Volleyball Weekend

Well you remember Pip came over to play Volleyball. anyway after the tour of the provinces at last it was time for the competition to reach the ASB tennis centre in Stanley St Auckland. They trucked oodles of sand in for the event and everyone got cracking on Friday last. Pip got us some free tickets so off we went. They played a UK team, (hopefully not the only one) who were training up for the Olympics. Pip and her teammate Taina beat them easily. Unfortunately no pics on that day, forgot the camera.... Pip finished playing reasonably early on Friday so off we went in the heat to Maraetai beach for a swim. At this time of year of course the water here is like a tepid bath so we stayed in for about 20 mins then drove home We came back later to see her in later rounds which overran gloriously finishing in floodlights. Here. Here Pip and Taina play the NZ no. 1 team of Scarlett and Blundell. They lost against these professionals in a good game.

Saturday we turned up to see them lose narrowly to the Brazilian team which was a bit of a disappointment to them. Lastly we watched them have a go at the German team who were immensely strong from the Olympics and world no.8 I think. After this we zoomed off again to the beach for another in and out dip.

The Germans were in red and blue, Pip serves in the last pic.

Well they didn't get into the semis and finals which were held on Sunday but we all went to watch. The German girls won the womens final. The French Ces brothers are here arguing with the ref on an earlier day

won the men's from the New Zealanders Pitman & Lochead. The heat was terrific for us (not Sydney of course!) so we were forced to detour once again on the way home to leap into the water!

Later on in the small hours we retrieved Pip from the Volleyballer's afterparty at the viaduct basin and in only a few hours she was on the first plane on Monday back to Sydney. Phew!

Crumblies 08 Christmas

Christmas started very late this year for us it was December before we got the tree up, a real tree coz the multitude to come would like the smell. finally having got all the decorations up I had to have a rest and go to Matarangi for a lie down! See my usual position

And Penny in hers!

Soon though it was time to return to the big A for the real Christmas.

We had an enormous Christmas day this year, there must have been 17 people in the house at one stage or another. we started off with the champagne breakfast. here only the remains

on the table with Penny and friend Anne

who volunteered to be the day's catering assistant too!

Well every one came

Tabatha our boarder brought fiancee Neil and then

Richard with Abbey

Jennifer with Roger and the boys, note roger took pictures and didnt stand still and the boys just zoomed around

Things got mislaid

some seemed not to notice

and the search went on

And Eureka!!

Finally dinner was disposed of and time to hang out. even the baby flaked out

Boxing day was unusual in that we all chipped in to help Deborah and Leyton move house from Onehunga to Ellerslie (i think). Took all day but it was a good time moving Stuff

At last only Deb and kaitlin were left.

Well it took all day to help and others continued the next day. we were otherwise engaged on that day however, helping Jenny Cozens celebrate her 50th. off we went on the ferry to waiheke Island.

We spent most of the day with a scenic walk to town (Town?) and then swimming on the rather beautiful beach.

At last it was time for the get together, taking time to eat drink and be merry at a very nice venue

before taking the last ferry home in the dark.

Then of course it was the meeting of the masses again at Matarangi

Where we arrived in dribs and drabs, but mostly in cars. (Steven looks good eh?)

Roger Delioghts with Kaitlin and so did Penny

Pip and boyfriend Doctor Rich took time out of the Volleyball tour

And everyone had fun (That's next door's boat not ours by the way)

Jennifer even took the Kayak

Sheer numbers ensured even Jemma's tent was used

we celebrated the New Year with a firework display capped by a so called catherine wheel which exploded woth a mighty bang!

The group before we all split up to go our different ways.

For those hangers on who remained (guess who) it was a matter offinding different places to snooze

Or just pose

just another idyllic day on New Chum's beach.

But before we last left to go back to the big A,

We wished you all a happy and prosperous New Year From Penny and Rich!