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 

the branches

Our family tree is growing and growing. we have moved to new towns cities and overseas. I'm glad everyone is starting to use the blog, its good to hear from you all, keep posting.

i haven't got much to write about, i go to work, and come home, my 2 lives. i want to introduce my most important life, my family.

here is a picture of our eldest.

CINDY we call her TISSY

full of wind and a tongue of fire.

one day her mouth will blow her own ass up! strong minded reminds me of aunt Mary sometimes she tries hard but is not interested in school.

she is confident, has the best social skills. loyal and has a special bond with her mother.

hears but doesn't listen (just like us) and works hard. The hottest girl in year 9 according to

the local u15 footy team.

One thing i have taught her is look at the world in colour not black and white. You see Aussie is races. Still in this day and age they don't trust Asian doctors, they think all brown people

are Maori's, play rugby and are like once were warriors. Tissy is like us and see people for who they are and what they do.

she is our eldest and we luv her heaps.

so all of you over there, i know you have kids, i saw the photos on bebo. please post and give an insight to the new members of the Tokoroa Family.

The rest of you .............get busy and make some ................GO THE MOE.........GO HURRICANES

Tino

Hi Vanessa

Hi Family and hi Vanessa,

After reading your blog I went straight to google to see what may be the cause of Tino's urine problem (as you may have done aswel). My findings weren't what I wanted to see,and now I can't help but think the worset (thats one trait i've inherited from my Dad) but hope like hell that it's only something minor instead of major.

Even tho I haven't seen my brother in years, I always knew he was in good hands and there was nothing to worry about until now. I love my brother to bits, so tonight I will say a special prayer for him and the rest of your family.

What ever happens know that we're always here for you. We may be in 2 different countries but when someone in the family is in need (exspecially our immediate family) we'll move heaven and earth to be at your side holding your hand every step of the way if you want us to.

Please give my love and concerns to Tino and lots of hugs and kiss's to all the kids.

Love always
Koni xxxoooxxx

Ula's first

Hey guys

I rewrote my blog, cos i didn't want my first blog to be a dum moan one.

This is pretty cool huh, aunty taki and her trip, aunti rae and her dramas and mata... LMAO yeah that was a funny game aye - not my fault that i thought on my feet and capitalised on Lottie leaving her meres unattended bwahahhaha!

So... what to say... not much, that's it for now.

As G-Dad would say... over and out.

Ula >=|

And then there was 4...

this blog is dedicated to Chiefs super 14 team, one team that I haven't followed for the last 2 years but they still rate hi9h on my 'all time' favourite sports teams.  

I remember (fondly) the times we went and sat in the stands and made it a mission to sit on all sides that season so that we could watch games from all perspectives and areas around the stadium, How Ula stole Lotties blow up mere and was bashing the hell out of it, while Lottie was looking at the substitute one she had that was slowly leaking air out of it, or the time that we went to the game and were part of Chiefs game that could propel them into their first semi finals ever!!!  Now 4 years later we find ourself in the same position again!! 

Tomorrow we get the tickets that will see us in the green zone, no seats but one hell of a section to be in during a big game.  The crowd there is fantastic!! Real, hearty supporters who stand shoulder to shoulder, screaming, bolstering the home team and willing them on to victory!

This post, my very first is dedicated to the mooloo men, Chiefs - it's been 14 years but well worth the wait, Go hard boys, show them what the boys in red, black and yellow can do - OLE OLE OLE OLE!!!!

Love to all of you out there, Thanks Vanessa for setting us up.  Hopefully will have photos of our little excursion this weekend.

Much love to all

Mata

xxox

Can't wait for Basketball

Basketball next weekend and oooooo I can't wait. I may not be as fit or be able to last as long as i could about a year and a half ago, but I can still play and thats all that matters lol. This year has been the most dramatic year ever for basketball. We started about 5 weeks ago and since then there's just been dramas after dramas, as if we were in highschool and one of our friends hooked up with another mates boyfriend. Its like come on guys get fire wise hahaha nah just come on guys lol.

Any who I hope everything comes together at the comp and hopefully our team does well (as in wins dahahaha) considering the last time I played in this comp we JUST lost and I'm really not planning on doing that again. And next year can we please have a Tok womans team and lets all get fit so we can take out the A grade and show those Aux teams hoooooow we do it lol (sorry aunty lorn me still love you :)

Well take care every body until next time.
Much love

Konixx0xxx

Trip overseas

Hi Families

Hope everyone is well.
Just got back from Malaysia and Brunei and I tell you wot, you think the Islands is HOT baby, you ain't seen hot. 44 degrees in the shade and counting. Waiting for the CD that has all the photos and I will post them for everyone to have a look.
Kuala Lumpur is a beautiful city with lots to see. The twin towers, you have to wait in line for tickets early morning as it is first in first serve. Beautiful view from up there.
SHOPPING? Well, where do you start?. For every NZ dollar you got $1.84 malaysian dollars.
My friend Darren's wedding was great ( 2 days of being up early and back home late or early hours of the next day ).
DRIVING A CAR? CRAZY, CRAZY !!! You can't honk your horn ( as it is considered rude behaviour ) you don't have to indicate ( even though someone is right beside you in the lane that you want to go in) , you can do a U turn in front of another car ( if you so wish) , you can ride 3 people on a bike ( and that includes babies ) . You need to see the photos so that I can explain. ALCOHOL? Well, you have to be a multimillionaire to drink over there. $22 Malaysian dollars for a bottle of Corona. Lengi, Cole and Myself learnt that lesson the hardway. Our meal came to only $100 Malaysian dollars and we had 6 bottles of Corona which costs us $135 Malaysian dollars. WOW !!!
Have alot of tales to tell and will fill the family in when I get around to it.

CIAO
TB

Basketball Angst!

Thanks Vanessa :) now hopefully we can all keep up to date (somewhat) on this blog page!!!

Re: Title ... no matter how hard I try, I still cant control my (mouth) on a basketball court LOL especially when I'm on the sideline!! During training today, I yelled at the girls (oh gee, what's new) and they just continued to stare blankly at me ... GRRRRRRRR thats even more frustrating than people talking back to me ... so perhaps a softer approach - if thats possible? perhaps, say nothing?! Lorna reckons I've scared them & they're scared of me now ... yeah right lmao ... one more training to go till tourney Queens B'day ... so we'll see how we go next week - thats if they havent all revolted against me & refuse to play if I have anything more to do with the team :-P dahahaha so anyways, for all you "fella's" that may not be part of a team, come up Queens B'day ... will be good to see you's sideline ...

(Aunty) Rae lol