I too have lived in Wgtn for 20+ years and never seen or heard of the hanging, talking, revolving, trumpeting clock. An outrageous secret. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will be making a special trip to see it for myself soon.
Surely that clock is an earthquake risk, she asked quasi-concernedly... or a plot device in an Agatha Christie? Did it fall or was it severed at (electrical) source?
Anyway, besides all that the shirt story (is it Sezane? Their adverts are catnip!) is deeply evocative of the best-ever Simpsons episode, in which Homer asks the people at Balenciaga to send Marge a dress for her birthday. The good people of Springfield end up in Paris, chaos ensures, etc. Comic, clever, tender, life-affirming, quite lovely.
Um WTAF! I have lived here for 22 years and I walk past this building every week day at least twice and regularly visit Mojo there for a good coffee… I NEVER KNEW THIS!
Enjoyed reading this at 4am UK time, Leah, and have just popped back to see the clock in action on the video. How much else passes us by when we don’t pay attention?!
I worked at the Old Bank Arcade in its first year post-renovation & heard that clock every hour on the hour. Although repetition did it no favours & it drove me mad after a while, a visit to Wellington isn’t complete without watching it play.
Ooh, what year was this, Catherine? Yes it must be irritating for staff to listen to it over and over. Though imagine working in a supermarket at Christmas
Think restoring was part of the deal when the developers got permission to mall-ize the building(so tastefully), I forgot all about it the exposing part - though I've noticed the horns and for some reason thought it was the Salvation Army. Wondering if it's now programmed electronically to do the party trick - doubt if it's anyone's job to wind the thing.
And lucky grass is all you collect in those comfy looking trainers.
The clock is great! I’ve shown it to lots of people after I was introduced to it by a friend, shortly after I arrived in Wellington from the uk. He’s from Fiji so maybe it’s a thing that only immigrants and tourist learn about?
I SO relate to the point about not liking clothes shopping and avoiding it until things fall apart and you have no choice but to replace them. The problems is everything dies around the same time and I have to replace the whole wardrobe at the same time... On the bright side, I won't need to repat the exercise again for the next 10 years...
I share it too..Second hand shops are the solution.. so much choice and variety, no need to follow the latest trend, and nice and inexpensive. And if they're part of a charity, then doing double good: recycling and helping at the same time! But I love your description of the new shirt and its packaging! You won't get that in a second hand place! I love your witty writing. :)
I love to read your newsletter fresh off the presses ;)
The clock sounds weird and amazing and just, um, actually quite European (like the astronomical clock in Prague that has a cool skeleton striking the hour).
I never go shopping now except online (health reasons) and can't believe the utter boring sameness of so many clothes, bags and shoes- over the last few years I have become a convert to second hand clothes because of the variety and the price! I like Recycle Style, Shop on Carroll, and Designer Wardrobe but also love the Seasalt Cornwall brand which has quite a Wellington vibe somehow. Ballantynes in Christchurch sell their clothes https://www.ballantynes.co.nz/shop-by-brand/s/seasalt-cornwall/?srsltid=AfmBOop45vBet1HkqaKokvcRiRigS9QEDbANR26mrwZ56RPbFegTDiUL I specifically love their fabrics and their socks.
Also Seasalt now ship directly to NZ https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/womens. They have breton tops and cotton workers jackets but not sure if that's the French je ne sais quoi you're after ;) They are a B Corp company which I do appreciate in these days of late stage capitalism
I forgot to say I completely understand ordering something and then thinking OH NO I spent way too much...my ADHD and impulse buying are things I struggle with constantly. But boy do I get a dopamine boost from lovely packaging and nice stuff when it arrives ;)
How wonderful Leah. What I love about your writing is that I have gone on this journey with you and am drenched with sweat about the $600 choice you have made,which is currently hanging in your wardrobe.
You continually save me from having to have a stressful life of my own. Thank you.
Please let us know if the shirt fits. I'm becoming quite anxious wondering if you have paid for something you'll never wear.
Also, I highly recommend the cobbler at the railway station. They'd do a wonderful job relining your mother's satchel. They once replaced the lining in an old leather jacket of mine. You could pick some funky colour and once again imagine you were a young French woman crossing a cobbled street, especially if you wear your new shirt (if it fits).
“I would remember a dong as big as this”. Snigger.
I too have lived in Wgtn for 20+ years and never seen or heard of the hanging, talking, revolving, trumpeting clock. An outrageous secret. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I will be making a special trip to see it for myself soon.
Definitely hit the balcony for the full magic, Sarah ✨🕰️
Surely that clock is an earthquake risk, she asked quasi-concernedly... or a plot device in an Agatha Christie? Did it fall or was it severed at (electrical) source?
Anyway, besides all that the shirt story (is it Sezane? Their adverts are catnip!) is deeply evocative of the best-ever Simpsons episode, in which Homer asks the people at Balenciaga to send Marge a dress for her birthday. The good people of Springfield end up in Paris, chaos ensures, etc. Comic, clever, tender, life-affirming, quite lovely.
It is indeed SEZANE
*swoons*
Their shoes are CRIMINALLY priced. They only get away with it because they’re French
Um WTAF! I have lived here for 22 years and I walk past this building every week day at least twice and regularly visit Mojo there for a good coffee… I NEVER KNEW THIS!
I’m so relieved I’m not the only one. How we missed something that big, I’ll never know
I’m looking forward to checking it out this week!
I’ve had lunch often enough at Smith the Grocer but never ever knew about the clock. Clearly I’ve always been late 😵💫
Yes! Never on the hour! Isn’t it WEIRD
Enjoyed reading this at 4am UK time, Leah, and have just popped back to see the clock in action on the video. How much else passes us by when we don’t pay attention?!
We see what we want to see most of the time, don’t we, and ignore the rest. It’s so odd (like the clock)
I worked at the Old Bank Arcade in its first year post-renovation & heard that clock every hour on the hour. Although repetition did it no favours & it drove me mad after a while, a visit to Wellington isn’t complete without watching it play.
Ooh, what year was this, Catherine? Yes it must be irritating for staff to listen to it over and over. Though imagine working in a supermarket at Christmas
He he, so true! It was 1999, I think? I was based in one of the ‘kiosks’ in the centre of that floor - so right next to the action 😂
Think restoring was part of the deal when the developers got permission to mall-ize the building(so tastefully), I forgot all about it the exposing part - though I've noticed the horns and for some reason thought it was the Salvation Army. Wondering if it's now programmed electronically to do the party trick - doubt if it's anyone's job to wind the thing.
And lucky grass is all you collect in those comfy looking trainers.
It’s sort of beautiful and crap at the same time. A bit like WELLINGTON
In response to your enquiry "does Lyttelton have an insane clock ?" the answer is no.
We prefer to let time drag and then talk for hours about wasted opportunities
The clock is great! I’ve shown it to lots of people after I was introduced to it by a friend, shortly after I arrived in Wellington from the uk. He’s from Fiji so maybe it’s a thing that only immigrants and tourist learn about?
I’m imagining you and your friends standing under it and waiting for the hour. I LOVE this mental image!
Yep that’s pretty much what happened!
Got to go up the stairs to the viewing platform for the full experience.
I SO relate to the point about not liking clothes shopping and avoiding it until things fall apart and you have no choice but to replace them. The problems is everything dies around the same time and I have to replace the whole wardrobe at the same time... On the bright side, I won't need to repat the exercise again for the next 10 years...
I’m glad I’m not the only one, Rob
I share it too..Second hand shops are the solution.. so much choice and variety, no need to follow the latest trend, and nice and inexpensive. And if they're part of a charity, then doing double good: recycling and helping at the same time! But I love your description of the new shirt and its packaging! You won't get that in a second hand place! I love your witty writing. :)
Janet! I think I’d shop vintage almost exclusively if I had the time. It’s a slow business. Slow and charming
I love to read your newsletter fresh off the presses ;)
The clock sounds weird and amazing and just, um, actually quite European (like the astronomical clock in Prague that has a cool skeleton striking the hour).
I never go shopping now except online (health reasons) and can't believe the utter boring sameness of so many clothes, bags and shoes- over the last few years I have become a convert to second hand clothes because of the variety and the price! I like Recycle Style, Shop on Carroll, and Designer Wardrobe but also love the Seasalt Cornwall brand which has quite a Wellington vibe somehow. Ballantynes in Christchurch sell their clothes https://www.ballantynes.co.nz/shop-by-brand/s/seasalt-cornwall/?srsltid=AfmBOop45vBet1HkqaKokvcRiRigS9QEDbANR26mrwZ56RPbFegTDiUL I specifically love their fabrics and their socks.
Golden suggestions, Kris. I’ve been ransacking the internet lately for second hand French clothes. I will now look up Seasalt
Also Seasalt now ship directly to NZ https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/womens. They have breton tops and cotton workers jackets but not sure if that's the French je ne sais quoi you're after ;) They are a B Corp company which I do appreciate in these days of late stage capitalism
I forgot to say I completely understand ordering something and then thinking OH NO I spent way too much...my ADHD and impulse buying are things I struggle with constantly. But boy do I get a dopamine boost from lovely packaging and nice stuff when it arrives ;)
Ooh this is so practical and has LINKS! Fab. Will follow up - even though I need precisely nothing.
Needing and wanting are totally different things ;)
How wonderful Leah. What I love about your writing is that I have gone on this journey with you and am drenched with sweat about the $600 choice you have made,which is currently hanging in your wardrobe.
You continually save me from having to have a stressful life of my own. Thank you.
All part of the service, Gary! Does gorgeous Lyttelton also have an insane clock?
Please let us know if the shirt fits. I'm becoming quite anxious wondering if you have paid for something you'll never wear.
Also, I highly recommend the cobbler at the railway station. They'd do a wonderful job relining your mother's satchel. They once replaced the lining in an old leather jacket of mine. You could pick some funky colour and once again imagine you were a young French woman crossing a cobbled street, especially if you wear your new shirt (if it fits).
Wonderful writing, as usual, Leah.
I know of that cobbler! That’s not a bad idea, Alan.
I’m terrified of trying on the shirt. I don’t think I can do it
Buy something lovely from my shop and I’ll hand you a cone of flowers! Just txt me first so I can steal some from my neighbour’s garden …
There will be a collective ding-dong when you post a pic wearing la chemise. Please!