Wanganui is apparently quite well known for being culturally 'busy' - there is a constant buzz about- from exhibitions of glass blowing to historical photography at the museum - our riverbank boasts sculptures and there is always something happening at the Opera House. This past week we went along to a charity performance at one of the cafes in town - this group of seven ladies and three gentlemen entertained us over a really good 'tea' with a singalong -  all played on ukeleles!

 Most of the performers took a turn on the mike and solo-ed their way through their couple of minutes of fame. This lady featured here with the mike is the owner of the interesting ukelele made from a biscuit tin further down in this post!
Apparently her son acquired it for her in London UK and it's a 'one of a kind' numbered instrument - who would have thought such things existed!

Of course Jo and I were fascinated by this 'little' uke - it's amplified and has special polyurethane strings or some suchlike - but the SOUND that is produced defies belief! We immediately did some research and thought about HAVING one - they are quite dear! In fact they are very dear! But nice to know they are out there! This chappy, although he looks quite fierce in the picture was not averse to donning Elton John shades for the appropriate number and was literally the foundation of the entire show! But then the bassist usually is!!

 A 'lead solo' has to be amplified  - so this one was - although a lot of the music was kind of presented in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, it was still great fun and sometimes not to shabby musically either. I think someone, somewhere had great fun doing the actual arrangements  - especially when you consider that the majority of these ladies don't 'do' music really and don't read it either! 

 Their enjoyment was very evident at times!

A very special ukelele!

 Bonnita (centre) - who has in fact appeared on this blog before, has once again done us ex-South Africans proud! This time named 'Apprentice of the Year' for her hairdressing.

Wanganui doesn't really have what it takes when it comes to seamstresses who are willing to do alterations! 
Hannah's blue dress for the prom needed fairly major altering - so we altered it!
Luckily for her, her partner (and his parents) come from sunny South Africa and her dad works with Jo -IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW.

 Its been very cold and white in New Zealand - this picture is of two of my students who have recently moved to Christchurch - their dad will be part of the rebuild there - they had enough snow in their front garden this week to create a really impressive snowman.
It's even snowed (not terribly much I do hasten to add) in Auckland - for the first time since 1939 - so quite an event.
The news broadcasts on television are pretty much about the weather - one could be forgiven if one thought we were in the UK - where weather is such an integral part of life!!

And for those of you who would like to stay updated - here she is in her summer dress! Matilda, sweet granddaughter! Cuddles from us in New Zealand!
Dis al!