April 28, 2013

  • Sunday 28th April

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I found this very large painting on the wall of the Civic Chambers yesterday.

    I really liked it.

    It entitled 'Fisher Boy' and was painted by Eleanor Kate Mair in 1889.

     

     

    Tracie came to pick me up just before 9am.

    We drove to her old flat in Miramar to pick up the last few things and then delivered them to her new flat in Kingston.

    Then she took me to a really neat place for breakfast - Floriditas.

    The food was really good - thoroughly recommend it.

    We had a hour to eat, talk and catch up before Tracie had to drop me back to the house.

     

    I then got ready to go pick up Cat from the train.

    I had a little time up my sleeve so did a tiki tour around the city centre.

    Mahalia was missing her Daddy so I called her up while I was waiting.

    Cat arrived at midday.

    I was still talking to Mahalia on the phone so she carried on talking to Cat while I drove us to Karori.

    We arrived at cousin Carol's house and joined the family throng.

    It was really good to catch up with Cousin Tim Wallis.

    Lat time Tim and I saw him was at the previous reunion in 2000.

    Cat & Jesika had met up with him at a 'Warbirds over Wanaka' not long after his last accident.

    It was great that all of the Wallis family branch of the Shand's had come.

    Cat & I were the only representatives of the Philip Shand branch.

     

    Cousin Ann was launching her book 'Virtue Leads, Fortune Follows'.

    It is a 340 page book on the NZ Shand family history following John Shand who came here in 1850 from Liverpool on one of the first 5 ships into Canterbury and who was one of the first 20 settlers to purchase land there.

    We al gathered in Carol's lounge and listened to Ann give an account of how the book came into being.

    It was fascinating and I can;t wait to start reading it.

    Before we finished the more formal part of the occasion Diana presented Ann with a bouquet and kudos for her achievement.

     

    Then the food was put out and we all milled around, talking and eating and enjoying the afternoon together.

     

    There was a lovely number of cousins there.

    Some I knew from years ago and others I met for the first time.

    It was a really good afternoon.

    I had planned to post some of the books to the kids not nearby.

    But discovered a cousin who was flying back to Melbourne who was more than happy to take Jesika's book with him.

    So expect a call from Adrian Jesika!

    And then some more rellies were heading to Christhchurch so took Bri's book.

    Cat took her's with her.

    Which just left me with 10 more to deal with - and they weigh 2kgs each!

    I am thinking I will post a few tomorrow so I don't have to carry them.

     

    Cat and I were among the last to leave.

    She told me she was glad she had come with me.

    I was glad to have her there too.

     

    We drove back to the house.

    Sorted out all the books I had bought to distribute among my family and then after some socialising with Mel and her wee man, I took Cat back top the train.

    She was tired and has work tomorrow.

     

    I picked up some Burger Fuel burgers for dinner for me and Mel.

    She went off to bed soon after and I watched the end of X Factor NZ.

     

    Now it is time to settle into my pillows.

    Am rather weary tonight.