Family BBQ

It isn't often that we have family from out of town and out of the country all here at once! When that did happen for Mum's birthday we made sure to look for plenty of opportunities to spend time together. The day after the party we all met for a BBQ (food is always good, right?).

Walking in the Karangahake Gorge || Part 2

 : : Old mining tunnel : :
{Saw lots of these!}

: : So there's room to walk upright, but yeah . . . doesn't look particularly inviting! : :

: : This view is a whole lot better ;) : :

: : Uncle Paul + Aunty Yvonne with overhanging cliff : :

: : Woohoo, another swing bridge! : :

: : Not sure who these people are?! : :

: : The walkways look small in comparison to the huge cliffs! : :

: : Stairway leading up to the tunnels : :

At this point, the camera gave up altogether, declaring all the backup batteries were completely flat. {Grace -- this is when you send me some :P}

Dusk was well on its way when we finished walking and headed back to the vehicles. A stop was made at Paeroa for dinner, and then Grace and I attempted to hold a conversation between the erm, rather loud, noises coming from the back seat. lol

Walking in the Karangahake Gorge || Part 1

In April of this year, my Mum's youngest brother tied the knot, causing the first family reunion in about 19 years. My Uncle Richard and cousin Grace came from Aussie a couple weeks prior so we would have time to catch up aside from wedding bustle. The last (actually, only) time Grace and I have met was 10(!) years ago, when my family visited Aussie. Uncle Richard was in NZ only (haha) about eight years ago. So yeah, it had been a while but it was great to catch up again. {Miss ya Gracie, come back soon!!! :'( <3}

Easter Monday obliged us by appearing on the calendar only a couple of days after their arrival, so we all headed down to explore the Karangahake Gorge.

: : Checking the map + getting ready to walk : :
Lots of cousins. Plenty more missing too :P

: : Crossing the first swing bridge : :

: : Danielle : :

: : Loving all the ferns + tree ferns : :

: : Hey, look Kayger, a photo of me :P haha : :
{Thanks Aunty Yvonne!}

: : Uncle Paul + Aunty Yvonne : :

Danielle's Delight || Story By A Sister

My Treacherous Experience at Work Washing Dishes with the Two Teasing Toms (Uncle Paul and Dad)!

By Danielle Jago

This Wednesday, I went to work. I was soooo excited. Little did I know how many scars I would bring home - emotionally, physically, and teasically (teasing). I went to work, did school, and was fine (for 4 hours!). 

As soon as I was told to hop off the computer, I knew what was coming. "Oh man," I groaned to myself, "I bet the dishes!" 

Sure enough, Teasing Tom number one asked me to do the dishes. "Yes, Dad," I said, ducking. "But do not tease me, okay?" 

"I cannot answer that," replied Dad. I groaned. 2 scars already! 

When I ran the hot water into the sink from the jug, 2 drops landed on my elbow, and scarred me physically. 

The Two Tea-ing Toms laughed. "Hahhahahahahahaha! Can't you even pour the jug?!" Another scar. 4 scars. 3 emotionally and 1 physically. 

I groaned again. "Can't I even get through this?" 

I thought about the future. My life would be spent in bed, not daring to get up for fear I would be laughed at, and when I did get out of bed, I would be smouldering from dishwash liquid, boiling from boiled hot water, and hurting from emotional scars. What a horrible future! 

To help dishwashers like me, go to DaniellesDelight.com/dishwashers. Thank you.

~~~~~

Danielle's Delight is a "newspaper" my little sister writes in her spare time; it features both fiction and nonfiction original work and isn't published.

Seat Installation

Once upon a time . . . (before there were eight of us), a table and several chairs were kept on the deck for those beautiful sunny days. In recent years, though, we've sat on the banister or steps. But when you're on the banister, the neighbours feel like your audience, and the steps are low and annoying if people are constantly using them for walking. So with summer again approaching, Mum asked Jarrod to build a seat for the deck. Jarrod worked with Uncle Paul (a builder) and got this done in an afternoon.

: : Before : :

: : Process : :

: : After : :

Recent Happenings

Recap of my Wellington adventure coming soon. :) In the meantime, here's a small summary of miscellaneous things we've done over the holidays so far.

I've posted a few photos from our house-rearranging, but here are a few more:

Yeah. It isn't half as spacious now :P

Bookcases in and wardrobe filled. We've raised the bar in the wardrobe a bit because some of the dresses were too close the the shoe rack. And we put in another shelf below that one ;)

Triple bunk set. It is more solid now and will be painted purple before it makes it to our room. Jarrod has been building it with some advice/guidance for our uncle (Uncle Paul) who's a builder.

My friend Bethany visited from Australia for a little while. It was three years since I last saw her and it was great to catch up but she has to stay longer next time :P Sadly the photojournalist in me is working part time right now. :/ So we took very few pics I'm afraid. We had a successful shopping expedition together, and Mum took us and another of my friends to a cafe in Devonport for dessert one night.

That's Bethany next to me, and the girl in the blue top is Alison. They're from the same church and came over together.

The end of this post. :P

Glenbrook Vintage Railway

: : Uncle Paul, Aunty Yvonne, and granddaughter Madisyn : :

One Saturday last month we went to Glenbrook Vintage Railway's "Thomas the Tank Engine Day."

I drove the car, with Mum following us in the van; she stayed close for a while, then not long after getting on the motorway I lost sight of her, but noticed a vehicle had pulled to the left. Sure enough (just as we passed the Papakura off-ramp) Dad's phone rung. She had a flat tyre and we needed to turn around. Off at Drury, back on in the opposite direction, turn around again at Manurewa, then found Mum. Not so great for getting somewhere asap, but the extra driving time looks quite nice on my driving log. haha 

: : Danielle, Abby, Megan : :

In the words of Bryce (4 years):

"We had a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine. We went to Glenbrook Vintage Railway. We had afternoon tea with the de Bruins and lunch on our own. 

I wanted to go on the tiny [train] that couldn't go anywhere - almost like Thomas the Tank Engine. We were standing up outside in the carriage and the train went back and forwards, and make noise.

: : Rita and Monique : :

In the big train where w were sitting down, there was a girl crying because she wanted to go to sleep but she didn't want to, that's why she started crying. I was sitting with Bianca one way, and with Mum and Dad and Megan on the other way (and Maria and Laura) - I think Laura.

We went to the trains shed we saw trains, and Dad took me on the train and I have got a photo of that. You [Mum] took it. And one way, there was a step thing and I got up myself and choosed a seat with Bianca. And Aunty Yvonne helped me down, she was being very kind. I got a ticket, but the man didn't clip it - he skipped me.

: : Bryce : :

I saw the Fat Controller and we took photos, but I didnt sit with him. I played on the playground, but the de Bruins had to leave. I like that day, I would like to go back again."

: : Phone box : :

: : Laura : :

Dinner out!

My cousins' family and mine have jointly owned a business since late 2007. Dad and Uncle Paul had been saying for a while that the business should fund dinner out for both our families. That became a reality on February 25th, when we drove in convoy (yes I was behind the wheel too!!! :P) to a Japanese/Chinese restaurant in the City.

The waiters and waitresses seemed very taken with all the young children!

It took a few minutes to get us all sitting around one table, but finally it was accomplished, and we proceeded to view the menu and decide on dishes. One of my favourites was the riblets we got. =) What cracked me up was how, with one of the dishes, some of my siblings and cousins energetically complained about how awfully spicy it was. However, I tried it myself and detected that there was some spice in it, but I didn't think it was over-the-top spicy!

Left to right: Diana, Aunty Yvonne, Madyson, Uncle Paul and Abby

Any lingering hopes of a quiet meal were dissolved, and dinner was consumed.

Finally it was decided that dinner had ended, and the table could be cleared. 

Much careful examination of the menu was done before ordering desserts!



before ordering desserts! I'm afraid that with such a large order, the staff had a few difficulties remembering each individual request, but eventually all was sorted, photos were taken, and the dessert was eaten. Yum!

My mocha =) Isn't it pretty?

At some point it was decided that we should leave, first though we had to gather everyone, pay, and (of course!) take a group photo. =)

Hope that wasn't too boring to read!! :P

<3 Bee

Group photo with Aunty Yvonne



Group photo with me



Laura

Hey Readers! =)

More journal-type posts coming, but for now, here are some more pics of my new little sis, Laura.

My friend Ruth =)

Uncle Paul

Anne Roos and Mrs de Boer

Bryce (4)



Essie (another friend)



My friend Suzanne