Music Event

 

Thursday 4th January 2024.

Sunny today and quite a few in for the concert weekend. It is a three day event called Music in the Country. as apposed to Country Music. They have other acts that aren't courntry music, so they altered the name a little.The weather isn't going to be so nice tomorrow or Saturday. Last year it rained the whole time, so a few showers is a definite improvement. 

The track that goes out onto No. 1 Line is open at the moment. Usually the gate is locked. It was used on race day for members of the club to use. I walked it today for a change in routine. It goes over some of the Donald's farm. The Donald family have been here for many years. One of the original family, donated the land for the race course in 1883. When we first came here I was told  it was 10 ks by the time you walked home via the road, but it was just under 5 and a half. Still, it was a nice walk.

Friday 5th January 2024

It was cool and cloudy today and it started to rain in the late afternoon.

We had a few more customers for the music event. We can hear it from here, so that's a bonus.

One day, a couple of weeks ago, Eddie came back from the showers all wet because he had forgotten his towel. We had a good laugh. Blow me down if I didn't do it today, so more laughter. In the almost 7 years we have been doing this, it is the first time we have forgotten our towels. I had my jeans over my arm to put on after my shower, so I think the weight made me think it was my towel. I rubbed myself down with some paper towels, to make it easier to put some clothes on. Luckily there are paper towels in the showers.

Over the raceing day, we had a man ask if he could pitch his tent up by the ranch house for his friends, so they could be close to one another. Matt said he could. It was a big old, canvas tent, a bit like the first one we ever had. It was still there yesterday. Matt told him that he couldn't be there anymore and he would have to come and pitch it in the camping ground. This weekend the ranch house is going to be occupied by the artists at the event and he couldn't stay where he was. Eddie went up to see what he was doing at 11 o 'clock. He was packing up, but he never came to us. We were going to charge him for staying up at the ranch house too. We think he was in it and not his friends. We are now wondering if he paid to go to the races and decided to go before he had to pay for the music event. The cheek of some people.

Saturday 6th january 2024

I did a 7 k walk this morning. The gate I was going through to No. 1 Line is closed again, so I went the usual way; through the bush path, past the stand and down the drive to the road. I went along No 1 Line until I got to the house with the big solar panel array and came home again. I had done an hour and a 1/4 by the time I got back. It started to rain not long after I got home, so the timing was good.

We have had rain most of the day. The weather forecaste said clearing in the afternoon, but it didn't happen. The concert is going on. They are hardy souls in the audience. It's supposed to be fine tomorrow, so that will be good for everyone.

I put some mince on before I went for my shower tonight. When I got back it was starting to burn. I hadn't turned down the element before I went. I was a bit cross with myself. I am not sure how Eddie didn't notice it, until I rushed to take the pot off the element. 

 I took a photo of some of the vans camped up for the concert this morning. I am not sure how many there are, but it must be close to 200. The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association are the organizers of the members who want to come to the concert. They set them up in a big area. We had a couple who came to stay in the camping that were big units and they didn't want them to get stuck. The ground is a lot firmer here than at the race course area. 

Just a few of the vans at the show.

Sunday 7th January 2024.

It was a glorious day today. It was a pity the other 2 days of the festival weren't the same. 

We went over after lunch today for the first time. On Friday we were checking people in and Saturday was so wet, it wouldn't have been a lot of fun to our way of thinking. 

We met up with Matt and Raewyn there, so we chatted to them after it was over for a while. Matt is pleased with the way the event has gone, inspite of the weather.

Reacher dog was wandering around the stadium, so we brought him home with us. He is such a cool dog. I must get a picture of him. 

I gave the toilets a good clean today. They didn't get done yesterday because of the rain. It isn't a very rain proof verandah as it doesn't come out very far. We have suggested the roof is extended, but so far it hasn't happened. We just kept an eye on the toilet rolls and hand towels. Eddie went and got more paper towels today. We are amazed how much we are going through them.

Monday 8th January 2024

It was really hot today with the temperature at the caravan getting up to 28 degrees. It was over 30 inside at one point.

I got an hour done in the garden before it got too hot. 

Lots of horse floats came in this afternoon. There is a pony club event on tomorrow and the next day. They are all staying in the Ranch House, so we don't have any extra work to do. 

We went and sat in the river this afternoon for about half an hour to cool down. It is shallow, so we just sat on the edge and enjoyed the cool water flowing over our legs. It is hard walking over the stones. My beach shoes have worn out, so I will have to get some more or some sort of waterproof sandal.

Tuesday 9th January 2024.

I just realized I have been putting last years date instead of 2024.

It was another hot day today. 

We went and got the groceries this morning. We went early before it got too hot. 

We are expecting a couple in tonight, but they never appeared.  They had paid too. We have had 2 others come off the road.

The pony people all went off on a ride this afternoon. There are jumps set up in one of the paddocks on Donald's farm next door. The back gate was open this morning, so I went that way on my bike and saw them all set up. Later in the evening half a dozen or so girls went out with a wheelbarrow and pooper scoopers to clean up all the poos the horses did while they were out. We were impressed.