"Εtautahi locals - This newsletter will RUIN your free time... in the best way" π₯
*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER* β‘οΈ Fresh workshops & events, weird hobbies & advice, creative deals & career possibilities, and meeting local legends doing cool sh*t along the way. π‘ Plan your weekend, accidentally reinvent your life. π Inspiration drops every Wednesday at noon.
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Birthday books π, Country fiestas πΎ and Sculptural πΏFestyβs - celebrations abound π₯³
Published about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 7 min read
G'day Dabblers!
Have we adjusted to daylight saving, yet?! (pets and kids, not so much π¬) The good news is it's the signal for planning (and doing, obvs) more outdoor hobbies (or air-conned ones, if that's more your speed)!
I donned my 'domestic goddess' cloak last weekend- used a lawnmower for the first time ever, finally got some picture frames painted** and some artworks up (some had been stashed for 5+ years π₯Ί), and mended some curtains.
6 lessons learnt thoughts from mowing lawns for the first time in my life;β - Doing them in the hottest part of the day...in trackpants...is silly. Don't be silly. - Shorts are also problematic (bare, itchy legs). I don't have a resolution here. - Electric/batteries have changed the game (and it's, dare I say it, fun?! (The novelty will absolutely wear off shortly, don't worry)).β - Also, check your batteries... (unless you like half-done berms).β - I can see why it'd be therapeutic. Not for me, but some people swear by it.β - Should have made a daisy chain first.
π Dabble-o-meter:2.5/7 - can't believe I have to do this every other week for the rest of my homeowner-life... Can't see it being my "new obsession" *adds to "outsource that shi-" list*.
A friend recently mentioned planting herbs as ground cover and making a delicious-smelling path when walked on, which sounds blimmin amazing - have you done this? Any tips?!
β ** Shout out to β¨Aalto Paintβ¨ who have this stunner of a colour- Ultramarine Blue(their version of "Klein Blue").
Enough about me though, let's see what's going on this week! Speaking of arty-farty goodness, there's lots going on in and around the Arts Centre, so if you hang around there, you'll surely dabble in something!
C.x β¨
THIS WEEK'S EXCUSES TO PUT ON PANTS
Wednesday 1st October
π 'WE Are Books' 1st Birthdayβ Go get some bargain books (from $2!) and support these rad peeps (CWEA) who've run courses/workshops/community space for over 100 years! (Technically their birthday was Mon 29th, but the event popped up for Wed, so rolling with it)β βWhere: 59 Gloucester St βWhen: Open 9.30amβ3pm M-F and 11amβ3pm on weekends βEntry: FREE βInfo:https://www.facebook.com/events/1470242707581046/1470242734247710β
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Thursday 2nd October
ποΈββοΈ Russley Social Club (Women's, this week)β BYO friend/s or make new ones, while smacking golf balls with semi-reckless abandon...plus spot prizes and snacks afterwards - sounds fun! βWhere: Russley Golf Club βWhen: 5pm-7.30pm every 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month βEntry: $30 casual or $30 monthly social club membership β(1st Thu β Girlsβ night, 2nd Thu β Guysβ night, 3rd Thu β Open to all)β βTickets:https://events.humanitix.com/russley-social-club-womensβ
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Friday 3rd October
π§ββοΈ Kirtan Eveningβ "Kirtan meditation, mantra breathwork, lovely community" promising "inner peace, happiness and relaxation" - sounds like a delightful way to wind down the work-week, honestly. See you there? βWhere: WEA Canterbury (Gloucester St) βWhen: From 6pm βEntry: FREE (koha appreciated) βInfo:https://www.facebook.com/events/779707384815438β
*Speaking of, the teleportation event went well (alas, not quite as well as hoped), but the comments on the event page are great, what a bunch of good sorts π β"An interruption from the Floating hot tub, anti-teleportation, pro time travel imposters is the likely cause. But we will see you again next year. Second time's a charm"!β β"I wanted to come and started to practice for this event, I sneezed and farted in my last attempt and now Iβm in Lombok! WTAF! Trying desperately to get home by the 27th"
π€ Originals Showcase & Networking Nightβ Itβs your part-gig, part-hangout, part-βI knew them before they were bigβ (monthly) chance to soak in local musical talent (or ahem, share yours)β βWhere: The Freedom Clubhouse (1060 Ferry Rd) βWhen: 6:45pm - 10pm (3hrs 15min) βEntry: $5 (door sales) βInfo:https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/originals-showcase-networking-night/christchurch-districtβ
π Outdoor Expo '25β A whole weekend of all the outdoor hobbies, gear and info you didn't know you needed - in-tents!β βWhere: Canterbury Agricultural Park βWhen: Sat 5th-Sun 6th Oct, 9am-4pm βEntry: $20 adult (p/day) βInfo: https://outdoorexpo.flicket.co.nz/β
(Honourable mention) Sculpture Festival 2025 βCelebrate the 6th annual Sculpture fest with 200+ works, "from intimate handcrafted objects to striking large-scale installations, across a range of materials and stylesβperfect for collectors, art lovers, and the simply curious". βWhere: The Arts Centre (North Quad for large sculptures and Great Hall for small sculptures)β βWhen: Sat 4th-Sun 19th Oct, 10am-5pm βInfo:https://www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/sculpture-festival-2025/β
π¨βπ¨ Afternoon Art for Adults (8 weeks)β Hang out in a historic art school where legends once painted, and now itβs your turn, legend. If you've never picked up a paint brush, or you don't have enough room to make a mess at home, this is your space. βWhere: Paint & Sip Studio (Arts Centre) βWhen: 6th Oct-24th Nov (8 sessions of open studio time from 12:30pm β 3pm (Mondays and/or Wednesdays each week))β βEntry: $200 βTickets:https://www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/afternoon-art-for-adults/β
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Tuesday 7th October
π€ΉββοΈ Open Training Sessionsβ If you're a circus artist, dancer, yogi or other performing arts 'mover', and you're wanting to spend some time practicing and refining your skills, this might just be your new hang out spot... βWhere: Altiora (Arts Centre) βWhen: Every Tue 5:30pm-7:30pm (2hrs) βEntry: $10 p/session βInfo:https://www.altiora.nz/classesβ
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OTHER STUFF COMING UP SOON THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA BOOK ASAP:
π§ββοΈ Halloween Paint Your Mate: Tim Burton-styleβ Take your best mate and paint them (not 'on them'), huh? They didn't state you couldn't bring your dog... Γ la Zero style π» βWhere: Paint & Sip Studio (Arts Centre) βWhen: Friday 31st Oct, 6:30pm-8:30pm (2hrs) βEntry: $69 βTickets:https://www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/halloween-paint-your-mate-tim-burton-style/β
PERMISSION TO CHUCK THE CORPORATE LADDER ON THE BONFIRE
β¨Te WΔnanga o Aotearoaβ¨ are holding an open day this Friday (3pm-7pm), so if you're contemplating study (with a strong underpinning of MΔori culture and values), it would be well worth a korero (talk) with them!
β¨CWEAβ¨ (Canterbury Workers' Educational Association) started in 1915 as a way for the 'working class' to access University-level education (previously only accessible by wealthy families and individuals).
"Many Cantabrians took advantage of this to change professions or improve their careers. Over time, as university education became accessible to more people, our focus changed to improving quality of life through life-long learning. The courses we offered changed too, becoming less academic, shorter, and more interest-based. We expanded our arts, music, and dance offerings".
π This is one of our main drivers for this newsletter - to offer you inspiration and courage to try something new, and hopefully spur you into getting paid (well) for something you love, or at the very least, improve your quality of life do something farking fun π
WEA group on Franz Josef Glacier in 1937, encouraging members to "see the scenic wonders of their own country"
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No judgement here if this weekβs dabbling looks like curling up in a blanket fort and watching Big Brother re-runs (was that the OG reality TV show? Or what came before that?) Stay toasty! πΏ β βHere are your quick links:β Got a community event/fun thing to share? That's this one[free]β Classifieds, paid events or newsletter sponsorship? Intro offers active[paid]β ββGot a vacancy to share or need a volunteer? Chuck it here, too[free]β Keen to share your deepest hobby-love? Brag away here[free]β β
Now go grab your welly's and find the baddest puddle to stomp in.
C.xβ βPublisher, The Dabblingβ βΕtautahiβs Unofficial Hobby-Hypewoman
"Εtautahi locals - This newsletter will RUIN your free time... in the best way" π₯
Your weekly nudge to be a delightfully terrible beginner at something new π€Έ
*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER* β‘οΈ Fresh workshops & events, weird hobbies & advice, creative deals & career possibilities, and meeting local legends doing cool sh*t along the way. π‘ Plan your weekend, accidentally reinvent your life. π Inspiration drops every Wednesday at noon.
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