Some sky shots

Archive photos taken over the last year or so.

 An angel?

Definitely a horizon.

Tree silhouette.

Same tree, different perspective.

New Zealand swamp harrier.

A super moon.

joining up with everyone at
Five on Friday.
and 
friday foto friends

preparing for a reunion

Just over two years ago my little mother's sister died and so of course there was a family gathering at the funeral. Afterwards we had a 'family only' gathering at one of the cousins homes where it was decided that we needed to get together for a happy occasion for a change and just enjoy each others company. Who to organise it we all wondered? 'Well Diana, you are the only one here who is retired so you could do it'. Silly me, in the excitement of the moment I said yes. 

Mum on left and two of her sisters

There were six siblings in Mum's family, one boy with five sisters. Two families in a way as the first world war interrupted family life as it did for so many. Only my little mother and her younger sister are left and unfortunately they are both in indifferent health. Little mother will be unable to attend as we need to travel and my aunty will attend what she can, if she can. We are going back to where most of us grew up - HOME :)

Eventually we formed a committee of sorts which made decision making easier (and didn't leave me with all the responsibility).

So...where to start? Put up a facebook page someone suggested, then we can all chat. So I did and we did. It's been more and more fun as more people joined and started sharing some of their old photos and making suggestions. And contacting each other again. Some of us haven't seen each other for over forty years. And some of us are still to meet. 

 A venue was decided on and just a month or so back the menu was agreed. I made up a welcome pack and that was sent out a month ago. We have people coming from Japan, Indonesia and Australia as well as around New Zealand. We decided to try and get a group concession for Shantytown, which is a replica pioneer village just a few miles from where we are gathering. Family friendly and the kids of all ages can see how our grandparents lived, ride an old steam train through the bush and go gold panning. I think it will be a bit shocking for some of the youngest generation - no electricity, no ipads, long drop toilets :) Oh well. This is still a work in progress, the concession seeking, but I delegated that job to one of my sisters.

As a surprise I have printed off copies of the family tree and will give it to each family at the meet and greet on the Friday night. It dates back to 1775 and covers 8 generations with another 2 or 3 generations at this end to be added in. No I didn't research it, another family member did and I'll give her the credit on the day.

We have been sorting photos and asked people to bring their own or any items they might think will be of interest to the rest of us. My GKB has been making a photo board and this is him working on

 PB Mk1 or photo board mark 1. I think it is on it's third incarnation at the moment. That's okay, it'll be done in time. All we have left to do is print some photos and get ourselves over there with our carload of gear. 

 I'm looking forward to it but have to admit there have been times that I've felt quite daunted and overwhelmed, but that is all behind me now :) So it's almost time to relax and just go with the flow.

Enjoy your week,

Diana

A day full of blessings

Well this has been a real day of blessings.

I turned my phone on as I was having my breakfast

 and a text came in immediately. 

Would you like some apples and pears, 

I can bring some down shortly.

So of course I said yes. I shared some with my daughter 

and took some around to a friend who lives

 in a retirement village. What she can't use she puts

 in the hall for other residents to help themselves.

She also gave me a beautiful red rose with a wonderful scent. 

They were heading away later in the day and thought it was

a shame for the rose not to be enjoyed by someone.

Lucky me :) The colour in the photo is pretty true.

Morning tea came around and my GKB came in with this offering. 

We both had a laugh...and he didn't sing happy birthday.

Raspberry slice, yummy. He knows I like it.

We had just made scones for lunch and my youngest

 daughter waltzed in. 'How's your day going?' she said,

 and then in came my little mother and my other daughter. 

Bearing gifts.

I'd already received a parcel in the post today, from Japan.

How great was the timing in that? 

The botanicals and exfoliater were from one daughter, 

and the coral necklace came from Japan. They also had a

 birthday cake with them, so lunch was scones and birthday cake 

with tea and coffee. And good company of course. We did

 have a healthy(ish) tea - filled baked potato. 

Yummy again :)

When I delivered the apples and pears to my friend in the village she had just been given a box of bread and asked whether I wanted any, so of course I said yes, again. I took three loaves so I could give some to my daughters as well as keep some for myself. As you can tell, the barter system is alive and well among my friends. 

That's six photo's not five, oh dear I can't count :(

Maybe the two cakes can count as one?

And that's it for this week.

Have a good one,

Diana

joining Amy for: 
Five on Friday