Kia Ora Dabblers!

Welcome back, it's blimmin' lovely to "see" your face again (imagination is a wonderful thing, right?).
No time like the present (that's all there is) - let's go the exact opposite to last week's long intro and jump straight in with some oot-'n-aboot opportunities.

Have a wonderful week ahead 💖

C.x ✨

Friday 23rd January

🧘 Resonate Festival (wellness, arts, music, community)
Fri-Sun- go for a day or the whole weekend, there's plenty on! https://resonate-festival.co.nz/​

Their FB and IG pages have more info about what/who/when
​https://www.facebook.com/resonatefestivalnewzealand/​
​https://www.instagram.com/resonatefestival.nz/​

Resonate Festival are also calling for volunteers for the day/weekend Put your name forward here

Saturday 24th January

🥾 7-Day (Comprehensive) Bushcraft Course
​https://www.oenz.co.nz/course/7-day-bushcraft-course/​

🎷 Try an Instrument (10am-1pm)​
​https://www.facebook.com/events/848986147506554​

then head to

🪁 Kite Day 2026 (12-4pm) fiiiinally, this has been popping up in my events for months, ha))​
​https://www.facebook.com/events/848986147506554​

Monday 26th January

🚵 LEVEL UP-Core Skills program (Womens)​
​https://be-spoke.co.nz/mountain-bike-group-coaching/mountain-bike-group-coaching-level-up-core-skills​

🗣 Kōrero Noa (share your te reo Māori journey, whether you know a little or a lot)
​https://events.humanitix.com/k-rero-noa-2025​

​
​Fire through your upcoming events here!

Can I share a secret?

I strongly dislike bike riding.

4 wheels or 2 legs for me, thanks.
​(And I’ve never been on an electric scooter- but that’s ✨probably✨ not connected…right?)

I did learn to ride as a kid- but not like a tiny kid who it then becomes second nature to. My parents weren’t big "bike people" either (thinking about it now, mum still has some unresolved trauma around a bike accident when she was a kid, but that’s ✨probably✨ not connected…right?), so didn’t think too much more about it.

Until Intermediate (Year 7/8).

Mandatory whole-school day trip - from the basketball courts to Outram Glen (river) for lunch and back. Looking at the map now, it’s only 11km - (apparently) 40min, each way. Though I guess double that when 200~ kids are involved.

And I strongly disliked all. twenty thousand eighty. minutes. of. it. (plus the 60min dread-filled lunch break, plus the infinite-minutes lead up, while everyone else fizzed about it).
​But bless my parents, they did become ‘bike-people’ for/with me for the few weeks prior- with evening rides and parking lot practices. Dad never outwardly complained (mum and I absolutely did, though, ha).

So when I moved up here, it was awfully convenient that my bike couldn't fit in/on/about my car…

Which is also kind of a shame? This city is so…flat?! And also the fact I lived right beside the Adventure Park for almost 3 years… 🫣

So now I see this, and there’s a mini-battle in my brain;​
​“Oh no, I don’t have a bike” …they provide bikes and helmets.
​“I’ll look like an idiot” …this is the whole point of a) lessons and b) embracing being a “terrible beginner” like I keep talking about, ahem.​
​“I don’t have time” …it’s once a week, and no bookings (and free) so you just turn up when you can/want between Jan and Apr.

…Sooo if you want to come with me…? It’s only 120mins of probably-not-strong-dislike…

🚲 FREE BIKE LESSONS FOR WOMEN – Christchurch

Where: Addington School (Brougham St)
​When: Wed’s from 28th Jan-1st Apr, 5pm-7pm
​Entry: FREE
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1936413620528606/1936413650528603​

​
🚵 Alternatively, if you’re at least 2 confidence-steps above me and want to give downhill/trail stuff a go, this 6-week, women’s ‘LEVEL UP-Core Skills‘ program might be more your speed?

Where: Crocodile XC MTB Park
​When: Mon’s from 26th Jan-2nd Mar, 6pm-8pm (6 weeks)
​Entry: $390 (or $65 individual sessions)
​Info: https://be-spoke.co.nz/mountain-bike-group-coaching/mountain-bike-group-coaching-level-up-core-skills​

Word Jumble: (hint: related to the events above, answers at the bottom of the newsletter)

ANRETSOE

CFAUBRHTS

RIDCEOCLO

Well actually, this time it's me...

👋 Name: Cassie

💖 What’s your hobby/current obsession? Embroidery/Cross-stitch

🧃 Fuel of choice while dabbling: Dilmah with oat milk. (maybe I am 80?!)

🏆 "My holy grail tool/material/gear I can’t live without, is ___"? You saw my stash of floss last week, right...? (if not, pics below)

📍 Fave local spot to get your fix: The doing? At home. The supplies? Op shops are surprisingly handy for finding random thread and Aida fabric (for cross stitch). Maybe because people try it once and it takes so long, they give up...? 🤭 Who knows.
I try and steer clear of Lincraft/Spotlight because I somehow "lose" at least an hour each time I go (also, Aussie...).
If you know of a specialty fibre arts shop in the city, do let me know!

🙅🏻‍♂️ What’s something people assume about your hobby — and are absolutely wrong about? That it's old-fashioned. There are so many rad patterns to buy, or make yourself, or freestyle it. Or switch up the medium- wood, shoes, furniture, metal mesh, I've even seen a painted cross-stitch mural!

💡 Your top tip or one piece of advice for someone wanting to dabble? Come and see me for some thread 😆
And that it's an exercise in patience (and that's kind of the point).

💎 What does this hobby give you that "normal" life doesn’t? Listening to and actually hearing audios (podcasts/audiobooks/meditations etc) because I'm not trying to do 47 things at once.

A gift for a friend whose two favourite things were Mean Girls and Halloween 🖤. Plus current 'Monarch' progress ft. 'Lil Helpsy' 😅

Now all I can think about is bike riding... And I also want some Spokie Dokies (I'm sure they will "fix" everything).

I'm curious to know if there's something you tried as a kid (or maybe avoided) that you swore "never again", but now there's a small inkling to pull at that thread again?
Or was that just me...?

​
​Here are your quick links:​
🤘 Spill your current hobbsession​
👋 Share your community event or business​
​🫶 If someone rad sent this to you and you wanna sign up for yourself​
​

Now go watch some clouds.

Cassie.x ✨​
​Publisher, The Dabbling​
​Your Unofficial Fave Hobby-Hypegirl

Fun answers:

RESONATE

BUSHCRAFT

CROCODILE