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| Then Fergus braved the road on Tuesday and we arrived in Christchurch. It was late afternoon and we were looking for the Holiday Park that allows pets. The next two days were the very worst we experienced in New Zealand and we ended up in a total dump and paying $100.00 for two nights, and they refused to give us a refund. However on Thursday, Fergus found the energy to get us out of there and we found the place we were meant to be. This place was at the other end of the same road but about 5km away from where we were to start with. | |
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The final lecture, of the tour, in Christchurch was held at the Christchurch Art Centre and at the home of Southern Ballet School. It was fantastic. The building is built of stone ( a rarity in New Zealand) and set out like a cloister and reminded us very much of England. The last lecture was the very best and I was asked to come back and do an extra day of fitting and giving advise to individual dancers, their teacher and parent. This was organised into 3/4-hour private sessions with each dancer and I got paid for each session by the parent or the teacher. It was amassing and for the first time in my life I was allowed to do my job and tell people the risks involved. It turns out that In New Zealand almost all pointe work starts at the age of ten and that of course is at least 2 - 3 years too early for the bones of the young dancer. Consequently I saw lots of deformed feet, ankles and especially toes in children very young. All I could do is tell them how it is and then suggest that they now can make informed decisions and decide how to proceed from here. The teachers were great, open and honest and each brought me their dancer for me to look at and assess. I enjoyed my work but was saddened by what I saw. Lets hope that in time we can change things and save the feet of our young dancers. |
| To keep entertained whilst Esther was saving feet Fergus went to the Christchurch beach suburb of New Brighton. Not very much like the Brighton we have left. Good sand, one shopping street, all very quite and subdued but they did have a pier! |  |
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Whilst in Christchurch we also went to visit one of New Zealand's top alpaca farms and Greg and Rachel invited us to lunch. After lunch we had a wonderful time with them and they gave us a very good insight into what is what in the alpaca world. For a start, there are two kinds of alpaca. The most common and cuddly looking one is the Huacaya, pronounced (Wakaia) and the Suri pronounced as it looks. We were spoiled for choice and as we talked it became clear what we wanted: Two boys of the type called wethers, which means that they are boys but have been spayed and have now officially become pets. In other words they have a very small defect and can therefore not be used for breading. As I am interested in eventually spinning the fleece, I wanted an animal with a good fleece and a friendly disposition. And then we found just such a beast. He is white Huacaya and called Winter. The other animal we would like is a white Suri. Suri have a very long corded fleece and very silky fibre, quite different from the Huacaya. We still have to choose him and then we will call him Summer. |
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Our ultimate plan is for us to run a B&B and the alpaca would make a very elegant addition to our new business. We will start of with these two alpaca and if we can keep them alive, we might add more companions for them. To top it all, yesterday we went to the Christchurch Sunday Arts and Craft Market and found a spinning wheel, the model is called Joy, which when new costs $600.00. This one was one year old, and cost $185.00. Fergus checked out all the bearings and as it is a genuine Ashford wheel and in very good condition we bought it. I did earn the cash for it the day before and it is lovely to have my own wheel. |
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