It has been an incredibly fun and busy month here at Arohanui, filled with anticipation and creative energy as we geared up for our highly anticipated Masquerade Ball. The weeks leading up to the big event were a complete whirlwind of preparation, and I absolutely loved getting hands-on with all the details. We crafted unique masks, baked batches of special cupcakes, and I especially loved seeing the stringing up of the sparkling fairy lights to ensure the venue looked absolutely magical. When the big day finally arrived, the entire atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, and it was so rewarding to see all of the hard work truly pay off.
The ball itself was a spectacular, unforgettable celebration where everyone dressed to impress. The women looked absolutely stunning in their pretty ball gowns, and the men looked exceptionally sharp in their suits and ties. We were lucky to have a brilliant DJ named Mark, who brought fantastic energy and kept the dance floor alive. One of the absolute highlights of the day was the thrilling arrival of two mystery guests; we all had a wonderful time trying to guess their identities before they finally revealed themselves as Cassie and Maree, our lovely former staff members! It was such a heartwarming surprise to see them. We celebrated the reunion and danced the day away, treating ourselves to delicious blue mocktails, tasty savouries, and a special cupcake.
In between the epic chaos of the ball, I have stayed wonderfully busy with plenty of other rewarding activities. I have proudly continued my volunteering at the Welcome Bay Community Centre, where I love helping to sort through the clothing donations and catching up with visitors to tell them all about planes. Back at our center, I've also been putting our brand-new, free-standing basketball hoop to good use! It makes for a fantastic game, and I was so into the zone that I happily played for a whole hour straight, practicing my shots and staying active.
I’ve also kept busy with my usual fun weekly sessions, which always bring a lot of joy to my days. Lately, I’ve been focusing my creative energy on my ongoing mosaics project, and I’ve also had a wonderful time exploring the magical story of Charlotte's Web alongside Amy. To top it all off, I went on a special little mission for our Hunter Gatherer group, embarking on a fun adventure to source a new cordless hot glue gun for the center. It was a highly successful outing, capping off a truly amazing month full of learning, volunteering, and making wonderful memories with friends.
