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| An-elderly Cleo not too pleased with the hat Katharine made for her to wear |
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| Cleo aged about 12 with Lydia |
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| Rob and Sam Birthday cake time! |
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| Sam and Rob outside our Wellington house |
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| Sam with Rata outside our front door in Wellington |
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| Who says an old cat can't walk like a fashion model? |
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| Cleo already past her official "best before" date with seven year old
Katharine |
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| People have been asking for more Cleo photos. Unfortunately, we didn't
realise she was going to be a superstar while she was alive, so pictures of
her are scarce. Here's one caught cat napping with nine year old Lydia |
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| Cleo deciding not to enter the trampoline Olympics in the late 1980s with
two year old Lydia |
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| Rob and Chantelle's wedding in January 2009, one of the happiest family days
ever. |
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Son Rob and the lovely Chantelle announnced their engagement earlier this year. We're all looking forward to their wedding in January 2009 |
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Who says ships are claustrophobic?
See a selection of our Cruise 2007 photos here |
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| Is it ok to say the most romantic wedding you’ve been
to was your own? We married in an 11th Century church
on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1991 while Philip was
studying for his MBA. |
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| I was six months pregnant with Katharine when I interviewed
the Dalai Lama in 1992. Here he is blessing her – one
of the most unforgettable moments of my life |
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| This photo was taken in my sister’s bath in New Plymouth.
I wouldn’t recommend bathing in bananas. They’re spiky. |
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| Dad took this photo of Mum with me at Ohawe beach about
1956. It's symbolic of our relationship. Mum always encouraged
me to overcome fear and make the stretch |
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| I always had a thing for red shoes and wore these ones
to death. This was taken at Churchill Heights, a hill
near our house in New Plymouth. I used to walk up there
regularly and dream of escape. |
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| This
trio of photos is a visual joke of Dads - thunderthighs
torturing her long suffering brother Jim |
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| My sister Mary off to a fancy dress. The thing that
amazes me about old family photos is the fact Mum sewed
all our clothes and knitted all our cardigans. To complete
Mary's outfit, she has lent her red beads, ironically
the height of fashion 50 years later. |
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The Bracken Street house was a maintainence nightmare
for my parents.
They painted it themselves a couple of times, though
it took several years. Looks like Dad has been up the
ladder. He was a mountaineer, so had no fear of heights,
which must've been helpful. |
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| I particularly like this photo as it predicts a writer's
future - chasing bubbles. That's Mary behind me |
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| In a rubbish bin - where some editors have said my stuff
belongs. |
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Amongst all the wonderful pictures Dad took, it's hard
to find a photo of the photographer. Here he is helping
a boy across a Taranaki river.
Dad had an intensely spiritual outlook, strengthened
from years of illness as a boy. |
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| This was taken in France a couple of years ago, after
meeting up with Rob and Lydia during their O.E. I'm in
awe of these four people - such strong individuals and
with so much to give the world. It's amazing we get along
as well as we do. |
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The old house looks more refined these days |
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| Anne Marie Bluemel was Lydia's nanny while I worked
at the Auckland Star. She was a wonderful friend and a
tremendous strength to us. She died far too young of breast
cancer. We still miss her |
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Rob once said having Philip in our lives is better than
winning Lotto.
Philip has added great flair and adventure to our lives.
In Hawaii (1991) he took Rob and Lydia snorkelling (while
I sunbathed, of
course) |
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| Life as a solo mum in the late 80's was hard work but
we still managed to have fun. |
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| Cleo and Lydia in the early 90’s when they were both
much younger. |
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| Katharine on a very hot day in Provence. |
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Mt. Taranaki.
Photo courtesy of and copyrighted
by
Virtually
New Zealand. |
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| Two of my favourite blokes - Paul Adams, pianist extraordinaire,
and Don Betts who managed our 2005 tour of A Slice of
Banana Cake. |
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| Cleo ruled our household for nearly 24 years. Her personality
still seems to fill the house even though she’s no longer
with us. |
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