Burning Sheep 2008

Burning Sheep 2008...Weta's version of Burning Man. An annual celebration for absolutely no reason at all...other than to light something on fire, set off fireworks, and barbecue and drink on the beach at night.

Princess Jasmine (Wong...no relation but probably somewhere down the line as our families are from the same province in China) hugs Mr. Sheep for the last time...before he spontaneously combusts!!!

...nom nom nom...

How to light a sheep on fire by shooting roman candles at it.

This is what happens when a bonehead lights fireworks but neglects to stabilize them first...

Jogle...Chief Pyro Engineer for the evening.

...there are always thugs and riff raff at these Weta things. Seen here the failed boy band Backstreet N'Degrees.

I was waiting for this to end badly...VERY badly...

Fire Poi

Summer brings warmth to Wellington, and with it comes those who play with fire. Fire Artists...jugglers, staffs, poi, chains, etc. Every Tuesday night Frank Kitts Park and the lagoon light up, with fire spitting from spinning and twisting metal. Don't forget to bring your bag of marshmallows!

Fire Poi, basically a metal handle and chain with a ball and wick on the end. Sometimes the ball has extra material stuffed in it to soak up more flammble liquid like kerosene or paraffin. I believe it actually originated from the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. The word poi meaning "ball".

This is my version of Harry Potter getting his fire poi on. Harry Potter And The Poi Of Fire. In theatres next month.

Guy Fawkes Day 2007

Who or what is it you ask? Guy Fawkes, the most famous conspirator of the "Gunpowder Plot". A conspiracy by English Catholics in 1605, to blow up English Parliament and King James I, due to laws against the practices of the Catholic religion. Fawkes was caught in a cellar below the parliament building, that contained 36 barrels of gunpowder. He and his co-conspirators were eventually imprisoned or executed.

So apparently someone in England decided to declare November 5th Guy Fawkes day, and the event is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. And every year Marco and Glen (two of my fellow Cre-tards) throw a part at their place. A sweet little pad on the hillside of Oriental Parade. Great views overlooking the harbour can be had while standing on their "Balcony Of Death"...basically a second story patio with NO railings in front...a drop down to a brick staircase below at which point you'd roll down the hill. Fun. And as you'd expect, the patio looked like a pro sporting event lined with a bunch of photogs and tripods...click..click...click....

One of the good things about having a hillside patio with no railing though, is that you can fire your own fireworks off it!And one of the good things about having a brick staircase below your open balcony, is that you can set off more fireworks off below, and have them scream past inches in front of you, and explode just above your head! More fun :)