My darlings; Ben, Zoë, Phoebe, Jack and Jed - Christmas 2010.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Blessing
How could your life be anything but blessed when you have helped to create something this good?
My darlings; Ben, Zoë, Phoebe, Jack and Jed - Christmas 2010.
My darlings; Ben, Zoë, Phoebe, Jack and Jed - Christmas 2010.
Friday, December 10, 2010
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!
I've been asked to do my shodan grading! Wahhooooooooo! No actual date yet, but sometime before June next year and in our dojo! Sweet.
Tomorrow is my youngest son's 2nd kyu grading and also his 14th birthday. It's also the end of the year for the club. Do I break for a few weeks, do I carry on, do I do more....? So much to think about now. The countdown begins...where to start?
Very excited!
Tomorrow is my youngest son's 2nd kyu grading and also his 14th birthday. It's also the end of the year for the club. Do I break for a few weeks, do I carry on, do I do more....? So much to think about now. The countdown begins...where to start?
Very excited!
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
I am back - is there anybody out there?
Golly -perhaps there was nothing happening? But now there is...and I'm back.
My eldest son graduated last weekend and I was utterly taken back by my reaction. I am not a clucky, clingy, overly ambitious mother. I don't push my kids. Sure I encourage, but I believe the best comes from standing back and letting them find their own talents. This could all be bollocks of course and I could just be lazy. Anyhoo!
My boy graduated and I felt it! I was so damn proud, I kept touching him and standing by him gazing in awe at this wonderful person that I played a part in the making off. I loved the ceremony, loved the regalia, loved the post-grad party, just loved the day. Yaah.
He is staying on to do Clinical Psychology, and a Phd. so will be at uni for some years yet. This is the first step. BA Psychology, First Class Honours degree. Yup - I'm a proud mum.
This is his favourite photo of the day: girlfriend, sister, mother.
The man and his university
Crossing the stage
The capping
My eldest son graduated last weekend and I was utterly taken back by my reaction. I am not a clucky, clingy, overly ambitious mother. I don't push my kids. Sure I encourage, but I believe the best comes from standing back and letting them find their own talents. This could all be bollocks of course and I could just be lazy. Anyhoo!
My boy graduated and I felt it! I was so damn proud, I kept touching him and standing by him gazing in awe at this wonderful person that I played a part in the making off. I loved the ceremony, loved the regalia, loved the post-grad party, just loved the day. Yaah.
He is staying on to do Clinical Psychology, and a Phd. so will be at uni for some years yet. This is the first step. BA Psychology, First Class Honours degree. Yup - I'm a proud mum.
This is his favourite photo of the day: girlfriend, sister, mother.
The man and his university
Crossing the stage
The capping
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
My good side?
I think I have discovered my 'good' side for all future photographs! No wrinkles, no odd sized eye, no awkward smile...I like it! The oyster was pretty damned tasty as well!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Back to the Catlins - February 2010
The Catlins has now been officially recognised as a place name by the NZ Geographic Board. Hmmm, I thought that was always its name!
I visited recently with my bookclub and experienced one of those perfect days. These photos are all from out at the Owaka Heads.
Not a breath of wind the day we were here - but the deformed bushes suggest it's not always this calm!
Snail's trails - I guess they were looking for something?
Mesmerising seaweed. We saw paua gathers launching themselves through the seaweed with no trouble - but it always gives me the creeps and I feel it would wind itself around my legs and neck and hold me down.
The rock structures out at the Heads are amazing - these look like a patchwork of fields as seen from an airplane, but are actually only an inch or two across.
I visited recently with my bookclub and experienced one of those perfect days. These photos are all from out at the Owaka Heads.
Not a breath of wind the day we were here - but the deformed bushes suggest it's not always this calm!
Snail's trails - I guess they were looking for something?
Mesmerising seaweed. We saw paua gathers launching themselves through the seaweed with no trouble - but it always gives me the creeps and I feel it would wind itself around my legs and neck and hold me down.
The rock structures out at the Heads are amazing - these look like a patchwork of fields as seen from an airplane, but are actually only an inch or two across.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
More from the far north
Car ferry crossing the Hokianga Harbour Narrows between Rawene and Kohu Kohu.
St Mary’s Church, Motuti where Bishop Pompellier's relics are buried...
Loved the first sentence here...on a board at Gumdiggers Park, whoa!
Cape Reinga and that mysterious tree
Tapotupotu Bay
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Heading to the top
I've now been north of Auckland. Still didn't quite find the anticipated summer - more of a warm and humid greyness. We did 'sights' rather than beaches and my togs stayed dry in my suitcase - probably a relief to all other beach goers.
Ruapekepeka - Maori war battle site - English position is in far distance
Stone Store (oldest stone building in NZ, 1832) and Kemp House in Kerikeri - relics of missionary settlements
A Moreton Bay fig tree in Russell, planted 1840
My feet relaxing on the verandah of the Pompellier Mission: it's the sole surviving building of the French Catholic mission to the Western Pacific. It was built to print Maori language books in 1841. Bishop Pompallier and his Marist missionaries printed almost 40,000 religious texts in Maori here in eight years.
The world's largest waka, 30m Ngatokimatawhaorua, built for the treaty centennial in 1940, will be in a fleet of 29 waka and 2000 paddlers celebrating the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi next week. It hasn't been in the water since it was launched at Waitangi in 1940.
Ruapekepeka - Maori war battle site - English position is in far distance
Stone Store (oldest stone building in NZ, 1832) and Kemp House in Kerikeri - relics of missionary settlements
A Moreton Bay fig tree in Russell, planted 1840
My feet relaxing on the verandah of the Pompellier Mission: it's the sole surviving building of the French Catholic mission to the Western Pacific. It was built to print Maori language books in 1841. Bishop Pompallier and his Marist missionaries printed almost 40,000 religious texts in Maori here in eight years.
The world's largest waka, 30m Ngatokimatawhaorua, built for the treaty centennial in 1940, will be in a fleet of 29 waka and 2000 paddlers celebrating the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Waitangi next week. It hasn't been in the water since it was launched at Waitangi in 1940.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Pounawea New Year 2010
I was lucky enough to have ten days down here alone. Bliss - to do what I liked, when I liked; walking, riding, eating, sleeping, reading, shopping, maintenance...a little of everything each day.
It was a rare time of quiet. If the weather had been warmer I would have been completely satisfied.
But, it was the usual Catlin's mix of hot, cold, rain, wind, calm, mild, hail, blue and grey - often all within the same hour. Ah well, if it was better weather it probably wouldn't be the unspoiled, lovely, quiet place that it is?
It was a rare time of quiet. If the weather had been warmer I would have been completely satisfied.
But, it was the usual Catlin's mix of hot, cold, rain, wind, calm, mild, hail, blue and grey - often all within the same hour. Ah well, if it was better weather it probably wouldn't be the unspoiled, lovely, quiet place that it is?
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