Sunday Funday in Timaru

Sunday 7 December

After breakfast with the horses thundering by, Louis went for a swim and I wandered on to investigate the Sunday Market and shows in Caroline Bay. Arrived just in time to catch “Art in Motion”, a fabulous wearable art catwalk of creative costumes.

The themes were varied but each piece was fascinating for its design, execution, choice of materials and high impact. My favourite was “Sew Bee It” in honour of the UK tv show the Great British Sewing Bee - crafted from pattern pieces, zippers, tape measures, ricrac, pin cushions, cotton bobbins, thimbles, cotton reels, buttons, poppers, hooks & eyes and even a classic pair of Victoriana sewing scissors .

Other creations included the Gypsy Queen created from tutus, dress up wigs, masks and op shop sequins; Under the Sea - created from over 80% paper and featuring wave wings, a shell bodice and a shipwreck under the sea; two Trash to Fashion creations made from bread bags from a charity cheese roll making event and from Heartland chippies packets (they are a local company); a carnival cape like a circus tent with carnival acts inside, a lacework Halloween BOO-quet, a paper Māori cloak celebrating kiwi flora and a Queen Bee outfit.

Abby & Jez joined me after that and we perused the market, buying a few comestibles and coveting some of the other items which are too big for a caravan or moho! Louis showed up in time for street food lunch - loaded fries and burgers (uh oh!) then we headed up to Stamford St to claim a kerbside spot for the Santa Parade! There were so many floats and groups represented - it took about 45 minutes for them all to pass by, with Santa bringing up the rear! It was interesting that many of the community groups represented different nationalities - Filippino, Thai, Malaysian, Japanese and Indian - and there were many different emergency services vehicles, as well as some cool vintage cars and two pipe bands.

After a wee siesta, Abby & Jez joined us as the racetrack for a BBQ dinner at Banjo before we parted ways for a week or so.

The sunset over Phar Lap was pretty cool with pink and orange clouds and fabulous "anticrepuscular rays", before we fell into bed, full tummies and full hearts!