March 16, 2013

• Saturday 16th March

   

   

   

  I woke at 6:15am and lay watching a dvd for a while.

  A friend of ours was turning 95 today so I sent her flowers via the internet.
  

   

  Anson was around early to kill a couple of sheep.

  He got them done and had the guts boiling up.

   

  I raced through the shower around 8am.

  Then out to the kitchen to help gather up the food for the bbq.

  I was on the phone around 9am when Anson cheerfully and very loudly came through the house covered in blood & smelling like dead sheep, demanding hugs from everyone.

  Of course he was inundated with hugs - not!

   

  Cat helped box up all the food etc and load it into the Terrano cuz I wanted to leave by 10:30am.

  The kids were ready in the back seat and I went to start the motor only to find the battery was flat

  Within moments Cat & Anson were there.

  They had heard it trying to turn over.

  They got the spare battery and jumper leads into action.

  But there was no action.

  Then Anson tried to jump start it from his truck.

  Still no joy.

  Then they put the spare battery in and jump started it from Anson's truck and it worked

  I don't really know what I would do without these kids of mine.
  

   

  They then put the original battery back in and I kept the motor revving and charged it as I drove over the hill to Sebastian & Phoebe's.

  We picked up Marah on the way past.

  Sandra & Phil and Lizzy had already arrived.

  Cat, Leann & Adina came by dinghy.

  Brent and Sue drove up just after us.

  Seb & Phoebe had been busy getting the lawns cut and the edges trimmed before we arrived.

  The place was looking really good.

  The sky was amazing.

  

   

  We got the food underway.
  The bbq was moved out onto the side deck and Leann, Seb & Azzan cooked up a the meat.

  

  Phoebe made up a delicious rice salad and Mahalia & Azzan began pouring apple juice over ice.

  The day was getting rather hot so we were all hanging out for cold drinks.

  

   

  Josh arrived in his boat with Kate, Nathan, Ryan, Jan & Talbot.

  Anson & Graham drove over in the truck.

  Jan & Liz helped with food preparation.

  

  The guys found a shady spot to sit and chat.

  

  There was plenty of watermelon to pass around.

  

  Finally around midday I heard a vehicle coming down the drive.

  I grabbed Mahalia and took her out the back door to side track her.

  She had no idea who was coming or that there even was anyone else coming.

  Margaret & Dave and brought Katherine, Sophie & Kashana down and had also picked up Uncle Martin at Okiwi Bay.

  I made her close her eyes and lead her outside.

  She was speechless with joy when she saw Sophie and Kashana in front of her.

  It was well worth all the secrecy and subterfuge

   

  Katherine had made some cool cupcakes.

  This one was made especially for Mahalia.

  

  Mahalia just wanted a cream sponge for her birthday cake.

  It was really funny watching from behind - Sandra, Liz & Jan all squeezed into the corner trying to decorate the cake.

  Filling it with cream and boysenberries and then more cream on top covered in sprinkles.

  

  The food was all out and ready to eat around 12:30ish.

  It was a pretty amazing and very tasty spread.

  

  The birthday girl with her besties.

  

  And out on the front deck sat all the oldies eating their lunches

  

  Once the first course was demolished we brought out the sweet stuff.

  And there was heaps of it!!

  The cake was amazing and Mahalia was pretty happy with it.

  She had by this time changed her clothes - again!

  This time she was wearing the new shorts and top that Kashana gave her.

  

  

   

  Shoshannah & Katherine walked back home around the track after lunch.

  Sandra & Phil had another party to get to in Nelson so they had to leave soon after 2pm.

  They took Adina with then to Nelson, dropped Martin back to Okiwi Bay and left Lizzy at her truck up the top of the hill.

  Love this photo of Mahalia saying goodbye to Uncle Martin.

  

  The younger crew went for a swim.

  Tide was high and the temperatures were inviting.

  

  Everyone relaxed and chatted.

  I collapsed in the lounge under an open window where it was lovely and cool.

  I was so tired and barely keeping it together.

  Not quite sure what set me off but the tears were bubbling close to the surface most of the day.

  Phoebe and Marah relaxed down the other end of the living room.

  

  I couldn't stay awake and ended up dozing a while.

  When I came too we got the paint swatches out and talked colours for the outside of the houses.

  Phoebe has begun painting the back porch area at Waterfall Bay and it is looking great.

  Much lighter and fresher.

   

  The tide was dropping so around 4pm-ish Josh loaded his crew on board and headed off to catch some fish on their way home.

  Cat and Leann loaded up all the food into the Terrano for me to take back.

  They took Margaret home in the dinghy.

  I took Azzan, and the three girls piled into the van with Dave and we toodled homeward.

  The tears I had been battling all day finally had free rain.

  I cried all the way home.

   

  When we got back the children were all busy.

  The were in leaping off the wharf and swimming and then up into the spa and then back to the beach and back to the spa!!

  I was so weary - emotionally and physically.

  Cat & Leann went for a sleep.

  Margaret wanted to see what I had been knitting so I brought out my bag.

  I hadn't touched it in a month.

  Finally I got started and did a few rows of the wee baby hats I am making.

  Just didn't have the energy to do too many though.

  But at least it is a start.

  Margaret got started on her knitting too so the girls were teasing us about being a couple of grannies.

  

  And out the front window the crazy kids were havng a spa party.

  

   

  No one was particularly hungry so dinner was very easy.

  We just filled ciabatta buns with salad fillings and left over bbq meats.

   

  When everyone had headed off to bed I went to snuggle down the young ones.

  I gave them 10 minutes to get themselves organised while I returned a phone call.
  

  It was good to have a cry on the phone with Vonnie.
  

   

  Shoshannah & Katherine  - the very old older ones  - were ready for lights out.

  Mahalia, Sopie & Kashana had made themselves beds in Azzan's room and were taking a lot longer to settle.

  I thought Azzan was sleeping with me but he wasn't there.

  I went looking and heard crying coming from Mahalia's room.

  He had barricaded himself in there and was sobbing.

  I got him to come to my room and we hugged and cuddled and he cried and cried.

  He was asking why?
  Why did his Daddy have to leave him.

  He only got to have 10 years with him and it wasn't enough and he wanted his Daddy to live forever.

  Hard questions to answer.

  So all I can do is cuddle and cry with him cuz today has been a very hard day for me too.

   

  He has just been down to the beach with the 3 girls to look for phospherence and now he is snuggled up beside me cuddling William the bear.

  Yes he has a name now - William.

  Tim's unofficial second name.

   

  Now, he has vacated and gone to sleep in Mahalia's bed.
  

  So I am all alone here with William.
  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  • 5:41 am
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