The Aftermath of Mother's Day

An afternoon in the sunshine on the deck with a bottle of bubbly polished off and a lovely lunch. The sun started to set and the air cooling off. A lovely day!!!

Photo and posting courtesy of Sammo.

This Mother's Day 2010

Hi offspring and spice! These two photos show Sammo on her Mother's Day at Greystone with the lovely flowers from Kristina (Melbourne), Joanne (New Plymouth), Suzanne (Huldenberg) and Carl (Brisbane). Many thanks and salutations to the Spice (Greg, Steve, Mike and Tanja).


Bedstemor says a special thanks to Isaac, Thomas, Jesse and Tim as well.

Photos and posting courtesy of Sadie

Look who Sammo married all those years ago!

Yes! What a beautiful young man, just turned 20! Brian (Hank) Hockings is to my left. All may recall Kristina and Greg's wedding in 1991 with the reception at Hank and Beth's property. Just by way of interest Hank's eldest girl Lucy is the same Lucy Hockings who is a mainstay presenter on BBC World.

For those who may someday visit the Turitea Campus all the photographs of the MUSA Executives are on display in the MUSA Boardroom. This is the MUSA Executive for 1963/64.

Another blog the delays due to bottling, bowling, gardening, grape picking and Taranaki visit

Pictures so far and more to come. The table plinth which has still a macrocarpa top to be fitted to it and then it is finished. Mum Jo and Thomas cooking, cooking, cooking. Mt Taranaki showing its boisterous mood from Jo and Steve's home. Morfar and Thomas stacking wood for the winter. Sammo with some of the Greystone pumpkin crop.

No real excuses really for such a long delay - just so busy I think I might need (quelle horreur!) to start (real?) work again to re-schedule my oh so busy retired life.

So watch this spot!! It will continue to fill!! Sadie the retired one.

The remaining figs on the tree have been left for the waxeyes this year and they are enjoying themselves. See if you can spot the little fellow!

PS. Only 74 sleeps before Sammo and Sadie take off for the Chianti Castle in Tuscany for Sue's, Mike's and many other birthday celebrations.

See Are Vee alias the new CRV

Yo bro! Look at this baby!!

Uh Oh!!!!

What? McTavish has been joined by Delores the wine 'con oh sir.' When Sadie went to Wellington overnight the week before last he left a full glass of red wine carefully covered with 'glad wrap' in the library for the Sammo when she returned from school that evening.

On Sadie's return the next day this is what he found in the library in front of the Tele!

Assistance is needed to solve the puzzle since Sammo is unable to throw any light on the subject.

Water blasting and paint makes the Greystone lady what she 'aint!

The Greystone lady has had her roofs and dormers water blasted, primed and painted. Cherry pickers, ladders and a family from Masterton, Nick, Kylie and their Dad. Amazing how they simply strode over the 45 degree gables as though they were mere undulations.

We all must pass over sometime - Uncle Evan

Yes, we must! My Uncle Evan from Korsor, in Denmark died on the 14th January 2010 aged 86 years' old.

We had many (but never enough) happy times together in Denmark, both Sammo and Evan SE. Evan SE was named after my Uncle Evan who was 19 years younger than Evan SE's Dad Svend and 20 years older than Evan SE.

Now there are only two Evan's left, one in Greystone and the other in Perth (Evan Carl David). The latter is the youngest son of Evan SE's brother John.

The flag was flown at half mast on the day of Uncle Evan's funeral.

Ohariu Valley golfing!

Just before Sammo's return to teaching we savoured the delights of the Ohariu Golf Club. Leigh and Horst warned us it was steep. And it was! Great weather and some very testing holes.

Motored back through Makara to Karori to the James Cook for well earned drinkies. Wellington's wilds around the back of Karori to the west to Cape Terawhiti is great country and reminded Sadie (alias Evan) of the tramping and camping in the 1950's from Makara down to the Karori lighthouse and points in between. The area around Makara is now the place where many wind trubines are placed with the residents not happy at all with the noise.

Photos show the happy golfers after the match (another dead heat of course!).

Her Majesty's first day back in the classroom for 2010

Weep no more little ones teacher is back! Totally relaxed and eyes like a hawk! This picture shows the happy Sammo descending the stairs for breakfast (prepared by the Sadie of course) who suitably geneflucts (bows peasants! bows!) each morning tugging forelock. No cheeky comments please this is a family blog.

The class of 2010 and the broader syndicate of 3 classes are by early accounts one of the best. Not bad for a collection of 72 - 7 to 8 year olds!

The Great Greystone Potato growing competition

Keep watching this space! The trial spud lots have been harvested and the results are truly amazing. Photos of the happy growers too. Can't wait? Well tough, you will just have to!

Well guess what - only 11 days later here are the photos. Sadie had just a few more than Sam but Sam's were slightly bigger. Not statistically significant though? So Sam's touted advanced technique has yet to prove itself conclusively.

New Year 2010

Back from the wilds of Taranaki and Harvey Ville (see above picture for the inhabitants, Jo, Thomas and Steve with Greystone Waldo looking on) it was time for Queensland's premier BBQ cook, alias Carlos, to get Mum (Her Majesty) into the swing of things!

The "tui house' withstood the hungry glances of Jesse and Tim (Yeah Right!) only to be dismembered after the boys left for Brisbane. New Year's Eve was spent playing Kiwi Monopoly right past midnight. Fortunes were gained and lost with some major gamboling (Sadie lost bigtime, throwing caution to the winds) taking place intstead of the normal conservative gambling. It was also good practice for those from Oz to hone their linguistic skills for Kiwi place names.

The following day to New Year's Day all took off for Wellington some by train and some by car with all the luggage to get the Queenslanders back to Oz. A happy time at Te Papa then into the Airport motel for the night for the Ockers. A 4.30am reporting time at the airport for the following morning. Sadie and Her Majesty returned to Greystone (Boy! Was it quiet!) leaving the party at Te Papa.

It was a great family Christmas/New Year and a wonderful to have Tanja, Jesse and Tim for their first visit to Greystone.

A highlight for Isaac was for him to be photographed by his Farfar outside Isaac's maternal, paternal, great, great grandparents' home on Humphries Street, Greytown.

Picasso continues to snore peacefully under the outer reaches of the fig tree however, keeping a watchful eye out for younger visitors.

Christmas at Greystone 2009

Getting ready for Christmas was a week long affair.

The Christmas Tree had to be slected, cut, transported to Greystone and decorated. Carl, Tanya, Isaac, Jesse, Tim, Sally and Evan did just that.

The tree looked beautiful sparkling, with dazzling lights. It filled up to the ceiling. Everyone helped to trim it last Monday and of course the last thing to go on top was the star, ably put there by Carl.



Well believe it or not we survived Christmas Day. The day really began at midnight when some of us went to St Luke's for the Christmas service. Home, Santa run and bed.



On Christmas morning Santa's presents and preparing for family presents from under the tree and a long lunch under the trees in the orchard and the summer sun. Christmas is family, summer, sun, barbecues, long chats and MORE ham followed by MORE ham. The boys; Evan, Steve, Carl, Isaac, Jesse, Tim and Thomas (in descending ages) and the girls; Joanne, Tanya and Sally (no ages admitted) hovered around the Christmas tree whilst each present was presented, each with hugs and kisses and occasionally 'high fives' were unwrapped. Christmas is definately for children (of all ages). The faces of the young ones is always a delight to see.

As you see the sunshine was very bright and we were protected by the umbrella, itself a gift from Isaac and Carl to Evan from 2006 Christmas. The Christmas dinner was a joy to behold and eat helped by the master BBQ cook from Queensland (youngish Carl), Tanja and of course Sally (Mum, Bestemor, NanNan and Her Majesty).

A couple of years ago Sally (alias Your Majesty to Sadie) won a large, 3L bottle of Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc and so by Royal Decree it was decided (unilaterally of course, what other way is there?) to chill it and open for Christmas 2009. We made a good dent in it but didn't finish it. Here is Evan (alias Sadie) just prior to opening it. Poor dear got pink cheeks from golfing in the sun at Mrs Maritin's Borough's golf course with Carl and Steve.


Well we can't go past the presents from the two beautiful daughters from Brussels and their spice boys. (Note: the other beautiful daughter Jo Jo was in attendance at Greystone). Both lots of Brussels' presents arrived by courier in the days prior to Christmas day. A wonderful hamper from Kris and Greg (holidaying in Tuscany) and a 'don't open till Christmas Day' one from Sue and Mike (a white Christmas in Huldenberg). When we opened Sue and Mike's one it was definately a surprise. A set of matching t/shirts for us all with a logo on the back (see picture). All at Greystone donned theirs and talked with Mike and Sue on Skype (all huddled and slightly befuddled?) from a neighbour's home just up 'De Limburg Stirumlaan.' Thanks Euorpean girls and boys for the presents and the Skype call and Kris and Greg's call from Tuscany. The closest thing to a full family Chrismas that we (Her Majesty and Sadie) have had in a long time.



And so after MORE ham for a late dinner snack all at Greystone succumbed to the wine, beers, BBQ and family happiness snoring quietly (for some) and waiting for Boxing Day.

Note: Steve, Jo and Thomas took off for Taranaki on the following day (to Boxing Day) followed by Carl, Tanya, Isaac, Jesse and Tim. Isaac was met in Palmerston North by Amanda's Mum and Dad to join them in a South Island (Te Wai Pounamu) holiday before returning to Brisbane late January 2010.

The Queenlanders were due to return to Greystone for New Year celebrations prior to their return to Lotus Land.

It's MacTavish Again

Every year at this time we have problems with chocolates going missing. This time we think we caught MacTavish in the act. But what is that finger creeping into the picture. I wonder if we will catch him again before all the chocolates are gone.

Last Day of School for 2009

This is Room 7 on the last day of school for the year. Only one person away otherwise here they are in all their glory.

Happy Birthday Kristina Anna-Marie

Wow! Its that time again and guess where Kris is? Leaves Brussels today for some shopping in Paris (as you do on your birthday). Make sure you take the non-melting, non-smouldering 'plastic' since many have been ruined in gay Paree! Plastics that is!

Happy birthday from all at Greystone. Yes it is summer and very warm, dry and sunny - just like Christmas should be Downunder. Beers, barbies and beaches.

Christmas Party at Greystone

On Wednesday 16th December Room 7 from Greytown School, Bestemor's class came around to Greystone for their end of year party. They had a Secret Santa and Bestemor gave them all a book. They had sausages and lots of nummy food to eat. They played games at the park with the parachute and played soccer. After a lovely warm day they walked back to school.

More Bowling - This time with pictures

Today, Sunday, we both played Championship Singles. We both played very good bowls, according to others, but both lost two games to much more experienced bowlers.

Here we have a couple of photos.

Bowling

Last weekend I played in the Championship Pairs at the Greytown Bowling Club. I wasn't supposed to but one of the ladies hurt her hand badly and couldn't play. On Friday night we got a phone call to ask if I would play. With trepidation I asked whom I was to partner. " Oh No!! One of the gun bowlers of the club!!"

The next morning bright eyed and bushy tailed I went down and got my bowls out ready to do battle. We played well the first game but alas drew the top pair, eventual winners, in the next game and lost. As one has two lives we needed to win the next game. We were 11 to 13 down with one end to play. Although we had the shot bowl on the last end we couldn't get one to draw and have another end or even two more to win. Oh well my first experience of match play.

Tomorrow is another day!!! Oh bother it really is. Today was to be the singles but it rained very heavily last night and early this morning and very windy so they postponed it until tomorrow. Oh well more of that later.

Mum

PS Maybe the photographer will be in attendance tomorrow.

Bowling! Bowling! Bowling!

Watch out the bowling world! Evan and Sammo are now novice bowlers. The local club is but a wee bike ride from Greystone. Talk about bias! Setting aside any predjudices various persons may have about bowling, getting the bias right is essential. Just like joing the 'right' political party! What?

Lots more to come. Pictures of Sammo's new bowls will be included together with the sartorial splendour of the participants.