It's raining!

Sure is! Courtesy of weather down from Queensland and meeting up with a High coming across from Bass Strait. Warm moisture laden air meeting cold stuff. Bay of Plenty, Gisborne (Tairawhiti), Canterbury and Otago have had very heavy falls and flooding.

Greystone only got 48mm in 24 hours (it all fell overnight in 12 hours), sun peeked through at midday and now the rain is starting again! Heaviset fall we have experienced in 13 years in the Wairarapa.

Thanks Queenslanders! Is there anything we can send you?

Cheers from the web footed swamp dwellers.

Look whose raking the Autumn leaves!!

Sadie was the photographer and Sammo the raker the of the Greystone autumn leaves. Greytown is picture postcard at the moment with coloured leaves all over the place.

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.