Kia Ora Dabblers!

Hope your week's been copacetic! Please do smash the reply button and tell me what you've been working on/dreaming about/having fun with/learning this week, I ADORE chatting with you!

Maybe my most spendy hobby yet, I bought a whole heckin' house 🙀 (well, tbf, I'll probably own the toilet and maybe 1/6 of the kitchen, but it's a start...!?
I'm also schemin'... If you'd be interested in being a secret society member of a separate publication for DIY/interiors/local contractor recs etc, please tell me! ⤵️)

NB: Grand plans of having the Goog calendar live, have not quiiiiite gone to plan?
It's starting to fill up, but please hold while this geriatric sea harpy figures out how to share the tech... I will announce on Instagram if I sort it before (chucking it in here) next Wed!
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NB²: Speaking of IG, we'll be starting to share a few more events that don't make it here (slash, an additional reminder, slash, fall on a Tue/Wed/Thu and you need advanced notice). Link above if you wanna peep. It's not gonna be fancy, but it'll do the job.

Heaps on this weekend, particularly Saturday - what's catching your eyeballs? Maybe some sunrise yoga, or some sunset coffee tasting?
Onwards!

C.x ✨

Wednesday 30th July

☕️ Coffee nerds unite! ​
Join Rad Roasting Co & Opal Coffee for a tasting evening - "Expect slurping, sniffing, spooning and a whole lotta geeking out" over 5 different Indonesian single origin coffees.
​Where: Rad Roasting Co
​When: From 5pm
​Entry: FREE (caffeine etc available to pur-chase)​
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1258784212567356​

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Thursday 31st July

🎲 D&D Quest Night ​
Join a 2-hour D&D one-shot full of monsters, magic, and mildly bad decisions. Newbie or seasoned adventurer, all are welcome—just bring your imagination (and maybe a healing potion).
​*Also save room for their cheesecake, it's next level delish (and vegan, not GF though, soz) 🤤
​Where: Dice & Slice
​When: 6:30pm-9pm
​Entry: $25
​Tickets: https://www.questbook.nz/event-cal/qn-31-july​

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Friday 1st August

🎨 Boho Botanicals: Paint & Sip​
No skills? No worries. You'll be guided step-by-step through a featured painting—and you'll will leave with a masterpiece (and a story to tell). It’s a 2-hour, brush-slinging, snack-nibbling good time.
​Where: Paint & Sip Studio, The Arts Centre
​When: 6:30pm-8:30pm
​Entry: $69
​Tickets: https://paintnsip.co.nz/event/boho-botanics-2025-08-01​

👂 Floating Sound Bath: The Water Remembers​
"Join Sama and Jenine for a luxurious floating sound journey — a collaboration that continues the magic of our Sound Cocoon events, now held upon the water".
​Where: Nine Healing Arts
​When: 6pm-8pm
​Entry: $95
​Tickets: https://www.ninehealingarts.nz/events-and-retreats/the-water-remembers-july-11-4km9k​

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Saturday 2nd August

📖 Bookmaking for Beginners Workshop​
Fold, stitch, and press your way into the ancient art of bookmaking—no experience needed, just curious fingies, a love of paper, and re-using materials.
​Where: Risingholme Community Centre
​When: 10am-3pm (5hrs)
​Entry: $110 (limited spots available)​
​Tickets: https://www.risingholme.org.nz/product/bookmaking-for-beginners-workshop/​

🌿 Wild Coffee Workshop: Forage, Cook & Taste​
"Forage for plants that can be used as a coffee alternative, then cook, brew, and taste our way through the process together".
​Where: Richmond Community Garden
​When: 10:30am-1:30pm (3hrs)
​Entry: $25 pp
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/3492693390868477​

🧑‍🌾 Garden Design (7 weeks)​
This seven-week course flips garden design on its head. You’ll learn the real-life skills to turn your outdoor chaos into a space that actually fits your weird, wonderful life. No beige pebbles required.
​Where: The Kiosk, CHC Botanic Gardens
​When: 2nd Aug - 13th Sep, 1:30pm-4pm (final day 10am-4pm)
​Entry: From $590
​Tickets: https://www.chsgardens.co.nz/product/garden-design-spring/​

🪕 Foundations of Flamenco Guitar​
Strum like you're storming a Spanish courtyard - This flamenco guitar workshop dives into spicy 12-beat rhythms, soulful chords, and foot-stomping flair—perfect for curious musicians or seasoned strummers alike
​Where: The Muse Community Music Trust
​When: 2pm-4pm (2hrs)
​Entry: $40
​Tickets: https://themuse.org.nz/instrumental​

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Sunday 3rd August

🧼 Vegan Melt & Pour Soap making Workshop​
Slide into your soap era with this vegan melt & pour workshop where you’ll craft your own bars, judge each other’s scent combos, and maybe finally feel something. No lye, no limits.
​Where: Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple
​When: 1pm-3pm (2hrs)
​Entry: $28.92 ($25 + BF)
​Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/vegan-melt-pour-soap-workshop/christchurch?​

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Monday 4th August

🧘 Morning Yoga at the Beach (indoors)​
Sunrise salutations - breathe in the ocean air, breathe out yesterday’s chaos.
​Where: Sumner Life Saving Club
​When: 8am-9am
​Entry: $10 casual (concessions available)
​Tickets: https://www.yogaintuition.nz/christchurch-yoga-classes/yogaatbeach/​

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Tuesday 5th August

🍝 Fresh Pasta (Fettuccine Alfredo) Making Workshop​
Learn the secrets of authentic Fettuccine pasta ALFREDO, antipasto and dessert included
​Where: 49 Wiggins St, Sumner
​When: 6:30pm
​Entry: $100
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/663014769836579​

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OTHER STUFF COMING UP SOON THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA BOOK ASAP:

In a serendipitous twist, I present to you... a flower pressing workshop (and flower art workshop a couple of weeks later!), so you don't have to rely on my 30 year old amateur knowledge [hi, if you're new here, please see last week's edish], because we have an ACTUAL PROFESSIONAL in our midst - ✨Debz Eagle✨, flower preservationist(!) (if only I'd known that was a viable career path...maybe it's not too late?!)

Where: The Kiosk, CHC Botanic Gardens​
When: Sun 19th Oct, 1-2:30pm (pressing) and Sun 2nd Nov, 10am-1pm (art)
​Tickets: https://www.chsgardens.co.nz/product/pressed-flowers/​

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​Fire through your upcoming events here!

Get the full picture at MetService​

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👸 As if we needed an excuse to watch this for the 273rd time...?
​The Princess Bride is on brief repeat at Alice Cinema - 3 sessions (Sat 2pm, Sun 1:55pm and Tue 6:15pm) - is it too much to go to all three?!​
While you do, in fact, need to leave the house for this, it's worth busting out your fanciest lazy pants - meet you there?!
Tickets? As you wiiiiiiish​

While you're there, check out the other films they've got on, AND OMG you can rent out DVDs on a subscription?!

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Word Jumble: (hint: related to the trivia below)

NETLYJ ILANT

(Answers for both at the bottom of the newsletter)

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🛶 If regularly choking on seawater and ranking biggest rapids with customers and comrades is your ultimate dream, we've got just the (soggy) ticket for you - Paddler Zone kayak store is for sale (after 24 years). Includes stock and staff (you don't own them, obvs), ready to roll-in, rollin, rollin on the riverrrr 🎼

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🍦 Scoop Boss Ice cream legends, Duck Island are cominnngggg to town! They're looking for someone to lead the team, keep things cool, and make sweet decisions daily as the manager of their new store. 🍓 P.S. Strawberry & Lime Leaf is the fave around here, what's your go-to scoop? ​ Peep the listing here (not sponsored or affiliated, just thought it was cool)

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🚲🚲 Find a friend to go halvsies in a tandem bike?
🚲🚲 Or a fancier tandem bike?

🚣 The perfect kayak to practice for your new paddlin' business?
🚣 ...and how about a storage rack for said kayak?

🎱 A whole dang pool table (with auto-ball return and wall-mounted cues, fancy)!

🎹 Only slightly out of tune, 1930s, German-made baby grand piano (shouldn't be too hard to get that upstairs, right...?)

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🚨☕️ Good Chai Alert: Shout out to ✨Rach✨ from Seaside Chai (and Seaside Yoga) for always delivering the internal hugs at the Vegan Night Mākete 🥰 (last Saturday of every month - come along (and/or apply as a stallholder! ⤴️))

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📢 We're looking for people doing outdoorsy activities (doesn't necessarily have to be extreme adventure sports, though it could be) - what's your current obsession? Tell us here or send to a mate who's getting their sunshine and pollen quota.

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​Here are your quick links:​
Got a community event/fun thing to share? That's this one [free]​
Classifieds, paid events or newsletter sponsorship? Intro offers active [paid]​
​​Got a vacancy to share or need a volunteer? Chuck it here, too [free]​
Keen to share your deepest hobby-love? Brag away here [free]​
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Now off you trot — your bike’s begging for a bath.

C.x​
​Publisher, The Dabbling​
​Ōtautahi’s Unofficial Hobby-Hypewoman

Fun answers:

🥤 Lyttel Ninja (local Kombucha company)

Lies - Unfortunately there is no Brew-Your-Own Kombucha bar...yet?! Someone please do this!