Day 2 Storage Cleaning & a Glittery Cabaret

Wednesday 24 June

Ahhh - this was a reminder of why we left Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and set off on Banjo’s Odyssey… rain, rain, rain 🌧️

Luckily when Albi and I set off mid-morning to walk over to Grandma Helen’s place, we caught a break between downpours. But it didn’t last. Passed the Balmoral Fire Station - feeling sad for the "Dire" Emergency Service as they have rechristened themselves. These key services urgently need better funding. A bit further along I realised we had slept through a very windy night - there were bits of palm fronds all over the pavement and the road - quite a hazard.

Turning onto Mt Eden Road I rather liked the very traditional stone cottage which was for sale (would need a lottery win) and the astro-sloth on the comms box at Shackleton Road - two different types of explorers being honoured.

Louis sorted Helen's IT issues, had a cuddle with Albi, then drove us home to drop Albi back at her house, before we dropped Helen at the mall and could procrastinate no longer… we had to finish the clearing & cleaning in the studio.

Luckily we’d broken the back of it yesterday so Louis did a couple of op shop runs while I wiped the mouldy patches off the remaining affected antique wooden furniture then polished up everything with lashings of Pledge to try & create a slightly waxy barrier. Left the studio with ten new moisture grabbers strategically positioned and crossed our fingers that the aircon & dehumidifier would work better with a few less items in the space (but probably still too many 🤷‍♀️). Looked a lot better than when we started - I wonder how long this fix will last...

Did a final op shop run with the last pine carver chair which we inherited off a friend of Louis back in London back in a previous century), retired home to a joyful Albi and had a wee break before whizzing into town for "All That Glitters" - the opening gala night of the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival. So much fun, lots of sparkles, spangles, sequins, high camp and tassel twirling!

We had a very pink welcome on the pink carpet at the Civic - turns out the guy on the left taking our selfie is a life guard at West Wave where Louis used to swim regularly! 🩷💜

We had seats at a shared table with a bit of a restricted view over to the left and by the time things kicked off the place was packed with quite an eclectic crowd. There were burlesque tassel twirlers, a Sinaporean Karaoke singer, Sugar relating his search for a Sugar Daddy and Simply Brill a group singing hits from the Brill Building - think Neil Sedaka, Carol King, Burt Bacharach etc. And so good to see the fabulous Anita Wiglit celebrating the Caluzzi Cabaret 30th birthday with Miss Gina and Ruby Reveal - Anita headlined Titirangi Festival’s Jungle Boogie back in 2021 when I was looking after the green room… such a riot! 🌟

Managed to snag a few selfies with some of the cast on the way out - note to self, wear sequins next time!

Heading back across Aotea Square the Cathedral of Light was looking fabulous so of course we had to take a twinkly walk through it and grab a selfie or two! 🌟

Home late to feed Albi and heat up some leftover stew for us for dinner.