Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Tim, Cam and I flew to AK to see Marie and Brett arrive from Canada

I flew with Tim and Cam to Auckland on Holly's 18th birthday 16 Sept 2010; we picked up our rental car (thank you tony and Bartercard) and went to see Maryanne. (chris was in australia) . She had dinner waitning for us, though we arrived close to 10pm! A lovely chicken pasta. she had work in the morning, but she stayed up and talked to us...we retired to our beds, Tim on the couch, falling asleep watching TV.

We were up at 4am, Marie's plane got in at 5.30am.

We were waiting in the crowd as sleepy plane travellers came through from customs with their trolleys of luggage - and Brett's mum Christine recognised me,and came up and said, "Are you Marie's mum?" It was great, as we had thought they would not be arriving till later...

then there they were! I think my hands must have been shaking because all the photos are blurry...it was so great to see them...

Brett went with his parents, and Marie came with us - we were going to meet at Maryannes's. Maryanne had not gone to the gym, and she was leaving it too the last minute to go to work, waiting to see Marie, it was wonderful.

When Brett and Red and chris got there, we had
plenty of time to talk,




Tim had a shower, ...we arranged to meet that evening at Brett's auntie and uncle's place out at Silverdale where all the family with children and partners and grandmother were gathering to welcome Marie and Brett home.

Marie and Cam and I had a swim while Tim slept.





Marie went to the doctor, and it was thought she had had a virus, and would come right, but could have tests in Melbourne to rule out giardia if she wanted.

We went for lunch at Greenhithe, a place I have never had reason to go - it was a dutch cafe, and we had crepes and pancakes, and I had a beer...sunny, and we warmed up, as it was not that warm in Auckland.

We went to Mother's,






I went to the supermarket, and got Marie some yoghurt and some cider vinegar and manuka honey because she was having trouble with her gut.

We were SO happy to see Mother. She lit the fire for us, the weather was so stormy...we listened to Marie's stories of her time in Canada and Mexico, and saw Marie's treasures she had brought, a lovely top for me, and earrings - Fish!!! Marie had bought hand painted tiles made by a very young 19 yearold, sold at the resort Marie and Brett had stayed at.

Mark came, so lovely to see him, coming up the drive in his huge black car, smiling, he looked LOVELY!

Mark adjusted herthat day, and the next, and Marie and I and Tim had a crystal healing which deeply affected all of us...I found it very deeply moving.

We went that evening to the beautiful house of Brett's family, and met everyone, Marie in the home of her new family...there was thunder and lightning, what a stormy night, we looked out through the big windows out onto farmland and bush, and the hail and rain lashing the landscape. We got lost on the way home, the roads littered with leaves and small branches, but we got home safely! Mother was up, and we were not late, about 7.30pm. Mother says she if at her best between 5 and 11pm these days...

Staying the night with Mother, all of us felt great, like a marae experience, in the family home. I took Cam to the airport early the next morning, he had arranged to be back on Saturday.

Back after the airport, Mother had lit the fire - she said the weather was extraordinary, I felt the specialness of the fire, Mother does not light the fire in the morning except on very special occasions.

Mother did not go to early Mass. On this Saturday morning Mark came early to visit us, which was LOVELY, and he took Tim back to his place, to the clinic for adjustment and crystal healing. Mother, Marie and I followed in our rental car, and we waited in the carpark till Tim was finished. We went to Browns Bay Beach, and Tim waited in the car while Marie and I had a swim. Mother came to the beach with Marie and I and we had a swim, (it as warmer than we had thought once you got used to it) and just as in our old childhood days, Mother held our towels! It was so happy, seeing Mother on the beach, with us totally in spirit, probably praying for us...
We went back to Mother's, and had something to eat (Marie had more yoghurt, it was helping her) and we said a rosary till Yulia came.

We said a rosary with Mother, and Tim's friend, Yulia, came to get him, to stay with Tim's friends, Baraq and TA, and go out with them.


On Sunday morning, Marie and I had our healings from Mark, Mother had gone to Mass; Mother lit the fire again, and did not go to early Mass; and then we went off to Howick to get TIm - we got lost, and rang Dad and Cam to look up on the computer how to get to the house.We met Baraq's parents, which I was thrilled about!

At Maryannes, Sarah had arrived with Molly and Lily, because Steve's Dad sadly died at his home in New Plymouth, so the family had come for this sad reason... it was good to see them, meeting Lily for the first time. Marie is going to be their nanny in Melbourne, and for us to have this chance to meet and talk was a real treat!



After our last bit of time at Mother's, we left about 1.30pm, and met Chris and Red at Manukau. We left from there at 5.30pm, dropped Brett and Marie off at the International airport and Red took me to drop the rental car off. I got the timing wrong - did not get to say goodbye to Marie because we ran out of time, and Tim and I had to get to the domestic airport to check in, it was very upsetting. Tim and I flew back to Dunedin, and it was all over!
.

Tim has his flat

Tim is on his way off to Auckland, he and his friend, TA - (Sinan Tahir) have found a good flat in Fremans Bay, up on the hill behind queens St - Ta is going back to Dubai in January, but by then there might be someone else to com and share Tim's flat.
Yulia says to Tim, you will never feel ready, you just have to dive in...

We went to Welly, and Tim met Luca for the first time

Tim just had one night, and I had four.

Tim, Cam and I went to AK

We went to see Marie and Brett. It was great staying with Maryanne, and with Mother, and seeing Mark!!

Marie is in Melbourne

Marie is looking after her cousins, Molly and Lily.
















she works Weds Thurs and Fri, and on Monday and Tuesday at the cafe.

Brett is driving a delivery truck, and managing a warehouse.

They are looking for an apartment to live in, as the lease on theirs ATM is running out. It is a bit stressful!

Machupicchu

Sophie in South America

Sophie is in Peru living her last couple of days of her south American trip. she got caught in Equador for a tense few days in early October when there was a kind of coup when the police revolted against the president because they didn't like the removal of some of their overtime, and also the time between promotions, so they kidnapped the president. Equador's borders were closed, and Sophie's travelling companion, Steph's mother, Joan, rang me, and we shared our concerns together. Sophie and Steph, however, were safe in the country in an organic farmlet, where they could have outlasted a longer lock down of the country than they had to.

Oct 5 They managed to get a bus to the border, into Bolivia, and then another bus, after waiting 6 hours for it to turn up. . . A bus which took 30 hours (!!!) to get into Lima, Peru.

" http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Lima&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lima,+Peru&gl=nz&ei=4g29TPrNAZKWsgO9m6TwDA&ved=0CB0Q8gEwAA&t=h&z=9 "



from here they flew to Cuzco ,


Some info here: http://www.juliustours.com/paquetes/cusco1E.html

stepping off onto the Inca Trail from here, (Oct 7) along with 5 other friends whom the met up with in Cusco.





Sophie trekked up Machu Picchu -
an hours trek up steps which she did in 45 mins
because of time pressure.

Then they went to Punos on Lake Titicaca - the floating islands - (Oct 13) -

"In Puno, you can arrange to go on one of the Lake Titicaca tours that visits the Uros islands, which are made from the tortora reed. These islands float, and the natives who live here carry on a tradition that goes back thousands of years. "

and stayed the night with a traditional family - got dressed up in their outfits,then looking at other islands, and back to PUnos, , then to Copacabana.

"Lake Titicaca is a most sacred place when it comes to Inca religion and mythology, as it was here that the first Inca king, Manco Capac, was born by the sun god, Inti. Manco would create the Kingdom of Cusco, thus beginning the Inca Empire. If you make it to the Bolivian town of Copacabana, where pilgrims from all over the continent come to get the Virgin's blessing, then you can take a boat to the Isla del Sol. There is a sacred rock here which marks the point from which Manco Capac emerged.







"Copacabana is a holy city on the shores of Lake Titicaca in northwestern Bolivia. Once sacred to the Incas, Copacabana is now home to the revered statue of La Virgen de la Candelaria, the patron saint of Bolivia. This city is far less famous than the beach of the same name in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but the latter was named after this one—by grateful Brazilian fisherman who were saved from a storm by the Virgin of Copacabana. In addition to the Catholic basilica, Copacabana is home to several pre-Incan sacred sites and hosts a number of colorful Catholic festivals. And it is the best base in Bolivia for exploring Lake Titicaca and the ancient temples of Isla del Sol. "

Image of Lake Titikaka:
http://www.destination360.com/south-america/peru/lake-titicaca/virtual-tour

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Steve Peat died on 4 Sept, 2.30am.

On Tuesday 7 Sept we went to Steve and Jenny's to remember Steve's life, and celebrate him.

SOphie on the Lost City Hike

http://polosbastards.com/pb/colombia-on-the-trail-of-the-lost-city/
this is where Sophie is right now, tramping through rivers, and up 70% incline mountain trails through jungle to the Lost city/ I will feel a lot happier when I hear from her that she has returned safely!
http://polosbastards.com/pb/colombia-on-the-trail-of-the-lost-city/

flying to auckland and Wellington for small reunions.

On Thursday, Holly's birthday, 16 Sept, Tim, Cam and I are flying to AK at 6pm arriving at 7.30pm, collecting a Bargain Rental car, and driving to Maryanne's where we will stay the night.

At 5.30am Marie and Brett will land from Vancouver, and we will have a happy reunion! then we will have breakfast on Takapuna beach, and meet Brett's parents for the first time.

We have the whole day to spend together, and the evening to stay at Mother's. W\\

Cam sets off back to Dunedin the next morning, and Tim joins Baraq and his other AK friends, and Marie and I spend the next day together. and the night with Mother. We have sunday together, and fly out Sunday evening, Tim and I to Welly, and Marie and Brett to Melbourne.

Marie takes up her position as Nanny to Sarah's molly and Lily Grace for the next three months or so.

After three days in Welly, I return to Dunedin, and sleepover at work on thursday 23rd Sept. finishing at 3pm on Friday.

Tim and Ryan and Flynn

Tim is going to Waterbeach soon for the reunion of Grandad Ted Cossens' fighter crew.

Newly picked Poppies

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http://nzonscreen.com/title/heartland-glenorchy-1994

Cam and his NCEA success!

When I got home from work, cam brought in the mail with him when he cam ein after work. He sat down at the table, and said "I've been puttin gthis off all day" = I sat there, and waited for the reaction. I was praying it would be good. H said, I did all right in English!
Oh, I was so happy!
He had got a merit in film essay, and two more for Waves and Mechanics in Physics. So many achieves, and a strange kind of thing in mathematics Conic sections, a graph thing ptah! who cares, that's all he missed out on! and all merits in religious studies

Steph's 21st is officially begun!

Last night Tony found some flights from CHCH for Cam, Lily, TOny and I. We will drive there after work on Friday 26 March, and return via Jet Star leaving at 4.10pm on sunday 28th. This is two weekends past her 21st birthdate on 16 March, but the closest we could come with cost of flights.

I hope to ask Fr Matthew when I go to Welly at the end of Jan for Becky's children's baptisms whether he knows of any cheap church halls that we can use for the birthday party and barbeque.

As tony said, this is the first step. It will be quite a journey, I think, arranging a 21st from another city. Especially as we have achieved 4 so far, on different levels of intensity.

Cam Says:

Cargills. Drilling all morning and finally getting to Lunchtime and having a break



Having lunch at Cargill's


>relaxing after drilling all the holes

A twist of wires is all there is to show for all the effort.

all to be finished by the end of the day






Cam Says:

:"It should be illegal to work in the rain:"

This picture was taken of Cam working to attach Freeview to the house of one of the people I support at Beresford St. I did not have a picture of him working in the rain.

Last night he mowed the lawns around here at Maitland St in a rare window of fine between the many days of rain.

Today Cam is working for Tony at Cargills Motels, putting in a new fire alarm system to replace the old pneumatic system which was a great pain as many times Tony had to be called out in the middle of the night to "pump up" literally the system as leaks were inevitable in the many meters of pipes of compressed air keeping the system running adn safe from fire/
Cam is also working Sundays at the coffee cart at Moana pool. Keeping this job on because this year when he is at Polytech the timing of his work will give him essential income.

This links to my older blog. See also LINKS on side bar

http://maitlandsteep.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html
Load this link if you want to see my older posts from 2006. These include a nice shot of a train, Marie and Steph in the water when Ben came as coach to Dunedin, Bush has a bath, Tim opens his grandfathers logbook from his life as a bomber pilot in the second world war; etc. Have a look!

Steam engines

http://maitlandsteep.blogspot.com/2006/10/steam-engines.html

Marie's truck.

Marie is so much happier in Canmore. she describes the feeling of being in Banff with no job, and no money, as a "horrible cycle, a death trap";
if she was by herself, having arrived in Banff she would have left in the first 2 weeks when it became obvious there were not enough jobs for the many young people hoping to attain the dream of living in the Canadian mountain ski town and working to sustain a snowboarding way of life. she would have seen it was not working, and have moved to Vancouver, maybe Vancouver Island, which she has heard is very nice, and come back to Banff in the summer. but, there was Sophie, and Aaron, Brett's brother, and Brett himself, so there was a lot of pressure.
She felt she had applied for 500 jobs, and had been rejected every time. All the money they had managed to save in Melbourne was vanishing. She would wake up in the morning, and feel that she was making the wrong decision, every day, in staying.
Then she decided to apply for a job in Canmore. When she was going there, she told me they would have to buy car, because Canmore is 25km away from Banff. She applied for a cafe job, She gave them her CV but they said they were not hiring at the moment, would not be hiring for a couple of months, but would keep her CV.
Marie and Brett thought they might have to move to Calgary. I think they must have made an ad for a car, because when I talked to her on Sunday (10/1/10) and she told me the story about the Truck she said there had been only one person who called them back. -
Marie and Brett were in Calgary, they were not going to be able to go away and think about it, and then come back, it was too far, and so they had to make a snap decision.
Marie said "I felt sick - it was the worst thing, I said we don't need this, its so much money.

But, Brett wanted it, and they were thinking of being there for over a year, they couldn't keep on hitching, its so cold.
So they bought the Truck
paid $650 for it, and it was arranged it would be brought to Banff the following week.
This happened, but Marie and Brett hadn't done much investigating. You have to have the car checked by the insurance company, if it is over 10 years old. This truck was parked on the side of the road in Banff. They had to wait until they had sorted out the insurance, and until then, Brett couldn't drive it.

Before she had left for her job interview in Canmore, a week earlier, Marie felt really down, and told SOph that she had made up her mind that she was leaving Canada, going back to NZ, she had had enough. SOphie told her not to be such a psycho, and she said well that's fine, but I can't take it any more.
She went to the interview
and the guy said "You've got a job, you can start tomorrow or Monday"
she nearly cried!

the Father of a person A person who worked there had a heart attack, and she had to leave

which was how Marie got the job! Marie got a job!!!
And a week later on boxing day the person at the gas station who had taken Bretts CV and said they were not hiring rang him and said come for an interview,
at the gas station - Marie and Brett had to hitch as they had sepnt Christmas at SOphie and Aaron'a place in Banff, and noone picked them up, so she had to go back in and borrow money from Soph, $60. (This turned out to be quite hard for SOph,because she had bought new snowboarding boots that month, so now had $12 to survive for a week - but that's another story)
Brett went for the interview, and - crazy, again someone had had to leave becasue of msfortune - one of the employees had hurt his knee, = and Brett was given the job, to start immediately! and he got the job to start straight away as well!!.
Marie was so relieved, because its amn amazing feeling.
she has been snowboarding (tho she is realy stiff especially he thighs) - the truck got towed, and they had to pay $400 to get it back (The guys Brett works for also work for the towing company which towed Marie and Bretts truck away) They had to pay for a new battery because it got left out in the paddock at the to place where it was towed, and this stuffs the battery, in the extreme cold. and it costs $90 for an insurance check, you don't have a WOF or rego, but when the vehicle changes hands you have to pay $20. Marie had to hitch hike to Banff to get the tools to get the battery out. Tehn they were too small, so she had to buy a tool to undo the bolts. But Aaron Brett's brother is a mechanic, so he will do the work of replacing gthe bulb - Aaron and Brett's father is a collector of army vehicles and knows a lot about mechanics and so Aaron know s a bit about trucks, having picked it up over the years. So he may be able to help with the headlights which are too dim, and the indicator light, which is not working at present.
At the moment Brett and Marie are under 25 - it is cheaper to get insurance with these ages and they are on kiwi licenses. With different licenses it gets complicated: say Brett was over 25 and Marie was under 25 it would cost more. At the moment insurance costs $125 a month, but, that is all you pay, no WOF and no REGO.
They can put all 4 boards in the back and go up the mountain with SOph and Aaron. They are going to do this someday. But not this week -
Marie's day pass costs $25 and you get a bus pass included. SOphie will hitchhike because that is what she does. They are going on Thursday 14/1/10.
The truck is so huge - when Marie and Brett are on each side with their seatbelts on there is a half meter between them! and you can't lean over and open the other door, you have to take off your seatbelt and shuffle over. Brett loves the truck. A red Ford f1-50. Classic American.

Marie is planning to stay on in Canmore in their apartment after the snowboarding season.
And not go to Australia to save money as planned at first.
They will have their debts paid off in March, and then can start saving. They will stay for the snowboarding season in winter 10, and in April next year come back to Dunedin and Brett finish his degree. Marie will work and think about what she wants to do in 2012.
Cam is so happy to hear that Marie is coming back to Dunedin. Soph wants to do her masters, but, I don't think she will do it in Dunedin.

Marie's truck

Marie and Brett came to Canada and stayed in the same large two storyed house with SOphie. they could not find a job. Banff is like queenstown, only even more intensely touristy. There ia hardly a Canadian to be found, Many Many australians, and many Kiwis. Marie wanted to leave after two weeks, and go to Cancouver, and return in the summer, abandoning the dream to live in Banff and work, and snowboard.
There were no jobs available. Marie felt as tho she had applied for 500 jobs.
then she and Brett decided to go to Canmore and apply there. It is 25 km away, and is a more homely town, more canadians, much quieter. Marie and Brett thought they might have to move to Calgary, and went there to see. they would need transport. Someone answered their ad, and there was a big red american ford f1/50. Marie felt sick, she said we don't need it, its a lot of money. $650. But they couldn't keep on hitchhiking, and they needed to travel between towns, to visit SOphie and Aaron. They got the truck, but it wouldn't be delivered till the next Wednedsay. They would need to arrange insurance, and a check.

Here we are on the train

I saw that there was a good reflection of us in the shop window, and took advantage of this.

Further photos of Steph's' graduation

Looking smart in the taxi

Tony and Kerry began this day with a drive to Chch starting at 4.30am, a van shuttle to take us to the airport from Craddocks, a parking business. then a place to Wellington, and a bus to Cuba St.
tony and I waited there for Steph, and she was in an interview in a coffee shop. I had forgotten about this, or did not realise that it would take so long.
We went into a record shop, and I bought a Gin Wigmore CD, and listened to an Anthony and the Johnson's one. We went to an Indian restaurant, and ordered some food, as we had already had a ong day, and were hungry. Steph caught up with us there, and ordered some food as well.
Steph did catch up with us Then we walked through town, and Steph looked for another pair of shoes in the No1 shoe Warehouse because the pair she had got earlier were too uncomfortable. She chose a lovely strappy pair which she was happy with, and some gel inserts to make them more comfortable. We walked to the train station, only to see the train we should have caught just pulling out of the station. So I ordered a taxi to come and get us from Steph's place later, and we waited 40 minutes for the next train to Tawa. We were really happy to be on the train.
We walked up the hill from the station to Steph and josh's place, and Josh returned home from Paraparaumu shortly after this. We took turns in the shower, and Steph got into her finery. She looked Lovely!
The taxi arrived, and we went to the Hote. We were miraculously early, and had time for a drinkk in the comfy chairs.
Steph's friends started to arrive, and we went to the ballroom.
the ceremony was wonderful, and Steph looked so proud and lovely, walking so gracefully onto the stage.
At the end, we walked through town, and Steph took off her shoes to go barefoot. We caught the train just before it left, and when we got back up to Steph and Josh's place, and pulled out the sofa bed and made it, I fell into bed and went instantly to sleep!

more photos of Steph's graduation

It was a whole journey, and on this day Tony and I took many forms of transportation. Starting with a drive to Chch leaving at 4.30am, a shuttle van to the airport from the park-it business where we left the car, we then took a plane to Wellington, a bus from the airport to Cuba St, a train to Tawa, a taxi back to town to the hotel where the graduation was being held, and a train to return to Steph's and Josh's place.

Tony and I went to Wellington for Steph's graduation

Steph, congratulations

Tony and I went to Wellington ion the day after my birthday, on andrea's birthday, for Steph's graduation from TCT, travel and flight attendance course. We stayed at her place, and I also saw Manon and Luca, Jean, Colette, and ben, and Becky. On Sturday, Tony and I flew back to CHCH, and drove back todunedin. Steph flew to Dunedin, andshe stayed with us till the follwoing Saturday, which was Boxing day. In that time we visited Holly in Queenstown, and Paul and his family in Oamaru. We had a delicious christmas Day, and spoke to Soph and Marie on christmas Day through Skype. We talked to Tim on our Christmas Day, but not his.