The Whitianga Scallop Festival was wonderful.  I over planned.  I didnt get around to the scallop pate and the wally bread.  I brought the scallops home and ate them.  The week before the festival I rang the scallop factory to order to be told that the scallops might be frozen.    The boats had not gone out because of the weather.  So I sent them a prayer for fine weather so that I could have fresh scallops and I did not want to stand in the rain at the event.  Yes, our prayers were answered.  The day could not have been more perfect.  The most popular hangi meal on the day was---the mutton bid hangi!!!! Next year the hangi menu shall be mutton bird and pork.  Chicken is far too common these days at KFC and not too many hangi chicken meals were sold.  For a whanau event it was real good bonding.  Karis came from the Chathams to help and her fried bread were like doughboys in size- yummy nevertheless.  But the sounds from the Monteith tent must have been heard in Auckland.  The odd strippers provided entertainment from those sitting on the cardboard sandseats sponsored by Monteiths.  And Aunty Umu as my food caravan was noted.  Invitations for other events have been rolling in.  The next event for me is the Te Aroha Classic Cars 2 October then the Wild Food Festival at Awhitu Labour Weekend Sunday and that is October gone.