New Zealand Alpine Garden Society Study Weekend 2013

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Maggi!
We're here in NZ for the Study Weekend at Lincoln Uni again.
Unfortunately there has been some damage to some buildings by the quakes so venues have been re-organised.
The talks have been great and we hope to get a pic of Forumists later to post when we get the equipment to download pics!
Weather forecast for Monday not looking good at this stage but we live in Hope!
Wonderful to catch up with so many people from previous weekends, including the Wyllie Wifie who is in fine form!
After the conference Di, Cynthia, Otto and I are driving down to Timaru then Dunedin and back again to fly home on Friday,
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

I'm just home a couple of hours and right back into packing to move.

It was an excellent weekend, Maggi, superbly organized and if there were any backstage problems, the visitors didn't see any sign of them. Lots of people there including several from the UK apart from the speakers. Don't know how many altogether but the lectures were all well filled as were the workshops.

Rannveig and Bob Wallis are wonderful speakers with incredibly good pictures and Harry Jans was, I think, a favourite with everyone there. They were all great fun. We seem at each successive such weekend to have better speakers; much approachable and fun to be with too.

Ian's video was a real inspiration to everyone, and to me especially as it showed what I can do with some forethought, and will have the right conditions for it. Would love to see the whole video again.

I didn't have the chance to speak with everyone I'd have liked to, but all the same, it was great to meet so many "old" friends and make some new ones.

The field trip to Craigieburn was a bit disappointing because after an incredible spell of warm, dry weather, that day (yesterday), the rains came and the temp dropped dramatically. All the same, the little time we had there was very enjoyable and so far I have no sign of a cold, even though I was drenched literally to the skin. Maybe the quantity of gin I consumed in the evening had something to do with that.

I wonder who the organizers can come up with next time to top this super event?

[Maggi Young]

Blasted weather!  Typical of that to end an otherwise wonderful event - every organiser  must dread that their meticulous planning can literally be rained on. But, after the earthquake, there has been a lot that has been overcome to allow the event to take place so what a triumph that has been!  There is always nature to remind us that we're not completely in control.

I have yet to meet anyone who is not entirely captivated by Harry - he is a great guy.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Hannie, a skier, might have been looking at some of those mountains and thinking they'd be a lot of fun with snow on them!

So good to hear that you've been having such a great time with all the other attendees -the break will have done you a power of good - back to the moving business now though!

Hope the Aussie Gang have a good trip south - I hope you gave them all a big hug  from me?

[Lesley Cox]

Will do Maggi.

[fermi de Sousa]

A few pics from the NZAGS STudy W/E
- some of the speakers and SRGC Forumists on the w/e,
- why Lesley wasn't in the pic - still minding the stall!
- Doug doing a sterling job on trying to convert Adrian to the joys of growing Arisaemas
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

How could you Fermi? I though you were my friend! I look like a frightened rabbit, caught in the glare of a car's headlights.

Which reminds me that I sent you an email today but it came back as undeliverable so I'll do a PM instead.

[fermi de Sousa]

sorry , Lesley, but there was a horde of buyers about to descend on you!
I'll reply to your PM when I get a chance on Monday - plans for the rest of our trip - between finishing the conference and flying out of Dublin on June 1st - have yet to be finalised!
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

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