Tag: writing events travel

(Sign in Paul Melser’s yard. It looks convincingly like a NZ street sign but Paul’s wife told me an artist friend made it for them.)

I intended to write this last November after appearing at Wairarapa Word but a week after this event I suddenly lost my dear friend, a close family member got very ill and everything ‘normal’ was dropped.

I thought I’d write about it now, though, because it was a delightful dash down to Carterton and I also want to publicly acknowledge Wairarapa Word for their kind invitation.

I was very excited to be a double-bill with the inimitable force of nature that is Jo Randerson under the title:

Jo’s latest book ‘Secret Art Powers’ is a must for any creative person. It’s full of inspiration, pep talks and courage and is a big boost to the spirits if you’re flagging. I read it before the event which made me all the more excited to be working alongside Jo.

While Carterton is close enough to Palmerston North that we could have ‘down and back-ed’ the journey, I booked us an Air BnB for the night so we could do a few touristy things as well.

There had been a massive storm shortly before Fraser and I drove down for the event and all the way along the road were giant wind-blown trees, their massive roots in the air. There were many farm workers out, chainsawing the felled trees, there were many post-storm burn-ups happening. It gave the trip quite a spooky feeling.

I love studio pottery and it is what we mostly use as dinnerware in the kitchen so we always stop in at Paul Melser Pottery just south of Masterton if the studio is open.

I love his studio shop with it’s glass walls. Peace washes over me there.

I forgot to take a picture of our purchases -we got a wonky cup and a bowl- but here’s a glimpse of Paul’s shop. It’s a little off the beaten track but definitely worth the trip:

Once we arrived at Carterton, we popped into Aunt Ginger’s Cafe which a Wairarapa friend recommended. It’s a very good spot. Hearty, flavourful food and a great vibe with vintage kitchen ephemera providing a feast for the eyes:

(Above: cute details from Aunt Ginger’s Cafe in Carterton.)

Apparently Carterton has a long association with daffodils and has an annual daffodil festival. This pretty street art reflects that.

I was starting to get the impression that everything Carterton is sweet and characterful and the little Air BnB carried on that impression. It was a dear tiny cottage and a fun place to lay our heads for the night.

The next morning we looked up somewhere to get a dose of forest and found a nearby reserve which has a short loop track which we took slowly, sitting along the way to enjoy the manifold native birds.

Below: l love the font on the (1980s?) sign for the reserve:

Thank you, John Fensham, for your thoughtful gift to nature lovers.

Above: My travel companion having a sit amongst the trees.

After our bush wander, it was time to lunch and then Wairarapa Word.

Meeting Jo was wonderful and we soon realised we had a similar energy and way of spontaneous riffing. We fed on one another’s rebel spirits and the talk ended up being feisty, energetic call-to-action. Wairarapa Word director Madeleine Slavick must have spotted something simpatico in Jo and I. Afterwards, I felt it had been a good pairing.

Above: Afterwards, Madeleine took this photograph for us. How lovely, hey?

Here’s a photo of Jo and I with Madeleine and some of the lovely audience members.

(Above: front left is Jo, then me in the green pants, then local legend, Helen Dew (more on her later) and Madeleine is behind Helen Dew wearing black.)

Afterwards, Wairarapa Word took Jo and I out for Turkish food before we headed home. Sitting next to me was a wonderfully opinionated and eccentric man with a long white beard. I had a feeling from the way he conducted himself he must be some kind of artist and as our conversation carried on it transpired he was Burton Silver! aka, a very fun dinner companion.

Madeleine has written a fantastic book about her hometown of Carterton featuring short snapshot like stories and her beautiful photography. It’s a sardonic, moving and insightful book which really captures small town New Zealand life.

I came away with a warm impression of Carterton and it’s residents. It also reinforced my firm belief that you don’t have to travel far to have an adventure.

Big belated thank you to Madeleine and the Wairarapa Word committee, to Almo’s Books for selling books at the event, and to Jo Randerson for a heartfelt and incendiary riffing!