Rain, Rain, Go Away

 

Mother knows best – Mother Nature that is. We don’t always agree on the way she does things but we have to agree that she is in control and we need to accept her actions without question.

Unfortunately many will see their New Year break as a complete washout but it’s not all bad. What better way to start a new year than at a place like Mangawhai with our gardens and farmland well watered and our water tanks overflowing?

On this occasion the dumping of rain, which was forecast, actually arrived, putting paid to many of the major annual New Year activities and driving a number of poorly prepared campers scurrying back home. Despite hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth by organisers the heavens opened up for two whole days and months of preparations by hundreds of mainly volunteers were gradually washed down the drain.

Waipu’s Caledonian Games was the first to suffer but fortunately the Celtic Barn was the saviour of the highland dancing events, many of which were of championship status and needed to be run.

Next, and for the first time in 31 years it rained on January 2, putting paid to the Mangawhai Gala which had grown both in size and reputation over the years to massive proportions. Co-ordinator Carol Parkes was philosophical, simply unable to be anything but. Though the day was drizzly, quite a number of people dressed for the weather, turned up to the shrunken field of displays and stalls, purchased a variety of goods, enjoyed coffee, hot dogs, the Zorb and the bungy, took part in the kids versus dogs display and generally had a good time. Pictures of the event with this article.

A similar event at Coromandel the following day was also cancelled due to the weather.

One must feel sorry firstly for the organisers who work all year in preparation for such an event with the only real gamble being the weather, and secondly for stallholders, many of whom travel long distances doing the rounds of these fixtures over summer for mutual benefit.

Thirdly it was a shame that many campers had their holiday plans, along with their tents, blown away or torn to shreds. Thanks to technology, camping gear is now getting lighter, easier to carry, easy to erect and relatively cheap to buy but a lot of tents, while perfectly fine for the kids on the lawn on a fine night or two, are not made to withstand prolonged weather like that delivered last week.

I guess Mangawhai shouldn’t be held to blame. Fortunately there are still several long weekends coming up in the near future and it is hoped those visitors who left with dampened spirits will return and Mangawhai’s reputation will be restored.




Despite the weather, Thea and Pete Simays of Cheese on Wheels were doing good trade.

Co-ordinator Carol Parkes (centre) flanked by a couple of helpers looks philosophical despite the weather.

Lucia Laskey of Auckland races through the dog agility course.

Dogs eagerly wait their turn on the agility course.

The show must go on, thanks to hardy vendors and patrons.