Wednesday-Chatters

We're a bunch of retired guys who meet once a week, on Wednesdays, in a local café, the Cheeky Llama in Queen’s Park, Invercargill, New Zealand for snacks and a chat (discussions might be too lofty a word). We have varied backgrounds and consequently our conversations range over a variety of topics, reflecting our interests, local affairs, national and international news. I guess we don’t aim to put the world to rights but we sure like trying.

We are: Geoff Bovingdon, Donald Campbell, Bruce Clearwater, Russ Dear, Tony Johnson and Roger Washbourn (see biographies).

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Background

Some years ago Russ Dear, noticing that his wife was out most weeks lunching with her friends, decided to counter this Ladies who Lunch by starting Men who Lunch. The venture didn’t work. Although they did enjoy three lunches, the conversation didn’t flow. Too much energy was spent choosing, discussing and enjoying the meals. Men don’t know how to lunch in the way that women do. Men who Lunch folded.

Later, it was decided to form another group, this time one that met after lunch and enjoyed coffee and cakes with their conversation. This is the group that meets each week at the Cheeky Llama in Queen’s Park, Invercargill.

I found this oldish photo from 2008 of a band playing at what is now The Cheeky Llama. Do you recognise any of them? And what was the café called then?

Here are the five regular members, still all enjoying life in 2022. Here we are at the SBHS Museum that is managed by Russ's wife Lynley. From left to right we are: Russ, Roger, Tony, Bruce and Donald. Due to Covid we are meeting virtually via Zoom each week. We hope to meet again in the cafe when we've all had the second booster until then we're enjoying the novelty of sitting at home chatting to our computers.

Tony added:

As previously stated we meet every Wednesday afternoon at the Cheeky Llama cafe in Queen's Park Invercargill. Around 3.00 pm we each have a coffee or tea of our preference and maybe a cake. Rowena (McCarthy), one of the girls who works in the cafe has kindly taken to giving each of us a soup of her making. We have had cream of brussel sprouts, carrot and capsicum, pea and ham and leek and potato. These soups are very welcome, particularly on a cold winter afternoon.

The cafe is very popular and it is interesting to watch the wide variety of people that come in each afternoon.

Queens Park is situated right in the centre of our city and occupies 81 hectares or 200 acres. There are a wide variety of gardens such as Japanese, rose gardens, rock gardens, all tended by the Parks division to a very high standard. Included in the park is an 18 hole golf course, art gallery and museum. Featured in the museum is a tuatarium showing off these ancient animals. Cricket, bowls, croquet, tennis and hockey grounds are all within the park. There is also a children’s playground, a duck pond, aviary, animal park, indoor winter garden and a fitness trail. We are so lucky to have this beautiful park for all to enjoy. Shakespeare in the Park, Carols by Candlelight and street theatre are some of the entertainments featured during the year.

So if you have the good fortune to visit our fair City, Queens Park is not to be missed.

And here's Rowena - always cheerful, always smiling! She's a master soup-maker and has a wide repertoire of dishes. Add carrot and cumin, creamed parsnip and cream of mushroom to the list above and her French onion is superb.

She also makes cakes and these are

one of her latest creations:

Here are a couple of views inside the Cheeky Llama:

Rowena has since moved to Nicholl's Green World and later to the Auction House. We wish her all the best in her new job - thanks for looking after us so well Rowena.

When one of us had a friend staying and wished to show them our city and southern sites it presented the challenge of what places to choose. At a later group chat we discussed the issue. We all agreed that Queen's Park is a must with the beautiful gardens and the Southland Museum with tuatarium and special exhibitions such as the Roaring Forties. Some of us suggested the Anderson Park Art Gallery despite it being out of commission at the moment due to earthquake issues. It is certanly a fine building with lovely gardens. Bill Richardson's Truck Museum was high on the list - surely a strong world class attraction even to those not particularly interested in trucks. Two other places receiving slightly less support were Demolition World and E. Hayes and Sons; both unique in their own ways. Out of town strong contenders were Oreti Beach, Bluff Hill with lunch at the Drunken Sailor and olde worlde Riverton with its very special museum. Round town there is a lot of interesting architecture including the Civic Theatre, First Church, the Alexandra Building, Southland Boys' High School and others.

Here are some photos of our beautiful city: Invercargill - 'The Florence of the South'.