Tapping into the community grapevine

If there is one thing that makes me smile, it's a decent community noticeboard.

A well-used noticeboard can be a goldmine of helpful information. You can discover interesting ways to spend your evenings, find a flat, learn about upcoming events, discover an area's different cultural groups and get an idea of the kind of characters living in the neighbourhood.

One of the city's best noticeboards is at the Organic Green Grocer in the Wood. Right now it features a message from a woman named Lindy who is offering to help people declutter their lives.

Lindy claims to be "non-shockable" and promises to be "kind but firm".

There is also a notice from a new group aimed at Nelson's Marxists, socialists, anticapitalists, anarchists and left wingers. The message features a photo of a candle and the statement: "Keeping the flame alive!"

Best of all is one from an optimistic couple looking to find somewhere to live.

Under the heading The Story, it says: "We are a married couple relocating in Nelson. We are in a van and need a place to park her. We are also asking for the use of your kitchen and toilet/bath/shower. We are flexible, tidy and conscientious. We are happy to share cooked yummies or leave you in peace. We respect your free will and are grateful to be here."

Outside the Washington Valley Store there is an out-of-date poster for a Kubb open day held in December. It reads: "Kubb is a classic Viking game played for over 1000 years on the Baltic island of Gotland. Kubb has recently taken Sweden by storm."

Now, normally I would have thought this was a good sign, but after seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I'm not so sure about those Swedes any more.

There is also a message about a missing pet that says: "Tabby cat with shaved neck and leg. Will come to the name Munta." The board at Tahunanui's Nightingale Library advises that the Nelson Historical Society's next meeting will feature a speech by Nola Leov called The Making of the French Pass Road. There is also an ad for an older drivers' course that asks: "Do you find driving in today's traffic daunting?"

The board outside Stefano's Pizzeria in town is dominated by messages from the city's Latin dancing fraternity but there is also an invitation to join a nine-day climate change retreat with someone named Dido Dunlop who is into Taras.

The notice says: "The 21 Taras are ancient goddesses whose meditations have been practised for millennia. They can unlock the power and the energy of dark and difficult emotions and help us develop our vision of what kind of world we want to create. Create a great new post oil world with Eco-Tara!"

At the Kandy Korner Store's noticeboard in Collingwood St, Willow and Verity are battling it out for the babysitting dollar. Verity's professional-looking advertisement says she is "100% reliable and responsible and good with children." In a nice testimonial touch someone has written across the notice in pen "Verity is amazing" and drawn a smiley face.

However, for me Willow wins. Unlike Verity, she doesn't keep her price a secret ($8 an hour) and her handwritten message boldly declares: "I am experienced, I am the oldest of eight and can care for all ages."

Across town the noticeboard outside Victory Square's On the Spot store includes a message from Jason at Koha Computing. According to Jason he is "the only computer service professional who works for koha/offering." There is a notice for a lost cat that goes by both the names Gypsy and Rat, and has "a small circle tattoo in her left ear". There is news of a hangi with proceeds going towards getting 50 whanau members to Hamilton for the unveiling of a family member's tombstone.

Appropriately for New Zealand's Community of the Year, Victory's noticeboard also features the best message in town. Hand-painted in red, blue and black, it reads: "Thanks to whoever you were who ran up to my house the night of the fire – you could have saved my life. Also the person who rang the fire service – you saved the house. Ka Pai!"

- © Fairfax NZ News

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