LOVE this picture......

This was taken the last time we were in Japan and I wanted one of those photo sticker thingys...you know the ones.

So we jumped into one of the gazillion booths in Japan and this is what we came out with.......the quality is not that great as the original is a sticker about 10x15 mm.

When we got back to New Zealand I got it scanned.

Pretty slow at work so Im off for a week.......thought it would be laid back but you know those little jobs that you think "Ohh I must get onto that one day"??

Well they soon build up to this big long list of things to do......still one of those jobs is to copy our old VHS video and DV tapes to DVD and thats when I came across this one.

Awesome to be home and when we put Mana to bed tonight she asked "Daddy work?" and I say "NAR" and she just lights up and she says "Banana shake for breakfast....I help Daddy make it" as she snuggles into bed pulling the covers up.....yeah very cute.

Went to the Dentist today and after 40 mins and $140 I came out with the Dentist saying "Yeah mate Ill have to see you again soonish that old filling back there needs replacing....."

Glad to know that (like a sheep) my age can be calculated thru the type and condition of my teeth........Baaaaaaaaa.

I didn't want too but.....

..........Kosuke called me and put the thought there!!!

Got a phone call from him at 1000 yesterday just as I was leaving work
"What are you doing?" (Translation-Do you want to go surfing?)
"Ummm" was the response as I wasnt any where near home yet and before I could say anything else............ "Its 2-3 ft kinda offshore and its really cleanned up.....High tide is about 3......."
Well what more could I say?
Drove home to the up beat sounds of George FM (98.6) and yes I was a little "AMPED" at the thought of getting "WET"
Threw my gear in and picked up Kosuke.
The drive 40 minute drive to Piha basically consisted of how long its been since we have been out and how we were both getting older and carrying injures.

Arrived at South Piha and it LOOKED REAL FUN there were the two distinct Left and Right out the back and a really fun Left reform right out in front of us.
So 1350 arrival 1400 in the water and by 5 past I had my first wave under my belt.......gotta be happy with that.

Didn't last that long as it was so cold but heaps of fun and the crew were out there were having a good time too.

When Kosuke got out I got the complete run down (AGAIN) of how comfortable and warm Kosuke was with his new "Fur lined" wetsuit from Japan and I really should look at getting one too.

Cant wait for summer....

Little Princess

Mana was talking to Oji-chan and Oba-chan this afternoon......how could I not take a photo???
Mind you when I took it I was all "Kawaii, kawaii" but then it dawned on me that one day she'll be talking to BOYS....I aged a little more... (*_*)

Taonga

Amazing what you find when you least expect it......for some reason (I dont know why) I picked up and dusted off my grandfathers old paper clipping that Ive put in a frame and read it.....dont know how many times Ive read it before but I finished and thought "I wonder where......?"
The article was from April 1998 about a reunion that was held at Te Kaha on the East Coast for surviving members of 28th Maori Battalion (C company) .
"The oldest C Company veteran 90 year old Frank Katene McDonald rested his head on his walking stick......"

Yes I share his middle name,which by the way is Maori for "Cotton" and looking at the before and after photo I can see the colour of his hair.....and with my Dad being "Cotton" topped I guess you dont have to be a rocket scientist to work out Ill be going that way too.
It also went on to say "...... he and a small group plan to go back to Italy next year to visit old battlefields and graves of old comrades........."
Unfortunately 6 months later he passed away........

Back to reality and 10 minutes later I had pulled out these little gems,about the only physical reminded of Cotton so yes a Tonga to me.

His old cut throat razor.....
A Nazi KFS set..........dont know the story of how he came about this Knife,fork and spoon set ,but I'm sure it was told in a way where the truth was in no way getting in the way of a good war time yarn......


His is bayonet off his 303 Rifle...... a photo of him and his mates outside the YMCA,Monte Cassino in Italy and his pocket watch.

8 years on and there are still so many things I wanted to say and ask,I wish I had more time with him..........Kua maru toku ngakau,but life goes on.

Bob the Builder????

Tried to load this last night but for some reason,I couldn't upload my photo's so here it is..........Continuing on from yesterday's story...........
Mana went off to kindy at 12 so K and I were kinda at loose ends and we couldn't really decide what to do,I was going to go out for a surf but with a messy 5-6 ft and offshore I wasn't that keen so I thought Id "finally" have a go at cleaning up the back,I guess with K's Mum and Dad coming in October probably had alot to do with finding some inspiration as well.But as soon as I ventured out it started to lightly drizzle and it continued like this for the rest of the afternoon......oh well.So from this....







To this...... Quite impressed with my efforts really as it wasn't that hard to do and it all cost less than $50.

Back to work today for my "LAST" P2P tour for the year.....yup looking forward to it as these last few months have been hard,not just on me but my family as well....hopefully Ill get some time off so I can just un-wind.
But as I said Mum and Dad coming for a week in October so that will be good,got lots planned including a couple of nights off to Rotorua (I know,I know) I can see you all thinking "You spend every other day in Rotorua,why are you going there for a holiday?" All I can say is that its TOTALLY diffrent when Im not working....... we are all really looking forward to that.

Morning.....

I know it was only 0726,but it was so dark it felt like 0500 and that light was soooooo bright..........Mana decided that it would be a good idea to draw a picture.
Dont get me wrong I want to encourage her to do the things she loves,its just that that light was beaming in my eyes like one of those old World War 2 search light......
Anyway finished product....

So now that I'm awake I guess the only thing to do is get up and have breakfast.
Off we went trying hard not to wake "Mummy" up (she was awake too but kept her eyes firmly shut and we had decided last night that it would be K's turn to have a sleep in)
After breakfast we cleaned up and washed our face,clean the teeth etc to settled down to watch the video of our 2005 Australia holiday .....wow 1 year ago,seems like yesterday when I watch the video but when I see Mana now and how much she's changed its more like another time.