Merry Xmas for 2009

Hi Everyone ...

just wanted to wish you ALL a very merry xmas!!

Where ever you are, who ever you are with

... merry xmas !! ...

May you all be safe over the holidays.

Take care, God Bless, Enjoy

Much Love Always, Rae xoxox

Lorna decided to put up some xmas lights at 9pm tonight (24th) talk about LAST MINUTE!!! ... so we played around a bit with the camera. And Lorna played around with some effects on the iMac to give us the beautiful oval frames lol - Merry Xmas from Miss Tavai :)

When will I ever learn ...

to study when I should study!!! lol hi everyone, just wanted to drop in and say Hi. Have been cramming for exams the last 5 days (and I mean CRAMMING!). I think there are permanent indentations in the carpet through to the floorboards from sitting at my desk for so long!

Had an exam today (glad thats over) and heading into one tomorrow afternoon that I am totally dreading! This paper is the pits lol and its been even more of a challenge coz I just hate accounting!! So coz I hate it, I couldnt be bothered ... but I'm bothered now!!! dhahaha Well, we'll see how it goes anyways. Its amazing when you actually sit down, make the time to study something, that it really does, actually make sense!! So lesson learned (for the 100th time!!!) that periodic study during a semester, makes it soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much easier.

I'm thinking I'm such a mug for getting back into it - coz lets face it, what do I accomplish once I finish my degree in a couple of years??? A couple of years to go because I do it part time. If anyone knows, let me know!!!! lol But I guess quitting now would just be DUMB. If I fail this paper, I might not have a choice.

Anyways, thanks Mata & Taki for putting something up ... its always good to hear whats going on with the Elizabeth Dr lot, and Koni & Tinokura. FYI Lottie, I have every intention of coming home for visits!! :P Wouldnt hurt to see your mug up here once in a while too you know ... but should be heading down sometime after getting back from Maitia's 21st ... looking at the week before Xmas and Xmas ... so book me in!!!

Well, I'm gonnna go to sleep now ... get a "good" nights sleep before the onslaught of number crunching in my exam tomorrow. To any of you who are aspiring to be accountants, good luck!!! Its boring as h*ll. So why am I majoring in Accounting? Long story.

Love to everyone from here in 'rewa lol ... from one who will always be a TOKGIRL

Rae xox

Update

Hey all,

New email log in, to post on the blog. Will email you details from work email. And sorry Rae $10 from Lornee doesn't count as a bigger donation!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Mwah

Mata

Catching up...

While spending time doing assessments, getting reports ready for the end of the year, settling Numia down in the room to watch Labyrinth for the thousandth time, updating my daily plan, organising for the reliever in class tomorrow, checking emails and the rest of the mundane tasks, I thought I'd drop by and check out the family blog. Thanks Raewyn and Taki for posting on here and keeping the blog alive!

An update on what is happening here in Tokoroa...

Koni has had an operation on her knee and is hobbling around on crutches, she's doing okay but will need to stay off it for the next year, so no sports in that time and she's not allowed to play contact sports ever again! A bit of a bummer for her, because she was real keen to play rugby league for Pacific Sharks womens team.

Tinokura has discovered music and rhythm and loves to bang sticks and make noise. he dances around and does this Samoan sasa type dancing and we tease him and Koni gets really mad!!

Maine is doing a little theatre show called Colour My world. She has two solos and sings Scarlett Ribbon and Don't it make my brown eyes blue. We're going on Saturday night to watch her, it's the final night so she should be nailing all those notes by the time we watch her! I'm amazed she remembers all the words, gone are the days when she had someone prompt her with the words to a song while she is singing!!! (Lottie and Rae)

Mum and Dad are home, and I'm sure that Mum is doing her utmost to hold back the flood of bargain basement finds that she wants to bring home. The rule was, we don't need more stuff, if I see bags come in, they go straight back out! So far so good! Dad's started a Heavy trade drivers course, he has dreams of truck driving, so him and Mum go to Huntly 3 days a week for this course. They leave 5 in the morning and are back at 6 each night. Travelling is taking it's toll a bit on them, but it's only for another 9 - 10 weeks and then that's it.

Tiona is at school and is having trouble settling down in class. He always seems to be the last one sitting on the mat at the end of the day when everyone else is let go. His teacher is really nice, I've given up asking how he has been in class, because I think it makes the teacher squirm a bit when I ask. Poor thing! Tiona has a tendancy to say things as he sees them, which is good, but sometimes.... Oh my gosh!!!!

Jai has the best teacher in the world, who Jai loves to bits!!! I think she's great and jai has really flourished in her class. It's a pity she's leaving our school at the end of the year.

Numia.... well she needs a whole blog just to share some of the crazy things she says and does. I love her to bits.

Tana was home over Labour Weekend, like I said to him, I thought you'd come home a man! Not even!!! Still has a lot of wild oats to sow and get out of his system. I just raise my eyes and say ' Oh my gosh'

Saturday night was a bit scary with Tino having an asthma attack, and then finding out that his lung had collapsed, Vanessa's photo of him on her blog breathing through the mask hit home that even though he is big and strong, everyone is susceptible, and no one is invincible, and it hurts that we can't be there. All I could think of on Saturday night is please don't let anything happen to him! Lots of love, hugs and kisses to you Tino, Vanessa and the kids. I love you much!!!

Ula is being a gym bunny, but it was real funny 'cos when she had her birthday, she went back to the gym and had gained 2 kgs, so now she is on a food diary. Also she's banned from the treadmill. But I won't say anymore 'cos she will kill me once she reads this.

As for me, I'm getting a bit restless in my current job and am looking to move up to high school. Just waiting for the right position to open up and then I'm outta here! It's time to move on. We've got a mission going on at church, and I feel it's time to get back and involved, but finding it a bit hard, just have to persevere with it I guess. Just mulling things over at the moment.

Oh man! I have to wrap up this post, Nunu is here saying 'Aunty Mata, come watch Labyrinth with me', So I'm off to try to put her to sleep, she's a night owl and it's not going to be easy!

To all the family in Auckland, Albury, Melbourne, Brisbane, and even down Torphin!! Love to you all, I agree with Taki, catch up with you all sooner rather than later...

love you all much

Mata

xxxooxx

Long time I haven't been on here

Long time that I haven't been on here but I thought that since I had some time to just click out from work, I thought that I would write something. Trying to do it on my phone just don't work !!
First off, Tino, I hope that you are okay now. Read Vanessa's blog and it seemed like it was touch and go there. Hoping that you are recovering and that you are on the mend.
The last 3 months have been up and down for me personally, mentally and emotionally.
I think turning 40 makes you realise that you are getting older and things aren't as they use to be.
Being without my son for the last 7 months and being by myself for the first time again in 7 years since I have been back in NZ, I have had alot to think about in the way of family.
I had My mum, my brother charlie, aunty urau and nana stay with me for Labour Weekend as Bairds Rd was still being refurnished and we had an absolute ball. These ladies made my weekend. You try sneaking out for a smoke and they want to follow!!! OMIGOSH... You try hiding your alcohol when all they do is have a nosey in the cupboards. You try cooking heaps of food for them and then they decide that they will stop in at Bairds Rd first and forget to call to say they have eaten. Had some heart to hearts with all of them and just looking at them made me realise to that they aren't going to be around for much longer. They are getting tired and old and sometimes senile. I love these women to bits even though they lecture too many times !!...
Family is what it is about. I have had job offers to work in Europe but I have turned them down as I don't think that I could be away from my family and don't really want to be.
I was away for 11 years and pretty much did my own thing without really thinking about family but times have changed and people change.
I just want to say that I love you all and wish that we could see each other alot more than we have been in the last 5 years.
New Year's resolution is leave the past in the past, live in the present but also plan for the future.
Life's too short to not enjoy what is in front of you and what possibilities and outcomes lie ahead.
Better get back to work now as I am late for a meeting ( started nearly 5 minutes ago).
Have a great week to all and catch up with you sooner than later.

Lots of love always
Taki Bates

Some Really Old Pics

Not quite the pics I was looking for, but FAM pics all the same. Cant do much about the quality ... they've been sitting in photo albums for a fair few years ...

I'm changing the name of this blog

from Tokoroa Family to Rae's Blog lol you's all suck coz I'm the only one thats 'blogged' the last 4 entries ... because I know you ALL READ IT!!! *sigh*

So, I have been looking in my photo folders on my laptop for really embarrassing pictures of you all to add to this post ... but luckily for you, I only have 'nice' pics on my laptop and I'm too damn lazy to get off my chair and walk four steps behind me to my bookcase to retrieve my spool of discs and comb through them to find the pics ... but I will find them one day ... and I will post them.

Plus, its like 3am and I'm up, cold, grumpy (really?), hungry lol and did I mention cold?? Well, my feet are anyways.

Hope you all enjoy your day (",) ... Love Rae xoxox

my sister, the t-e-r-r-o-r-i-s-t lol

dont smile or look too happy when you go through NZ customs. You might get taken "to the side" for a one-to-one interview by a customs officer who thinks you might be carrying ex-plo-sives ... I am SO NOT kidding lmao

As we went through NZ customs, they pulled Taki aside, after she went through the metal detector ... which beeped LOL (belt buckle) ... because she looked TOO HAPPY!!!! go figure!!!!!! I thought I heard the lady say something about trace elements or something, I thought she meant drugs ... but when I saw her put on the plastic gloves, she was searching for trace elements of explosives hahaha well, thats a first. She actually told Taki she looked TOO happy and apparantly it was her or me??!!!!! it doesnt pay to smile at people ... at the airport

So, that was our start to our 9-day trip to Aussie lol ... gotta hand it to Taki, something like that always happens to her!!!

7 & a half hour flight goes pretty fast when you watch movies one after the other hahaha

Perth ... thank goodness is not sporting 40degree heat ... but I wasnt expecting needing 3 mink blankets on my bed either ... it was pretty cold last night :) they're not heavy ones, so I guess its not that bad. It was overcast today, so the day was pretty "kool", literally. To me, Perth is kinda like Melbourne, but it seems a bit more spaced out ... and clean ... especially at the airport. Clean, clean, clean ... outside that is. I can understand why Auckland Airport is in the top 10 list of the best airports. Also, Australian Customs officers DONT SMILE ... will have to take a leaf out of their book lol

So, we just watched the All Blacks KICK the Wallabies in rugby ... woooohooooooo!!!!!!! 33-6 Taki and Mary were cheering for the Aussies?? ... hmmm, had to kick Taki's pillow a couple of times to remind her we are AB fans!!!! Our cousin Geof is a AB fan hard ... he's got laminated pics AB players on his wall ... posters, framed picc, beanie, scarf ... all kinds of stuff ... its in the "blood". NZ blood that is.

I think we're going to be subjected to an ARL game later tonight ... some semi final or something??? Broncos & Dragons?? I dont know ... I dont care either lol ... I'm FINALLY going to get to read Twilight. Mary brought Nessy's book for me to read ... so I'm going to accquaint myself with the story of Edward & Bella lol

Love much
Rae xoxox (Taki & Mary)

Another special day

Today is my sister Taki's birthday.

She's 40yrs old!!!! lol but doesnt look it :)

We had a quiet day today ... went to lunch with our sister Mary who was up here for Masters basketball ... because all the celebrating is going to be when we fly out to Perth on Friday!!! yayyyyyyyy and then head to the Gold Coast the following Thursday to see Jovan.

It was also low key today because she's been sick allllllllllllllllllllllllll week - so much so, that Jovan has been ringing to make sure she's well enough to fly! He's missing his mum and they're both desparate to see each other. I dont think anything will keep her from getting on that flight. Its been a long time coming this trip.

I'd like to say THANK YOU to my sister for being a really good sister these past few years she's been back in NZ ... we've had our ups & downs ... but its always good to know she's always there for me. Also, for shouting me to Perth & the Gold Coast LOL ... its always better with more people along for the ride dahahaha

This week I have been dropping by and bringing her dinner to make sure she's eaten and just A.O.K. Helps that we live just around the corner (Auckland's just around the corner) from each other (",)

Sorry, I dont have a picture to put up ... I do have pics, but not a recent one. I'll have to LOOK for the other ones, so ... there's your answer lol

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAKI ... God bless you and keep you ... always.

Love you much
Rae xox

Last stop of the day

when I'm on the net, is usually this page ... actually its my first AND last stop ... and most days I feel compelled to write something ... but well, as you can tell, I dont lol

SOLOMON - great shot ... I read the article ... well done ... front page no less ...

MATA - hope you're feeling much better ... not kool when you're not feeling great huh ... but gotta love having sleeps in the middle of the day!!!!

so ... tonight, this is my last stop after logging into Bebo & then Facebook for a minute ... social networking sites ... the initial buzz, checking my page every 5 mins ... "stalking" through the pages lol ... searching for people you knew, people you know, people you wanted to know ... YOU KNOW IT!!!! ... adding people ... and then people adding you, as IF they KNOW YOU ... lol then some REAL random adds ... hahahaha

And then, the hype settles and you go back to just leaving comments on pages of people that you know, love, who love you and lastly, people that you are related to ... hahaha

So, tonight, thats exactly what I did ... left comments on Koni, Lottie and Jovan's pages ... I usually limit my comments to 3 because thats how many bebo hearts you get a day ... once the love runs out, so do the comments!!! Sorry to everyone else that has a Bebo page, I'll give you some love next month ... or quarter lol maybe a Christmas greeting!!!

Its gonna be a short one tonight ... I just wanted to drop something on our page ... encourage everyone to keep posting ... love much, Rae xox

An Update...

Hi there everyone, haven't been online for a while so thought I'd drop a line to say what I've been up to.

Have been off work sporadically for the past week, with the flu, that and the whole work thing is getting a bit annoying (beauracratic crap and politics), only to go back for a day and a half and now I'm off for another 2 days with an ear infection - What the!!!!

Anyways that's all good, I'll get over it, it's mild compared to baby Tinokura having to go to Waikato hospital with bronchitis and a real bad chest infection last week. Poor thing having all the wires connected to him and the tubes up his nose. He's home now doing well, but has to continue having the spacer to help him with his breathing. So everyone is taking extra special care of him lately.

Tiona has started school, when he's asked 'what did you do today?' he'll tell you the bell went and then we had to go home. I think school will take a little longer for him to settle in. He's all about the playground and friends at the moment. Here's hoping when that settles down he will get on with the business end of things.

Love the picture of Solomon dressed as Michael Jackson, what a cool costume, he looks the part! Pictures of Annika and Dad are really good too. Thanks for posting all the photos, it's good to look at when one is not feeling too good.

I'm going to take off now and pump myself full of antibiotics, put some eardrops in and head back to bed to sleep this off.

Love to all the fam bams!!!

Mata

35 years nearly 35 stone

yes I'm 35. thank everyone for remembering, I've spent a lot of birthdays away from everyone now, but always on this day i look back and see how much things have changed in my life. thanks to the Internet Ive have been bought up to speed and can now see and keep in contact more often.
I got 1 phone call on my birthday it was about 10:30pm, i was at work, i answered it and it was mum she said happy birthday and we talked for a little while mum made a joke and said happy 21st then i asked her how old i was. she didn't remember and had trouble working it out she couldn't figure out Mata's either.
she said she couldn't talk long then her card ran out of credit and the phone went dead. as it always does
the next day my phone rang, i answered it and someone started singing happy birthday to you,
he sung the whole song and did the 3 cheers. i said thanks dad your only 24 hours late this time your getting closer ha ha ha. better late than never.

but always on this day i truly thank god for the days he has given me,
and the family i have been blessed with, i think of the family that i miss and the family that i have lost, i remember all the good times and cherish all the special moments

always on this day.
xxx...T

Hidden Talents

Hi guys!

Ok so i'm gonna be a tailor one day. Just like my Mum.

Keeping in line with my tradition of being the ONLY Tuau that doesn't excel at anything physical (lol) i have decided to add another sit down job to my list of "things i can do". Why, you might ask? It's just one of those things i've always wanted to know how to do - and so i figured - i'm gonna do it.

I have my very own sewing machine, a Bernina from like 1946 lol. I have what i call "practise material" aka all of mums materials hahah - and every possible accessory that one would require to sew (thanks mum). At the moment all the patterns i have are from 1987 but that's a good place to start i think!

Things that I have learned so far....

How to thread a bobbin

How to wind the cotton on the bobbin - with the machine

How to thread a sewing machine

Changing a broken needle (lol)

That I cannot cut straight without chalk or a ruler of some kind no matter how much i concentrate - in fact i've learnt that concentrating on cutting straight, in some weird way, actually guarantees that i will cut crooked haha.

Yes, paterns are required - i cannot freehand stuff lol

That I can't design stuff yet - cos i don't actually know what i'm doing lmao

As with all new hobbies i took off with great enthusiasm, sewing everyday this week... and i feel... with time... it's actually really possible ..... that i might be better than mum one day (just quietly haha!)

So i guess i'll keep you posted, and one day soon i'll post a picture of my very first creation :) and if it looks like crap, at least we'll have something to giggle at hahaha

Smile and be happy, it's a great day!

Lots of love

Ula xoxo

its been awhile

KIA ORANA FAMILY ... its been awhile

first off ... i really have to thank god over the last month or so for giving me the strength i've needed to work the long hours i've been doing as of late, when you're not used to working 10 or 11 hour days, and sunday's its a STRUGGLE. but all my thanks go to god for his strength each day, his mercy and his grace i couldn't have done it without him.

secondly ... happy birthday to all the july babies, to tino, rae & aunty mareta (even though you won't ever read this its the thought that counts lol) ... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!!!

i haven't seen anyone in such a long time sometimes i feel like i live in an entirely different country lol so its been good reading what everyone has been up to lately. even though i haven't seen anyone for what seems like an age, its nice to know that you are all still out there in your little corners of the world living life, and are still alive and kicking.

anyways ... im so freakin' tired lol i can hardly keep my eyes open to write something. so for now this will have to do ... my little posting and shout out to everyone to say hi and bye ... and that im still alive and kicking (barely lol).

so to all my family out there ... wherever you maybe, from auckland to wellington, melbourne, albury & cairns ... my love to you all. take care and god bless ...

lottie
xox

Today is my birthday lol

Just thought I'd drop something on here - HAPPY SABBATH BTW - while I'm waiting for my sister to pick me up to go to Tokoroa (yes, if you didnt know, we're coming down!!!) for the weekend. So this will be a quick update.

Tino, I trust you enjoyed your special day ... it is special coz it only comes round ONCE a year. It was also my mum's birthday on Wednesday, she turned 78! Wow, what a blessing to have her here for soooooo long. I didnt get to know my grandparents, and I'm sad when I think if I ever have (adopted) children lol, they will probably never know their Nanny. Anyways, happy birthday again to you both.

this is an old pic, taken when Jai was like 7 months maybe?

Today I turned 37 ... not far to go till 40; so Maurice keeps texting me every year!!!

But another year, another birthday, and today - as usual - I took the day off work. Nothing special is ever planned. I just like NOT to be at work.

Had a lovely lunch with Taki, and then came home to find Atalia & TaliPorky here at home while Jax was out playing bball. Its always fun to have that sookie baby here!!! She should know better to be nice to her Aunty Rae lol

But anyways, much love to you's all. I enjoy reading our blog ... so keep posting.

Will be good to catch up with you girls this weekend. To Tino, Vanessa & the family in Albury - have a good weekend, and happy sabbath.

Much Luv

Rae xox

Close your eyes and make a wish...

Today it's my brother's birthday, Big T, Teeno, Tino, chocolate (remember Uncle Albie calling you that when you were little!).

He's 35 today, 4 years seperate us, and of late a couple of thousand miles. This is one place we can get to share what it is we have been up to, catch a glimpse into the lives of all of the family, touch base, share a moment, and keep the thinning lines of communication in tact, re join the links that grow tattered and worn over time, unload some of the fears, and share in the triumphs.

So today Tino, I would like to say Happy Birthday, and I didn't forget!

Other things I didn't do were to send a birthday card, to get you a present, as well as those I didn't remember your last 10, 11, 12, 13 birthdays... sorry!

I also didn't forget to send out a prayer this morning, to remind God that today was special for you and that when he could, when he wasn't so busy, hide little moments, or thoughts through out the day that would prove to you how special you are.
I didn't forget to think about you all week, because I didn't want to forget today, I also didn't forget how much you mean, and how much I love you!

How many ways can I tell you how special you are? Count the stars, multiply them by the amount of space and time that it takes to travel from each one to the next, that's just the tip of how much you are loved by us!

Imagine this, everyone gathered around a table, each person focussed on the flickering light coming off the 35 glowing candles, anticipation hangs in the air, will he manage to blow them out in one breathe or not? little giggles erupt from excited children, excitement at what will happen next...
For you the question would be, what is it that I want the most, of anything, what would it be? Let that be the last thought you think of my brother, before you close your eyes and make a wish!!!

Here's hoping all your wishes come true!!!
Love you much Tino

Mata, Maine and Jono, Ula and William, Koni and Pui, Jai, Tiona, Nunu, Tinokura, The prodigal brother (Tana), Mum and Dad!!!!!
xxxxxooooxxxxxxoooxxxxxx

DIY Dream Home

Can't sleep, i've spent the last hour staring at the house daydreaming about what our finished product will be.

They make it look so cool on TV. One day a family goes away on holiday and by the end of the week the bus rolls away and there it is, pristine, beautiful and just what they always wanted.

Our story is just a little bit different lol.

About a month of clearing up, cleaning and throwing stuff away was followed by 2 weeks of re-wiring, knocking down walls, gibbing and painting which was then followed by 5 months of .... nothing hahaha.

In that time I've discovered that jobs like sanding, sweeping up the dust, cleaning the walls, clearing out the cupboards etc - all the GIRL jobs aren't half as fun as the BOY jobs like plastering, painting, hanging gib etc.... i've also discovered that if I were not a Case Manager I wouldn't mind having a crack at being a builder - so long as i only build new things and don't have to touch anything too gross or dirty lol.

I watch my bank balance grow in anticipation of what i'm going to spend it on, taps, gib, tiles, new shower, re-enameling the bath.... and my new favourite stores are bunnings and mitre10 mega. Stink how paydays take ages and saving up for all this seems to take forever - but that means that i can dream just that little bit longer.

Definately gotta take the good with the bad in the whole DIY game huh.

I think the best and worst thing of this whole process is finding all those hidden surprises in all the nooks and crannies of the house.

On the one hand you find out how many blimmin nooks and crannies this place HAS, but then there are those unexpected things...

like finding out that all the stuff mum has wasn't actually crap, i'd say a good 50% of it has come in really handy

like finding all the certificates we had gotten as kids, tucked in amongst the really important papers that dad has filed away

like finding freindship books that were filled in 10+ years ago and laughing at how you saw the world way back then

like the complete pleasure you got from chucking away all those materials that you spent hours as a kid having to stack and sort and restack for mum

like finding a picture of maine, dad and i and jai jai thinking it was her and numia with papa tino.

I can't wait to cook the first meal in our new kitchen. To finally be able to have a shower in this house, to be able to sit with our family all in one room and to all actually have a seat.... To see mum and dad's faces when they see what we've done.

I can't wait to finish!

3am.. i've got work in the morning... i'm gonna regret staying up this late in the morning lol.

Have a great week family.

xxoxxo Ula :)

Sitting here at work and thought that I would try out camera on laptop....

Me at work on Thursday 16/07/09

Well, my sister gave me some great instructions ( over the phone ) on how to add photos. And WOW, I actually did it...This is me mucking around with the camera on my laptop at work. How mundane is that ! Everyone has gone home ( as they should as it is 7:30pm) and I am still here trying to finish off issues that have just landed on my desk this afternoon.

It has been a long time since I have posted anything and I thought that maybe it would pay to visit and get updates.

Well, what is there to report?? Having a really bad week at work and wish that I could find another job ( sooner than later ) but as it goes, there is a recession.. NOT AT FRUCOR THERE AIN'T !! I am counting down the days that we go on holiday ( approximately 64 days ??).

This year is a big year for me and my best friends from school as we hit the big 40!!. 2 of my friends have already turned 40 ( Ellen and Dax ) the next 2 are in August ( Nicole and Vinnie ) I'm by myself in September and then my friend Darren in Feb 2010. What a milestone !! I can't believe that it is already here. In reading my sister's post I thought that I would make my own comments. I also have other friends that turn 40 but I haven't stayed as close to them as I have with Vinnie, Ellen, Nicole, Dax and Darren. Imagine this ? Even after not seeing each other for may be 5 - 6 years and finally meeting up again, it's like nothing has changed. We still drink the same crap we drank back then ( BERNADINO SPUMANTE !!!) , we still talk to each other like we were still at school even though between the 6 of us we have approximately 8 kids ( Ellen has 2 boys, Nicole has 3 boys and 1 girl and I have 1 girl and 1 boy. Great times with them.

I have learnt to appreciate my family as there was a rather rough period between 1988 and 2000 where there were major issues happening that I would rather forget about. Things have changed dramatically and I am so happy that they have. I still can't fathom when I see other families having issues ( and believe me , my nana's (dad's mum) family are prime examples - wichman side) that they can't deal with the past. That use to be me and that's why I never progressed until 2000 when I realised that living in the past and having all these things follow in the future are absolutely fruitless. When I put the past behind me, opportunities galore came to me. Great job, moving back to NZ to be with my family, buying a house and settling down here in NZ ( even I would still prefer to go back to Sydney).

I have had the opportunity to really know my brother, my sisters, my mum and my son. I have also enjoyed being with Aunty Tatu and Aunty Urau as well. I wish that when I am their age that I can be that close to my sisters. They have an absolute phenomenal relationship and bond that has seen them through countless heartaches, arguments, disagreements and let downs but they still hold their head high and enjoy who they are and don't pretend about who they aren't. I am so glad to have the kind of family that we have. Good, Bad or Ugly, this is who we are and we should be proud and enjoy the time we have left with them. I can't think of how it would be if we lost them.

Enough blah blah blah. I could write more but I had better finish my work so that I can go home.

Love you all and catch up next time.

xoxoxTaki

I've been sitting here ...

thinking that someone should add to our blog already ... because, lets face it ... the last post was 2nd July ... today is the 13th ... come on people!!! So, deciding I would take up the challenge, and while deliberating on such an onerous task, I've made a few comments to posts here and there, added a few of my favourite pics ... I've also deleted some draft posts - just the "blank" posts ... not the one's that have writing in them ... a special note to whoever started the one about Nana ... perhaps you might like to finish and publish that one ....

So anyways, back to ... what am I going to write about??

Well, I'm sitting here switching the TV back and forth between channels - mainly the ANZ Netball Semi-final and Brothers & Sisters LOL not the most exciting night, but generally how most of my nights after work pan out.

I used to DREAM of these days, thinking it would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO great when I finally finished studying, and just came home after WORK, and sat down in front of the TV, and did nothing for the rest of the night ... well, while I do cherish these moments LOL ... some people would think it kinda makes for a boring life.

BUT, I have to say, I love my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as much as I b*tch and moan about sh*t on a daily basis lol ... Days like TODAY happen. And it reminds me, that for some reason or another, I have affected people in my lifetime ... I have impacted in some way, the life of another. Whether good or bad, or just plain juvenile.

Have you ever thought whether YOU, have ever really impacted the life of a stranger? friend? acquaintance? lover? Do you ever think, "before I die, it would be kool if someone, randomly, just decided today would be the day they would let me know that I made a difference in their life? that one smile, or kind word, or act of selfishness (no, I did not misspell selflessness, I really do mean, selfishness) and self gratitude LOL made a difference to them???"

Well, I dont generally ... but sometimes the thought does pop into my mind ... but I have to say ... without reserve, that I have no regrets about my life. About the choices that I have made, or have been made for me ... the loves that have come and gone, the friends that have come in and out of my life ...

Some things I do know ...

1. I am truly grateful for my family. Every single one of you.
2. I have come to appreciate what we call "coincidence", as providence. Gods providence. I wholeheartedly believe everything happens for a reason.
3. The people we most b*tch and moan about, are the very ones that we most love and adore!! hmmm, might have to rethink this one lol
4. Everyone has good intentions - however good intentions always seem to come just before, procrastination!
5. We dont post enough on this blog


Well, so much for not knowing what to write about ... :-)


Hope you all have a blessed day ... time to sign off ...

Love to you all xox
Rae

Some old pics ...

well, what can I say lol



Youth Camp - White Water Rafting 2000
(Mata, Ula, Maine & Rae)



Girls trip up North - Easter 2003



Auckland Airport - 2nd trip to Aitutaki, December 2004
(Rae, Lorna, Lotay, Maurice)

DVD's

Thank you so much Rae for the DVD's. They are awesome. They arrived on Friday and I have watched them all a few times each in the last couple of days. The kids love Talias wedding and couldnt stop laughing at the ororra and how everyone was dancing. I see them swell with pride when i tell them this is your aunty, thats your cuz, thats nana and great nana, they love it thank you.

Grandads funeral was sad,i know it was a long time ago but for me it was my first time.
I watched this DVD in the kids room by myself cause i wasnt sure how the kids would react.
I could feel the sadness and respect along with all the other emotions coming through the TV. After a while the kids came in the room looking for me and saw me crying. they said nothing, they just down next to me, held my hand and watched.
i cried when they carried him to his grave and to see him lifted up high on the shoulders, showed me just how much honour and respect Grandad had in the community.
its the one time i really wished I was back in TOK, just to carry him those final steps to his resting place. i am so sorry for not being there.

I am so grateful for these DVDs and everyone posting on the blog. My kids are starting to notice that they are a little different from the others at school and are so excited that they have relations that look like them, the same age, and that theres HEAPS of them.

one last thing, the singing, its unreal. some of the kids can sing man. I dont know who it is but one of them sang solo without a mic and was almost louder than the choir. BUT i must say the BEST song out of all the DVDs is the one Taki, Rae and Mata sang Love him. Number 1 girls.

Later.T

Some wedding pics ...

Wedding Party before the reception ...

Wedding Party pics ...

Ula having fun during the Oora ...

4 Generations ...

Nana, Talia & Mum ...

Joseph and Hazel ...

Pretty girls ... Koni and Talia ...

how cute ... Jajai & Baby Flo ...

Tana, Nana and Yannis ...

profile picture

lol ... i thought id post a profile pic so there wasnt a shadow when you logged in. everyone feel free to change it lmao ...

will post a blog soon and catch up with everyone.

love to all the family out there

lottie
xox

Emjay & Florence

this is tali porky (Emjay) & baby florence (not really a baby anymore lol) at bball tourney this year - Sunday 1st June. I turned the viewfinder thing around so tali porky could see herself

You can see Shashae (Shae, Emma's little one) in the bottom right hand corner

Lottie, you can edit this post & write something about tali porky & why she's called that; and baby florence, and how sociable she is lol

With all my Love...

Here's Mum and Dad, Nanny and Papa, Granny and Pop pop.

Today it's Dad's 63rd Birthday. He's celebrating it far away from the one's that he loves, His children and grand children, spread across Australia, and here in little ole Tokoroa.

Papa Tinokura Tuau, is his full name, his father named him after his good friend who had no children of his own.

He was born on the island of Mangaia (one of the 15 islands which make up the Cook Islands), and moved back to the main island of Rarotonga when he was 12. He helped his father clear the land of scrub and bush, so that they could lay the foundations of what was to become their home. Moving to New Zealand when he was 17 he came here and lived with his sister in Hastings until he met Mum.... and then the rest they say is history... Along came Mata...

There are many things that I love about him, where does one begin?

I love his gnarled hands, their callouses, arthritic twisted fingers, fingernails that are broken, all of these bear the marks of a man. A man who has taught his children the value of hard work, to take care of his family, to look after and fend for themselves, to build a hangi, to cut wood, to change a tyre, to pack away a tent, to build a fire, to fold wires for a video camera properly.

Hands that are never to tired to help out where they can. I love that about him.

I love his broad shoulders, the strength that he has in them to carry little sleepy heads to bed, to cuddle his children when they are upset, to provide a shoulder to cry on, strong and dependable. I love that about him.

I love his smile - gums and all! and the twinkle in his eyes that tells me it's sincere and from the heart. I love that about him.

I love that whenever we needed him, he was always there, that when we called he would move heaven and earth to come. I love that about him.

I love that he is fiercly passionate about his children and grandchildren. His dream is to see all his children and grandchildren together, he mentions it every time we talk. The cracks in his voice, the silent pauses, the tears he is trying to blink away to hide that he misses them so much. I love that about him.

I love that he has dreams for his children, dreams for them to be happy, in whatever they pursue, and that he (and Mum) are the proudest supporters, number one fans. I love that about him.

I love that he loves us unconditionally, that no matter what we do, no matter where we are, no , matter what we say, he loves us because we are his. I love that about him!

Tino and Vanessa, Maine and Jono, Pui and Koni, Ula and William, Tana, Tissy, Boo, Keke, Skinny, Ladyboss, Jai, Tiona, Numia and Tinokura jnr,

This is our Dad, Papa, Pop pop.

Happy Birthday

With all my heart and all my love

Mata

xox

Catching up...

FINALLY, our monthly broadband useage has renewed and now everything is not slow so I can now add Numia's write up (below) and just drop a note to say - HEY EVERYONE!!!! Good to catch up!, someone get Atalia to start adding updates about Emjay here too. Lottie put up baby Flo's profile too.

Besides getting in a tiss about the slow internet connection from the past 2 weeks, I've been flat tack at work! Operetta time!! which happens every 2 years, and somehow I got roped into learning everything from Tina Ward so that when she retires (which is in the next couple of years) someone will know what to do, yeah right. I think my limit is AY programmes and not huge theatrical productions. (Although I really like the Directing!!!)

So this week I will be busy putting video footage together, organising sound and lighting, watch the class acts for the umpteenth time, kick my main characters because they don't speak loud enough and speak in a monotone voice, do last minute choreography, get the stage crew organised and make sure my cue callers don't mess things up.

So if you don't hear from me, I'm probably buried under scripts, rewrites, and musical scores.

Despite all this, I'm absolutely loving it all!!!

Jai's class is doing 'The Gingerbread Man' and she has the part of the skipping lamb. I think I've figured out how to add video so will attempt this sometime over the school holidays.

Love to all, Hope you are all doing well!!!

Much love and kisses to everyone

Mata

And then there were 3...

This is Numia Raehera Nooroa (with big sister Jai)...

They were at a fancy dress birthday party for one of their cousins in Hamilton.

When this little one was born, her umbilical cord was twisted like a telephone cord. It showed that she was a real mover in the womb, and outside she is shaking things up constantly.

Finding a name for her was a difficult task. Maine found out that she was to have a girl, so we set about finding a name from one of our ancestors to give to her, I thought that this would be a good chance for one of the girls in our family to carry the name of our Dad's Mum, her name was Raela spelt Raehera, She was of the Mokotua family and of Tahitian descent. We don't know much about this side of our family, so this would be a tribute to her. But somehow this name didn't suite her.

When she was born the name just didn't seem to fit her, Dad said it just didn't seem right, (he was also worried that giving her the name would mean something would happen to her, since our grandmother didn't like people from Aitutaki, and my Mum is from Aitutaki, and all the girls of the Aitutaki line have had something happen to them, except me because my first name is Mata and not Raela - island superstition) so Maine asked her Mother in Law for a name.

She decided to give her name to baby - Numia.

When we heard we sort of went ummm.....

Anna had just had a baby who was about 6 months and her name was Mia, short for Numia, and we thought it was just a little weird. We called her baby for quite a while before calling her by her name.

As time went on we nicknamed her Nunu.

Nunu is a firecracker! She knows her mind, and what she wants. She's not scared to stand up for what she wants and will not back down from anything - or anyone.

She's managed to write on every single door, cubboard, ledge, bit of floor she can, and when she has done that will proceed to draw all over her legs, feet, hands and even face.

She is a little hurricane on two legs, and is able to try the most patient of people. She stands and will raise her hand pointing the finger at you when she is telling you off. (almost like a mini nana).

We've just gone through the 'swearing' phase, she's now onto the 'I don't want to do it' stage sliding into the 'they 'mack me' stage. She's a nuisance when she is around, but is the first one to be missed when she is not there.

I love her tenacity and fire, for a little kid she has a lot of spunk. I love teasing her so that she will do her hulk impersonation and give me the stare. (which is quite impressive for one so young).

When we ring Mum and Dad, she says 'I miss me Papa' and talks like she's a big lady. We all have a laugh about this, because she sits perched on the bench talking into the phone like a pro, I dread when she becomes a teenager!

One thing I love about this little monkey, is that she has a twinkle in her eye, it's there when she is happy, when she is teary eyed and is almost blinding when she is getting up to mischief!!!

Numia Raehera Nooroa - The youngest of the Nooroa's but in no way, the least!

Maitia Shaina Mary Vano 21st Birthday

Hi Family,

Just thought that I would post the details of my daughter's 21st Birthday. It is happening on Sunday 6th December in Melbourne somewhere. The reason I am posting this on our family blog is because most of us won't be receiving formal invitations. The reason you ask? Due to the lack of accomodation ( My mum, Aunty Tatu and Aunty Urau are going ), I don't know if there is any one other than my immediate family (Raewyn, Mary, Jovan) that are actually booked to go. If there is anyone else in the family that would like to come ( Vanessa and Tino, since you are in or near Melbourne ) please let me know so that I can give the guys in Melbourne a call to say that there are others that would like to come. It is being catered therefore numbers will need to be firmed up by the end of June at the earliest.
Her official birthday is 3rd December and hopefully I will be in Melbourne by then.
I don't know how to load up photos ( will need to ask Raewyn how to do it) as I would love to put up photos of both my children.

Also, Jovan will be 22 on the 25th June ( woohoo ). He is enjoying the Gold Coast but still looking for work. It is amazing to talk to my son everyday, as he has matured to a level that I never thought that he would reach. He respects the value of money, sanity and just plain living. He has a fantastic partner in Charissa and is lucky that she is there for him. I miss him terribly and every now and then I have a cry as I neva thought my son would leave me so soon. He is my baby (even though he is the oldest ) and I think about him all the time.

I asked my mum, my brother Charlie, my son Jovan and my sister Raewyn to pick out 6 numbers for the Big Wednesday tonight. It is worth 20million plus!! If only. Fingers crossed.
What would you do with 20 million dollars????

I was also looking through what everyone has written to date and it made me reflect on all the old people that have passed on in our family and how lucky we were to have them.

Aunty Mum and Uncle Jack - Great couple who endured alot through their life. Gave heaps to their family ( food, advice, mentoring etc etc) and are deeply missed by all.

Aunty Mary Bilkey - Beautiful voice, rather vain but still someone that at times was protected alot by her sisters and always had a smile.

Uncle Albie - Quiet, reserved, always there when something was needed and always gave whateva he had.

Uncle Joe - I have had him on my mind for the last couple of weeks. I watched his DVD and couldn't hold back the tears just thinking on what he meant to me and how sad a week that was when we celebrated his life.

I take a look at my life now and think how these people have influenced my life and hope that I have done the same for others in my family. I would hate to think what it would be like not to have the family that I have grown up with ( all extended family) problems and all.
How wonderful to have a family like ours !! I really appreciate each and every one of you.

Im at work ( gee shock horror ) just taking some time out between finishing presentations for tomorrow.

Hope everyone is well and looking forward to catching up soon.

Lots of love always
Taki xoxox

Happy birthday Cuz. its Tino.

I think youre 31, forgive me if i am wrong.

I always remember going down to your house to stay, swim(remember the pool) and watch TV on sabbath.

your mum always had chocolate in the fridge and i used to raid it all the time, and so did everyone else.

one day i was mowing the lawn and was thirsty. i went inside and asked if i could have a drink your mum said don't touch the coke. So i went in the fridge and there it was, a bottle of coke.

it was raro or coke, i chose coke.

So i quietly opened the bottle so you couldn't hear the fizz and quickly sculled.

Huh, is this coke flat? it tasted funny, i wanted to spit it out but i couldn't cause they would have heard it in the sitting room and i would get in trouble, so I swallowed it. I went out and finished the lawn with sore guts

Later that night your dad went to the fridge and said. who's been drinking my coke. then he laughed "its RUM AND COKE" i didn't say anything but i did think to myself why would you want to drink that poison its disgusting

later on in life i learned to love that disgusting taste. don't any more but that's another post.

A puzzle piece

Lottie

The youngest of the REALM

Also the most stubborn

Cant be talked into doing anything she doesnt want to do

You have to be patient with this one

But she's also one of the most loyal

My voice of reason in times of sheer & utter frustration

A good source of entertainment

Easy to talk to

Talk with

Talk about (lol)

But at the end of the day

We all love her

Because she's part of "our" family

Part of the puzzle

We are all pieces

Sometimes we dont know where - or even if - we fit

But we do

We all do

Because not everyone is a corner piece

Or a piece that makes up the outside frame

We cant all be the same piece, because we're all unique

Each piece fits into another

As a family should

But we are all pieces that make up this beautiful family picture

Some of us have spent years together - our pieces have been sitting on the board connected

There are sporadially connected pieces everywhere

But we are all a part of this "puzzle"

The picture keeps growing, as our family expands

Once a year, a particular piece has its day

Today, is Lotties day

Happy Birthday Lottie

We love you
I love you

God loves you

I trust you know this

I love you up to the moon...

This is Jai Matangaro Nooroa.  She turns six in August this year.  She is a dreamer, loves to sing, has discovered that when you do the Cook Island dance you can get money, (she got $45 when she danced in the Uapou the weekend just gone) which has been put into her piggy bank.

She has an affinity to music and picks up tunes, jingles, words to songs, beats and rhythms real quick.  She also marches to the beat of her own drum!  

I remember her birth, we went into the delivery suite at about five o'clock in the morning, only to have to move towns and hospitals and wait until 7 that night for her to come. (and even then they had to pry her out of her mother using a huge suction cup, 2 nurses, 2 doctors, the anethetist, and an intern) along with Jono, Ula, Mum and Dad - eleven in total awaiting her arrival.  This set the scene for Jai in later years to come, when she did something, it was done big , nothing done half way.

Club feet in both legs (the worst of 2 kinds the Doctor said), regular visits to the hospital, corrective surgery at 6 months, having to be put under anaesthetic to remove 5 milk teeth, surgery to put pins in her arm when she fell off the monkey bars at school, and having to be admitted to hospital in Auckland for a few days when an abcess caused the left hand side of her face to swell with infection.   When she does something, it is done big, nothing done halfway.

Despite all that, she is a happy child, she is not scared to take a risk, but can get shy when having to be the centre of attention.  She loves her brother and sister with fierce abandon, she is happy to play with others, and is equally happy to entertain herself.  She has a twinkle in her eye when she is happy, and can cause clouds to gather when she is not, she loves to fill her collection of bags with all kinds of trinkets and absolutely loves crowns and tiaras.

She goes to my school and with gay abandon will run out of her class line when she sees me and run and give me a big hug.  I love that!

How do you tell someone so young that they mean the world to you? That in the short time they have been around that they have made an impact on your life that has changed it forever?

You tell them you love them more than the stars! 

What does she reply? 

At her tender age, in her short life, she knows just what to say...  

Mummy, Daddy, Brother, Sister, Nanny, Papa, Mama, Aunty, Uncle...  I love you up to the Moon!!!

When Jai does something she does it big, nothing done halfway.

KIA ORANA FAMILY!!!

Hey family, this is soooooo cool!!! Mata and Ula have been going on about this blog and I thought I'd finally have a look, and I'm so glad I did.

2 more days to go and I'll be finished my first semester of Uni!!! I am so grateful to my lovely sisters for looking after the kids when I need to start my assignment the night before its due. LMAO. (yeah I know. . ."just like your mum") Thank you to my beautiful husband for being such a great house bitch and having the kids and dinner ready when I get home! (He does a better job then me. . .when he's in the mood) And last but not in the slightest bit least. . .
THANK YOU LORD for getting me to school and home safely everyday. Especially the day I went to school and the rotary for my alternater fell off just before the petrol station in Karapiro and I drove the whole way back to Tokoroa without my car blowing up on me. Lol. God has been so good to me. I pray everyday on my way to school and always when my assignments are due. lol. I have also been praying for my big bro and his family. Hope you guys are all well.

This blog page is sooo cool, its awesome to hear what all the famz is up to.

Love you all. Mwah!!!

Mainz

(thats my name at varsity, coz white people cant pronounce Maa-ee-neh, and Im the only "black" person in my class lol)

Koni & Atalia - TOK represent

Big ups to Koni & Talia who played ball in the weekend ... repping TOK hard ... thanks girls!!! oh and not forgetting Chantel :-)

Koni keeping up with Tuau tradition, and injuring herself in the last game!!! Talia, too tired as the games go on during the day, and warming the bench too much in the latter games ... lol ... whilst carrying on a long tradition of RAMZ (Otara) bball ... hazard of being married to one (aye Talia) + having your best friend be one (Rae) ... but more than RAMZ, holding the torch high for TOKOROA ... coz if it wasnt for you's (+ Chantel) winning the shoot out, you'd be playing the stinky Panthers in the semi's ... but WOOP WOOP youz made finals, and that was how kool ...

We've got some video of the semi's game - Koni, you did this KOOL-AS fake under the basket ... will burn a copy off for you to watch, coz, it really was a good game ... Talia, we've got video of you actually running on court LOL you'll get your copy too

Before I go, just wanna say:

Shot Pui! For looking after your son Sat nite and ALL day Sunday while Koni played ball ... you're a kool dude ... loved seeing Tinokura :-) he's soooooooo lovely ...

Aunty Lottie & Aunty Florence ... for coming up to Aucks, looking after Tali-Porky lol ... man, she's got real attitude but shes sooooo gorgeous when she's NOT a sookie. Was kool seeing you's ... will make sure to come down Tok soon

Baby Florence for being the blender that she is!!!! She's soooooooooooooo cute!! lol

Emma, Liam & Sha-shae ... for coming out to the gym for more than 15mins!

To all you stinky's that didnt come up lol ... next time k!!!

This one's for the kiddies...

I've been playing around with the new printer, scanner that we have.  It's first job was to print the e-tickets for our Chiefs game!!!  Good luck to the Chiefs this weekend.  

Anyway, back to the post, cleaning up and clearing out the house during the renovations, I found a whole stack of photos, this one included.  I just had to post it for the kids in Albury.  

Look closer your Dad is wearing a skirt, ewwwww!!!!!

But really he's not - it's a pareu :)  This occasion was from a Cook Island camp we attended way back in the 80's (about 100 years ago)  The quality of the picture is a good indicator of how far technology (and fashion) has progressed over time.   

The night event was getting all the young people getting dressed up like Cook Islanders, transport us on a bus down the busiest street in the City and walk around spreading the love and joy!  Where there was a lot of hooting and laughter, sure enough there in the centre was my Lil' bro, Tino, (your husband and Dad!)  

Nothing much has changed, he's still the centre of a lot of hooting and laughter only this time instead of being surrounded by his 'boys'  he's surrounded by the closest thing to his heart (his wife and family).

Hope this finds you all well.

Love u much

Mata

xox

Meet Incredi-Boy!!!

This is Tiona Cameron Nate Nooroa. He's at his cousin P.J's 4th Birthday party dressed as one of his favourite cartoon characters from the 'Incwedibles'. He thought he was so cool! Look closer and you will see another tribute to his cartoon hero 'Spiderman', his gumboots!

Before he was born, Maine asked Dad to name him. Dad deliberated for ages, dreamed about a name, prayed and then when baby was born said to Maine ' I've got two names, but the one I really want is Tiona, it means Zion in Cook Island'. Maine and Jono liked it straight off, so that was it. Teura added Cameron, (she said she just liked the name, I think it was her boyfriends name - heheheh), and Nate being short for the 'nathan' part of his Dad's name Jonathan. Which is quite cool considering his best friend is his Dad.

Tiona is 4 going on 5 and can't wait to go to 'big school' like his sister Jai. With his Mama working at Strathmore school, and Aunty Mata working at Tainui, it was going to be a close call as to where the kids will be attending school. Jai chose Tainui, because my cool aunty mata goes there...(LOL) and Tiona loves his sister so much he wants to go to his sister's school, much to the dismay of his Mama. We'll see though come his 5th birthday, he loves his Mama too.

He has a fascination for sharks, any type, and will sit for ages reading, watching documentaries, cartoons, movies, anything that has sharks. We took him to Kelly Tarlton's for his 3rd birthday, and he sat on the moving walkway just staring wide-eyed at the sharks. He's also started playing league for Pacific (you guessed it) SHARKS!!!

He loves to play, He's outside jumping off the shed roof, climbing from the garage roof at their house to the car port outside Mum and Dad's. He learned to ride his bike when he turned 3, a little blue bike with black handles. He likes to go to the top of the hill past the school and race as fast as he can down, the brakes are broken, so the latest game is see how far he can go and then pedal like crazy up the next hill. This takes him past 5 driveways, 3 of which have huge trees growing and create a visual block for cars backing out! Doesn't faze him!

He climbs trees, washing lines and swings like a monkey, he gets knocked down, will wail like 10 banshees, but with cuddles from his Mum, Jai screeching at him to 'Come on Tiona', about 3 strategically placed plasters, will be back outside doing it all again.

Incredible, Incrediboy, this is Tiona.

I HATE ...

I HATE ...
tokoroa in the winter time
the cold
early morning frosts (although everything looks crisp & clean and the air is amazing, but cold)
southerly winds that chill you to the bone
overcast skies that last all day
spending 2 hours watching league in the cold and your team loses (but pui & yannis made it worthwhile, and fish when he didn't drop the ball or lose it in a tackle or fall over trying to step a dude on the other team lol)
work today (oh to be the dude in cambridge that won $16 mil, bastard hahaha)
watching cooking shows on tv they're so damn boring
the warriors at the moment (damn losers)
the crusaders for not beating the bulls
that the super 14 final isn't in hamilton
being fat LMBFAO
exercising to lose all the fat
not fitting anything because im fat OMGoodness
smoking
trying to quit smoking
my house being messy
cleaning my house HAHAHA
when my 10GB allowance of internet runs out before the month is up lol
that tali-porky is in auckland
that i dont make enough effort to visit nana because she'll be gone before i know it
that church as of late has just become unimportant and irrelevant to me
God doesn't hold the importance in my life that He used too
understanding the truth and knowing what i know ... its still possible to feel lost, empty and confused
that my faith isn't the size of a mustard seed
i've become selfish instead of selfless
i'm ungrateful for the blessings i receive in life
not spending enough time with the people that i love
not telling the people that i love how much i love them
goodbyes and people leaving (thats sad)
that this blog has just made me look like a drama queen LMAO LOL

thats my moan for the week ... HAHAHA

love to everyone out there

lottie xoxo

Keeping in touch...

Hi Family!!!!

To those in Auckland, Australia and here in Tok of Roa, Love you much!!!

Just catching up with all the posts, don't you just love it!!!!!  (Thanks Vanessa, it's great to be able to keep in touch!)  I think Bebo is getting a bit obsolete now!! hehehehe.

Tino hope is all as well as it can be, when you hear anything, ring home 078867316, day or night - ring collect if you need to, thinking of you and the family, always.  

We've got a photo album come scrapbook that we've been putting together for your kids, it's about us in New Zealand, been doing it for the past 4 years (must get that 'get it done' ethic from Mum!)  It might be faster putting it here in the blog!  Just have to figure out how to transfer the photos onto computer, will aim to start that this week!!!  

To all the hearty chiefs fans!!!!  YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!  We must have had the best spot in the whole stadium, (along with about 200 others!) The best spot because we saw the first try close up and Lauki was going 'hey Mata this one was for you'!!!(giggle), even when the game got a bit boring the sideline antics were fantastic (see ula's post), and down to the foggy, oh man why did they put the smoke machines on now for?! ending we were still close enough to see the final moments.

If you texted Me on Friday, back at ya!!! ( I didn't reply 'cos I thought, Man, can't work just leave me alone!!!, I was supposed to be at a staff dinner, but please!!!)

So now that we are not having a home final - (Koni and Pui had much pleasure in telling me that today) I suppose the other option is Auckland for the weekend to watch some family play basketball!!! Just got to make some plans.

I'll finish this post how I started it, To the family in Australia (Tuau clan in Albury, Tana in Sydney, Jovan in the Gold Coast, Mum and Dad in Cairns, Uncle Maurice in Melbourne), Rae and Tak's in Auckland (and Lornee), The Tavai's (especially Tali-Porky) and everyone in Tokoroa, have a great week, Love you all more than the stars.

Mata

xoxoxox

YES!!!!!!! GO CHIEFS !!!!!!!!!! i knew they would win, i told you. GO CHIEFS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew it man, I could feel it was going to happen.................. YES !!!!!


GO CHIEF . TINO

Hometown Semi

The cold crisp winter air... chainsaw dude sitting in his cherrypicker... Little Cheif stalking the sidelines...yannis on the door...koni dressed liked she wanted to be on the door with him (hahaha)... meres banging....cowbells ringing....rosey faced kiddies getting all the cool stuff i wish the morefm mafia would throw my way.... super red badge man tackling the innocent guy... people constantly encroaching on my personal space... the indescribable sight and sound of 30,000 (or something like that) people chanting "cheifs, cheifs, cheifs, cheifs"... and drunken white dudes wearing the waikato flag as jackets....  The sights and sounds that set the backdrop to the historical day the Cheifs made their way to the Super14 FINALS.

Got off to a slow start - 35 minutes of trying to connect our new printer so we could print our E-Tickets out (bahahah), but algud after that.  Cheers for the tickets mata! 

My throat is itchy and my heads sore from yelling and screaming and banging my meres right to the last second.  There's always next year hurristains - as maine so eloquently put lol. 

I love the Auckland City Skyline ...

I love when I'm driving on my way home from work and the skyline is all lit up, and I take it all in just before I hit the harbour bridge ... its a real beauty. I'd love to be able to just look out my lounge/bedroom window and see it .... I hate that in order for this to be a reality, I'd have to move from South Auckland ... I love South Auckland ... I hate that it has a really bad rep ...

I love the time spent in the car driving to & from work, its MY time. I hate that I have to spend 45mins - 1hr in stinky Auckland traffic (twice a day) with w@nkers that wont merge, w@nkers that dont know how to merge, w@nkers that are travelling behind me and high beam their lights at me because they're in a 4-wheel drive and I'm in a Suzuki Swift, going 100km in the fast lane, but expect me to change lanes so they can pass me?!!!! Pass me on the left you w@nker coz I aint moving ... I love that I dont get road rage (much) because listening to church music calms me & helps me enjoy the ride ... I love that sometimes I dont even think about the route I'm driving, its just automatic ... I hate when I'm supposed to turn off, but keep going on my "route" because I forget I'm going somewhere else!!!

I love that I'm regularly attending church again ... its been a while, but I love being involved with the church again. I love that I'm in Pathfinders ... I hope that the kids experience in Pathfinders will be a highlight of their teen years, as it was in mine. I love that church & Pathfinders keeps me busy. I hate that I'm not able to be doing this in and for my church in Tokoroa.

I LOVE THAT MULIAINA JUST SCORED A TRY FOR THE CHIEFS AND DONALD CONVERTED IT!!!!!!! I hate to think that the 'canes will come back ...

I love that home is just 2.5hrs & a tank full of gas down the road ... I hate that I dont make the effort to go down more often ...

I love that Piri Weepu just missed that penalty! woohoo!!!!! I hate So'oialo & Nonu's moustaches ... I mean seriously ... what the ???!!! lol

I love that Jovan is enjoying his new life on the Gold Coast. I love that I can bebo him, and text him & speak to him on the phone. I love that we're texting each other now about the Chiefs game lol ... I hate that I miss him so much.

I love that I can lie in bed and write my post in this blog. I'm lovely & warm in my bed and writing this blog is keeping me from yelling at the TV during the game, which will alert all in the house that I'm watching TV on sabbath lol ... I hate that this blardy laptop is friggin heavy and I have to keep moving my legs otherwise they'll go sleep lol

I love that Vanessa set up this blog page ... I love that not only has Taki & Mata posted, but Ula, Koni AND Lottie ... I love that I can write stuff like that and know that my family know that I am just teasing and not being malicious :-P I love that even though we are all living in different places, we are still a family.

I love being Aunty Rae :-)

I LOVE THAT THE CHIEFS JUST WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope the Chiefs win tonight

I'm not at the game, but I am 'watching' it lol gotta love having sky in my room. I KNOW ITS SABBATH, but well, thats the marvellous grace of God, giving us the freedom to choose "to watch, or not to watch" or "to go to the game on Sabbath, or not go to the game on Sabbath". While I'd love the Chiefs to win tonight - because they deserve it!!!!, I hate No. 10 Stephen Donald lol he just ... irritates me GRRRRRR ... have to give the man credit though - he scored the winning points in the last two games for the Chiefs ... however, tonight he missed a penalty earlier on, but he did just make the break that allowed Sione Lauaki to score in the corner. Now we're at 7-7 ... and its half time!!! I'm gonna post something else during the break

pretty cool ...

Hey Family ...

this is a pretty cool page, thanks for setting it up vanessa & tino ... i really hope tino is ok and that the blood tests dont come back with anything bad, i'll be thinking of you guys and praying for you's as well.

LMAO @ and then there were 4 posting ... I ALMOST FORGOT all about the mere mata, thanks for reminding me that Ula is a thief LOL ... GO THE CHIEFS!!!

just a quick post to put something on here for now ... everyone take care, have a good week keep in touch ...

lottie
xox

Keep the Faith...

To Vanessa, Tino, and the nieces and nephews,

Hi from the chilly, nether regions of New Zealand, icebox Tokoroa.

I don't know how many times I've written this one post, I started last night, deleted it all and then started again tonight.  It just seems like everything I needed and wanted to say was said so much better by someone else, (thanks Raewyn and Koni!) and pales in comparison.  So I suppose I'll just say it.

Tino, I'm hoping that all goes well with your test results, if there's one thing that we were brought up to believe, it is that out there in the great beyond is someone who really cares about us, 

Vanessa had it right, pray and prayer works wonders, it works miracles too.  

A memory that came to mind when I was thinking about our childhood is when you were about 4 or 5 and had a problem with your bowel, you had to have major surgery (the scars which you still carry today)  I remember coming with mum and dad to visit you, and when we came to your room you were lying in the bed helpless and crying out because you didn't understand why your body hurt, and why they wouldn't feed you, that moment is still vivid.  Reading Vanessas blog took me back to that moment in time, and I feel the same way now, as I did back then, All I could think was 'Not my brother, he's too young', I walked out of your room, with Mum and Dad comforting you and cried in the hallway, where no one could see me, I think the thing that got me most was that I didn't know how to make the hurt go away, I didn't know what to do.  

30 years down the track and I feel like the helpless 9 year old in the hospital corridor, and I don't know what to do, I sit at the computer, and as I type each letter, each word, I cry. I cry for the lost years, the sparse phone calls, because I am too far away to do anything, because I feel helpless, because I feel I should be doing more, I cry because I lost the piece of paper that had your phone number on it (stupid thing is at work!) and all I want to do is hear your voice.  I know you'll tell me don't be stupid, but it's what you do when you love someone, you do and say stupid things.

Vanessa, Koni (constantly teased for not doing well in English at high school, and sometimes saying things that make you think 'what the...?') has said so eloquently what I have spent the last 2 days to attempt to write.  All I can say is ditto.  

Vanessa, Tino, and the Kids

Love you much, Praying and keeping the faith,

Your Sister (and Auntie)

Mata

x o x