Beauty upon beauty.

Kylie I've yet to see a more beautiful photo, you will be declared the forgotten goddess of Greece. this poster needs to be blown up to adorn walls.  The marathon one is very inspiring also.....

MS KYLIE

Thankyou Jennifer for the beautiful photos of Georgia in autumn and welcome to the Forsman Chat.
Signed #3

What magnificent pictures Jennifer thank you, Georgia looks beautiful.

Outside the acupuncturist

Updates on your mother

Caught cheering on the All Blacks at the airport!

Mum in her vegetable garden.

Sitting on the ferry boat going form the city to Northcote Point 

Greetings from Georgia

The southern heat and humidity has blossomed into a beautiful fall! Lots of love to the family in all corners of the globe. ~ Jennifer

The Days of Our Lives

For the Lord of the Rings fans.

  On Friday we set off. .   Laurie said he'd love  to "Nana Sit "...... so with Mum in such good hands, Clare and I left under a beautiful Auckland sky.  There was the compulsory stop at the cheese factory outside Matamata, a couple of food stops and then we arrived in Tauranga in time for afternoon tea at a friend's home.  After a lovely catchup we booked in at the Mount.

Clare checking out the neighbours

                 Clare being the event planner had arrived with all the cocktails a girl would need.

Clare relaxing

The Tauranga Clan

Clare called our lovely relatives, Uncle Laurie and Ruth saying we were in town. They kindly said they would pick us up the next day for lunch.Clare and I spent the morning walking the beaches, window shopping, eating and stumbling upon a lovely Saturday market. 

 Our limousine arrived and Uncle Laurie and Ruth took us to a lovely little cafe.  Talk about a small world, as when we walked in cousin Carol and husband Dave were in the cafe trying to enjoy a quiet coffee together ..and then we arrived. I think the last time I saw Carol was when she was cutting her  baby teeth , so it was wonderful catching up.  We had a delicious lunch and lots to talk about.

AS there was still lots to share after a couple of hours, we moved onto the motel.  It was a great afternoon and it was nearly 7pm when we said goodbye.

Uncle Laurie and Ruth

     On Sunday we stopped by Uncle Laurie and Ruth's place to pick up a couple of BIG BAGS OF AVOCADOS that had just been picked. YUMMY! 

THANKS ALOT, we promise to share them around.  So with all our goodies, and great memories    we set off to Hamilton.  Secretary Clare had called Aunty Jackie to see if they would be home.  .......Clare also called Aunty Cecilia and Uncle Roly,  but no one was home so maybe we'll  catch up another time (with some prior planning).  Clare had also called Mary and Phil, but they were involved in some great and mighty community works on Saturday,  so the show had to go on.  

Clare enjoying her meat pie, and refusing to share it.

Inflation has hit Cambridge as I remember when it cost a penny for a visit,  now it's 50c. 

So we set off for Hamilton, and pulled up outside Mt View Rd. The bush telegraph had been busy as     out  of the car parked ahead of us came Julie and Michael. I recall I saw Julie last working at her father's petrol station, I think she was just out of high school.  As I had mislaid my glasses it appeared as if she  had not changed at all.  At the door we were  greeted by Aunty Jackie, who was looking hail and hearty.  Uncle Bernie was in Morrisonville doing a 5k walk , and arrived home about an hour later followed by Christine and Martin, and Elizabeth and Hamish.  It's been many years since we've seen our cousins, so it was so wonderful to catch up with them (although it was very brief). Uncle Bernie we thought you looked great and applaud you for getting back to where you are (might have something to do with the lovely woman who has taken care of you).  yes photos were taken of our long lost cousins, but not on my camera  As soon as I can get them they will be posted.

   So Clare and I set off to Auckland via 12 Fowlers Ave ( to the Hollywood screenwriters who are interested in making a movie of our lives, that is where our grandparents lived.)

12 Fowlers Ave today. with a trespasser.

So we set off for Auckland.  Clare was really getting into the memory lane mode and at the Greenlane Exit decided to stop at 379 Great South Road.

Clare outside where Dad lived as a boy. Could they possibly be the same fruit trees we raided over half a century ago?

  As all good things must end, so did our magical road trip.  Mum was looking great, and Laurie had raised the standard of her care to a higher level.   He made her poached eggs for breakfast( she makes her own with me), he'd transplanted her orange tree into a wine barrel,  taken her to Herne Bay for a walk and coffee, and they'd both gone to Mitre 10 to select irrigation parts for the garden.  Hmmmmm I might be in for a hard time this week.  Martin and Stella came visiting Mum today so that was a treat for her.

Mary was in Auckland a couple of days last week so it was great catching up with her. John F stays in touch around the world or he's stopped by on his way to work. Nothing is too much for Hayden, scrubbing mildew from decks, pricing out wood for odd jobs, moving soil etc   The foreigners skype, Pat called last week, along with Kevin and Noeline.  Layla will be here Friday night and return to the States on Saturday so Mum has declared it a "Catching up with Layla Night," to all who can come.

Rebecca Baird and Ruby are coming on the 21st to be a companion to Mum for a week, so that is wonderful.

If anyone has been left out or misrepresented I apologize and hope you will use your grievance for character building!

 thats all for now folks, 

 Goodnight, be well, take yourself lightly, and stay in touch.  #3

Drink No Wine Until Its Time

It has been noted that someone is posting pictures and signing in as #3.  The real #3 didn't do it!!!!!!!

Poverty Eliminated

NEW COMER

I am not sure if this is going to work, but I am giving it a go.  Hayden, and I went around to mum's last night to catchup with her and Elizabeth.  Elizabeth had bought a cord to connect mums laptop to her big TV screen so that when her lovelies skype, mum can see what beauties she produced. Kevin & Noeline were the first to be viewed on the big screen last night and what a mighty handsome couple they were too!

Worked today for the Elections and again tomorrow.  It is an amazing machine, unbelievable what goes on behind the scenes to ensure ED runs smoothly, so my fellow NZers' make sure you vote on November 26.

Laurie is in China at the moment, went via Singapore.  We are hopeful he will be able to source some fantastic product to add to his range.  All is well.  Love to one and all.
Clare

This is what full blown narcissism must feel like,..... writing a blog all about yourself and not caring if someone reads it or not!!
Mum and I went to the nursery today and selected some vegetable plants.  Half of Auckland were doing the same thing,  it was great to watch the intensity of peoples faces as they carefully chose each plant.
Today Mum didn't have much get up and go, maybe it was because she was up watching the AB game last night.  This morning she said that she had to do a crossword to settle down before sleeping.

Jennifer's birthday a couple of days before I left for NZ (she flew back to Chico for it)
   #3 again.

On Saturday Clare, Laurie Hayden and I went to Waiheke, to take pictures of the McForsman land.  Yes we biked, around the island,  up and down the hills.  Possibly the biggest hill was on the property.
The land is up for sale, so if you're excited about getting it,  John has come up with a deal;  he will throw in 2 parcels of land in Arizona to go with the Waiheke section!!!!!!
  That's all for now folks, keep well, stay in touch, and May the Force Be With You,  #3

Welcome citizens, countrymen, aliens and foreigners.  John set up this cyber cafe, so everything is here minus the lattes and chai teas.  We're an extremely curious(possibly nosey) crowd, so we look forward to reading all about you!

It's a beautiful Wednesday in Auckland and Mum is doing well.  There was a momentous turning point yesterday so she did lots of walking.  Today we're off to get a tyre and the wheels balanced.

 I have discovered your vanilla squares, so found a recipe online for supposedly the best ever made.  That kiwi woman shouldn't be allowed to post information as I threw half of them out!!

 Yesterday we were looking at getting some planters together as Mum is going to have an allotment (just like in Coronation Street where they planted lots of veges).  So Clare (I'm not sure if Laurie knows he's been roped in also) are going to use their trailer to pick up some supplies.  In a couple of months Mum will be down at the markets selling her tomatoes.!!
Keep well, keep laughing and stay in touch #3