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I actually can't remember when I first heard about it, but I know it was a really long time ago. And, um, I almost got here about three or four years ago when I was walking Tiarra Aurora, but I ended up going past in a car instead of walking. Um, and didn't get get there. So, um, I I, I, for the last 15 years I've lived down south, um, in Southland, Otago, Feland. And so I, I came up to the company, coast area for work. Um, [00:00:30] about eight months ago. And so I was like, oh, I'll go to Vinegar Hill. Um, and finally sort of had a chance to go. Uh, can you tell me about, um, some of your first impressions? Uh, so this is, so this is your first year. Yeah. Tell, can you tell me some of your first impressions of the Hill? Um, I, I drove in and just seeing all the flags and everything was actually quite emotionally overwhelming. Like I got like sweaty eyes. It was like, oh my God, this is amazing. Um. Having lived and worked in sort of small [00:01:00] town and remote New Zealand, um, you just don't see anything generally. And, you know, usually I'm like, oh, I'm going to Wellington to visit and, you know, you see a rainbow flag and you're really a, you know, it's exciting. Um, so seeing like a whole space, which is ours, which that is just. So just so awesome. Yeah. Can you describe a bit more what this whole space looks like? Like it went from when you come in, going through the gay side, straight side, all of that. Um, so when you turn off the road, you [00:01:30] come across a bridge and then you turn down into a tunnel through the bush and it's, um. It's amazing. You immediately are just sort of like, it's like a tunnel and then you pop out and there's a big green area and you go to, um, what was it, the left or was it the right? I can't remember. Um, but you, um, you go to one direction and suddenly across the flat grass, there's just flags and tents and cars and people everywhere. Um, and it's all, it's all queer flags. It's great. [00:02:00] So, uh, what, what date did you get here? Uh, I got here on the 27th. Oh, very good. So you've been here today, days, and uh, what have you been up to for the last few days? Oh, I've been lying in my hammock and cruising around talking to people and yeah, meeting a lot of new people, but also, um, catching up with a few people that I know as well and went in a tubing yesterday down the river. That was pretty awesome. And, um, and taking part in a few of the events that are on as well. So, um, did the murder mystery last night with a [00:02:30] few people. It was awesome, fun. And so, um, uh, when I was going for a walk last night, I came across your campsite and you had it beautifully set up with some lovely fairy lights and things and the outlook on the river. Would you, would you de well, I've kind of described a bit of it, but would you describe it please a bit more for me? Yeah. It's just a wee spot by, um, by the river, up above the river a bit, um, completely surrounded by trees. It's down the far end of. The, um, the gay end of the camp. Um, and it's in trees. There's a lot of willows around. [00:03:00] And, um, so it's shady all the time, even when it's hot. Um, when it rains, there are very large drips. Um, and, um, I just had a gazebo up against my car. I'm sleeping in my, in my, um, car and just, yeah, a seat and a hammock set up. And yeah, really, really simple, really comfy. It's, um, some of the people set up here is amazing. Like, I've really enjoyed walking around, just checking out how people have, you know, the massive caravans or, um, really [00:03:30] elaborate things right down to a pop-up tent and a car and it's, yeah, it's really cool. Is there anything that surprised you about the hill? Just how many people are here. I, when I first heard about it, I was like, I thought, oh yeah, there'll be like 20 people or 50 people or a hundred people. Um, yeah. And it's, the reality is I don't know how many people are here. I have no idea. A thousand. Do you reckon it's about a thousand? I have no idea. But there's heaps of people. Someone shouted out a thousand and [00:04:00] another person said it's a tardis. So it gives some filling out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, and what has been your favorite part of the hill so far? Meeting, meeting other awesome people. Um, there are so many cool people here, so many smiley friendly people. Everyone says Kiara, everyone says good morning. Um, you can just sit down at the central table and have a coffee and talk to people and it's lovely. It's really, really good. Oh, and all the dogs, I've enjoyed meeting everyone's dogs. It's great. Um, and [00:04:30] can you tell me about what you're looking forward to for the rest of your stay here? Um. I'm hoping the wind today and tomorrow doesn't come to as much as it's forecast. Um, 'cause I don't wanna have to move my car, but I, I don't also don't wanna sleep under trees and gale force winds, so, um, I'm hoping it's gonna be, um, not as windy. Um, but, you know, you also can't fight the weather, so, um, I'll just enjoy whatever's happening and yeah, just continue. I'm really looking forward to, um, [00:05:00] I haven't sat around the bonfire at night yet, so I'm quite looking forward to doing that. Yeah. And so even though it is rainy and it's pretty chilly right now, you're still here. What keeps you staying here even though the weather's kind of cramp? Oh, it's not cold. Maybe for me it being a weakling, but, um, I think it's just the community. There's actual community here. A really large part of why I moved up from Southland and took a job up in the North Island again after 15 years [00:05:30] down south was because. I have lots of friends in Southland and family, but I don't have community. And, um, so coming to, well, the wider Wellington region, but also coming to things like this, there's community here. Um, even if we don't know each other, we look out for each other. Um, we have stuff in common. Um, yeah, it's, it's really important. Um, and as I get older, I'm realizing how important it is. You can't do the shit by yourself. Um, so yeah.
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