Heritage Day in Timaru

Woke up at a reasonable hour this morning after a night in a sleeping bag in a tent...didn't hear any snoring during the night either! We all rolled out of bed around 8ish; played a few rounds of Uno over cups of coffee. The clean-up was done in no time with Petru, Erinmarie, Dannica, Nyree, Hannah and me doing it together - great team work and a job well done, which wrapped up a successful Ladies' Night. Yes, we'll definitely do it again...check back in January next year!

Bronwyn texted later to suggest we take a look at the Heritage Day exhibition in town; I had no intention of going out but when she started sending picture messages I was convinced (thanks Possum!). Nick didn't need much arm twisting and the boys were keen as soon as they saw the first bit of stuff. It was extremely interesting and a jolly good effort by all involved - most of the shops in Stafford Street participated with old-time displays and fancy-dressed employees. This first one's for you, Dad:The boys looking at a display of farm implements including a cream pan, castration tweezers and tailing irons, hay knives etc.
The bulbous arrangement of fresh-cut flowers in front is a very clever vase designed for an asthmatic lady.
A replica of Timaru's first motor car, built in c.1900.
Doesn't the old sewing machine in the manse look something like this museum piece, Hazel? I never took it out but imagine it is a similar age :)
Ah, not part of the Heritage Day displays but I thought this an interesting way of dressing a cafe window:
This cowboy fella totally looked the part:
(Hee hee...):
The boys didn't need prompting to pose at this one - they know the drill...
I couldn't possibly put a a caption on this one - what would these old-time ladies be chatting about in their fashionable hats...surely not the price of eggs and cream. Maybe about the latest bit of ribbon in the milliner's store?
Okay, this is where is got totally surreal - this band was awesome and there were couples dancing in the street. Then penny-farthings started pedalling down the road toward the display of vintage cars and the horse-drawn carriages got going! With the music playing I could totally believe we were in 20th century Timaru.

Oh wait, back to the future...this was a walking advert for the NZ Hat and Hair Art Awards happening in April (I had a look at their website and it looks zany...but fun...)
And lastly, we heard this piper long before we saw him. I wish more people would play bagpipes!