Just thought you would like to see this sunset picture we took the other evening from our garden - the photograph doesn't really do the scene justice, but pretty all the same.
The Big Braai at Cooks Gardens in Wanganui on Easter Saturday, followed by a concert by Bok van Blerk.
Of course our esteemed 'mare' Michael Laws was in attendance - he was part of the whole vision right from the beginning when SAMCA was launched last year at the Top Ten Holiday Park. He gave a short and encouraging speech about South Africans adding so much to the kiwi culture and how much we are valued here in New Zealand! It was brilliant that he managed to put his money where his mouth was and got the Wanganui council on board to the tune of a good few thousand dollars towards this event. The idea being that we 'put Wanganui on the map'.
The deputy High Commissioner from the South African Embassy in Wellington - all things embassy related (apart from the police clearance certificates) can now be done in Wellington. Up until very recently, all the embassy issues were handled by the Embassy in Canberra, Australia. It was good of him to show up and make a speech.
Not usually seen in Wanganui!
There was live music all day in the build up to the big braai - plenty of stalls to visit with loads of traditional South African fare. Stallholders came from as far away as Auckland and not only sold lots of goods, but handed out flyers advertising their wares and giving the promise that they have an 'on line' shopping facility and will courier goods to you anywhere in New Zealand!
Each 'Braai Spot' ticket entitled you to six folks around a braai - provided by the organisers and yours to take home with you after the event. (The braai not the guests!) Great hilarity watching everyone pulling out all the 'bits' from the cardboard boxes, poring over the assembly instructions and getting the show on the road as it were. The final result pictured here in the form of our little part of the Big Braai.
Cooks Gardens in Wangaui - the venue for the Big Braai and Bok van Blerk concert. Expats from all over New Zealand came to spend the weekend in our little town and most of those we spoke to reckoned Wanganui is such 'a cute little town'!
Bok van Blerk - the one they all came to see, of 'De La Rey' fame. The concert was loud and proudly South African - to the degree that Pierre told us that he had had a complaint to the noise control chappies in Wanganui. The concert was over on the dot of ten pm - after which anyone with a complaint would have had a leg to stand on! The crowd was disappointed that their baying for encores fell on deaf ears apparently - however, as we knew, there was little choice in the matter!
All in all, a very successful day with a large contingent of new Wanganui admirers!
Dis al!
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