MORE SPRING FAIR GLIMPSES

As I promised, here are some more shots of what was going on out at the Parish Centre last Saturday afternoon.

Lorraine organised these two guessing competitions- guess the weight of the cake, and how many lollies in the jar.

Thee was a silent auction for Maeve's oil painting of the view from Driver Christian Road. Maeve generously donated her work, and Tim Pearson donated the frame.

Watching the activity on the hillside.

We set up a stallwhere we sold tiles for the new Chapel Roof. For ten dollars, you could have your name recorded on the tile, or you could donate it in someone's memory. With over 300 tiles sold that afternoon, Tet was kept very busy with the engraving!

The Parents and Citizens Association had a busy Popcorn and Fairy Floss stall.

Rotary provided sausages and chips

Donna had a stall selling her special jewellery

The Church of England's "General Stall" - the cakes sold out quickly.

John and Mary had a stall selling Mary's books, prints and posters

Lots of chatter over a cuppa in the hall

Helen and Joyce with the "Special Treasures" table


The Girl Guides leaders were kept very busy dispensing Devonshire TeasEven the dogs were enjoying it all

Emily and Amy selling Friendship Bracelet kits

Kaye had a beautiful Plant Stall - it all looked so colourful

Maeve made these traditional Palm baskets, and we filled them with fruit.

The girls also sold homemade lemonade. With ice, lemon slices and mint floating on top. it looked very enticing, and they could have sold twice as much!

Next to the Lemonade stall, Kim set up an "upmarket Coffee stall". It was also very popular - you don't often get a latte at a fete! The picture shows Raewyn, who helped Kim for the afternoon.


There were other stalls and activities I did not manage to film - such as the Secondhand Bookstall, the Mini-Massages and the Pony Rides, and others. All in all, it was a wonderful example of a Community working together - and a wonderful welcome to Spring!!

In my next post I will show you my stall, and some of the things I had on it!

SPRING FAIR 09

A much anticipated event on Norfolk Island is our annual St Barnabas' Spring Fair. This is something that Bernie and I have taken the responsibility for organising in recent years - although there are many people working hard to make it a success closer to the time. Although this an occasion that is sponsored by the Church of England on Norfolk Island, we have now opened it up to the whole community, and several individuals and organisations come along and take part. It truly becomes a day for the community in terms of enjoyment, participation and funds!

The Met. Office had told us early in the week that it was going to be a fine day. It was better than that - it was perfect. Clear blue sky, no wind, and the sort of balmy temperature we usually enjoy at this time of year. In this picture, taken in the morning, Chris has just "christened" the waterslide for 2009.

Our Chief Minister Andre opened the Fair. He had missed out last year, because he had to go away, and reminded us he wanted to be there this year!

One of the "anchors" of our Spring Fair has always been the Waterslide, which snakes down the hillside. Many of the kids only ever see this part ofthe Fair, but at least we have the company and custom of their ever patient parents while they wait for them to tire from their exertions! Sarah took these photos for me, as I was busy with my stall. If you look back in my Blog Archives for this time last year, I recall we had some fairly spectacular ones taken from the bottom of the hill.

Trent kept us entertained in his friendly and jovial way.

Karenne and Celia always turn up to add colour to the "Show"with their helium filled balloons


It was really a day for families to relax, enjoy the activities and all the sweet treats and goodies that were available.

Our Banyan Park Playcentre had a wonderful set -up, with Craft activities, face-painting, and things like colourful cupcakes and craft kits to buy.

William enjoyed being a tiger!

There is so much to show you, I will have to save it all for a couple more blogs!

FOR THE FAIR

I have been busy creating some little things to sell at our upcoming Spring Fair, and thought I should make a pictorial record before I get too busy or they are sold!

I am not a knitter, but I do enjoy working with wool, particularly felt and wool embroidery.

Last year I produced some little wool needlebooks which were very popular. I have refined the design a little, and have made seven more this year. My friend Robyn obtained some Doctor Flannel for me for the pages. Doctor Flannel brings back many memories for me. I recall this was what we used to make our red capes for our Red Cross uniforms!!

Another quick little project has been these little hearts. I used some felted jumper wool fabric to make them and used Silk Sari cord for the hangers. The leaves are also made from a felted green jumper. The berry beads are some very useful ones I bought online in bulk from LUVBEADS (sadly no longer operating.)

During my "wet felting" phase earlier in the year, I made these pincushion apples. They are pure wool right through to the centre! I had a few failures, but I think these ones are good enough to sell.

And while we are on the subject of fruit, look at what I have been making these past few days! The Quilting Arts"Gifts" magazine had this idea for frosted fruits - they showed pears like the bigger one here. True to my usual practice, I adapted the design and made the pears smaller. Then I improvised a similar shape for apples. They are sewn together, using five pieces, which looks more natural than six or four.Then they are stuffed and are coated with gel medium and sprinkled with clear glitter to make them look as if they are sugar-coated. I have my niece looking out for glitter that is a little coarser and less powdery.

I have all sorts of plans for making lots of these for Christmas for table arrangements or tree decorations. I thought I could personalise them by putting peoples' names on the leaves.

LIVING LIKE KINGS - Part 3

"Contentment is a place between having too much and too little."

In a small community like Norfolk Island, people really depend on one another. It is important to share what you have with others. Even a degree of bartering is a great help to the budget, and creates win-win situations.

And because we cannot access some things in a hurry ("it's on the next ship") we tend to be resourceful, and make good use of what we have.

And in recent times, we seem to have plenty!! And plenty to give away, I am glad to say!

Just look at what I have been able to capture on my camera in just one week!

A bunch of Bananas from the garden at the Pitcairn Settlers Village. We had eaten half of them before I got the photo! Courtesy of Marie, Charles and Brett!

A jar of Guava Jelly from Connie. This will be used in making Guava Jelly Chocolates for our Spring Fair this month.

Real English Spinach from Jane at the Markets. A thank you for some books on herbs I have bequeathed to her!

Windfall avocadoes from the one of the big old trees down the back. We share them with the birds - but there are plenty for all. Lovely for our salads, with Vegemite at breakfast, and for Guacamole - my favourite!!

A magnificent leg of pork - given as a thank you for a favour!

An overloaded and top heavy branch of a Paw-paw came down in the wind. Hopefully these fruit will ripen. But if they don't, they can always be cooked as a vegetable or we can make green paw-paw salad.

The "feral" pumpkin vine continues to be productive, with new ones forming all the time. We have given lots away.

A couple of our boys often bring us fish. John brought these around as a gift from a mate, whom he was helping with cleaning and filleting. Thanks Dean!! The Trevally and kingfish were beautiful!

Edie has kept us supplied with wonderful grapefruit for our breakfast all winter long. Hopefully our own "Mary B" tree will have fruit again next year, after a rather severe runing last year.

These delectable greens came from Jane's stall at the markets .

Look at this colourful basket that I brought home from the Markets last week. A delight for the eyes as well as the palate!