Beach Education at Riversdale

On Tuesday the 19th February Sally and assorted teachers and parents, including Sadie who was allowed out for the day, took 72 children to Riversdale Beach for their biannual Beach Education trip. Making sure everyone was present before getting on the buses was an important part of the trip. When we had arrived the surf club gave a short overview of the day. The three groups rotated around the activities. One activity was investigating the IRB. How would you rescue someone from the water? How would you right the IRB if it turned over in the water? The other two activities were learning about how to stay safe at the beach? and a video with several scenarios on beach safety.

Lunch was after this and then games and sand castle building before the water activities which proved an experience with quite a GOOD SURF RUNNING. A good day was had by all.

Carl's Olde Bicycle and, it has rained - a little bit!"

We are dry! However 2mm yesterday and 3mm so far today! Carl's Olde Bicycle has been a dry weather bike for years. However due to 3mm in 1/2 an hour and since Sadie was halfway downtown when the rain started, necessity became the Mother of invention. Of course the Sprite bottle is but just a copy of Carl's much larger lemonade bottle of yore. The lemonade bottle succumbed to the ravages of time some years back. The replacement looks smart though and is 'clean and green.".

Carl's record on this bicycle, around the Mole/Wood/ West/North/Udy Street circuit of Greytown still stands. 12 minutes from a standing start in 2002!


Note: Carl's Olde Bicycle was gifted to Evan the future Sadie in 1999 when Carl 'saw the light' and crossed the ditch to Brisbane. It is now an item of note in Greytown. With Sadie on board it has reached approx 7.55 kph downwind and downhill for some 12.23 seconds!! It was touch and go whether the aged, sleeping Labrador was able to catch the speeding duo!

It is now often propped up around Greytown with the security lock firmly fastened whilst Sadie is busy chatting over housekeeping tips and distributing bottles of "Greystoned" libations for those that have done a paticular favour.

21st year as a teacher - 1st day back - 1 February 2008

Carl and Sue remember well when we three (them and the future Sadie) recaptured Sammo from Palmerston North (Kensington Place) where she had been co-habitating with Kris and Jo whilst completing her teacher training. Sammo was returned to New Plymouth as a new teacher and now this is her 21st year as a teacher. Schools have been Westown, Waitara, Berhampore, Newlands Intermediate and now Greytown. It has been said (don't know who by) that teachers are born not made. Sammo is a born teacher. Life skills gained bringing up 4 classy offspring for the first 19 years prior to teacher training has given her a wide range of personal and professional capabilities; these have been welcomed by parents of the children she has taught

Sadie is now the teacher aide at the teacher's place of residence. The apprenticeship has some 21years still to run!!

On concentric circles, squiggly lines, birthdays and goss

It is wise to prevent doglets running around in ever diminishing concentric circles since at the end point they will disappear with a pouff up fundamental orifices! Especially now they know their birth dates. Said Veterinarian knows a thing or two about marketing me thinks. Ratchet up the emotional needs of the caregiver and you have a pet that can spend the folding stuff.

I saw a doglet with a cone head outside the school last Friday; now doubt he was being prevented from licking/biting said appendage or whatever. How come humens don't need cones? All answers will be judged on merit including originality, humour and taste.

Hone Tuwhare's death has caused many accolades. He was of Ngapuhi descent and he has been farewelled and buried in the Far North. He spent some twenty or more years living at Kaka Point in the Catlins which is a relatively remote area south east of Dunedin which is some 1800kms from Kaitaia.

An early 64th celebration was held at Club on Friday followed by Moules and Frites at the Leuven in Featherston Street with the Kralls. A glass or so at Leigh and Horst Krall' in Newlands followed by a qiuck trip back to the station to catch the 9:55pm to Woodside. Sadie snored and Sammo read (she who is still a long way from her sixties) on the train trip home.

Herbie the Beamer was excited this morning since it is his Sunday outing - all 3 kms! He has developed a stand-off with the bicycles - we caught them arguing the other evening - since it is so warm and sunny that they get used in preference. Herbie couldn't understand what fitness was about. He was getting confused between a warrant and the need to keep ones' (Yes, the apostrophe is in the right place) weights down. His Germanic sense of humour has been exposed.

Sadie is halfway through reading "The Great War For Civilisation - The Conquest Of The Middle East" written by Robert Fisk. It is a remarkable work.

Our garden at Greystone is producing results, much picking and eating as well as much satisfaction. We now have a full wood shed following 3 trips to Mrs Martin's Borough's golf course for dry macrocarpa. So when the Kiwi Brusellians (KB's) are sunning themselves we will be toasting ourselves and continuing the teaching, literary, Herbie counseling and feline care giving activities.

Sunny Saturday

We have had a quiet day today. Had a late brekkie and went for a gentle bike ride down to the village. have been watching the cricket between India and Australia and the tennis in Melbourne.

On Friday we went to the big smoke and went to the Wellington Club for drinkies as is our wont on the last Friday of the month. Leigh and Horst joined us and after we all went to Leuven for dinner. Moules and Frits again. We went to their place, where over a couple of Baileys on ice, they tried to persuade us to stay the night but we came home on the late train and consequently were able to sleep in this morning. However once Shelley's wedding is over mid February we will go over and stay a night as we enjoy their company.

We have now just supped our first G & T for the night.

Holidays continue - but counting down for some!

We have been setting up the apartment for a confirmed 12 month lease starting 28 January, beating off a would be buyer although that is still active subject to protection for the tenants. Also bringing in more wood for the winter (Yes! It will arrive!). Macrocarpa from Mrs Martin's Borough's golf course. Also playing golf 3 1/2 rounds so far since Christmas. Monday 21 January was Wellington Province anniversary and Sammo and Sadie played Ambrose as a team of two at Landsdowne, Masterton; gross was 80, net 67.75 but 3 shots short of the money. Hot as hell, 32C that day and much liquid consumed AFTER (please note the emphasis) the golf.

Much reading by SWMBO (alias Sammo) in hammock. Top temperature 32C in Greystone, minimum 15C - hammocks have been well used, slung between the pear trees.

130 kph winds from the NW yesterday. Lasted 4 hours only but much damage around the lower North Island (Te Ika a Maui). Power lost in many areas from Taranaki all down the West Coast to Wellington and across into the Hawkes Bay, Tararua and Wairarapa districts. Minor tree damage at Greystone but lots of leaves and branches from neighbours' trees. Big clean up this morning. Winds were the remnants of Cyclone Funa - went down the Tasman till off Taranaki, decided to look in on Jo, Steve and Thomas and then scooted through to the East just north of Cook Strait. Gave Northland a dose of the wets but nothing like NSW and Queensland have received lately from other weather systems

Cats are coping, Sammo first day's work at school yesterday (holidays continue till next Wednesday 31 January - teacher only day). Very dry in the Wairarapa, total fire bans and water restrictions.

Sadie's 64th next Tuesday! This Friday in town with SWMBO for drinkies at Wellington Club and thereafter food and liquids with Leigh and Horst.

Sir Edmund Hillary was duly dispatched by way of a fully fledged State funeral in Auckland yesterday followed by a private cremation. Fame did not go to his head - he used it to help and encourage others. His work in Nepal over the years is testament to his attitudes and deserved greatness. This position is now vacant - all applications welcome - they will be studied by us Kiwis over the next 50 years!

Reach for the Sky (decoder)

The sunflowers are about 2.6m high this year! They are the South African Giant variety. There are also many of them around Greystone at the moment. Johnny Appleseed has nothing on Sadie Sunflower!

Greystone Guardians - January 2008

Sammo and Picasso are the Guardians, the Kaitiaki of Greystone!

Thomas with his Mum's Dad (Morfar) and his maternal great grandfather Jack

Thomas is 3! He enjoyed his Christmas in Auckland with his Mum, Joanne and Dad, Steve and his Dad's parents. He then visited his Mum's Dad, Evan and his Mum's Mum's Dad, Jack. Pictures are worth a thousand words - I am sure you will agree.

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.