(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Ok, Imagine the scene: I’m looking at the exhibition in the Kauri Museum, in the section that shows how settlers (and in particular Kauri workers) lived and a little further down the hallway a woman looking into one of the glass fronted “rooms” gives a little squeal, looks around very embarrassed and hurries away with her head down to other exhibits further along.
Kiwi Daughter and one of my friend’s girls are slightly ahead of me so they look at me quizzically because they have heard and seen this too and go to investigate. They peer though the same window and shrug as if to say … ” and so?” and then all of a sudden they startle, point and burst out giggling.
They implore me to come and have a look, but laughingly dash off without explanation before I arrive at the window of that room.
A bedroom scene greets me, a manikin figure in Victorian garb sits in the bed with a book. OK, I think…. ” and?” … all of a sudden the “manikin” waves… it’s a real lady sitting in the bed, first sitting very very still and then suprising museum patrons!
She was so still at first and with her head down and factionally turned away that I didn’t notice she was a real person, but since I already knew that “something” was going on here I managed to not squeal like the poor embarrassed lady before me did. I too burst out laughing.
I wave back, the lady returns the gesture again for the camera. Don’t you just love museum staff with a sense of humour?
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
