Latest news with #Custom
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Revamped statue back in time for country music festival
The refurbished Hands of Fame statue has arrived in Gore just in time for Tussock Country this weekend. PHOTO: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING Gore's Hands of Fame statue honouring country music has had a makeover and is back looking shiny and new, just in time for Bayleys Tussock Country music festival this weekend. The 7.5m Hands of Fame statue, erected by the Gore Country Music Club, was reinstalled yesterday morning, much to the relief of club president Julie Mitchell. The new, improved statue was supposed to be done by the end of April and as the Tussock Country music festival crept closer and closer she was beginning to get nervous, Mrs Mitchell said. The new, steel-clad statue was worth the wait, and she hoped it would now stand tall for another 20 years. When the statue was removed for refurbishment in March, Gold Guitar Awards convener Phillip Geary said the grouting on tile-covered statue was cracking, letting in water that was freezing during the Southland winter. This process caused quite a few of the tiles to become dislodged, he said. The tiles were removed by Custom Build and replaced with a metal facade. The paint work on the steel was done by Beatties Collision Repair Centre in Gore. Mrs Mitchell said the makeover cost of about $30,000 was paid for by the club in anticipation of this year's festival and the Gold Guitars. It is anticipated the awards and the festival this year will attract more visitors to Gore than any previous year. The statue was erected by the club in 2004, to honour those who have made significant contribution to New Zealand country music.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How To Politely Decline Homemade Food Without Hurting Someone's Feelings
We've all been there: You're round at a friend's place, and you're having a great time — but then your host presents you with a plate (or even a whole spread) of food that they've spent all afternoon hard at work on, and ... you just can't eat it. Maybe you've got an allergy, maybe you ate earlier and are simply too full — maybe there's a religious reason why you can't consume it. If you've ever wondered how to turn that food down without hurting anyone's feelings, we've got you covered. To find out the right way to decline this offer, we spoke to Nikesha Tannehill Tyson, an etiquette expert from The Swann School of Protocol in Shreveport and author of the book "Going Public: Culture, Custom, and Class for Social Success." The secret, according to Tyson, is using the right tone of voice and adding a friendly comment or explanation. "Be gentle with your 'no thank you' and offer a compliment if possible," Tyson told us. "If you have already eaten, have dietary restrictions, or food allergies, this is a great time to say so. As an example, 'It smells (or looks delicious), thank you for offering, I am not hungry.' Or, 'I am following (particular dietary restriction), thank you for offering.'" Tyson adds that honesty is the best policy when providing these comments. This goes for everything from a one-on-one visit to a person's home, to communal events like a Southern-style potluck. Read more: 12 Bourbons You Should Leave On The Shelf If you're headed to a dinner party or other event that is focused on food, and (for whatever reason) aren't intending to eat, should you tell your host? Should you even go at all? "It is generally considered impolite to attend a food-centered event at someone's home and not eat anything at all, unless you have a valid and respectfully communicated reason," Nikesha Tannehill Tyson explained. "Showing up and refusing food without context can make the host feel uncomfortable or insulted." Sometimes, however, you may have a genuinely good reason for not eating, such as food restrictions or allergies. Or, perhaps you're one of the billions of people around the world who doesn't eat pork for religious reasons, and you're invited to a pork-heavy cookout. In this case, Tyson told us, the best practice is to inform your host about your food limitations (and your plans to not eat) ahead of time. "Most gracious hosts will appreciate the heads-up," she said. If your host is a dinner party pro, they'll probably have accounted for these contingencies already, as neglecting to do so is one of the biggest mistakes you could make when planning a dinner party. As Tyson said, "Most hosts will ask about dietary restrictions or preferences when you are invited[,] or there may be a request for sharing food allergies or restrictions on the invitation along with the RSVP." If you don't have a valid reason to avoid eating, though, you might be better off not going in the first place. Now, you might be intending to eat but can't guarantee that you'll be able to have what your host has provided for you (whether that's because of a dietary requirement or otherwise). In that case, it may occur to you to just bring your own food — but is this ever okay? "While a host will make every effort to satisfy guests' needs, it isn't always feasible. It is acceptable to offer to bring a dish to share if you are a guest with a tight dietary requirement," Nikesha Tannehill Tyson said. "This guarantees that you will have a dish to enjoy and keeps it thoughtful." If you're sure that you'll need your own meal all to yourself, Tyson explained that it's acceptable to ask outright rather than offering to bring food to share. This way, you give your host the option to accept or to offer to make a suitable dish for you themselves once they know your needs and restrictions. The key here is remaining respectful, considerate, and conscious of how your host might interpret your request. Tyson offered a final suggestion to that point. She said, "Asking if providing the dish would make things simpler for them is both acceptable and thoughtful." So there you have it: Be polite, truthful, and considerate, and you'll be spared a sticky situation next time you need to say no to food. Read the original article on Chowhound.
