In November of 2022 I made my ‘annual pilgrimage’ to Oamaru for the Victorian Heritage Celebrations. After the official events were cancelled in 2021 (due to the uncertainty of Covid restrictions), it was really great to see everyone again and to take part in as many events as possible.
Not everyone could make it though – due to numerous reasons (including covid that befell a couple of friends right before they were due to travel), so I definitely missed seeing all of my favourite familiar faces.
The weather didn’t always behave itself, often threatening (and often delivering) rain. The Garden Party was able to go ahead thanks to a break in the weather.
It was raining on the Saturday and we spent the morning hiding from the rain, waiting for an update as to whether the Grand Parade would go ahead or not. It was the perfect excuse to visit Whitestone City and ride the Penny Farthing carousel (#sidesaddleonapennyfarthing!!!)
The Grand Parade, however, was done in the rain and skirt hems got very wet. I had to attack my skirts with my hairdryer between the Parade and the Fashion Show! And I definitely decided that if it rained during the Parade again I would be pulling my group out because it really wasn’t fun, and people were dropping during the parade as the rest continued to become a soggy bunch.
But the sun finally shone on Sunday for the Fete – enough for me to get a very un-Victorian ladylike sunburn (oh dear).
Over the course of the Celebrations I met some of my fans, made some new friends, and also basically adopted a super lovely family who were attending the VHC for the first time. I am now lucky enough to count them amongst my friends and as part of my Victorian family.
I even had an article written about me in the Otago Daily Times.
The Victorian Fashion Show, that I was responsible for organising and presenting went pretty well (I think – it was all a blur to me).
And the Sunday Night Dinner that I have been organising for a few years was well attended and a lovely way to wrap everything up.
I also made friends with Penny and Lady, two very cute dogs that live at the Empire Backpackers where I was staying. Lady lives up to her name, being a sweet natured, mature dog of 16. Penny, who is about a year and a half is the complete opposite, and always wanted attention and pats, and to sit on my lap when I came into the lounge.
Miss Temby 