venue saga

Synopsis: My turn to organise an ante natal group get together. I feel it is good therapy to get this off my chest.

Step 1: After our last Ante Natal catch up. I announce that our living area is far too small for such a group of 20+ people and babies, so lets have a picnic at the playground across the road and if anyone needs the loo etc they can pop over to our place. No. Duncan pointed out that there wasn't much shade, not very flat and not very attractive.

Step 2: Anniversary Weekend. OK. A more attractive picnic could occur at the Botanical gardens and if the weather turned gross we could go into the Begonia House cafe. Duncan came with me to have a look. No. The cafe is way too small. I realize I could have set a date without a venue and give details later. I send an email to the group as such for Saturday the 4th Feb with a time of 10:30am as I figure we would want to nab a picnic spot early.

Step 3: Tuesday. Right then. We need a really big cafe near a really great picnic spot. How about down on the waterfront. Frank Kitz park and the Queens wharf event centre mall food court. I go walking in the rain (in desperation) with the buggy and it turns out things have changed since I last lived in Wellington ten years ago. Mall and food court no longer exist. But I do find a large and good looking Loaded Hog pub and get all excited. On the way back to the car I spy a sign for the BNZ food court and waste a huge amount of time trying without success to find the ramp entry on Williston Street as indicated in a couple of signs. I go home wet and very annoyed and ring the BNZ centre leaving a message on their answerphone questioning their wheel chair access.

Step 4: Wednesday. Duncan suggests that Macs Brewery is bigger than the Loaded Hog so I go and have a look. It is blowing a gale but Eden coped and Macs looks good but is not as big as the Loaded Hog. On the way back I drive with distain past the BNZ centre again to have a look. No parks and it is almost flash flood conditions by this stage so I decline to do anything else and go home. At home and answerphone message from the BNZ says that the wheelchair access is clearly marked on Willis Street. Hmmmf they should change their signs on the other streets! I ring the Loaded Hog and they enlighten me with the fact that it is the Rugby sevens weekend and it would not be a good idea to try and fit in a swag of people anywhere in the city for Saturday brunch. EEEK.

Step 5: Thursday. I lose my physical fervor at this point and spend a night thinking. I come up with the idea to use a room at the new community centre in Karori. I look up on the net and pop them an email. They say yes that would be fine and to 'pop in' to see them tomorrow.

Step 6: Friday. After ringing the Karori community centre to find out what would be a good time and not getting an answer, I walk with my buggy 45 minutes there only to find a sign that says its hours are 9:30 to 2pm and it is now 4pm! Thankfully I half did this for the excercise and sunshine. When I get home, the lady has left a message to say that she will be there until 6pm?! I frown and stay put.

Step 7: Monday. After a busy weekend I head down to the Karori community centre. I find there was another door I could have tried on the Friday. Hmmmf. Suddenly they realise that things are not fine as first indicated but that there is Thai Chi (spelling?) on a Saturday morning but they will see if they can get them to change to the hall. I like the soft looking chairs and the lifts in the building. On the way back to the car I pop into the recreation centre and ask about their room. It doesn't have as much personality, they're not keen on food, it is a better carpeted area but only available after 12 oclock. I then drove to Khandallah community centre and looked at their lounge. It would be fine but there was no nearby picnic venue as far as I could see. I also have a quick squiz at St Ninians church on the way home and like their lounge but forget to ring them.

Step 8: Tuesday. Woke up with dead arms after carrying Eden around all those places yesterday. We went to the zoo with some Mums and bubs and I had to fess up to my self induced saga. At home later I ring St Ninians after deciding their venue is the best.

Step 9: Wednesday. After a chat with Lynley at St Ninians church we are sorted. Yay! So I finally write my email with the good weather (Botanical Gardens picnic) and my bad weather plans. With my luck it will be a scorcher on Saturday and all this will have been wasted effort - well I'm praying that that will be the case!