Welcome to our Blog

After messing about with an early web authoring tool and FTP shareware for the past decade or more, and increasingly not getting around to posting updates because of the time intensive and fiddly process, we've joined the Web 2.0 revolution and are trying out this blogging thing.  As most of you know, we started our web presence after moving to Australia and wanting to keep family and friends up to date with our happenings - typically about 3 times a year.  Just because we're blogging now doesn't mean we'll be that much more prolific and rest assured we certainly won't be giving you a run down of our lives in daily increments.  To view our history before this blog, check out our site at: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~mcewend/.

OK.  We last updated you in July 2010.  Below is a grab from our Christmas letter to get you up to date, and then we'll crack on into the new year in successive posts.

As the sun sets behind grey, damp skies (we’re in a La Niña cycle, which has broken the 10 year drought in south eastern Australia but is only giving us a rare glimpse of traditional spring/summer weather) it’s time to reflect on the year that was.  It’s been a hard slog what with one thing and another, though there’s been plenty of upside.  A year ago we first heard the terrible news about Flick’s mother Susan’s accident and Flick has made about six trips back to Wellington to help deal with the aftermath.  Given the circumstances, Susan’s recovery has been nothing short of miraculous to the extent that she has been back at work part time in the latter part of the year.  However, it took some of the joy out of Christmas 2009 and we’re hoping this year to have the full on Stevens family affair that we missed last year. 

This year, Charlie, who turned three in August, gets Christmas (at least the bit involving Santa, trees and presents – it will still be a while before he appreciates the full gamut of pagan winter festival and Christian traditions associated with the date).  We’re finding that certain concepts, such as lists of the naughty and the withholding of gifts can sometimes provide a useful incentive to encourage good behaviour.  Unfortunately it doesn’t always override his manic high energy pre-schooler modus operandi. He’s quite a handful, but essentially a good natured, sometimes cheeky but often thoughtful little boy who loves dress ups, riding his balance bike and generally being active.  However, he does slow down for stories and puzzles and loves helping Flick bake ANZAC biscuits.

James (who will be two next Feb) seems to be interested in finding out how things work; often by inadvertently breaking them – a trait he comes by honestly. Also active and nearly talking, he has a delightful response to music (we call it the Jamie boogie) but is not nearly as responsible as his brother was at the same age around concepts such as “staying off the road”.  He’s not as tuned into sleeping and eating dinner, either.  However, he’s very affectionate, loves koala hugs and giving kisses and is very cute, so that makes up for a lot of broken nights.

Highlights of the year have included the boys’ birthday parties, our traditional Cecil Street Cinema, a couple of friend’s engagements, and a series of dinner parties we have run over the past couple of months to catch up with friends we haven’t had time to see much of in recent years. We’ve hosted various guests including Mary, Andrew, Ken and Esko plus UK friends Dave & Megan.  Flick also attended her school reunion and sister Rose’s daughter Maddie’s Christening in Wellington.

Given work pressures and distractions in Wellington we haven’t managed a proper holiday this year, but have plans to rectify that in mid 2011.  Dave’s assignment on a huge project with a major bank has been difficult and exhausting, but an end is in sight and fortunately his firm has reversed its fortunes since the GFC so there has been some financial recompense for his efforts.  He’s found some recreation in a varied reading list ranging from Descartes, Austen, Dickens, F Scott Fitzgerald and Truman Capote to Nick Hornby, Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy and other pulp fiction, and has kept fit by cycling to work for much of the year.  Flick’s Learning Ladder business has been sporadic this year but we have an awesome and growing collection of books and educational games to keep the boys amused.

We reflected on the passing of Dave’s last remaining grandparent, Jock McEwen in May after an extraordinary life, and had the rare privilege of being part of his Tangi (funeral) on the Marae (Maori meeting house) where he was counted as a Kaumatua (elder) despite being a Pakeha (white man).

We hope you have had a successful year (with more sleep and a less stress than ours) and that you will get some relaxation time over the summer break.

All the best

Jamie's 1st birthday - under the sea cake

Yacht Club end of Twilights party - roaring 20s

Easter Sunday Roast with a few friends

Pam (centre in red) & Mark's (left) Engagement

Kerry with baby Areal

Breakfast overlooking Manly Beach with Mary, May 2010

The boys in the Big Red Car, en route to Wellington

Susan encourages James' musical interest

Dinner at Ali's with Susan, Rachael & Laura

Kindergym in Wellington, June 2010

Brumm brumm

James, cousin Maddie, Flick and Charlie

Charlie's birthday featuring "Mack" from the Cars movie

Maddie's Christening

Charlie loves dress ups and he loves Sapphire the Mermaid (at our local aquarium)

James loves his swing

Baking with Mum - our neighbours and friends often partake in the spoils