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.

Thomas Jack Adam Harvey's 5th birthday celebrations

Morfar and NanNan left Greystone for the wilds of 'Naki country and 4 3/4 hours later they arrived to see Joanne, Steve and Thomas. What an excited and really grown young boy (it was some 14 months since we had seen him) greeted us. Well!! So much to record and report for the Cousins, Uncles and Aunties offshore in Belgium and Brisbane and for posterity.

What were the highlights? Too many for this small blog! Above are some that capture the day. L to R. Thomas in his crash helmet admiring his birthday cake, just waiting for the candles to be lit; Thomas at his blue desk (the Greystone resurrected school desk and re-painted and with decals from NanNan); Thomas ready to roll (present from the Brussels' Aunties Kris and Sue, Uncles Greg and Mike); and Thomas in full blow (Yes he got them all!).

Many friends and relatives were present from the two sets of grandparents to kindy friends and Mum's and Dads. A happy little man, but tired after all the anticipation and attention. Mum Joanne and Dad Steve also somewhat tired but pleased how well the day went.

A highlight for all was the clown who amongst many other party tricks did some excellent work blowing balloons and making them into all different creatures, one each for each of the

children. He had a helper, Morfar the clown's assistant. Never too late to learn.

Our trip to Auckland; snow and a gunman!

'Twas a very normal sojourn when it started out! Sammo flew from the five day NZ Reading Association conference in Queenstown direct to Auckland and Sadie drove from Greytown to Auckland airport to pick up Sammo and then on to Little Russia in Remmers for R&R. All very pleasant, well lubricated and fed. Visited two retirement villages, Grace Joel in St Heliers and Edmund Hillary in Remmers; (looking well ahead, what?)

On Saturday took in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra courtesy of, ANZ Private Bank and Ian and Olga. It was in the Auckland Town Hall last visited for Kristina's graduation ceremony last century prior to some posh nosh at the Kermadec restaurant to salivate and celebrate (in that order). Great visit to Little Russia for four nights and great to catch up with Ian, Olga, Tania and little Demyan.

Well that's where normality ended. Left Remmers at 9am heading for Taupo and lunch at Piccolo (our favourite). Southerly storm predicted for the afternoon so (wise?) Sadie took the Taupo/Napier road highway 5. Less chance of snow on that road said Sadie (she who knows about snows and the central plateau). Well! 3/4's of an hour into travel Sammo says, "Those cars coming towards us are covered in snow!" And they were too. 10 minutes later we also had snow on the CRV and the snow got heavier and heavier. Doing about 20 kph and in lower gears and then crawling at 10 kph or less in low gear both up and down the hills. Cars in front started to slip, sideways, backwards and at various angles. CRV plodded on carefully with no problems until a mad bastard behind decided to overtake a row of five cars who were slipping. The mad bastard in a rear wheel drive panel van ended up alongdside going sideways. Wrestling with the wheel and braking and wheel spinning. Doughnuts on ice, what? Things settled and the next hour was low gear till we dropped below 750 metres when it all became cold rain again.

Ariived in Napier to hear on the radio that many vehicles were stuck in ice and snow on the said highway an hour behind us. In fact some 250 vehicles and 500 persons were rescued by the NZ Army and the Napier four wheel drive club over the next 48 hours. Many had to spend overnight stuck in their cars and then in local marae for two days. Cars were all finally cleared and towed 3 days later. We were lucky we were right at the front and about 1/2 hour before the snow began to get really heavy (up to 1 metre). Very unseasonal. For the record the Desert Road, highway 1 also got closed with vehicles and people stuck as well.

That was the easy part and now for the gunman. We were heading south on highway 50 reminiscing about snow and 4WD's and had just got onto highway 2 near Takapau when Hello! there was a line of stationary traffic, some 60 cars in front all stopped and a cop car in front with its lights flashing. Well, over 1 hour later a friendly driver and his dog was passing down the line of traffic now some 3 kms in length to tell us a gunman was on the loose and a Police block was in place. We got out of the line about 30 minutes later and headed back north to Takapau to find a way around to the east. No way, at Takapau there was another road block. So back to Waipukurau watching the Armed Defenders' Squad racing back to the road blocks.

Booked into the Tuki Tuki motel for the night and had a good feed at the pub next door. Waipukurau was booked out with many having to go further north to Waipawa. Next morning the public were advised that a by-pass was operating around the cordon around Norsewood. So, off we went. A narrow country road with big articulated trucks, cars and much slush, mud and rain. 1 hour later for about 15 kms we were back on highway 2 heading south. That's right, we didn't stop till we got to Greystone. Left Remmers Sunday and back in Greystone 26 hours later, normally 8 1/2 hours driving time.

Gunman was captured on Tuesday (in the Norsewood Golf Course toilets) dishevelled and suffering from hypothermia after two nights on the run in very cold conditions. Great relief for the farmers and workers around the Norsewood area who were locked inside their homes for protection during the siege.

Next trip is to New Plymouth to celebrate Thomas Harvey's 5th birthday! Wonder what amazing adventures await?

Its Springtime at Greystone!!

Spring is well underway now. See the photos of the Mt Fugi cherry and just wait until Carl's birthday on the 3rd of October for the showy Sakura cherry blossom. The yellow tulips are also in full bloom in the half barrels at the front and the Magnolia grandiflora is also showing off as usual. Early vegetable plantings are underway and growing from seed this year is a very worthwhile exercise.







Christmas thoughts are starting but there are some big birthdays to be celebrated first. Those that SPRING to mind are Steve's, Carl's, Thomas's, Isaac's, Jesse's, Greg and Kristina's. If there are others that the aged brain has overlooked an email will fix that and the next entry will add them.

Picasso is always alert and ready for his next feed, as the picture shows.

Major milestone. The foot gate has been installed! After 8 years is not bad! Is it? Gavin the stone wall artisan got the gap just right. When Mike Vennik sees it he will cheer since he asked me many moons ago, "When are you going to instal the gate?" "Soon, Mike soon," was the reply.

Greystone Happenings in August

Wow! Without power for a few days! A new pole was scheduled for 20 August and was installed earlier. The installers had all the big vehicles and all the marvellous gizmos and were happy to have their photos taken. Provided I didn't send them to OSH (Occupational safety and Health).

And of course the major happening was Sammo's birthday! Sammo has decided that she will take one year off the total each year now, going backwards in effect. She has joined the Sadie who has been going backwards for years. The Countryman in Masterton was the favoured restaurant this year and was most enjoyable. Many thanks to the offspring who phoned and texted from New Plymouth (Thomas is nearly five and getting very good on the phone), Brisbane and the Italian Alps.

Spring is well underway at Greystone with the blossom all some 2 weeks earlier this year.

1st Daffodil of 2009 at Greystone

It came out when we were playing golf yesterday! We won a frozen chook and two vouchers with our combined stableford in the Relatives' Teams' Tournament at Mrs Martin's borough's golf club.

Relatives' corner - Robert Loftus Stanford

Robert Loftus Stanford (RLS) arrived in New Zealand in 1864 with his wife. He is Evan SE's maternal, paternal great grandfather. More easily understood, Evan's mother's (Norah Osbon nee Stanford) paternal grandfather, that is her father's (Arthur Kynaston Stanford) father. A separate article is being written; another part of a series for family records of those who have gone on before us, to help answer those questions that arise. Such as, "Where do I come from and who were they?" Copies of the articles are available on request in the comments section from family and genuinely interested individuals.

The following is a brief summary of the full article still underway.

RLS was born in Buckinghamshire, England in 1839 and was educated at Cheltenham College and Exeter College, Oxford. In 1862 he took his degree at Oxford and two years later he and his wife came to Dunedin, New Zealand on the ship "Chilli."

He was ordained as a Minister of the Anglican Church of New Zealand and was the founding Vicar, in 1868, of the Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Milton, Otago. There is a full article on his activities in the centenary publication of Saint Johns. Further invetsigations are underway regarding his subsequent ministries in Dunedin and Napier.

He studied for the legal profession and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of The Supreme Court in Dunedin in 1883. In 1884 he was awarded his LLB degree from the University of New Zealand in Dunedin. RLS practised his legal profession for many years, his firm being Stanford and Milne. On the 15th of November 1894 he was appointed as Stipendary Magistrate at Palmerston North. This position required him to act in New Plymouth and Wanganui over the years till his death in Wanganui in 1909.

During his Oxford years he was intiated into the Apollo Lodge of the Masonic fraternity and in 1864 he was married to a daughter of the Dean of Leiglin in Ireland. There were five sons and five daughters from the marriage.

In 2009 he has many descendants and these will be the subject of identification and linking through their descendants to the present. Evan SE's grandsons, Isaac Morch of Brisbane and Thomas Harvey of New Plymouth are two of RLS's great, great, great grandchildren. Both Isaac and Thomas have longer ancestral ties with New Zealand through their mother's and father's sides respectively. These also will be the subject of investigation and recording.

(in progress). Watch this space.

The Teacher's Golfing Holiday

One day during the recent two weeks "non-classroom contact time" (holidays to non-teachers) Sammo revolted.



"No more of the high-pressure cleaning Sadie! I want to go golfing!" And so the following day the golf clubs were loaded into the CRV, clothes packed together with Greystoned gin, whisky (single malt), pear and boysenberry liqueuers and of course some of the famed Greystoned Limoncello. There was a sack of food too!

Next stop Napier! On the way we found a bypass around Woodville, following the Manawatu River, coming out at Oringi. Yes, we bypassed Woodville, however, some 1/2 hour was added to the journey! Found the usual "no exit" roads and waved to the starving 'cockies.' All four-finger waves too!

Made the motel in Napier in time to catch breath and mosie off to the Bank to discuss investments with the Trust advisor. Weather totally inclement and only place of interest was a suitable 'watering hole' to quaff Pinot Noir and talk golf. Various children waved and called out, "Hullo Teacher (by name) since some of the Greytown darlings were in Napier. "Can't escape," said Sammo before running into a surprised relative. Yes, Kiwiland is a small country. Next day following 'fush and chups' for the night before's repast it was decided that a 'good look' around the shops would be in order before finding a golf course. Suffice to say that more and more shops intruded with the gallant pair ending up in Havelock North and, yes, finding a 'watering hole' and quaffing some more fine Hawkes Bay pinot noir (as you do)!

Next day being a Friday we examined the Princess Alexandra Retirement Home and had a great, warmly welcomed visit. They didn't get where they are today without spotting a likely pair. So with facts salted away for some future use (doesn't have to be Napier) the pair of young oldies (not foggies Jo Jo, or even fogies) set off for the Rio Grande. Whoops! (Apologies to "Deadeye Dick and Mexican Pete!") Wrong joke! Set off for Remmers in the city of Auckland (Jafaville).

What a wonderful trip up the Napier/Taupo road with the snow way down on the Ruahines to the south and the Kawekas in front. No snow on the road and ideal driving. Kept an eye out for golf courses and cheered mightingly when some were spotted. But we couldn't tarry since the russian kiwis and the kiwi russian were waiting. Sadie was not allowed any by-passes much to his consternation. He did however miss the 'new' Hamilton highway 1 bypass around Hamilton which caused at least another 10 minutes delay and a lecture of sorts from Sammo. Poor Sadie, sometimes one thinks he lives in the past when he knew Hamilton and the Waikato backwards even though it was in the early sixties before he was put on the straight and narrow by Sammo.

Well! We made good time to the East Tamaki junction on the southern motorway and then guess what? That's right "the revenge of the *jafas" struck with a vengeance. 3/4's of an hour later Sadie said, "Stuff this!" and went off the Mt Wellington off-ramp and up the Mt Wellington highway to Remmers. A few wrong turns at Ellerslie and off "Ladies Mile" when we should have stayed on it occured but we made Haast St just as the light was fading and the wines were warming. Too dark for golf so we dined and imbibed and then quaffed some more quaff mixture at little Russia. Strange at first not to see Jack (for Sadie) since Sadie's previous visit was Christmas 07 when he and Jack Robertson (Poppa) relived the Maungatapere days and the many golf matches played over the previous 40 odd years.

Much yak, reading and relativing the next day since the intrepid pair were too worn out to look for golf courses. Strange how empty wine bottles multiply overnight but there were a lot more than Sadie counted on the Friday night. Amazing all the things and gossip to catch up on and how the time just slips away.

Sunday and Sylvia Park golf course beckoned. But when we got there the golf course had disappeared and there were lots of 'loverly' shops in its place. Maybe there was never one there? Retail therapy has a lot to answer for! Back to little Russia where we found Sergei, Tania and Demyan (5 months old). You can see from the photos the happy reunions and first time meeting with Demyan.




Monday dawned and after lunch a leisurely trundle down to Eureka (between Hamilton and Morrinsville) via Taupiri looking for golf courses on the way to John and Wendy's. Sammo's navigation skills came to the fore and we hit the target right on the button using all the shortest backroads and bypasses. Even found a stop at Gordonton where even the whitebait are 'free-range.'



Weather would have been great for golf but we couldn't find one with a welcoming committee and a golf buggy at the ready just waiting for us. John and Wendy of Eureka just like Ian and Olga of little Russia work from home and the aforementioned are getting on well developing their lifestyle block. The feisty ram has gone and been swapped for fresh fish; now there are donkeys, goats and beef animals to name some of the livestock in residence. The photos also show the property and the livestock. A tramp into the adjoining dairy farm, feeding the animals and eating and quaffing saw Monday draw to a close. Tuesday was 'spent' at the "Base." This is a large retail development at Te Rapa and is designed to curl plastic, straighten it and then curl, straighten etc etc ad infinitum. Weather cold and very wet so no golf courses came to the fore. Tuesday night was spent relativing, quaffing and eating John's very well prepared meal.





Wednesday, Eureka to Greystone (8hours, 7 hours driving) with a short detour, bypassing Onga Onga to Waipukurau where Sammo lashed out at the scrapbooking shop. Home just on dark and just in time to delay Picasso's routine call to the SPCA complaining of starvation. Picasso was looked after by the Vicar's daughter all week however when tested in the following days his ability to explain in four letter words has not been diminished. He was caught kneeling down, but no it wasn't prayer - just another fur ball!

So there we have it - Sammo's golfing holiday. For the record, on the first and last Saturday of the "non-contact classroom" time Sammo and Sadie played two rounds of golf at Mrs Martin's borough's golf course with golfing accomplices.

For the record the match play 'off-the-stick' between Sammo and Sadie for the Jack Robertson Perpetual Memorial Golf Trophy stands at Sadie 5 holes up after 14 rounds. The "Rules" have been written sometime back; a trophy is being made and each golf round when Sammo and Sadie are playing together is part of the competition - to the amusement of others in the four. After much discussion it has been decided that the last one alive will be the winner! For the record Jack and Evan started to play golf in 1969 at Sherwood Park, Maunu, Whangarei in between bouts of fishing. Sammo started in 1976 at Fitzroy, New Plymouth and Olive 1980 at Inglewood.

Oh! And by the way the golf clubs enjoyed their trip all 1525kms and came back to Greystone thoroughly rested!

Ein Skol! Dien Skol!

*Translation - 'jafa' - just another friendly Aucklander.

Matariki and the Winter Solstice

Sunrise 7:42 am, sunset 4:57 pm! It's all downhill now to summer. To all those friends in Europe just think each day gets shorter now!

The Greystone greystone has said: "Hullo!" to the daffodils, see attached photo! Gardening is now all about tidying and making ready for the spring. For those who like brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, onions and silver beet then Greystone has good winter crops coming on.



Helps to balance the red wine, slow cooked lamb shanks and carbohydrate (swedes, kumara, carrots and parsnips) diet with the occasional G&T.

The wines are coming on well with the pinot, noir and sauvignon blanc looking (and taste testing well!). 'Tis an onerous and demanding job but someone has to do it. Sadie's hand went up fast when asked!!!

Svend Carl Vilhelm's Remembrance Day

Once again the Danish flag flew at Greystone for Svend my Dad celebrating his birth date 10th June 1905. When we were young our Dad often had 'tree tomatoes' now known as tamarillos, stewed and cooled with whipped cream for dessert on his birthday.

Our new neighbours came out from Denmark in the 1950's and really enjoy seeing the flags flying.

June days in Greystone

The leaves are all down and raked. They have provided a base for the bark garden - some 15 barrow loads over the last 6 weeks. The autumn rains have well and truly soaked the Wairarapa and there is a great coating of snow on the tops of the Tararuas. Some frosts have been recorded, the lowest being -3C but all with brilliant sunny days following.

Some photos have been taken using Sammo's fantabulastic camera (it even tells you if the lens cover is still in place!). A wonderful assistance for the "retired one."



These photos show the berries and water droplets on the Indian Lilac Tree at the front wall and the next one shows the first crop of our mandarins, alondside the limes and Meyer lemons (yet to ripen). The Guardian of Greystone alias Picasso the big, fat cat is watching! He is handling the winter weather well; often on his personal pet pad in front of the log-fire.



See the 'naked ladies' in amongst the stones and bulbs by Lillehus very close to the grapefruit tree that has learned to resist the frosts.



Note: The daffodils have just poked their inquisitive noses through the grass around the front trees by the stone wall. Spring is in their thoughts. Just 10 days away from the winter solstice; Matariki will be celebrated on 22 June.

What is Matariki?
Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster or The Seven Sisters; and what is referred to as the traditional Maori New Year.

When is the Maori New Year?
The Maori new year is marked by the rise of Matariki and the sighting of the next new moon. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki can be seen in the last few days of May every year and the new year is marked at the sighting of the next new moon which occurs during June.

So there you have it, Summer beckons!