She blames kissing a bloke with strep throat 10 years ago \u2013 that was her first one-liner for the interview.<\/p>\n
Or maybe, she said, it was all the \u201cciggies\u201d she smoked in her earlier years. Either way, she admitted her health wasn\u2019t great.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m on borrowed time … I\u2019m on tonnes of pills every day to keep me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The solo mother of two said she wouldn\u2019t change the past 25 years for anything and was grateful for the ride.<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Palmerston North, Grammer did a horticulture and gardening apprenticeship upon leaving school before working for the council\u2019s parks and reserves team.<\/p>\n
Carolyn Grammer has retired from Capers Cafe + Store after 25 years of service, since the day the cafe opened. Photo\u00a0 \/ Kelly Makiha<\/p>\n
She was a proud member of the Mothers MC Gang \u2013 \u201can actual gang,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She spent a couple of years working in Gisborne before embarking on a trip to Europe.<\/p>\n
Returning to New Zealand in the 1980s, she got married \u201cbecause some princess in England got married so everyone wanted to get married\u201d.<\/p>\n
The marriage lasted 12 years before she flew to greener pastures, arriving in Rotorua with her children.<\/p>\n
She landed a house in Hamurana and had locals chin wagging at school drop-offs when she\u2019d \u201crock up\u201d in her leather miniskirt, low-cut top, dyed blonde hair, red lipstick and waving her signature cigarette holder.<\/p>\n
For six years she worked weekends at the Quality Hotel, and recounts the great days of partying after work at nightclubs such as the Ace of Clubs, Windjammers and Monkey Joes.<\/p>\n
But she needed a full-time job to support her children, so she started working at a cafe at Trelawney Garden Centre on Fairy Springs Rd.<\/p>\n
Carolyn Grammer in 2021. Photo \/ Andrew Warner<\/p>\n
She said they did a catering job one night attended by Pig and Whistle owners Gregg and Susan Brown. The Browns loved the food so much, they bought the cafe, on the condition that chef Cherry Te Kiri and Grammer came as part of the deal.<\/p>\n
Grammer was then brought on staff at their new venture \u2013 opening Capers Cafe + Store on Eruera St.<\/p>\n
She said she was grateful to have crossed paths with the Browns all those years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are what I call good people. World peace people really.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said great bosses were so hard to come by, and she never once thought of leaving.<\/p>\n
She said they employed many travellers over the years, whom she got to know well, and felt like she had travelled the world without leaving Rotorua.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day was a good day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Capers Cafe + Store general manager and shareholder Rosie Harding said the business employed many staff who had been there a long time, but Grammer was particularly special given she was there since the doors opened.<\/p>\n
\u201cCaro is Capers for all of the customers. Everyone knows her and she\u2019s been the face of this place for 25 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
For now, Grammer is adjusting to her new life of not working around the clock.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cry but I try not to think about it. Most of the time I smile and laugh and I think that I have had it good. Great people and great food.\u201d<\/p>\n