You scratch my back and...

I am not sure who is more pleased to see each other when my niece and nephew come to stay - the dogs or the humans. My boys love the attention, and the kids love giving it. Cuddles all round.
Hugo especially seems to love these kids - probably because of all the scratching his constantly itchy skin gets from them. The kids love pampering him too because of the reactions they get; uncontrollable leg twitches and persistent pats on the arms when the petting stops, to encourage it to start again...
The little bugger even left my bed during the night to visit Dan downstairs, demanded a scratch then left again. He also visited Megan, who said she was already wake with a headache, and then came back to bed and woke me... Not sure whether to thank him or throttle him. Whilst she went back to sleep after a little TLC and a cold flannel to the head, and Hugo was snoring at the foot of my bed again within minutes, I was wide awake for a good two hours after that wake up call.

The Fear of the Fall

It seemed like a great idea at the start. Miss 10 decided she would like a turn on the giant slide at Clip n' Climb, which her 7 year old brother was receiving free as his birthday was the reason they were there. Dad duly paid the fee and Miss 10 said she would venture to 4m - half of the potential height. When the guide told her (tongue in cheek) that the rule was that 10 year olds needed to go at least to 51/2m, the bottom lip started to wobble... But she did go a little beyond her chosen mark and lived to tell the tale. Brave girl.

Dad then decided he would take up the offer of a free adult fall. His bravado seemed genuine, and he handled the pull to the 8m mark and the fall with apparent ease. Even purported to have enjoyed it. Here's the video I took of him - shows the true extent of the challenge!

Then it was Birthday Boy Mr 7's turn to get his free ride. All good on the pull to the top, then a downward look knocked his confidence and he was lowered a little before releasing himself. The last of these 3 photos shows him glancing back at the feat he had achieved, before melting in tears into his Mum's arms. He later told me that no, he would not do it again next time!













My hat goes off to all three of them. There is no way you would ever be able to entice me to do this. The fear of the fall is too great. So no shame here for my little niece and nephew - just a bit of awe and pride.

Nek Minnit...

Am I a bad Aunty? Today my charges and I started the day watching YouTube clips - the original Nek Minnit clip, and others, such as Food in a Nek Minnit.
My nephew loves a new catchphrase, and as a 6 year old of good comedic bloodlines, he tried with varying degrees of success to deliver an authentic Nek Minnit moment throughout the day.
He actually did create one that roused quite a laugh when I gave my niece's hair the GHD treatment...

My sister had knotty, curly hair;... Nek Minnit...

As for my niece, she enjoyed being New Zealand's Next Top Model today.  Here are her 'Best Shots'.

(Who knows... Nek Minnit...)

Christmas Drama

Whilst the silly season creates, as a matter of course, plenty of drama along the way, this Christmas Drama is of the literal kind... my niece Megan featuring in a wee play "Santa in Space". Good old fashioned humour, quality ad-libbing and enthusiastic audience participation. Well done, Mairangi Players.

It's becoming a family tradition

Niece Megan has just turned 10. For her family birthday dinner, she wanted a degustation! (Just like her Dad and aunties) So a 4 course mini degustation was had.
Here she is serving the fish course, and also the dessert. Both Yum. But what was the super yummiest in my opinion was the mushroom risotto that accompanied the steak in the third course. Superb.
My brother and sister-in-law sure can cook.

A Bit of Drama

It was a slice of old style traditional small theatre goodness tonight, watching the Mairangi Players interpretation of the Wind in the Willows.
Of course my motivation for being there was to support and celebrate the performance of my nine year old niece Megan as the 'portly otter'; somewhat of an oxymoron considering there's not much to her.
Some would say that there's a trend within some of the Fothergills which draws them to seek the limelight, or to portray an alter-ego. There have certainly been a few of us who have taken the opportunity to tread the boards over time.
While it's been quite a wee while since I have taken to the stage, it was somewhat reminiscent for me to watch this play. I do recall putting it on at Teacher's College, though it was titled "Toad of Toad Hall". I had a small, and I thought pivotal role; that of the Washerwoman who gives up her clothes to help Toad escape from prison.
Turns out the role was not so pivotal... whilst Toad did escape masquerading as a washerwoman, (see picture two) the Washerwoman herself was not portrayed in this version...
Still it as great to relive the memories, and to see Megan making new ones for herself and us. May there be many Fothergill performances to come.

Heart Breaker

I wanted this post to be related to a shot of the final match winning score from the Breakers this evening, but that did not transpire, did it?

So here's another potential heartbreaker.
Miss Megan.