Latest photo of the church

Well, NOT LONG NOW, and I'll be in Atlanta, GA, with some old friends and family. Yippee. This was last weekend, at our place, for the church gathering. I love that having so many children makes our group look pretty big. It was a good meeting, much of it taken up with planning for the coming weeks, and for my trip to see Gene and the other folks from churches around the globe. Hard to believe it's happening.

Guy Fawkes Night

Well, last Saturday the church met at the Boyds for the Annual Guy Fawkes extravaganza. I think we had 9 kids and similar number of adults. Barbecue first, and then a gumboot throwing contest. FINALLY it was dark enough to start laying out the fireworks. THis could be the last year New Zealanders get to fire off their own personal supply, so it had to be good!

The adults look on from a safe distance. . .

while the kids pick through the loot and select the most prestigious ones: "Fiery Balls of Fire from Dragons Breath" titles etc.

Our own resident pyromaniac instructs the children on care around fireworks. . .

while those who are less agile sit quietly and wait. . .

while pyromaniac begins the demonstration. .

slowly working closer and closer towards us with the lethal display. This is the catherine wheel attached LOOSELY to the nearby tree

while Jan and others look on. . .

and Helen and Wai watch from safe distance. . .

Here they are then . . .




you can just make out the shape of the manic fire starter who had lost it by then!

The brothers skit last Sunday

Last Sunday afternoon, we had a meeting wherein we had PAUL (in chains), Titchycus and Epaphras present - and a teddy bear called Onesimus. Yes, the brothers finally put on their skit, and we had ELEVEN children present to watch it (until they grew bored), and they exceeded the number of adults in the audience. The bros did very well, and said that they themselves learned a lot about the whole Ephesian story just by putting the skit together. It's a shame that they couldn't find a larger sheet for Mark!!

Labour Weekend

Just had a great three days down country, enjoying the delights of Ngaroto Nurseries in the Springtime, and Hamilton gardens and the river, with Peter who had a few days off as well.

Relative festivities

Two important family activities this last weekend. The first was the arrival of Mum's brother Trevor and his wife Margo from Perth, picked up at airport by cousin Gordon and Stephanie, and delivered tired but happy to Dad and Mum's for lunch. Ha ha, had to laugh at this photo though. I think the baby is the only bright face. . .

And this is Mum and her bro together. . .

And these are the Attwater group together. . .

THEN we had Magda's birthday dinner at my place in the evening, and the delightful 19 yr old enjoyed her Mexican taco meal and the cake that followed.

GRADUATION week

Sorry, it DOES seem to be all about me this week! It's just that now that the birthday is over, GRADUATION is beginning. I picked up my gown and stole yesterday, the march is tomorrow, and the photos that Dad took, were last night.
Needless to say I'm more excited than the length of my gown or the humbleness of my hoodless stole allow, but hey, it has only ever happened once for me.

Birthday celebrations. . .

My birthday celebrations have started early this year, with a great weekend! Peter came up for it, and very kindly brought a contribution from the Nursery in the form of these golden blooms. . .

Then we went for a great lunch at 'The Falls' in Henderson. Followed by Art Gallery visit and then Palmers Gardens. . .

. . . before going to the dinner party at Cath and Gordon's which was on a WATER theme.

. . .and after Queen Neptune and Captain Pugwash, there's always a couple of fishy sorts in every crowd. . .

. . . and someone who can't get enough of the sea. . .

Here we ALL are, enjoying a cornucopia of different Thai dishes and each other's company: From left - me, John and Naomi Cowan, Catherine Gardner, Helen, Gene, Cath and Gord and Peter. What fun!

Trip to the SNOW

Okay, we needed to take beloved nephew Ashley and his friend Guy to the snow - Ruapehu in the central North Island, for much needed respite and fun!

Got to stay at this delightful very olde worlde villa in Raetihi, facing the distant mountain.

The approach to the other skifield (for a looksee, was very exciting!

and we both hung out for a day watching the boys and wishing we were on skis. Helen succumbed the next day and put a pair beneath her feet.

I did, however, enjoy some pretty spectacular views from the chairlift!

and these were the assorted adults amongst MILES of teenagers, who shared the house with us. We didn't know them before we arrived - friends of a friend. Lovely folks.

Trip to Ruapehu to see some snow

Well, I don't know why this BLOG will only let me put two of HUNDREDS of GREAT PHOTOS up, but it's late, and I want to go to bed, and so these will have to do. Helen and I took Ashley and his friend Guy down to ski for a couple of days, taking a day to go down to Ruapehu and a day to come back. GREAT skiing and lovely time. The first pic is of Guy, and the second of nephew Ashley, both about to head up the mountain. More when I can coerce this blog to allowing it. . .

Be Your Own Boss Course 2006

Just returned from our last 'class' in BYOB for this course, with my certificate and portfolio having presented 'Wild Line Design' to my classmates and tutor, and now we are all ready to go out and do business. . .

This is the remnant who remained after eating lunch. . .there were 13 of us in all and each one doing something unique and doggone interesting. Great course to be on. Fred, the tattoo artist on the far right, and Tamara the jewellery girl in the back, and Marion Grace the Stations of the Soul counsellor in the front, but the rest follow on after this pic, except for the two courier guys and the marine electrician. (See - interesting!!)

An, now this is Karen, who is opening an antique store and cafe sometime soon, and she did a great display and got us all very keen to come and have a coffee and a stooge around real soon. (Sarah - I'm sure you and your Mum would love it). She's calling herself 'the Blue Dragonfly'.

This is Fiona who can make designs and templates for almost anything made in fabric. Fabulous costumes for filmsets, through to clothes and then upholstery. She is a perfectionist and it shows.

This pretty lady did the makeup on one side of Karen's face for us. She is heading out to be a makeup artist for weddings, and virtually anything.

And finally, and by no means least, here is Francis, who was elected King by his band of Norsemen who meet every weekend to re-enact battles by Vikings. He is a jeweller who is getting into the make Nordic jewellery for the growing trade needed to support re-enactment groups rising throughout the country and the world. He made everything from the sword to the the two helmets, as well as some mighty fine jewellery and the chain mail. WOW. He's off to the museum to support the Viking exhibition there.