Meditation...

Something I've been playing with - one of my favourite pieces of prose...

I hope it doesn't suck

In memory...

Pink for a girl...

and that scan better be right!

Photos from our recent baby shower, welcoming the future Olivia.

I got to try out my new cookie cutters, and the cuz's nappy bouquet idea - great instructions Jod, thank you.

The eldest sister was in pink heaven! The second sister and her daughters are very experienced with this baby shower thing and did a fab job decorating & making up games.

Thought for Thursday

Ānd that, my lovely Storylines Festival ladies - is why we had hats on Family Day...

Friday fav

Alice! Today, doing the weather on Rove...

Following on from Father's Day

Herewith, photos from our Father's Day gathering at Waitakere Estate. Thank you Sara for organising it!

From top to bottom: fireplace, built by Dad; gathered around the wall; the view from lookout (with the Coromandel peninsula behind Rangitoto)

Thoughts on Father's Day

A little Ranty McRanty, I'm afraid.

Now, I had a great dad. And so did all my siblings. We all miss him terribly. And so do his grandchildren. He was the head of our family and, quite probably, the heart too.

Now, my brother-in-law has taken over as the head boy, as it were. And his kids love him, so do his grandchildren. He's a great dad. I'm sure my nieces & nephews also think their dad, my brother, is great.

I work with great dads. I know lots of people with great dads. I know more people with great dads than I do people with not-so-great dads.

So... when I came to put together lists of books for father's day for work, there was a problem.

Oh, not with picture books. Of course not! Dads in picture books are mostly great - some are goofy. Even the divorced dads are pretty great.

But... when it came to children's fiction, something changed. Do you know how difficult it was to find great dads?!?! Apart from Danny, the champion of the world by Roald Dahl, that is! There are 2 Elvis impersonator dads - two!!! If dads aren't absent, druggies, in prison, abusive... they're generally embarrassing. What is with that?!?!

I didn't bother looking for teen books. It could be much the same.

Why?!?

When the reality is that MOST dads are great, yes maybe a little goofy & a little embarrassing - but... in a collection as large & varied as ours, why was it such a struggle to find such dads? Because... I'm struggling for reasons really.

Maybe it's like the 'real world' and who wants to read about real world, when you can read about worlds worse than yours.

But why????

And now - I'm heading off to spend Father's Day with some of my dad's work, my brother-in-law, my other brother-in-law's great dad, and my friend who is just about to become a dad - I'm sure he'll be great, too. Oh, and various other relatives. But a lot of great dads, in a place we can all celebrate my great dad.

I wish he was here to celebrate with us. I miss you Dad. Really do. You were great. And our grief is testiment to that.

The story of a blanket

A couple of friends are expecting their first baby - very exciting! So I wanted to knit something practical, relatively easy, and could be thrown in the washing machine. Off to Masco - I've told this part of the story before.
Finally finished last night! With the help of Molly...

Molly helps me knit...













and sew...













and now it is done!

Friday fav

Like the ad, like the chocolate... particularly Dark Caramel!

Tired on a Thursday

Sorry guys - I've either been preparing or recovering from the Storylines Festival Family Day.
I promise to be back later...
A day spent with around 12,000 people is always going to drain you, especially when you spend it putting out metaphorical fires...
But it's all worth it in the end...
Roll on my second 6-day working week in a row.
How did I ever manage to work 6 days and study full-time? Or work 7 days!?! I've done both...