenta/leaf green) from Sanderson's Caverley Collection.

The new blue trim is painted with Hippy Blue by Resene.

The border above the picture rail and in the ceiling of the alcove is Ash by Resene.

Winter Ball

Tess asked Bryony to come to the Ball with her.


Of course Bryony said 'Yes.'

Getting ready with their friends was half the fun.

Antony got make-up on his shirt before the girls had any on their faces!

         

           

But everything came together

with the help of a few hairpins.

Then it was time for a pre-ball gathering,

where lots of proud parents insisted on group photos,

including a frock line-up.

Before the kids headed off in a pink party bus to dance the night away.

Down Town Up

Rangiora has developed a forlorn feeling over the past six months. This rabbit left in the toy shop window, symbolised the sense of stoicism that the High Street retailers have had to muster to weather the rolling closure of their shops and the disruption of through traffic due to post-earthquake safety concerns.










The Town Hall 
was closed in December, and 

although stage productions have
found other venues, we have no local cinema for the time being.
A Council decision to 
strengthen and refurbish the
building has been contentious,
but I am certainly pleased that the grand old lady is going to continue to be part of our cultural fabric, not to mention retaining her landmark position in the High Street. I know that after 50 years of belonging here, the loss of the Town Hall would have finally loosened bonds that bereavement and the Earthquakes
had begun to unravel.

Stoicism has been tempered with humour, generosity and co-operation.

As other closures followed the Town Hall, 

businesses reached out to one another, helping to remove stock and equipment, and offering space in undamaged offices and shops.

Paradoxically, I enjoy the narrow walkway, which has been established between the road and the defensive container wall: there is always courtesy and a smile from whoever I squeeze past beside that great steel blockade.

I also enjoy walking past the old library building. It is a positive
work in progress; the strengthening of an early brick building, which is another part of Rangiora's cultural fabric. The bricks have been removed and will be replaced over a concrete inner wall.

Another positive initiative has been the construction of a pop-up shopping precinct by the Waimakariri District Council in front of the
Council Chambers.

Today in bright sunshine, warm enough to bask in,

It was time to open the new precinct

(whatever the state of the old one).

The Mayor explained that there was no catchy name for the new shops; tenancies are likely to come and go, but the main thing is to keep the retail heart beating in the town centre.

The Prime Minister, John Key, formally opened the precinct,

And it was back to business.

I checked on the rabbit and am pleased to see that she has been reunited with her friends in the toyshop's new premises.

For the Mayor's more detailed journal of Rangiora happenings - including the stocking of the toyshop - visit David Ayers' Weblog. 

Red Velvet Comfort

This is the time of Matariki in New Zealand. It equates to the Halcyon Days of ancient Greece, when settled weather can be relied on for gathering in the late harvest and sea food before Winter storms in. But this year, the re-appearance of the constellation Matariki - or the Pleiades - in the sky, has ushered in rain, snow and freezing temperatures.  And I am feeling the cold.  Satisfying then to have comforts, like the log burner, the contentment of cats, lush gardening books and home baking...

Kitty, I am realising is a natural baker.  What is it in the genes that can incline one to understanding the business of flour and fat and sugar? Is it the same gene that inclined her father to chemistry? And did he inherit that from his mother, Kitty's grandmother, who was an excellent baker? According to her daughter Lizzie, Dimpy understood and made all types of pastry with skill. And every Christmas, Elwin remembered the ecstasy and the agony of his mother's mince pies: the melt-in-the mouth pastry and the indigestion that followed. Well, now we know that he was also setting himself up for arteriosclerosis. But let's not get distracted from comfort: it's wintertime, it's cold, and home-baked Red Velvet Cake right now, feels good.