Well .. ‘Our Big Day’ has been and gone … and I must apologise for not having updated the ‘Blog’ before now.   We have been so busy …. and are now just trying to get back to some sort of normality … whatever    that is!!      Many thanks to all of you who wished Nicole and Nathan all the best for the future … we all had a wonderful day .      We had a few clouds and a few showers, but when it mattered we had the sun!    What more can you ask for.   Nicole and her friends worked extremely hard to get the venue exactly as she pictured it in her mind and I think you can see it was truly lovely.   What about the Wedding cake?   How novel is that!!

 Nicole was picked up from our house with her Dad … both I think you will agree looking superb … Blushing Bride and the Dashing Dad!!   They were whisked off to the venue which is pictured below …they walked across the bridge to the Summer House where the whole ceremony and reception was held.

Little Logan …. who behaved wonderfully had Nicole and Nathan’s Wedding Rings around his neck … where you see him in my arms in front of the best man, is where he is giving them to his Mum and Dad … we think this was such a wonderful touch to bring him into the ceremony as he is after all apart of the family …. and didn’t he look so cute!                 You can see by the pictures a brilliant day.

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Apart from the Wedding …. we had our Boys out from Spain ….. they arrived about 10 days before … so we had a superb time with them  ….. I think it can be said that they did a few awesome things including Tandem Skydiving { Pictures below } which they both said was an amazing experience … scary .. but awesome.  They had a car and went off for a few days …. but you need more time to go around NZ …. too much to see and do.  I know they went on a shotover jetboat ….I think they went on the Zorbs and MP went on the giant swing … that catapults you over Rotorua!!  Sooner him than me!   Craig went snorkelling around Goat Island … he was hoping to go diving … but unfortunately picked up a ear infection … next time Craig!    

I know we are the proud Grandparents … like all Grandparents … but I also think the Boys were suitably impressed by their Nephew.   So start saving Boys please … Xmas 2009 would be good for you to come out and watch him really enjoying and appreciating Father Christmas!!                                         

   Leaving the plane!!    All smiles!!   Long way up!!

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 We also had our oldest, closest friends here as well …. Yvonne and John had never been to NZ before … so we tried to show them as much as we could in the month they were with us … bearing in mind we had Cricket to fit in … a Wedding and all the sights!!! …. to say we were all slightly exhausted as our feet rarely hit the ground would be an understatement!

We flew to the South Island and spent 6 days there …. longer would have been better …. we did Gondolas, Shotover Jets, Kayaking, Boating on rivers and lakes, we visited Wineries.    On the North Island we saw the endangered native Kiwi,  a Historic Village, we saw Geysers and Mud Pools  in our live volcanic areas, we visited the Gannet colony, and also Auckland City, and the Sky Tower, via the ferries …. we went to 2 One day Cricket matches and 1 Test, we went to BBQ’s and had BBQ’s here, we went to the local beaches and some further afield  …. and of course there was a wee bit of gardening!! …… and oh I’m out of breath again …. oh so much more.  We had a fab time … so many laughs …and we were simply madder than normal  as we always are  with them.  Please come back soon.

Ok … just a few more pictures and then I’m going for a couple of weeks.

                                               

                                              

                                             

         Bye for now peeps.

Well, as the title says … only 12 days till the Wedding! ….. and …. Craig & MP as I am writing this are jetting their way from Hollywood to us here ! … We pick them up at 07.15 am!!  One time I have to admit … I really don’t mind getting up early for.  To say I am excited would be an understatement ….. it’s been nearly 2 years since we have seen them … and actually 4 years since we have all been together!    

Needless to say the house has been spring cleaned from top to bottom … well these things have to be done eh?  All you women out there will understand and I suspect all the men will be groaning in total bemusement!

Nicole and I have been charging around collecting different bits for the Wedding …. I have thoroughly enjoyed it all …. a bit stressful and tiring but hey it’s not everyday your Daughter gets married!   …. we missed Neil & Patricia’s as they got married in Spain after we had left … and as they were coming over here the month after their wedding it seemed more sensible to stay here and do all the housework again …before they arrived … I wonder if that was the last time I did it so thoroughly!! Hehehe.    Anyway … Nicole has done most of the organising as has Nathan I am sure …. as he himself says …’ whether I have been a help or more of a hinderance … who knows’  …. bless …. but he is a wonderful support … that’s all you can ask for.    She also has some wonderful friends who have been lending as many hands as possible. All in all it appears to be ‘coming together’

We are off to the dressmakers again tomorrow ….. I think mine will be done …. and Nicole’s almost.     I promise to post as many pictures as I can as soon as I can …. I know there are a lot of you great friends out there who will be looking forward to seeing them all.

Yvonne and John arrive in 9 days time …. but before that the men have Nathan’s ‘Stag Night’  … paintballing I think …. and then Nicole has here ‘Hen Night’ …. then we have the One Day International Cricket to go to  { the day before the Wedding!!! } ….. a dress rehearsal before that and then … well then it will all be over lol!   And anything we haven’t done … gets left undone!

As I have already told you all we are hosting a Family and Friends from abroad BBQ on the Sunday …. 40 odd I think … here in the garden … so fingers crossed it stays nice weather wise ….. we have been so lucky this year … I think all we have had is about 1 week of rain since the beginning of December!  I have some fab friends all ready to give a hand with chairs, tables, umbrellas { for the sun! } and food … and plenty of men to do the BBQ for me … so should be a piece of cake! … might even get time to put my feet up ….  lol …. yeah right!     Mike and I have been battling to keep the garden looking nice … really hard with no rain … I understand UK has had a lot this year … perhaps we could have some?  But not till after the 16th now!   It’s 21.14 and Mike is sweeping the garden … don’t all faint with surprise … I tell no lies!!  He moans at me wanting the house nice …. and here he is working away!!

Ok that’s all our news for a couple of weeks …. no pictures this time …. aahh I hear you say … or is it good that I hear!! …. Will make up for it next time don’t you all worry about that.

So take care all … watch this space and look after yourselves and each other.

Love to all

Me & Him xxxx

All the family were here for Christmas Day … and Neil and Patricia bought their XBox over .. and also a guitar that went with a particular game …    well, we had Nathan and Patricia

                          

 performing wonderfully to the music …. and Mike and I had a good  laugh at their   antics … we did not, I hasten to add try it ourselves! .

Logan thought it was wonderful too … his little legs did not stop moving in time to the music … then we had the Playstation on and Songstar! … I did join in the singing … but I do go flat rather a lot!!  But hey it’s Christmas.     Then the game of Buzz.

                             Whilst I was cooking we also had

                           ” The Mastermind Championships “

                                yeah          right!!

We enjoyed Xmas for another reason … we got to be the proud Grandparents by babysitting .. so that Mum and Dad could go out on the town ….. and for Nicole to get totally pickled and have NO hangover the next morning    …   and poor Nathan feeling like a train was going through his head …. she is so lucky and very annoying to all those other people who do suffer!!

 

                              

   

             Easy  .. see .. and Interesting … and again

                    Oh Boy watch out here I come! 

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             As well as rolling I can almost feed myself too..

                       But I have to humour Nana!

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Logan had the most pressies this year …. I will put just a few pictures of his Xmas ‘get up’ at the bottom.

Our time now is being consumed with the Wedding ….. Nicole and Nathan are very busy organising all the necessary things with a little help from us .. when needed.  We are also going to be hosts to a BBQ on the Sunday after the Wedding here in our garden … should have about 40 people  … just a get together for the guests that have travelled so far.  We have our very close friends coming out, Yvonne and John and after the ‘Big Day’ we are going to show them around the South Island and a part of the North Island  … as well as taking in a few cricket matches as the England Tour is on as well …..  so we are all getting very excited, if not slightly panicky as the days are going by so quickly …. we also have to go to the dressmaker and get the gowns made …. hey .. we still have 6 weeks to go!!

Our first arrivals are the Boys … they get here on the 5th Feb ….. just 30 sleeps from now and we will be off to the Airport to pick them up … then I am sure we will be taking them places … wonderful ….. Neil and Patricia are going to take them Snow Boarding … we have found places for them to go White Water Rafting, Bungy Jumping, Zorbing, Gliding { courtesy of our friend Marc … who has his own Glider } Diving for Scallops { all set up Craig } thanks Ian, and Nathan wants to go diving as well … we have the wet suit set up …. and also Poker for both of them …. Thanks Nathan for that. …. I think there are a few other things as well … but I get tired just thinking about it all.

Now do you all remember that I came over here to retire …… oops ….. guess what? …. I have started working 2 days a week!! ….. Mike cracked the whip and I jumped hehe ….. bet you can all see that in your minds eye!  …. I mentioned the Rest Home in one of the other Blogs .. where we helped get it all ready for the ‘Grand Opening’ well … they had a very temperamental cook … who was playing up when we were there and in my infinite wisdom and my normal spur of the moment ‘thing’ … I said ” If you get stuck at anytime … call me “  ….  they called me the Wednesday before Xmas! … the cook just walked in and handed in her resignation in the morning and left in the afternoon … so I got this emergency call whilst out for a walk with Mike on the reserve with the dogs ….. I said I would help until they got someone else …. well I have to say .. as I know you all know .. I love cooking … so I decided to see if they would let me do just 2 days … as I didn’t want to be at work all the time and they jumped at it … so I work on a Monday and Thursday feeding 51!!

I also had to explain that I would need to have from the 4th Feb until the 14th March off!!!  Even this did not dissuade them from employing me!

They all love my cooking … and … oops again … they are all starting to put weight on .. so I have to stop cooking yummy cakes!!    hmmm .. I don’t think so!

 

I think I have rambled on enough so I will just put a few more pics on of our Loverlee Babe and then I’ll sign off  for a couple of weeks.

 

                    

     I love reading Nana ….. more please Auntie Pat.    

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One of my toys      Mum, Dad are you sure? …..  

   

                        

Who put these on me?       Enough of this Xmas Stuff!

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And now my very favourite photo ..

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                                           Hello Grumps … I love you.

Bye all ….. look after yourselves and each other. xx

It’s quite funny having a really warm Xmas time …. I know we are used to it from Spain …. but in Spain it wasn’t as hot as it is here now! …. Sorry most of you people are probably in the cold.. Hehe …. What really is weird is that most Kiwis have a BBQ on Christmas Day … we still have the traditional Turkey with all the trimmings!

This year it will be a real family get together { if you remember Nicole and Nathan were in Sth America last year } Nicole, Nathan, Logan, Patricia and Neil are all coming … loverlee.

 I am sure like us, you are all runnig around getting all the necesary things that go with Xmas and of course there is the round of parties etc to go to.    We have been to BBQ’s, had Curry evenings here, and last night we were out with our friends on their yacht for a BBQ!  That’s different eh?   It’s gorgeous … coming back to the quay in the dark, sea all around … pitch black except for the stars!!  ….. we so enjoy going out on boats .. some of you will remember we used to go out on our friends Dennis and Sue’s boat in Spain.

Ok this is only a short one to  ‘ WISH YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS ‘ and ‘ A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR ‘

We will be writing more in the New Year so watch this space

Oh … if any of you have the Skype set up at home do let us know .. we can have a chat and see you all for free!.

Bye for now

Me & Him xxx

Well .. what have you all been up to?    We have been rushing around like there was no tomorrow!

I have been out to get Pressies for my Boys …. must have the stocking to open on Xmas morning, even if we are over the other side of the world! … and then also our little World Vision Boy … you have to send these parcels out so early otherwise they get caught up and lost in the rush … Santa can’t cope with too many so close to his time of delivering .. so I like to be kind to him!!     I have written all our cards and sent them out … do like to try and be the first one that drops through your letter box … you’d all wonder what was wrong if they were late!

 We have also been busy helping our friend who works for a Rest Home … they have just expanded and had a Hospital extension added on … and the opening was this Wednesday just gone … and there was 31 extra rooms to be prepared for the mayor to see! …… 31 sets of curtains .. nets and heavies to put up … 31 sets of towels and flannels to be folded and hung exactly the same way …. 31 beds to be made and then as they were all electrical they had to be a certain height ….  numerous boxes to be dismantled and taken down to the basement { Mikes job! }  {{ He did do some curtains as well }} … and there activity person has been away so we were also ‘Bingo Callers’ and also ‘Trivial Quiz Masters’ for a couple of mornings! …. and then the day before the opening I made 135 cakes!    Phew … makes me tired reading it all again!   The day went off wonderfully with the mayor officially opening it … then we had a Maori Cultural Group come and do a Haka and also sing and dance … Mike and I have seen Hakas performed on the box but never in person … it was quite something.

We have also been getting the garden into shape for the summer …. spring is a dreadful time in a garden … so much to do … so many weeds grow … How come they grow quicker than the flowers? … and … who says they are weeds?  some of them are real pretty … Mike has to ask me first which is the weed and which is the flower … otherwise he pulls up the flowers and leaves the weeds!!!  Bless.

Nicole has been busy busy … a real natural Mum …. mustn’t leave Nathan out … a real natural Dad too ….. and Nicole is also busy arranging so many things that go into organising a Wedding. …..  We have found a dressmaker for her  …. and Mike has also said I can have one made as this is a ‘Special’ Occasion ….. so we have been looking at materials, and designs for me …. all very exciting … its so nice having her around and doing all these Motherly things with her … something I have missed out on.  and ….. Grumps likes it too …. as he gets to look after Logan!!     He is growing so fast  …. and is quite adorable. … He is already trying to pull himself up into a sitting position … we all know this is because he is so nosey  … he wants to see everything!   Wonder who he takes after?   He is also teething! ….. I can’t remember ours teething so early ….. I reckon he will be walking by 6 months the way he is going … and be in College by the age of 10!!     We have had some lovely walks on the reserve at the back of us …. the dogs like it too, … and its good for the diet that I am on … exercise and all that ….. and have I found a great diet ….. Curry every night!!!  How good is that?    If anyone wants a copy let me know …. I have lost 4 kgs in 2 weeks!!!   Just another 20kgs to go before Feb!!    I wish.

Neil & Patricia are still busy with work …. and I suppose with the onset of Christmas they will not calm down till Xmas Day itself ….. I am looking forward to having them all here for a family dinner, once we have opened all our pressies! { Which I have to confess I haven’t done anything about yet!! oops }

The pictures below are our garden … we are quite proud of it as we don’t profess to be Real gardeners.

And of course I must show a few of Our Babe!

 Bye for now …. Look after yourselves and each other.

For those that may not know … we have a wonderful new addition to our family over here …. His name is Logan Rhys Griffiths … and he was born on Sunday 2nd September 2007 to Nicole and Nathan .. the oh so Proud Parents { as they should be … he is such a cutie … am I bias or what!!! }   I will attempt to upload a few pictures of him … but as this is all new to me … please forgive me if it all goes wrong and you have to wait till I see one of the computer experts in this family { not that Mike or I are not experts now! } 

We have been quite busy over here ….. firstly we have just got back from Australia .. we went over to Sydney for a week  { didn’t want to stay any longer with our new Grandson being oh so new! }  It was Mike’s Sisters Son Bradley’s Wedding to Amy …a simply lovely young lady …. Bradley’s not too bad either! … The Wedding was really super … the day although a little windy was just perfect … the sun shone at all the right times …. the reception was great .. very comical with Amy’s younger Brother being the ‘compere’ for the evening .. and did he throw himself into the role … he was very good.   After all the festivities the next day was Our 40th Wedding Anniversary!!!   Oh the burden of it all!!  Jesting aside we have had a super 40 years together with lots fun, lots of happiness and lots of moves { as I know you all know }  but life is an adventure … and you don’t know how long it’s going to last so if you have dreams you must go for them as soon as you can like we have …. we have no real regrets on any of our decisions … { Well I have one } .. I do miss my 2 Boys in Spain …. but I do hope to see them both soon in February … which leads to one of our next Big events …. Nicole and Nathans Wedding … we will keep you all posted on this … watch this space as they say!    Very exciting times ahead.  Lots of family and friends coming … can’t wait!

  We are very lucky here .. we have Nicole, Nathan and Logan only about 10 minutes away … and Neil and Patricia are about 20 minutes away … so we all get to see each other quite regularily ….. { Roast dinners are a bit of a pull hehe!! }  and we have such a great collection of friends and neighbours.  { Well some of the neighbours are great … sorry Robin .. not sure what to say hehe. }               Neil and Patricia are doing really well out here …. they have good jobs and are highly thought of in their various professions …. they have just taken up Snow Boarding!  Patricia has also had a go at Surfing … so loves it … she is going again next Sunday … I think Neil might be going as well!      It is a great life for youngsters out here … so much to do … quite diverse  …..  { A quick mention MP, Craig } …. Have found somewhere for you to go Sky Diving MP … and Craig we have our friends boat lined up for you to go Scallop diving!!  oh nearly forgot Craig … think Nathan is quite keen to go Diving with you as well.  

The animals are really loving it here … walks all the time on the beach and out on the reserve at the back of us ….. never had it so good …. and they are all really good with Logan!

I think thats about it for a moment …. Mike is trying to make me feel guilty … he has just announced that he is going to cut the grass! …. so I think I had better go and get doing the potting up of the flowers we bought last week!   

Will try to keep this updated on a regular basis ….. I have the time … I am retired!!! 

 I hope you are all suitably impressed with the pictures I have managed to get attached to this Blog!!     Thanks Nathan for the help!