Lantern Festival

Saturday was a pretty much an unplanned day.


We were awakened at about 7.00 by Emily. She came into the bedroom to find us rather than mummy and daddy. (Sally and Ian were probably still sleeping in their Sky Tower Hotel bed.)


Irene answered a phone call at 7.10 from the delivery men who were letting us know that the new refrigerator was arriving between 1.30 and 2.30. 


Ian and Sally arrived home at the end of the morning to the news about the delivery. This meant a new plan had to swiftly come into action. The kitchen had to be rapidly remodelled to make room for the new appliance. It was all hands to the pump to remove a lot of stuff including an IKEA desk.


Having helped at the start our best help was to be going out to Pack and Save for the shopping. When we returned the delivery men were in the process of getting the large fridge freezer up stairs. One the men was an amazing giant.


Then came the news to create more stir. They were also delivering the new cooker. This was one of the wide sorts. Now this meant dismantling the IKEA; a job not to undertaken unnecessarily. And, the job had to be done quickly.


Once this reorganisation was complete then came my failed attempt to set up Ian's new dual wireless hub. Ian was successful, having called Netgear and I think, finally, telecom. The system seems to be working much faster now.


There was then a decision to go off to the 'Lantern Festival' in the city with Zoe. We arrived while the sun was still high and saw the lights in the lanterns gradually appear as the sun went down.


It was an amazing festival. There were literally thousands of people and keeping track of each other was a priority. Queues were lengthy for the rides, but Zoe, as always, has the patience to wait for a go.

The Start of the Evening

Zoe enjoyed the rides, especially attempting to stand up in a large ball as it floated around a pond. She entertained the people around with her spectacular acrobatics on the bungy jump.

Zoe Walking on Water

Bungy Jumping

Coolie Irene

Scary Sheep Lanterns

Zoe and Lantern

Together we visited some of the lantern displays and complete with Coolie Hat (Irene) who also carried normal balloons and helium filled dolphins (Sally) we left the park and made tracks for the MacDonalds and food for Zoe. Driving through the city, Zoe was delighted by the lights and asked why she hadn't been at night.

Going Home

As we drove into the food outlet Zoe notices two stars and made a wish. She told me that I could have a wish. I wished that Zoe would be contented and happy enough to go off to sleep quickly. She said that wish was not going to happen. While were getting ourselves settled Zoe went to bed and by the time that we were ready to eat our Saturday night chocolate she was (you've guessed it) fast asleep.