A Whiter Shade of Pale

So Kz and I decided that we would do something useful with our weekend a few weeks ago and decided that we would go down to the South Auckland Assembly Hall (affectionately known as SAAH – pronounced Saarrrrrrr!) and help with the refurbishment going on down there. It’s pretty much the only assembly hall on the North Island and hasn’t been refurbished for ages (it differs depending on who you ask as to exactly how long!) so they are basically doing a total refurbishment (think Haysbridge!)

We were put on the painting team, which we thought was a result, having had lots of experience painting bedrooms, until we realised that what this actually meant was standing out in the 30 degree heat and being told to basically paint the whole of the outside of the building!!

Not sure how I reached the top of the pillar!


Maria doing aerobics whilst working

Hard at work!!

Fortunately, someone had the wise idea that the day would be made up of as many breaks as it actually was work, which gave us a welcome opportunity to sit in the shade!

On strike!

Maria, MZ and Maria

They decided that on the inside they would get an interior designer to think up a colour scheme that would make it different to the usual run of the mill assembly halls – and they certainly managed that – I’m thinking ‘Vegas Casino’ and you get the general idea! We haven’t seen it all put together yet so the jury is still out – we’ll leave you to make up your own mind!

Chandeliers in the main lobby

Not sure about the carpet choice...

Still, we were able to go home satisfied that we’d done our bit, helped paint over a formerly criminal coloured yellow and peach wall, and make it a nice neutral beige and safe in the knowledge that we wouldn’t have to go and help do it again for at least another 15 years, by which time we’d be safely back in England!!