Rose of Tralee - Saturday

Finally, here is Saturday

After breakfast, and signing a copy of 'The Southland Times' for a visiting Hockey team, we got to meet our beautiful little rose-buds. Mine was 6 year old Alice and heck she's a little cutie!!

After getting to know our rosebuds, our escorts arrived and we all rehearsed entering the ball (being escorted by our rosebuds), being walked up to the stage and off the stage for our interviews and the announcement (helped by our Escorts), and a general rundown of the evening. The ballroom was already looking fantastic, and we were all getting excited, although I had a hard time concentrating..There was a really cool cherry picker that was being used to put up decorations, and I really really wanted to have a ride. Sadly it didn't happen :(

Just after 10 we headed off on a ROAD TRIP!!! to Bluff. It was hecka cold up at the lookout, but it was so pretty. We could see the other islands through the fog, and after our photo op, we went down to the sign post at the end/beginning of SH1. Super cool!!

After photos by the sign, and photos by the chain (linking the South Island to Stewart Island), it was back to Invi to visit the Museum, then over to Waxy O'Shea's for lunch.

On the bus back to the Hotel (Ascot Park Hotel), our Judges, who had spent all day Friday and Saturday with us, sprung a surprise challenge on us... a Group Interview. As soon as we arrived at the hotel, Lisa Monaghan (2009 NZ Rose) explained to us how it worked, the judges simply give us a topic, we have 1 min to think about it, and then we have 10 mins to discuss it. Its not a debate, just a discussion. Sweet. It was pretty fun, but flip those girls are brainy and full of knowledge. I definitely watched too much TV as a child.

After 2 discussion topics, we had to multi-task our getting ready for the ball (hair and makeup appointments + generally getting ready), personal interviews with the judges and an interview/conversation with the MC in preparation for our stage interviews.

Everything went well and we got ready on time. I was so happy with my makeup and hair, and think those lovely ladies did a great job.

Once we were ready, a group of us headed over to the foyer to meet our Rosebuds and Holy Moly there faces were priceless! The Highlight of my weekend right there. They saw us and their faces lit up, they were so happy and excited and ran right at us. Thus started our awesome Night.

Photos with everyone, rosebuds, escorts, eachother, then it was into the ballroom waving with our Rosebuds, up to the stage with our Escorts then after all the intros were made, dinner time!! Can I say YUM!! The food was delicious, my table was awesome, the music was choice, the little irish dancers were so cute, the older Irish Dancers were awesome, everything was AWESOME!!!

Stage interviews were next, and I actually had heaps of fun with mine. The MC was really cool and was easy to talk with, and the questions were way better then the friday night (or I was just less scared). Then it was time to dance the night away while the judges deliberated.

The Rosebuds had endless energy, and were still going hard at midnight while we were waiting for the judges to decide. We had heaps of fun coming up with new dance moves, and definitely got the party started.

The Roses and Judge Jim, Just before THE Announcement...

Our 2010 NZ Rose, Elizabeth Sara representing Otago.

After most of the guests left, all the roses, our escorts, and some family members had a sing-a-long in one of the meeting rooms, till the wee hours of the morning. After we finally headed back to our rooms, we continued to celebrate and Laura (Auckland Rose) even taught us some Irish Dancing. Eventually we let Elizabeth go to sleep (after having photos wearing her crown, and skyping karens (Chch rose) family in Ireland).

All in all, Saturday was another amazing day in our fun filled weekend of awesomeness!! I wish I could go again (or maybe they should crown a North Island rose *ahem ahem ME* and send them off to Ireland)