New Zealand Again

Three weeks of, mostly sunshine, lots of fun, no cooking, lots of meat, scrabble, swapping slurs (banana head/rhubarb knees) with Molly, getting to know Madeleine, achieving par in one hole out of 12 with Nick, vineyard visiting with Beth, pushing swings (endlessly), trying not to watch to see if Molly and Madeleine would collide on the trampoline, lots of good coffee, wine a late evening dram, and many 'catching up' conversations. This is a picture of a good mother (her turn for the lie-in).This is a picture of an inattentive father ... engrossed in Neil Gaiman's fantasy that I brought and read on the flight. Note that the kids can actually get out, it's only a safety net.

This is Madeleine training for the 'short drop' in the 2012 London Olympics. Seconds after this picture was taken she broke the world record.

Meanwhile, Molly was training for the 'cheeky smile' event.

And I came home with my Xmas present from Beth and Nick, a lovely coffee mug that I can put my hands around on a cold morning. I also brought two bottles of Stonecutter Merlot (after a bit of sampling at the vineyard ... one we opened and drank with Sorley, Gudrun and Wendy ... and Maya! The other I will keep for another special occasion.

The visit would not have been complete without one bon mot ... from Molly. I admired her new haircut and asked her what she thought of mine. After a moment's inspection she said 'It's gone!'

Madeleine's favourite expression was 'Wha dis?' She also has a wonderful sulk worthy of a Hollywood starlet failing to win an Oscar. Hence ...

Wha Dis?

Wha dis?

Like a Jamaican girl,

lazily, warmly.

she holds out a fruit, then

overcome with shyness

black lashes close over lowered grey eyes,

and her hair slides over her face

like yellow grass in the wind.

Wha dis?

Only two years old

but we cannot wait for a contrary breeze

to uncover her smile,

or a pout

if we do not promptly answer the question.

This is an improved version Beth & Nick ... thanks for such a lovely time.