Saturday, March 27, 2010

Here, there and somewhere else


My mother lives on the east coast of our Island. She is about 3 hours straight driving from where we live. About 10 minutes from her place a few weeks ago I took this photo, can you almost smell the sea air?


In the town of Oamaru, this old hotel has stood abandoned for many years, such a shame but I am CERTAIN that one or two of my fellow bloggers would welcome the chance to help me renovate this place and we would then have a moving in party of gigantic proportions - what do you say? A lick of paint, some new glass and Bob's yer Uncle...I'll bring the drinks for the working bee.


If that place is too big, here's an organically air-conditioned property about an hours drive from my city, just mow the lawns and you're ready for the country life.


Not far from that place, you can buy some wonderful local produce and pies.....while you're eating that and having a quiet beer you can also join in with one of New Zealand's old stalwart bands Hello Sailor!


12 comments:

Owen said...

Hey Sister Saj !

I gazed with thoroughly rapt attention at these lovely properties that you are proposing... oh yeah, we could have fun with that hotel ! Just think of all the possibilities... jeez, we could make a bar at least 100 m2, with a dance floor and soft lighting, where Hello Sailor could come play ! Yowza, what a good time renovating that place could be... penthouse suites on the top floor, a first class kitchen, a cyber café for blogging... etc etc

So did you find out who the current owners are ? Can we get it for a good price ???

Lynne may be on her way to Vancouver now, but I'm betting she's going to be interested to... shucks, with a bar of 100 m2, I'm sure she's going to jump on the next flight to Wellington...

Oh, and did you try the deer pie dear ? How many points did you give it ?

The Sagittarian said...

love the sound of Sister Saj, makes me sound rather divine don't you think?
Anyway, the pie had a velvet texture...

You know, I would SERIOUSLY love to renovate that old hotel...I think I might even try and find out who owns it! I'll let you know cos it sounds to me like you would be a number one project manager!

Lynne with an e said...

I LOVE the hotel! Can you imagine?! Well, obviously you can, because you did. Our house is on the market (sort of secretly) and we have no firm plans...so who knows?! Pierre is very handy at renos. And cooking. I'm mostly just charming, but I have lots of art work and stuff that I could contribute to the cause. Man oh man. If only...

WV: unoloumi
text messaging for "you know Lou (me)" which is how I sign off

The Sagittarian said...

Louciao- oh it's all starting to come together I reckon. I can imagine how fab your art works would look in our dance hall, bar, dining rooms...and Pierre and The Stud could share the cooking while you and I glam about looking gorgeous and being endlessly witty! Just have to dream up a chore or two for our blog-bro and we're in with a grin!!

Steve said...

I have paintbrushes, passport and dungarees... count me in!

The Sagittarian said...

Steve - you're in, buddy! Actually, I think maybe you'd like to join our blog family?

Meggie said...

That old Hotel looks so like the old Grenadier I thought at first it was an old photo.
Enjoyed the music, and felt the brisk breeze on the beach!

Anonymous said...

Let me in ! Let me in!
No CV worthy skills per se but will make self useful.
I could pour drinks and shine glasses for the glamourous folk.

Owen said...

Oh boy ! So I've already been relegated to doing the chores ?!? I thought I was the project manager ???

Well, it sounds like Lynne is in, so we're on our way now...

Jeepers, do you think the immigration people would let us into the country if they knew we wanted to stay longer than a tourist visa allows ???

The Sagittarian said...

Meggie-I must find out it's old name, glad you felt that sea air!

Misbehaving-ok, sounds fine to me, there appear to be heaps of rooms at the hotel so you're more than welcome!

Owen-haha, if you don't tell 'em I'm not going to either!

The Joined up Cook said...

I like the name 'Oamaru'.

How do you pronounce it?

I imagine it as quite romatic.

The Sagittarian said...

AWB- well, there is always some debate about how to pronounce this place. Most of the country refers to it as "Om-a-ru" but we are also told it should be said as "Oh-ah-ma-ru"...I guess it's a case of you say Tomaato and someonelse says tom-mate-o!