I was sitting at home the other Saturday morning, desperately trying to find something newsworthy and well reported in the New Zealand Herald, when Bad Jelly pointed out that the Lotto Commission was funding free screenings of some of the older New Zealand movies around the country.
And there it was! 'Came a Hot Friday' would be showing in New Plymouth in just two weeks' time. You know it - the 1970s movie by Ian Mune, with Billy T James as the mad Mexican and a storyline about bookmakers and crime. Bad Jelly actually had a supporting lead female role in the movie all those years ago.
“I’d love to go and see it again, especially in the 'Naki where it was made. That would be great," she said. “Na”, I replied quickly trying to kill a ridiculous idea, “we have not got time to be doing that, we're far too busy”.
But a few days later I was thinking how much she would love it and, in a moment of madness, I went online to check the price of flights to New Plymouth. Unbelievably, they were only $62 each. Why the hell not! Even an old pensioner like me can afford that. It would make a great surprise for her and I would almost certainly gain a few much-needed Brownies. So, I booked two return tickets and quickly phoned (the very helpful) Karina at Event Cinemas to arrange some seats, booked the car in at airport parking, booked dinner at Salt restaurant and a nice hotel room for the night. Then, to keep the secret, I fabricated a story that I was going to Coromandel on business, and I would be staying overnight and that she was welcome to come too.
All went very well until the morning of our adventure, when she steadfastly refused to pack her clothes in a case, preferring to hang them in the car. I knew this wasn’t going to work out on the plane, so had to prematurely confess our true destination.
Anyway, she was surprised and excited, and we had a marvellous time. I really loved being in the area where it was filmed. The theatre was full and I am sure, from the constant murmurings, that everyone had worked on the movie, knew someone who had, or recognised the locations it was shot in.
It wasn’t until I was on the plane on the way back that I started adding up the cost of those two free tickets to the movies in New Plymouth. It went something like this...
Flights x 4 =$248
'Park 'N' Fly' parking = $35 (Why must they always change your seat setting, mirrors and radio station?)
Taxis to and from town, and around and about the place = $60
Admission to the Len Lye Centre = $40
Hotel room = $190
Dinner and wine = $205
Lunch at Len Lye Centre = $75
Total cost of two free movie tickets = $853!
Now, this got me thinking about how we all get hooked up in the bargain and not necessarily the value. Big chain stores are excellent at creating the bargain perception, with massive discounts on even more massively overpriced merchandise. But, it happens in our industry too, 'Interest free!' 'Free Lining!' "Free making!' 'Free installation!' We do it ourselves sometimes, but I am glad to say that when we do it, the offer is genuine and not hidden in the price somewhere. Surely what is important is value, quality, great advice from skilled consultants, quality manufacture and installation, style and longevity. Our expert consultants are skilled at helping you through this process.
Next time you see an unbelievable offer, think for a moment about the cost of my free movie tickets. And I will be sure that next time we watch 'Came a Hot Friday', it will be at home, but I will surprise her with a little bit of Eltham cheese, a bottle of Okurukuru wine for her and a Mike's Mild Ale or two for me, a Green Meadows steak to cook on the grill and to complete the Naki ambience, a bit of Taranaki gas burning in the fireplace. That should save me about 800 bucks.
- Gerald
