De Robertson's Russian Christmas in Kiwiland

Christmas in Auckland with Ian, Olga, Jack and numerous Russian family was an experience with plenty of food and copious quantities of L K Hole.

Father Christmas(alias Sasha) gave out the presents ably assisted by Merry Christmas (alias Tania). Before receiving your present you had to stand on a chair and recite a poem or sing a song to the accompaniment of much mirth.

Although it rained heavy at times during the afternoon much enjoyment was had by all.

Ian even had his haircut especially for the occasion.

This last photo shows Segei and Tanya. Sergei lived with Evan and Sally for 6 months when he first came to New Zealand from Sakhalin Island (the far East of Russia) in 1993.

La Grande Summer at Greystone

Maximum 30C Minimum 14C - Sun rise 0530 hrs Set 2105 hrs!

Broad beans harvested 20 Dec 07, Still working overtime to produce the 'good oil' for making more superb Limoncello an other comestible drinkies. Cats are too well fed to even consider looking at birds. They sun themselves all day. More beans planted, together with lettuces. Curtains are often left closed to keep the temperature down inside.

We read the official max/min C for Brussels each morning in the Dominion and quiver.

Slip, slap slop from Greystone.

The Greystone Stone Seat foundations

Evan (alias Sadie 'her indoors') is at it again! This time a stone seat is rising! The stones are from Barton's farm 'Stonestead' on Underhill Road, Woodside and were 'picked' and carted by Evan in early December. A bottle of Greystoned Gin changed hands.

The seat will be shaded by the walnut and plum trees in the summer and in the winter months faces north to catch the midday sun. The seat is to be named and suggestions from readers of this beautissimo blog are welcomed. It could memorialise a place, person(s) or event. The stones for the seat presently sit awaiting their fate and providing a point of interest and camouflage for Picasso and Cleopatra the hungry cats.

Sammo and Thomas in the Wairarapa Times Age

Sammo was asked to respond to a reporter's questions. The paper has been running articles on prominent persons in the Wairarapa. The picture was taken at Ian and Olga Robertson's home in Remuera, Auckland when Sammo and Thomas and his Mum Joanne were celebrating Jack Robertson's 90th birthday in June 2007.

The Great Greystone Grape Rapine (or Prune)

Sammo (alias the pruner) is swamped by the Pinot Noir grape growth. Not to last though! She pruned to the right of her then to the left, up and down she went. With a snip snip here and and a snip snip there. Here a cut there a slash (whoops) - All Stand Clear!

A great harvest is expected and needed since the 06 vintage has gone South. Greystone is enjoying a wonderful summer - only the Cockies are in trouble. The Wairarapa is very dry and many relatively shallow bores have dried up with the water table dropping below 7m.

Be of Good Cheer or Ein Skol Dien Skol!

The cider has matured and is now bottled. April apples are now December cider. Alongside the cider at the front of the picture are bottles of Limoncello. This is a famous Italian aperitif and made at Greystone from lemons obtained by the swapping of a bottle of Greystoned Gin. The cider has a pleasant 8% alcoholic content whilst the Limoncello passes the post at 33.3%. These delightful beverages have now joined the Greystone stable covering gin, whiskeys, rum, brandy and the many fruit liqueurs. A new liqueur joined the stable in July this being black currant with an alcoholic content of 40% (great with a dash of soda.

Christmas with Poppa Jack in Remmers will be assisted by the above libations. Picasso the cat approves and was on sentry duty when the photos in this entry were made.

A Teacher's Christmas in Greytown New Zealand

Sammo (alias Sally) is a teacher at Greytown School for those who didn't know and in keeping with her tradition her class were treated to a lunch at Greystone, a secret Santa time and an individual book gift plus a specially personalised by name, bookmark made by Sam to encourage her passion for passing on reading skills. On each bookmark were the words - 'Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.' Joseph Addison.

Following the lunch and presents ceremony at Greystone they all had a swim in the pool close by in Memorial Park on their walk back to school.










Sadie (alias Evan) 'did' the sausages. Picasso and Cleopatra (Mike and Sue's cats) stayed just well enough away to see what was going on without being captured by the 9 year olds.

The photos tell most of the story.

A Special Day

Today is an important birthday celebration for Sally and Evan. On this day in 1966 our first born Kristina Anna-Marie arrived in Blenheim New Zealand. Much has changed and much has stayed the same. There are too many that have passed on and of course we have been privileged to welcome many new people into our family.

St. Maarten, that joint Dutch/French island in the Carribean is a wonderful memory where last year in December we celebrated Kristina's birthday in style with some of her close friends. One thing about Kris is style. Now domiciled in Brussels with husband Greg her many business trips have only added to that 'Krisstyle.'

We look forward to the reunion planned for Downunder in early 2009.

A reminder of Kris' early abilities is the photo of the 'Magic Hat.' Those in 'the know' know!

First Sunday

As is our tradition we fly the Danish flag on the first Sunday of the month. We also fly it on the anniversary of Svend's (Evan's Dad) birth, 10th June 1905. Every other day we fly the New Zealand flag.

A Sunny Sunday Afternoon!

Once again a sunny day with nothing to do. Ha ha!!
We bought our Christmas present to ourselves and it is sitting on the deck. An extending table and 4 stacking chairs with cushions. It is lovely to sit out and have breakfast in the morning and a Gin and Tonic after work. The house and section, garden are looking great at the moment but it is getting very dry. Very little rain to speak of over the last month.