New Camera

At the weekend we bought ourselves a new digital camera. A Sony DSC-H10. It is a very easy to use camera but not a point and shoot. It has several useful aspects, like it freezes the focused shot when taking photos, it has x10 zoom, on screen instructions etc.

This photo is one we took at the weekend of blossom on our pear tree and when I cropped it there was a bee. I thought it looked so cool!

Greystone flowers

The Magnolia campbelli is in full bloom and is a great sight.


The tulips in their barrels have overcome the pansies.





And the kowhai are in bloom with the Mt Fuji cherry the first of the two cherries to bloom. We always wait for the Sakura cherry at the front wall since that tells us it is Carl's birthday. Happy birthday Carl from us and the Sakura cherry.

The Greystone Viking Ship

The New Plymouth Harveys (Joaanne, Steve and Thomas) gave Evan a Viking ship with sail, oars and rudder when they were down for Sammo's knees-up!

It now hangs in the library at Greystone and is a superb gift. It symbolises very effectively both the Morch Danish and the Harvey Maori heritages. It hangs opposite Te Rangi Hiroa's (Sir Peter Buck) book entitled "Vikings of the Sunrise." The NZ Maori and the Vikings were both intrepid sailors.

Poppa Jack Robertson (in his 91st year) tees off with his favourite Saints 5 September 2008

Some time during Monday the 1st day of Spring 2008, Jack heard a call, a deep voice - "John Alexander I have something to say! "Don't bother me," said Jack, "I have things to do and by the way the name's Jack!" But the voice would not be silenced. "I have bad news and good news Jack."

"Alright what is it?" Jack replied. "The bad news is that at 5:45pm sharp you are passing over to the other side to see me,"said the deep voice. "Oh dear, so soon," said Jack, "I was looking forward to an omelette and a couple of decent size shots from the whiskey bottle at 6pm sharp! "Never mind what's the good news?"

"Your are on the tee with Saints Peter and Luke this coming Friday," the voice replied.

"But that's only a threesome," said Jack, "and a foursome has priorty, even on the other side, so I am informed."

"I have heard about your negotiation skills before," said the deep voice. "Alright then, do you have any objection to having a lady golfer in your foursome?"

"None at all," said Jack, a tone of hopefulness in his voice.

"Consider it done," said the deep voice, " but make sure you are there at 10am Friday 5 September 2008, clean shoes, clean hankey and no slicing and by the way every body plays off the stick, highest score buys the Tui beer!"


Greystone NZ flag is at half-mast for Jack's funeral day 4 September 2008.

PS. There was a tender process for the supply of beer on the other side some years back. It was a close call finally between Stella Artois and Tui. A toss decided the outcome, the coin being supplied by one of Tui's gorgeous women. An Oz beer made the final three but was disqualified when the analytical results were received which stated: "Shoot your horse it has got diabetes!"