It's a family affair (Sly and the Family Stone)

Wie geht's?

Part two of some recent snaps from the whanau get together at Maple Grove, Palmerston North and Wellington. Special times with a special bunch of people. Warning - super cute geekids ahead!

Love and peace - WNP

I'm going to wrap my love around you (The Waterboys)

Wie geht's?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I would sometimes  spend nights on my own at Ma's place in One Tree Hill.

Ma was my mum's mum. She lived alone at 11 Kawau Road and she could cook trout to perfection.

My brother is allergic to fish. I love fish.

So, from time to time, mum would drop me off at Ma's and I would do some gardening jobs and Ma would cook a trout meal for me and it would taste like heaven.

I'd sleep over, so together we'd watch some TV programmes that I was never allowed to watch at home, later than I was allowed to stay up at home. Most notably The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

I'm keen for Asher to have something like that experience.

Study breaks are a great opportunity for this. Recently, we picked him up from Palmerston North and he stayed overnight at Maple Grove. He even helped me out with getting the firewood in, so he earned $1.

We watched the first episode of Star Wars, the under-appreciated The Phantom Menace, up to the end of the pod race before he went to bed (a bit later than normal). We finished it after breakfast.

Will he love his times with Papa and Mema at Maple Grove as much as I did with Ma? I really hope so.

Love and peace - Papa

Up in the mornin' and out to school, the teacher is teachin' the Golden Rule (Chuck Berry)

Wie geht's?

Asher turned five this week! 

Jade and Chris put on a lovely day for him complete with bouncy castle; piñata; friends from day care; family and friends; Hot Wheels cake made by Jade; official photographer (JFP); balloons; pizza/ ice cream/ lollies; and presents galore.

Of course, this also means that he's off to school. 

There have been many milestones in Asher's life so far, and this is another biggie.

The learning process began 5 years ago, school is merely a more formalised aspect of the process. It's important though, and will be his life for at least the next 12 years.

We all remember that first day at school, age 5, don't we. There's an anxiety edge, excitement, awe, and a large dollop of trust associated with the day. Mostly though - innocence, and vulnerability because of that innocence.

There is such a responsibility, being a teacher for any age group. As I've said before, I love that I chose teaching as a career.

These days, I especially love visiting the primary classrooms and being engulfed by wide-eyed enthusiasm from the students. Their warmth and eagerness to learn is infectious and inspirational.

All the best Asher, as you start this next phase - be a sponge and make as many mistakes as you like. Look and learn. Grow and prosper.

Love and peace - Papa

Close your eyes and hear the call you know so well (Crowded House)

Wie geht's?

Asher's big fourth birthday this week. He may struggle to remember back to when he was four when he's an adult but the words 'whoopee cushion' may trigger some thoughts.

For the uninitiated, a whoopee cushion recreates a noise resembling human flatulence when you sit on it.

So, this gift from Fanfa was the hit of the day when we visited on the weekend. Funny how bodily function gags resonate with children of all ages (Jacky loves them too!). 

Love and peace - Wozza 

Stay under the tree line, and you might be alright, I'm a treetop flyer (Stephen Stills)

Wie geht's?

We had a great excuse to get outside and fix up the Tree House on Maple Grove. That translated to: get rid of the blackberry around it; chop off dead tree branches; have a big burn up, and it wasn't just because of the sunny hot days on this recent Labour Weekend. 

The main reason was around Asher and Jade coming to stay for a few days and us looking after Asher for a day while Jade was working.

Nothing like a young child's perspective of things to change your own. It was Asher who commented on the blackberry tendrils outside his tree house window. I wouldn't have bothered but having seen it I couldn't unsee it.

After watching him lean out, Jacky's concern for Asher falling out of his windows meant I added a wooden rail to preclude that eventuality.

Asher then negotiated his way up and down the ladder with aplomb, finding toys for his new toy box and suggesting to Mema (Jacky) that a rug would be a good idea.

He's only three and a half but he knows what he's about.

Love and peace - Papa (me)

If you ain't got the do re mi boys you ain't got the do re mi (Woody Guthrie)

Wie geht's?

Adam and Ashleigh have arrived at Maple Grove, as have Jade and Asher for a rare mini family reunion.

It hasn't been a catch up as such because the Sunday zooms keep us all up to date, more a 'remember when...' and a chance to play Monopoly Deal - a card based game without the board and dice of the real Monopoly game.

It's been fun, lots of good natured banter and ribbing. Honours were shared amongst us with Ashleigh cleaning us all out in the last game last night.

Board games/ card games have always been great for family times. Having some time to enjoy our adult children (and Ashleigh, Asher) is very precious.

Love and peace - WNP

Trigger (Trigger) and he pulled the fastest milkcart in the west (Benny Hill)

Trigger looks big here, but he only comes up to my waist.

Wie geht's?

Covid-19 lockdowns have had one very positive spin-off for our family: the weekly family zooms that we started a year ago (thanks to Adam's suggestion) during our alert level 3 and 4 lockdowns have continued long after the alert levels returned to 2 and then 1. And they are still going strong.

So, each Sunday evening Jade and Asher (in Palmerston North), Samantha (in LA or SF with Jesse),  Keegan (in Shanghai) and Adam and Ashleigh (in Melbourne) have joined up with Jacky and me (in Takapau) for a weekly catch up.

It's been great, and has certainly brought our far-flung little band of Purdettes a lot closer together, figuratively speaking.

Hot topic this weekend was Trigger - the little pony that Jacky and I have bought for Asher, nearly 2, to ride.

Trigger naturally suffers from little man syndrome

He's certainly got personality!

See - I told you - comes up to my waist, just!

On the search for more apples!

The kids maintain this is another très subtle attempt to interest her children/grand-children in horses, but Jacky disputes this. Natch. 

Wherever the truth may lie, Jacky has plans to find a cart for Trigger to pull around so that he can pay his way while Asher and I pick up pine cones for Trigger to pull back to the barn.

That should be a hoot! I can't wait.

Love and peace - Wozza

Zoom, just one look and then my heart went boom (Fat Larry's Band)

Adam and Ashleigh, me and Jacky, Samantha and Jesse, Asher William and Jade, and Keegan on the birthday call.

Wie geht's?

Recently, Asher's first birthday was a big day of celebration for the Purdy whanau, pictured above on Zoom.

The Level 3 Lockdown didn't help, but given the five zoom participants are in four different countries, this was always going to be our best bet to party down with Lord Asher. 

Apart from the superb massed choir singing happy birthday, highlights included the two cakes Asher had to blow out (from Fanfa and Jade) and Asher's keyboard skills, which are progressing super well!

Love and peace - Gdad

Baby, you're a star (Prince)

Wie geht's?

This post unashamedly spotlights the stars of the show - William and Jade.

Here is a selection featuring my favourite shots of the bride and groom heading off on their own mystery ride.

Love and peace - Father of the bride

Reunited, and it feels so good (Peaches and Herb)

Wie geht's? 

Apart from those wonderful Fantastic Four group shots from my previous post, I thought I'd highlight some of the non-posed shots of the four this time around - two each!

Keegan 

Adam

Samantha

Jade (and Asher - not fooled by the lady with the knee bends!)

Having these four together in one spot is rare, so we always make the most of it. 

Next reunion for the Purdettes is in 2022, for Jacky's 6oth birthday.

Love and peace - Abu Keegan

Yeah it's a mad hurricane (Deep Purple)

Photo by Alessio Lin on Unsplash

Wie geht's?

Highlights from the last few days since that last post: 

• The trip to Gisborne to visit my campus there took up two days and meant a fair amount of driving - four hours there, four hours back, so plenty of time to listen to Radio Wozza!
• Apart from the fact I struggle with my own company, and have to go through Wairoa, the trip was fine. Oh and being passed at speed on the left by some idiot! I saw him coming in my rear view - a big black car with multiple dings in it, I was doing 103kph, there were cars in the oncoming lane so what did he do? Well this brainac decided he'd move onto the hard shoulder and speed past me on the left - triffic. Reckless and idiotic!
• Barrelling along the motorway on my way back home singing  along with Ian Gillan on Highway Star! My air drumming on the steering wheel and air guitaring is coming along, to say nothing of my Jon Lord keyboard skills!
• Reading David Copperfield has continued apace and I'm now over 100 pages into it, into the rhythm of the language, laughing at bits, depressed at others, agreeing with Nick Hornby's enthusiasm, and hoping young Davy finds some happiness eventually.
• We're up to date on The Blacklist (as far as Netflix goes which means waiting impatiently for the next episode to drop) and now having an arm wrestle over various shows and movies I want to watch but Jacky doesn't. I'm losing.
• Jade and Asher came to stay for a couple of days midweek - the little guy is now crawling and motoring around the house with gay abandon. Time to put up screens, barriers,  and remove items that produce a gleam in his eye like the poker for the fire! Go Asher!

Love and peace - Wozza

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look? (The Beatles)

Wie geht's?

This picture, showing Asher's deep concentration on his book, is a joy to behold. Not only that, but he's now able to turn the pages for his dad as he reads along. Wow!

This is a great landmark.

It signals a few things to me.

He's curious. What's happening in the story and what's happening on that next page? Curiosity is incredibly important!

He loves books and that's down to his mum and dad...(and me maybe - if I wasn't a reader, then maybe Jade wouldn't have believed in the importance of reading either. Just saying). Loving books and loving reading is incredibly important!

He can focus! And as we know - your focus determines your reality!

I love that photo. Love it. Love it. LOVE. IT.

Peace and love - Wozza

Pretty lights on the tree (Christmas) I'm watching them shine (Darlene Love)

Wie geht's?

Asher's first Christmas was special and I really appreciate being part of that. Thank you Jade and William for allowing us that honour.

The whole opening Christmas present ritual is different for each family.

Ross and I would wake early (probably about 5 o'clock), creep out to the glass dividing doors separating the lounge from the dining room and gaze at the tree and all our presents underneath it...and wait.

Nothing happened until mum and dad arrived.

Jacky and I replicated this with our children. Nothing happened until we were all present (Jacky was always the last to arrive btw).

The wonder and joy and expectation is all part of the experience.

Now we are looking forward to sharing as much of the Christmas experience as we are able to in the years to come: Jade's reading of The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve and the morning ritual of presents.

Love and peace and Merry Christmas listeners everywhere - WNP

Christmas, baby please come home (Darlene Love)

Wie geht's?

Jacky has never been one for having family photos in the house. Never.

So, to say I was perplexed when she bought one of those multi display frames in England during our recent stay, would be very low down in the proclamation stakes (erm, yes - an understatement).

Anyway, she did. I raised an eyebrow, but the deed was done.

For the last 8 months the display board has been hanging in the kitchen diner, in its original factory fresh state. 

Many times during those 8 months I inquired as to the purpose of said board. Jacky's repeated reply? She was going to download some recent pictures of the Purdettes from her phone.

This never happened. 

So - taking the bull by the horns (and btw - by using that expression I am IN NO WAY implying that the love of my life (LOML) should be considered either a bull or someone with bullish tendencies, intractable, feisty when riled or any of that sort of thing): I decided to test the waters and put some old(er) pictures of the family in the board and see what happened, in a light-the-touchpaper-and-stand-well-back kind of way.

My first cut was met with some grudging approval but LOML's complaint was that I'd included pictures of the Purdettes and herself but left me out.

So, here's the second cut: Keegan appears twice; Adam twice; Samantha twice; Jade three times; me, Asher and LOML once each.

No pictures were harmed in the construction (as per LOML conditions) and I think the whole thing looks super cool!

And it's only taken 35 years to get family pictures on display!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love and peace - Wozza

Santa Claus is coming to town (James Taylor)

Santa replaced! Asher takes over!

Wie geht's?

Asher's first Christmas visit to Santa (and Santa's cave as pictured above) went well. No tears, no screams, no demands for presents!

No need, because he'll rightfully be the centre of attention on Christmas day from now on.

Santa did his bit - held Asher and smiled (only officially sanctioned pictures please, so they'll have to wait until another post).

It was great and Christmas was the winner on the day!

Love and peace - G'dad

P.S. Christmas bonus? You're welcome!

People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation) just because we g-g-get around (The Who)

Wie geht's?

Recently, I helped my mother-in-law celebrate her 80th birthday.

Thanks to Pat (Great GM), Brian (Great GD), Jacky (their eldest), Jade (her youngest) and Asher (her son), the event was memorable for bringing together four generations of the Smith branch. Photo evidence above is Exhibit A.

Generational connections are special. I treasure a photo I have of four generations of my father's line - with my Great Grandfather, Grandfather, father and me.

I'm sure Asher will come to look back at the photo above and wonder about who we all were (really), what we were doing, where we were.

Lovely to think of those connections stretching back - not a long way, in the grand scheme of things, but far enough. 

There may or may not be any Great Great GM/GF photos so this is as good as it gets for a while.

Love and peace - WNP

Wild horses, couldn't drag me away (The Rolling Stones)

Wie geht's?

Jacky tried to interest each of our four successive children in horses. There were ponies and lessons until each one decided there were other leisure pursuits more suited to their needs. Jade was the closest Jacky got to a riding partner.

Jacky has learned some valuable lessons over the years. So, she's getting in super early with Asher!!

Asher is a natural! A great photo to remind him of when he's riding for Nu Zild in the Olympic games!

Love and peace - G-dad

Soon as three o'clock rolls around, you finally lay your burden down, close up your books, get out of your seat, down the halls and into the street (Chuck Berry)

Lord Asher (a.k.a. A.W.R. P-H)

Wie geht's?

Our stuff from the UK finally, FINALLY!!, arrives this Friday. Bang on the last day of term. 

Considering we left the UK four months ago, we've been waiting (and suffering the lack of our winter clothes) for a long time now.

The package includes some furniture which will help complete the inside picture (speaking of which - the two weeks of holidays will give a chance to take and post some pictures of our new home).

Love that snap from Jade of Lord Asher above. 

Co-incidentally, I was thumbing through a photo album and came across one of this handsome bloke. 

Am I crazy, or is there a strong family likeness going on??

Love and peace - WNP

Sisters are doing it for themselves!

Wie geht's?

Big sister Fanfa was in Palmerston North recently, visiting Jade, William, and Asher. It was a great visit and we loved catching up!

Speaking of Asher. I loved a recent message from Jade saying, "Asher had a terrible night. Then in the morning he had the audacity to yawn. What. A. Jerk."

Yeah, so, I know how that feels Jade...

Looks like an angel...

...yawn.

Love and peace - Big daddy