Our Summerland Primary School Gala

The gala is a yearly fund-raiser for the school that is eagerly anticipated and does very well. There is a silent auction, giant rummage sale, rides, food booths and games. It is almost impossible to go to it and not walk out a couple of $20's lighter in the wallet. If you're with a 6 and 8 year old, you'll probably be fleeced even more completely. Well worth it, I assure you. Here are some pictures I took during Friday night's fun.

The bake-sale booth. Those are donated cakes, etc., so they're going to make a fortune. 

Sausages, in my opinion, leave a lot to be desired. They're popular though. This was taken very early in the gala. Later this guy needed three hands, and an assistant.  

Jeanne and I opted to start with  mussel fritters. Lots of chopped mussels, onion and an egg batter with a little flour in it are fried and placed on a piece of white bread. Not a bad item for $4.00

Here is our 2nd course. This was purchased in a tent labeled 'Mystery Kai.'  Kai is 'food' in Maori. It turned out to be 'Chili Mussel Curry."  At $7.00, it was a pretty good deal since there was enough there for both of us to have plenty. It was loaded with whole mussels, cooked in coconut milk. It was not spicey at all.
The chef, recognizing my accent as American, came over to ask if we were tourists and if we liked her creation. We told her we were residents and that we loved her kai. She agreed to allow me to take this picture.

I should have worked harder and taken a better picture of one of the really popular items at the gala. This is a pineapple sundae.
They take a fresh pineapple, cut it in half, and then hollow out each end. They then refill each 'cup' with chopped pinapple, ice cream, whipped cream and your choice of toppings. All that for $5.00.  Amiri couldn't finish his, much as he loved it, and gave the rest to Jeanne and I. We had plenty too.  

One of the blow up attractions. The kids would jump from the top.

More fun and a great money maker. A ride of about 3 minutes was $4.00.  

This is the kapa-haka team performing. 

This area is a newly installed play and sports area known as the 'turf.' 

Here, Amiri has met a couple of friends from his class and is visiting with them on the turf. 

In past years, Arram has found the gala to be a bit much. It was so very loud and crowded and he was so little. He has been overwhelmed. This year, he enjoyed himself immensely and came home listing all the friends he had seen. 

Amiri is in his element in the excitement, especially this year. Allie gave him a little more freedom this time, to circulate without Mum hanging on to him.  With three adults available for watching from nearby though, he circulated with security.      -djf