50

umm, what to say?  50 has arrived.  Feels pretty good, looks better than it might have but 'could have done better' and as I am often heard to say, 'lucky to be here, many don't make it'.  Being away on my work adventure on the day meant I probably didn't spend as much if any time thinking about the meaning of '50'.  There are plenty of reasons to fear it but for me it is liberating and for that I am grateful.  Putting aside the hell that is living in the post eq situation, I can say it feels great to be here.  Happy, healthy and really excited about what might be coming next.  Always looking out and looking up, grasping the beauty and turning my face to the sun.

P.S.
No party!!  A birthday without a party is just not right, but there is time yet.  Reflecting on my past 50, just want to say thanks to all my lovely family and friends.  Front and centre, the best thing in the world.  Would never have made it on my own

Cheers  

Library Love on my 50th

Bounce

When you are on a trampoline you can only smile and laugh.  I love these pics of Nic, Ben and Olivia on Christmas day

Olivia

Ben

 

 

My favourite. 

Email from my dad

Greetings Daughters,

Diary November 1 2012.

9;15 A.M. Found car park in Cashel St.

9: 30 Reported to X Ray dept. at hosp.

new X Ray completed 9:50

located the” bone shop “on 2nd. floor and reported to reception.

Waited waited waited

1 0:37 ushered into consulting room,waited.

Mr. Penny entered and introduced himself as surgeon. ( pleasant fellow)

examined Patient and found Right leg 10mm. shorter than Left ????

Some explanations ventured and then went to his office where Horror pictures on screen

explanation: right hip (previous implant ) socket detatched and floating .

left hip ,top of femur disintegrated and no sign of ball joint.

Remedy ; 2 new ball joints required, whether done at the same time still to be decided.

departed hosp at 11:15 A.M. and had Pizza for lunch on way home. Nice ..

Personnel satisfied with mornings activities but will need time to digest ..

Await contact from Mr. Penny regarding next step in system.

Best Love ,Dad.

Family

Life is a funny thing, death not so much.  But so much to be learned from doing it well.  I had the privilege of spending a weekend with my darling Swinney/Thompson family as we experienced the death of our dear Elizabeth and then the amazing swift journey in funeral planning and departure.

Having been given the instruction to come up to Masterton for a farewell and celebration combo Ruth and I found ourselves arriving at a wake.  Our dear Liz passed away on Friday afternoon in the company of her family, including our parents.  We missed the final farewell but were warmly included in the planning and grieving over the next 2.5 days. 

Spending time crying, talking, coffin painting and eating a lot was very cathartic and special.  I know that everyone will have plenty of other times to grieve and miss Liz but starting that journey in such a warm and loving environment was special to us all.

It is not often that you have a couple of vicars and an undertaker in a family but how perfect it was to have a real family affair.  I had the special privilege of helping my cousin Gill and Lisa dress her mother & mother in law respectively.  My first dead body and it was ok.  Of course I cried but who wouldn't? 

What I learned among other things, was that the deep faith that some people have takes them into the next life in peace.  It also helps those left behind take comfort in that peace. 

A sense of normalcy was welcomed on Saturday morning at Clareville hockey pitch.

My mother and Hazel choosing paint colours for the coffin

Gill and Pete getting things underway

The dads taking a quiet moment

My contribution

Anika's farewell to Gran

There are a whole lot more photos to share but this will do for the meantime.

Make a wish

Routine often punctuates the weekend and I do find that rather stultifying.  So, how lovely it was to spend  breakfast at my folks place with the family celebrating my dad's 78th birthday.  After a morning of fruit, bagels, pancakes, coffee and magazine and newspaper reading  I went out for lunch with 7 gal pals to Under the Red Veranda...a firm favourite with the must have fish of the day...yes there was food envy happening.  Nothing like a bunch of women laughing and enjoying each others company with good food in a nice setting.

Ben eying up the birthday cupcakes

Great having kids who still love candles too

Rainbow candles and cases...cyte

Nic's beach themed 'Best Grandad" card. 

Now home to sit by the fire before heading out to watch the Crusaders beat the Western Force.  Living Saturdays....

Whitecliffs

Often talked of but I have never been to Whitecliffs before and what a treasured place it is.  With no sea breeze providing the limiting chill, this place was just stunning yesterday.

Camp with the caravan and the massive mobile home. As day trippers, we just had a car and a few deck chairs.

In the caravan drawing pictures and eating chocolate

Cockabully tales

Nic swinging on the rope, not togs so it was an undies undies undies day.

Ben loving the swing, I wonder if his arms are working today as he spent a very long time doing this

Navigating the rapids

Sunday Sunday 1 April

Nothing beats a warm autumnal day on the first day of daylight saving fall back.  It means a very cruisy day with a sleep in.  This was made possible by Ben Davis who stayed the night and kept Nic away for some hours first thing this morning.  Good to have a coffee at Blax afterwards.  Got to keep our local businesses going by turning up and spending money. 

Ben and Nic Hagley Park

Peacock Fountain...gorgeous

Shadows

Hang in there  Blax

A romantic phone call

The other day my father in law phoned me from his home in Australia  (he has never done this) and wanted to tell me a romantic story.  Apparently it is Census year in Austrailia and this brought back a memory to John about how his parents met (about 100 years ago).  His father was delivering census papers in his home town in Canada and lit upon a lovely woman as he did.  He persued her and they became married.  What a gorgeous story. 

After I hung up and wandered off to tell Jonty the story, I remembered that we also met through the Census.  Both of us were Enumerators on the 1981 Census where we met.   Although we socialised and became friends it wasn't until about 18 years later that actually got together.  In all an interesting coincidence and a cute family story. 

Share an idea

This morning after a cup o coffee and a croissant at Blax, we joined Alex, Joseph and Oliver at the CCC Share an Idea event at the CBS Arena.  What an fantastic opportunity to share ideas about how to rebuild Christchurch.  They divided the ideas into four categories 'Market', 'move', 'place' and 'life'.  We could share our ideas using post it notes, online, and on Youtube.  It was a totally informal event that included lego to help people place their ideas on a giant CBD map.  I saw far too many people I knew to make this a really useful event for me to contribute but it was fantastic seeing so many ChCh people there sharing ideas.  You can still go on line and share thoughts so I will do that in the next few days.  Back to the people, people I haven't seen since before the earthquake, colleagues, friends and long past people I knew.    Our boys were very brave and did a Youtube piece each, talking about their idea.  So sweet.  And they have given me permission to share.  So, if I can work out how to do taht, here it is....

Nic's idea
Oliver's idea
Joseph's idea

It was really good to hear lots of different ideas from people around me as I get really close to these things as part of my work and hearing a wide variety of perspectives is vital.  Thanks for suggesting we go together Al.

Happy New Ears

Let's hope 2011 is a fantastic year for everyone.  We in Christchurch have all agreed that the earthquake has sucked the life out of all of us and Christmas just did pop like it normally does.  So here is to a happy and safe year to all my friends.  Enjoy our modest but warm family photos of the season
                                                     

     Pre-Christmas lunch with teh P-Zers

Under the tree

 Fan man and chopsticks

 The new bike with gears...star of the show!

 Special Christmas table on the deck with the cousins

 Jasmine came home, yay!!

 mmmm

 The joke book goes everywhere...hanging out at Julian and Lesley's

Gladstone

Enjoy these photos of our trip to Gladstone

 

 Beautiful morning mist down the valley

 Family picnic under the titoki tree

 The ubiquitous bath shot

 The best ever playground in Masterton

 Flloyd

Early morning farewell at the train station...thanks for a great relaxing time