Penultimate day of 2008 at Greystone

It is summer at Greystone and the gardens are showing the effect of warm temperatures and sufficient rain during late November and December.

Picasso has taken to his summer position for sleeping underneath the fig tree. He loves the new stone wall for the odd foray into the orchard garden to check on the birds feeding and explaining to Evan and Sally that if there is no milk and/or food straightaway then there is nothing more for it than another telephone call to the SPCA.

The pictures speak for themselves!

Christmas day at Greystone

Sammo is hunting for wine in the cellar for starters.

Picasso is suitably attired. The silver fern flag is flying. The table is set. All the offspring have been spoken with so its on with the eating and consuming the bubbles. A lovely sunny day and a lovely Christmas Day with just Sammo and Evan and the magic of Skype.

Teachers! Teachers!! Everywhere and not much of a drop left to drink!

Yes! The teachers of Greytown School descended on Greystone to salivate and celebrate the holiday (non-class contacat time) break. Following the full assembly at Kuranui they arrived at 1330 hours and the last stragglers (leaving one vehicle behind) left around 2030 hours.

Much good-natured hilarity was the theme and was well practised and also well-oiled. The Secret Santa presents' participation was the higlight and Picasso the cat loved all the attention. It was a warm, sunny evening and Greystone's orchard area lent itself well for the occasion. Sadie turned her(him) self into the official photographer. Liz, our immediate neighbour on Kuratawhiti Street served the repast provided by "Trends" of Greytown.

The photos give a good indication of the level of frivolity - just as well the students couldn't see their lords and lordesses frm school behaving in such a very different manner to what those students are accustomed to see.

For those blog followers who pride themselves on persipicacious insight - guess which photo shows Sadie the photographer's feet!

Kristina's birthday today

Yes, that's right its birthday time again for Mrs Kristina Martin. Great for Mum and Dad to talk with her again today and congratulate her for coming into our lives all those (not too many) years ago.

The picture shows Mrs Kristina at left with one of her sisters, Mrs Suzanne Dawn at their Mum's knees-up in August 08 at Greystone.

We are looking forward to her and Greg coming down to Kiwiland in February 09 for Greg's 20 year graduation celebrations with class mates at Massey and his Mum Andrea's 70th birthday. It looks like the Rimutaka Incline on the mountain bikes is on the cards for them and taking in the wineries at Mrs Martin's Borough in Martinborough.

Time certainly flies since it is now two years since we celebrated Kristina's major birthday in St Martin with friends from Washington DC and Switzerland plus Master Isaac from Brisbane.

Best wishes from Greystone Kristina Anna-Marie!

The Class of 08 and Sammo at Greystone for sausages and presents from Secret Santa

Sammo's class of 08 from Greytown Primary School walked up to Greystone via the Soldiers Memorial Park (for games) and ate sizzled sausages, bread, muffins, cake and all sorts (not licquorice all sorts though!). Following lunch and cuddling the ever available Picasso the big fat cat they settled down for waiata (the singing was delightful) and karakia before opening their SecretSanta presents. After some two hours (was really only two hours?) they toddled off back to school walking two by two.

22 happy little souls, filled with food, orange juice and with their presents AND "doing what teachr told them to do (mostly anyway)' they got back to school just in time to be 'let out.' Five parent helpers were on hand to assist. A happy occasion and well worh the adults' efforts.

Greystone Christmas Update

The lights, trees and general paraphernalia for celebrating Christmas are being installed. Just wait for the photos to be taken once the decorations are complete. Sammo's class are due at Greystone tomorrow for their Christmas function, since school finishes this coming Friday the 19th. On Friday evening the teachers will be celebrating school's finish, Christmas and the impending summer vacation at Greystone. 'Trends' owner Mr Peter I who provided Kristina and Gregs wedding breakfast (1991), Evan's 60th (2004) and Sammo's 60th (2008) will be providing the comestibles.

Greystone have a new BBQ, first run yesterday! This will provide the sizzled sausages for the children tomorrow. The old 'steam driven' BBQ that saw so much action from 1987 is in an advisory position round the back of "Lillehus.' "Just call me if you need me!" he croaked when told of his retirement. Greystone now has a retired cat (name of Picasso), a retired BBQ (never was named) and an somewhat older male person, retired, (alias Sadie, Morfar, Farfar, Dad, Darl, Evan and sometimes???). Of course every menagerie needs a Boss. Sammo does sterling work in this area and even set up a licquorice all sorts rationing system yesterday.




The balloons look rather flat and it looks as though we will need the grandsons to blow them up again. They are the ones that Isaac and Lisa blew up for Sammo's 60th back in August 08. Either a re-blow or they will have to join the retired ranks as well! Christmas lights and trees' photos will be taken and added over the next few days so all the followers can enjoy a Kiwi summer Christmas.

As you will see the gardens are growing rapidly and the civil (as opposed to impolite) works are progressing well. Note the FSB's (Flexible Sun Beds) - hammocks - for those with less poetry in their souls where the 'waters' * are taken on sunny evenings.

*'Waters' is the euphemism for a long glass filled with ice, a standard quantity (a 'Danish') of greystoned gin and tonic to the top.