Wednesday 31 August 2011

Kamaka Kamaka Kamaka

Mahalo. The day finally arrived when I got to collect the newest family member. Beside the alarm not going off and getting off the bus way to early, we got to the factory on time and I got to meet her.
The factory is just a little place but I saw the double K from across the street.



And this rather cool street marker.



When we entered the little reception area and introduced myself it was like meeting family. They were wonderful, and I met Tekla, who I have been conversing with via email for the past three months. The other women in the office told us to call her Princess. This was some little joke they had going and you know how much I enjoy a joke. Happy to oblige. It got a roaring reception when I said " thank you princess".

We were given a wood token for going on the Kamaka tour and it's pretty cool as it's the cut out sound hole from the ukulele's.
Here are a few shots from the tour.


Each ukulele is hand made and everyone is handled by each person in the factory as is passes through the process.


The factory only makes around 17 ukulele a day.


Each one is hand sanded about four times or more.
Then each one is hand checked for perfection and to ensure they have the perfect tone.


Until each one is collected by it's new owner. Not everyone gets to collect their ukulele off a Kamaka family member.
Here I am happy as a uke player in a Kamaka store!



I've tuned her now and she sounds amazing. Such a beautiful instrument and made by a family who all love their work. Now all she needs is a name that reflects her beauty and perfection.
Aloha.


Uke complete me!

Location:Waikiki

Monday 29 August 2011

Melbourne to Hawaii... Aloha

Well here we are finally hanging out in Waikiki.
The trip over was relatively uneventful. Very long and I managed a bit of sleep. Sue on the other hand didn't sleep,watched too many movies and played 'who wants to be a millionaire'. She only won €32 000. Still trying to find who we get the cash off.

After about 20 hours in the air we arrived technically before we left,but that's another story.

Mackenzie has gone off to stay with nana and pop in Bega and is missed. I'm sure she is well spoilt already.

Sue and I spent the day shopping and have already purchased fantastic hawaiian shirts.



How sexy are we?

Our hotel is very cool and if you hop out onto our 60cm wide deck you can actually see Waikiki beach.



Actually from the pool deck you can see the whole beach and what a great beach too. We plan on hitting the waves on longboards and paddle boards in the following days.

They also supply complementary coffee and how good is this?
Coffee and a woman playing the ukulele, all my favorites.



We are off to the Kamaka factory tomorrow to see how they made my new baby, till then Aloha...
Uke complete me!

Location:Waikiki

Thursday 4 August 2011

Thanks New Zealand, hello shoulder

Since I'm home on sick leave today and not allowed to lift my arm I thought I might post some other New Zealand photo's and winge about my shoulder.

Most of you have read about the New Zealand trip and all its trials and tribulations. On reflection it was a real experience and something I do plan to do again. There is another company who set up base camp at the bottom right next to the ice. No hills! Sounds like the trip for me and these worn knees.

After the trip I had booked a short flight from Wanaka to Christchurch for the return home. What I didn't plan was the thick fog that left us stuck at Wanaka airport for hours.
When the plane finally arrived it was much smaller then I imagined.



Another George was the jack of all trades at the tiny Wanaka airport. He checked you in,tagged you bags. Gave out the boarding pass which had a gate number...very funny,there's only one door out. He then used the PA to tell us our flight was boarding. The whole airport is no bigger then a lounge room so he could have just spoken to us. Prob got to follow procedure. Then George walks from behind his counter to the gate and scans the boarding pass he just gave us! Very funny. He should have had different hats to wear. George must be the standard name for nice blokes in NZ.


The views are still spectacular and it won't be long till I go back for an extended holiday in this lovely place.



The entertainment didn't end once back in Christchurch. All of a sudden a siren sounded in the airport and everyone was ordered to evacuate the buildings! Just a false alarm.
Thanks again New Zealand.
Here is a photo of my uke and a kiwi just as proof I did have it with me.



Since my return to Melbourne I have done as promises and headed off to have my shoulder looked over. An x ray and ultra sound were done and the news is not that good. I had been hoping it was just tendinitis or minor impingement but no such luck. I have a tear in my supraspinatus tendon, just over 1cm long and wide. So basically a torn rotor cuff! Damn it! The prob is the chances of a heal without surgery is about a 40-50%. I've been to a sports medicine doctor who specializes in shoulders and he's injected cortisone into the joint to lessen the inflammation to allow me to do physio relatively pain free.
Time will tell if I can repair it with treatment or it's surgery and a long recovery. Surely uke playing is good therapy.
Till next time. Just under four weeks till USA so stay tuned.
Uke complete me!

Location:Home