My Advent Calendar – 2 December – Santa Parade
Our spring has been a bit weird weather wise, with the temperatures up and down and more rain than you can poke a stick at. But our first two days of summer have been warm and summer like. At least until the rain started again this afternoon. But it was dry for the Santa Parade and the activities for the kids afterwards.
![santa1.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdRMnvUt8ic3PthjKwBYLnM8x3K8i63xMccv6VJ4c4rxJ/santa1.jpg)
Before I start on the main story though, take a look at this bad boy.
![lamb.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQme6PaY7X2paNW6t9CrjRBzob8AJ6tCam7Jjpo8teX2yxU/lamb.jpg)
Two and a half kilos of prime New Zealand lamb, hand delivered to us by that other bad boy, from Feilding, Mr @kiwiscanfly. When he came down to Wellington to pick up his new waterslides, he came that bit further to pay us a visit. Sitting round our kitchen table, we managed to get all his secrets out of him. I hope he realises he’ll have to keep us stocked up with lamb and steak to keep us quiet now. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha….
Had some for dinner - nom nom. Thanks J.T.
So back to the Santa Parade…
This is not the sort of Santa Parade most people will be accustomed too, with whiz bang floats and hundreds of people, packed ten deep. This is the Kilbirnie Santa Parade, just for our wee suburb.
So most of the paradees were on foot, the kids could get right up close to the action and see everything, and I (mostly) had nobody in front of me for taking photos.
The parade started with a police car in front, and then a highland band with bagpipes. I don’t know what it is about bagpipes, but they just get to me, and I was almost blubbing* before they even got to us. (And no, @meesterboom, not because they were awful, I like them.)
*crying like a little girl, or maybe a menopausal old lady…)
![santa2.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZAfEexDEZyakQ7EQSkbagTW8C76BQNH3XKRVtHJMh341/santa2.jpg)
They were closely followed by the ladies of the Capital Marching club. I don’t think Marching is a very modern sport as they were all about 70. But they still had a spring in their step.
![santa3.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmU8bTgZroVXqCbinRgTHw8FrWhLRNgdYS8gtGPEVSVcEy/santa3.jpg)
A lot of the paradees were kids from local groups – two dance schools, girl guides and scouts, a band from the high school, sports teams and more.
![santa4.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRT1oNeBFFVaBJshEPJ8NAVpyt4jkfHTeKbZ4jswsb6JB/santa4.jpg)
There were some performers from the circus school.
![santa5.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSV94CU8joY5ViAY5JKtmabG1sit9N1CW3tkfmUymkR5F/santa5.jpg)
And a group from the Chinese Sports & Cultural Centre.
![santa6.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfTdziviPzW6n3g9xCDX8KX3tbPZGZkChqcRM64u4VumB/santa6.jpg)
And for change of perspective, here’s a photo @frot took from our bedroom window, of the same group as they came out of the street I was in and turned the corner. You can see I didn’t have to walk far to get there.
![santa7.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbFXERV5qLRaoCPkrhTKvhGBs14mWsvVxUwnwEmCarexm/santa7.jpg)
And for another new perspective, here’s another photo he took, not zoomed in. It looks a little further in this shot, but it only takes two minutes to get there. Three if I have to wait for traffic before I can get across the road.
![santa8.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRc49GSDZ4A75TkzwEhyBv3G4yLATa21SfAfohGJK1fZs/santa8.jpg)
There was, of course, the obligatory fire engine from the local station, and later on, another vehicle with local volunteers.
![santa9.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmfE6DGbWVzH5UwmS6bRVuaq3nRoztiGGgemXesLbHVWDU/santa9.jpg)
And no Kilbirnie parade would be complete without the Snoopy and Woodstock ensemble, by a local architect.
![santa10.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZaqCHhDzFtuvQaePYLH8JCP5HvYqD2ndYFCsV5EHMTcT/santa10.jpg)
Our MP (member of Parliament) was part of the parade with a mascot and a group of kids giving out lollies (candy) to the watching kids. And the three city councillors from our area also put in an appearance.
![santa11.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdC8o6U3uAWuRD81LzGAcGoP4FMmcQkkMg6uAhJQv3hoa/santa11.jpg)
Afterwards, there were activities for the kids, including face painting, a bouncy castle (though nothing compared to @kiwiscanfly’s excellent selection), Santa’s grotto, and a group of fencers giving some littlies a chance to try it out. A swing band from Rongotai College (high school) kept the adults entertained.
All in all, a nice morning that everybody seemed to enjoy. There’s something to be said for small and intimate.
![Advent-Calendar-Day2.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVRapJFGYBXeUXKnh7DRaAMywcDUJ4DWFxZ7jW2SyZsFh/Advent-Calendar-Day2.jpg)
What will my festivity for tomorrow be?
Thanks for reading and listening
Photos by me and @frot.
I envy your warm weather right now with our winter setting in. What a lovely parade. I don’t know why but when I hear the bagpipes I get emotional, especially if they are in a marching band.
Good to know that it's not just me, and I'm in good company with you and Andy!
Bagpipes get me too - bloody things!!!! And its still raining up here - no sunshine for the last week - come on summer wheres the sun!!!
We were lucky then, with our day and a half of summer. Another 5 days of rain to look forward to, including a gale on Wednesday...
Wonderful photos of what looks to be a fun and interesting Christmas Parade @kiwdeb It is great to have you back, my kiwi cousin. I have missed you. I've also missed tucking into a prime New Zealand leg of lamb. Just as well you didn't show me images of that 'bad boy,' cooked and ready to carve. That would have been too cruel........I will have to put my order at my sister's in when we cross the creek next year.
I am looking forward to satisfying my longing for 'Home' when we place our feet on terra firma after being away for way too long. And of course, it would be great to catch up with you and Andrea again. (U & R )
I wish I could say that I didn't include pics of it cooked for that very reason. But I have to admit to not having that foresight. I just got stuck in without thinking of photos! You probably also don't want to know that we'll be enjoying leftovers for lunch all week.
I'm guessing there will be a long list of things you'll be wanting to catch up on when you're here. Hey, I wonder if we could arrange a Steemit meetup in Roto-Vegas?
You are forgiven for 'getting stuck in' without giving a thought to taking photos of that succulent, tasty and obviously delicious lamb dinner Deb. Think of me when you indulge in those leftovers (lol)
A steemit meetup in Roto-Vegas sounds great to me. I'll let you know as soon as we know what time of the year John and I will be over.
Looks like a nice day for the parade, parade weather is truly past us here, Winter is taking a grip early
I loved the snoopy and red Baron float
but the leg of lamb tortured me it is so hard to find Kiwi Lamb here
We've had a lot of rain, but have been lucky to have a few fine days too. So who knows what kind of summer it will end up being? Sorry for the torture...
Well wishing you a beautiful summer
No need for Sorry enjoy the lamb 😎
You just got a Team NZ upvote!
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Lol, they are awful!! Awful!!!
My friend lives in Kilbirnie. Kilbirnie, Scotland. There looks to be some differences though ;0)
Oh, I dunno, maybe not that different. It's raining in both Kilbirnie's as we speak. A difference of nearly 20 degrees in temperature though.
Yeah, and your Kilbirnie looks that wee bit more civilized too!