On a hot day in Papatowai, it is business as unusual around the busy hub that is the Winding Thoughts Theatre of Sorts, writes Diana Noonan.
The Lost Gypsy is lost no more. The Catlins' legendary ''organic mechanic'' Blair Somerville of Papatowai, maker of bizarre automata that slide, squawk, squirt and swing when pushed or wound, owner of The Lost Gypsy Gallery of Curios and creator of the seriously weird Winding Thoughts Theatre of Sorts has been joined by two new business operators who are fast gaining their own top billings among tourists and locals alike.
Off-the-grid manager of The Little Rocket caravan cafe, Sasinun (Pueng) Ngamthura, who has run her business from Somerville's property since October 2013, and Catlins Kayaks kayak and stand-up paddle board hire operator, Jaclyn (Jacs) Hunt, whose first season began in November last year and who also works from a base on the property, are drumming up custom of their own and the result is busy busy!
So how does Somerville, whose friendly disposition towards the hordes who visit belies the fact that he still pines for the days when the road was unsealed and tourists few and far between, cope with looking out the window of his house-bus workshop at not one but two neighbours?
''It makes for a social time,'' he mumbles, his attention clearly wandering towards his quarter hectare of topiaried broom hedging from which emerge strange jointed tin limbs that twist and writhe when mysterious handles are wound.
The foliage is in desperate need of a shave and shape.
The motorised hedge trimmer he bought a while back is playing up, and it'll take six hours to do the job by hand.
Perhaps a coffee will help. Built into Ngamthura's lease agreement (no-one appears to have a copy of it and it's doubtful if it even exists) is a free flat-white-a-day for the laird, which Ngamthura cranks up on her gas-powered espresso machine.
Originally from Chiang Mai in the far north of Thailand, Ngamthura says that turning out a good coffee makes her happy and that the smiles she receives from customers are her tips.
Predominantly a tea drinker, she was brought up in a region known for its arabica coffee yet it wasn't until her return home during the New Zealand winter of 2014 that she immersed herself in the local cafe scene.
''Chiang Mai is a tourist destination, and with tourism expanding in the region, hundreds of new cafes have sprung up in the city over the last couple of years,'' she says.
Ngamthura spent much of her time back home perusing this new scene, sampling coffees and discussing techniques with owner-baristas. On her winter ''to do'' list is a course in ''latte art''.
Comfortably turning out a flat white as good as any of Dunedin's best, Ngamthura is adamant she doesn't pine for the city.
''Papatowai is a great community,'' she says.
''And I feel a little more comfortable here than I do in Thailand at the moment. The Catlins is safe and peaceful. I've got supportive friends and neighbours and it's good to be around people who care about their environment.''
A large black dog curled up at her feet yawns.
''Clyde likes Papatowai, too,'' she says, laughing.
''The customers give him a lot of attention!''As we wind up our conversation, the distinctive green Bottom Bus pulls up and a river of backpackers spill on to the gravel parking space in front of the gallery.
This is the cue for Dave Holland (or ''Rough Dave'' as he's known to locals) to extricate himself from the impromptu jam session happening round the cafe tables (live music is a regular event at The Lost Gypsy) and to draw the punters' attention to Somerville's wacky theatre.
According to its creator, who has disappeared to do something tricky to the recalcitrant hedge trimmer, Holland (who was a tour guide in a previous life) is a great promoter, which may explain why the Winding Thoughts Theatre of Sorts has twice pipped Te Papa at the post to claim top place on the social consumers' web platform, ranker.com.
While Rough Dave is directing his backpackers towards the pathways that lead through the broom toward the theatre, and Ngamthura is whizzing up a smoothie for a caffeine-free client (something Somerville keeps a close eye on due to the draw the blender makes on his solar-powered batteries), Hunt has eyes only for the road.
''The Bottom Bus,'' she explains, ''doesn't stop long enough to let people go for a kayak or paddle board upriver.''
She sighs.
''That's a real shame because if you don't get on to the water, you're really not seeing just how amazing the Catlins is.''
Hunt, who has worked as an outdoor adventure guide throughout the country, says that no words adequately describe the treasure the Catlins holds.
''The scenery is amazing, the sea mammals are incredible, and the bird life (including penguins) has to be seen and heard to be believed,'' she enthuses.
''And from the water, you can get so much closer to wildlife without disturbing it.''
Hunt's arrival in Papatowai was no accident, although it wasn't until the former Aucklander saw the place that she knew she wouldn't be leaving any time soon.
''My mum passed away about four years ago,'' she explains.
''One of her favourite possessions, which I now take with me wherever I'm living, is this little automata flower on a stand which Blair made. She bought it when she was on holiday down here. You wind it and the petals open and shut. Mum always said that I should go to the Catlins and find the person who made it because she knew I'd like both the area and the artist. So that's what I did. And I've stayed!''
Looking for a source of local employment led Hunt, an entrepreneur with a business mind and the energy to make things happen, to set up Catlins Kayaks.
''I bought the New Zealand-made kayaks and boards in the central North Island and had them trucked as far as Christchurch. But then I had to design a kayak trailer that could be used to get them down to the Catlins. I'd never designed anything like that in my life!''
It worked, however, and Rough Dave cruised up to Christchurch to tow the whole shebang home on the back of Somerville's struggling car. (For a crew that's loose when it comes to formality, the dwellers of the Lost Gypsy hub have a way of making things happen.)
The hire business, which operates out of Somerville's property, was up and running by the start of December.
An honorary gypsy herself, Hunt is also comfortable being on the move with the kayaks, and happy to hitch the trailer to the car and drive them to any venue a group or school might want to hire them.
''Kaka Point, Curio Bay, The Nuggets, wherever they're wanted,'' she says, ''I can get them there.''
To add extra flavour to the mix already working from The Lost Gypsy precinct, Hunt, who also crews on Real Journeys' Doubtful Sound scow The Navigator, brings in overseas workers to staff Catlins Kayaks when she's out of town.
So far, two affable Scots have slotted so seamlessly into village life that within a week of their arrival they were performing guitar and song items at the community's Christmas party, and recently saved the day at the screening of a native bat film destined to be shown without sound, by producing back-up speakers from their car.
But back to the Lost Gypsy himself, and just how does someone with the potential to be a social recluse cope with the all-summer buzz of business comings and goings?
''I'm not that reclusive,'' muses Somerville.
''I like a bit of socialising.''
He looks down at the hedge trimmer which is still not co-operating, then out to a couple of hitchhikers waiting for a ride at the side of the road.
''I wonder if they want a free bed in exchange for trimming broom for a couple of days?''He begins ambling nonchalantly towards them.
''It's far too hot for young people like that to be out there in the sun.''
