Guy Fawkes and all that stuff.

Well we seem to have solved our campsite problems until next year. Friends Eileen and Geoff have a small holding at Otaki just north of Wellington and for various reasons need some help with managing their estate so I have become Head Gardener in return for a campsite.  Mind you we are going to be busy between now and Christmas anyway.

Dot's new friend Muffy sits in the sun in Gypsy Rover. She would love to take her home.

Friday we drove the 20 something kilometres from Otaki to Koputaroa school on the North side of Levin for the Wellington branch of the  NZMCA’s Guy Fawkes Rally. The rally was well attended with 60 vans arriving for what turned out to be a good rally. Four entries in the “Make a Guy” competition were presented for judging, two by children and two by adult’s. They were entered as the Tallest, the Alien, the Smiler, and the Fireman and the builders all took away a prize.

The evening meal was provided by the committee as a Hobo’s dinner with the tables being adorned with the finest newspapers as table clothes and dry wood creations as centre pieces. On the menu was sausages, peas and mashed spud, well what else would Hobo’s eat except perhaps Baked Beans. With over a hundred sitting down to dine the after effects of the latter wouldn’t bear thinking about.

NZMCA rally at Koputaroa School on the outskirts of Levin

Once night fall had arrived it was time for the fireworks display behind the hall. Although it was a good effort it was nothing to the commercially presented display’s that we get around the country these days. I’m afraid I’m one in favour of banning the sale of fireworks in favour of well organised displays as Guy Fawkes is English History that doesn’t really have much bearing in this country any more.

After morning tea on Sunday it was time to say our farewells as the site had to vacated by noon. Dot and I had plenty of visitors over the week-end wanting a look at our new baby and a few were very interested in what was involved in importing such a vehicle. We didn’t have far to go as we are staying with friends Don and Sandra for a few days and they only live 2 kilometre’s further along the road from the school.

Amongst friends at only our 2nd NZMCA rally