Every now and then one job really stands out among the large range of jobs we do. Such a job happened on a recent Saturday for the Chinese Consult General.

It was in the Great Hall in the Christchurch Arts Centre, a venue is notable for relative lack of facilities especially for serving a 3-course plated dinner,. We needed to supply a kitchen, guest tables and chairs and a screened off working area from the guests etc.

The beauty of the building is a site to behold and the Chinese provide some amazing table decorations. The whole quad was awash with exhibitions, artwork, dancers, and music all through the evening. Later was the special lion dance.

The occasion was to mark the 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand. Also, it was the 60 th. anniversary of Rewi Elly’s death. The key moment of the night for me was rendition of Auld Syne which had a distinct rock feel about it and was performed by Aveling Lee and Conrad Goddard. All in all, the practical trials of the evening were forgotten in the absolute spectacle of the cultural festivities.