Wanga-Vegas or Bust!

Rebecca and I got into Wanganui in the afternoon, after throwing my mother off the scent by calling her that morning to wish her a Happy Birthday and to give her a reminder to please take lots of photos of her party to email me in London. Mwahaha! We whiled away the hours doing the shops of Wanganui - doesn't take long - and by going to see Pirates of the Carribbean 3 (a bit disappointing, but Depp & Bloom more than make up for the stupid plot).

We went off to my Mum's school, as she was having the party in the school hall, where my brother was waiting eagerly for our arrival. We hadn't even gotten out of the cab when he was off! Julian announced that he had gotten Mum a special present for her 60th, and that someone had brought it all the way from Wellington. In walked Rebecca, much to my Mum's delight. She is always referred to adopted daughter No. 1 by my parents who caused great confusion at Rebecca's wedding by claiming to all and sundry that they were her REAL parents. Rebecca is definitely my Mum's spiritual daughter - they have been known to give me the exact same card and presents, and they read the same books at the same time. Spooky really...

Anyway, Julian announced me, and I walked in. Mum was so stunned she just stared at me for a good 5 or 6 seconds until it dawned on her that I was real, and then she was off like a rocket to give me a hug. Everybody was cheering or crying or both. It was a very, very special moment, and the look on Mum's face was worth all the planning and those lies. The cool thing was I got to catch up with all my family and family friends at the party. As you can see from the photos I was one of the folks leading the charge to use the karaoke machine. I did a particulary rocking version of Pat Benetar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot :- ) I don't have any photos of Mum's face when I walked in, but lots of other people do, so I'll post one when I get it. By the way, when my brother announced a special guest was coming, Mum thought she was getting a strippergram!

Dad of course, being the smart man that he is, had deduced that I was coming after his chat with Jack, but kept it to himself. My brother is terribly pleased with himself that he was the only one who knew I was coming and managed to keep it secret for months. FYI, the walking stick Mum is holding is a birthday present from Cheeky Cousin Graham. Couldn't have done better myself.

This week in Wanga-Vegas has been great. Mum took Thursday and Friday off work, and has taken me to almost every cafe! I've caught up with the rellies and friends, and even Ann-Marie was able to stop by on her way from Wgtn to Auckland. It was lovely to see her as she was the one person I thought I'd miss seeing this trip.

I've had lots of doggie-cuddles and taken them on nice long walks. Mostly I've just relaxed, and read books and watched DVDs (I thoroughly recommend Nanny McPhee and My House in Umbria). Wanganui is actually looking quite good. The UCol is building a massive complex by the riverfront, and a tram is almost up and running. There are cool boutique shops and galleries everywhere, as Wangas is getting very arty.

It's been quite yuck weather - lots of wind and rain, but I don't mind, it's so nice to be home. I've missed those green hills and the forests and the Nu Zild accent on TV (I still have a crush on John Campbell. He has such marvellous hair). Craig Parker and Angela Bloomfield are back on Shortie Street. Suzannne Paul has won the latest Dancing with the Stars. April Iremia is still in the Woman's Weekly. Dan Carter is still flogging Jockeys, long may it last. Things seem outrageously expensive - $4 for a piece of slice in a cafe, and these are Wanganui prices. I'm not even going to mention the house prices for fear of depressing myself. The story of that poor women who's oxygen was turned off by the power company has absolutely outraged the nation, and rightly so. My Mum and her colleagues are having to deal with the gang problems stirred up even more by the shooting of that little girl, as many of the children at her school have family members who are in the Mongrel Mob or Black Power. And yet, also one of the main stories in the Wanganui Chronicle the other day, was to announce the retirement of a chap who has campaigned vigorously for more public loos in Wanganui, alongside ads for the local Market Day. So all is not lost.

Off to Wellington next week for work, and am really looking forward to catching up with my friends and cousins and just soaking up the atmosphere of Wellington. And then to Hawaii. Life is rough, isn't it.