Pavlova, Paeroa and Pineapple Lumps
Degree very often get’s accused of being too English! This is something we can’t really help, we are guilty of and unfortunately it is the case of you have the foreign accent, we don’t. So when it comes to national days such as Waitangi treaty day, ANZAC day even Auckland anniversary day last weekend we find ourselves as managers having to explain the root of the story and an explanation of why we celebrate these days.
Now if you put the team to the test and asked exactly why we celebrate St Georges day or even the mass celebrated St Patricks day, 9 times out of 10 they wouldn’t be able to tell you! Let alone the lesser know St Davids day or St Andrews day OR what dates we are supposed to celebrate every year! I think it’s because they are not celebrated as a national holiday. Everyone still goes to work.
I have a scarred Childhood memory of when we lived in South Wales. My mother who had just previously exported us both from New Zealand and clearly had forgotten the importance of St Davids day until she dropped me into School. Every other Child was in fantastic traditional dress or Welsh Rugby Uniforms. I got whisked promptly home and forced kicking and screaming into a pair of hand me down red trousers and a Super Ted T shirt. She even pulled over to the side of the road to steal a newly grown daffodil and prodded into my pony tail. I would have rather been in my school uniform and still believe to this day it was a form of child abuse! But in New Zealand Waitangi day is celebrated on the 6th of February to commemorate the first signing of the treaty at Waitangi in 1840. As discussed in last weeks blog, we bow our heads, say thank you for the long weekend and plan how exactly we are going to celebrate it.
Degree went for the Whanaunga (Family fyi) feel and we became the Disney land of Waitangi day. We had bouncy castles, face painters and more L & P than the New Zealand navy could have shipped out! The kitchen was throwing out Green lipped Mussels and Canterbury lamb like it was going out of fashion (which is weird for New Zealand because nothing really goes out of fashion) I discovered Pavlova Ice cream and proclaimed Feb 6th as a official cheat day for anyone on a diet! Now with all that’s going on you could probably predict what would happen as soon as you saw the words bouncy castle, L & P and pavlova! These three things do not mix well and one poor child did suffer despite trying to show us all his brilliant bouncing skills, we also had the pleasure of seeing his Chicken nuggets for the second time that day. Hands down to Chris (our resident dogs body, don’t ask him any work related stories while you are eating!) got straight in there to clear up the mess and let the rest of the kids bounce again! Perhaps a little too hastily actually and found himself in the said remains of chicken nuggets. ( I know I’m sorry) Some days you just wish it was a banana!
Lastly before I leave you again for another week I want to say welcome back to one of our most loyal long distance customers. After a harrowing 2 weeks in China ( as yes I’m sorry to say we did laugh at most of the stories Peter told us, knowing full well that laughing at another’s miss fortune will earn you a one way ticket to hell) but Jason it’s good to have you back on 2012. (There will more blog referencing to these two. Never a dull moment when these two darken doorway!) And Auckland! How are you going to get used to a 5 day working week again? Good luck x
