Lots of photos

Indian Motorbike spotted on the way back home- there were about 7-8 of them all going to a rally. Kiwis will know the movie "The World's Fastest Indian" about one of these motorbikes.

The Teddy and Lamb that Anahera and Kaya helped to make and dress.

Tourist boat at Picton. Very annoying, you could here the tour guide's voice through a very loud microphone over the whole harbour.

Picton beach. Very beautiful and warm here. The girls went paddling in the water and looked for shells.

Anahera and friend, Picton.

My kitty Honey, sleeping upside down!

Andrew's kitty Holly looking sideways at me taking her photo.

All my children, they're not together very often, so to have a photo of all 4 is very precious. Kathryn in front, Tim on left, Andrew in the middle and Phil on the right.

My 3 sons - Tim, Andrew and Phil. Taken on the day of mum's funeral.

My 3 sons playing in the backyard of Tahi's house. You can just see Magenta, Phil's fiancee, in the background.

On Holiday

Well it's been an "interesting" year so far... too many changes! Kathryn and Tahi have now separated. My darling daughter is the one who has left- she has met someone else!! Tahi seems to have main custody of the girls. It's just not the same anymore going around to their house, and my daughter isn't there any more. I don't know where her new man lives, or his phone number, although I have contact by texting her cell phone.

We did manage to have a great few days away last week, Kathryn, me and the girls. All the more precious now that the family has broken up. We drove down to Christchurch and stayed in a lovely motel (motels in NZ are different to those in USA) which was near to Phil and Magenta's house and also to my brother in law's. The girls were great, especially Anahera, 9 is a good age to take away. We went up on the gondola (see www.gondola.co.nz, don't know how to put in the link)which has a fantastic view from the top. We went to Hanmer Springs, thermal springs up near the mountains, Kathryn did a bungy jump, the girls made their own teddies and went ice skating. And of course we went visiting.

Then I came back home and that's when I started to grieve- for mum, for Kathryn and her family, moving house, changing job etc. Change is hard when you don't want things to change so fast aye!

I'm still on leave this week. Tomorrow I'm flying down to Nelson for a night, and later in the week I'm going to try and see the big cricket match between NZ and Australia which is being played in Wellington.