New Zealand

I got up at 6am, eventually we were all showered, breakfasted (is this a word?) and packed to head home. Judy arrived to say goodbye. The part I absolutely hate. We left just after 8am. We stopped in Mokau for coffee and a quick snack. I think my family has stopped in Mokau, especially returning home, all our lives. Really good food. We sat and watched a couple trying to hitch a ride. He was a real character and had we had the room we'd have loved to have given them a ride but they seemed to have more baggage than we did.
We then stopped just out of Huntly at a large tourist restaurant and shop. Really nice food and great view. Carrying on the only other stops were for fuel and a toilet stop. I said to Tineka and Phillip and we could just pull up in front of the airport and say quick goodbyes. I hate airport goodbyes bigtime. We got there just after 2pm for checkin, flight was due to leave at 5pm. The time went quickly though. Finally we boarded, no delays and all was well until just after the meal one of the passengers in the row over looked like he'd fainted. They pushed the button to call for help but they sure took their time coming. By the time the attendant got there his poor wife was panicking. They called for a doctor who took even longer to come. Next thing the young girl behind him started throwing up, then someone somewhere else started doing the samething. To top it all off a 4th person collapsed in the aisle. By the time we landed they had airport quarantine waiting, police and an ambulance. Was a really worrying time not knowing if what we had was contagious and how long would we be delayed.
Thankfully they announced we could leave. I believe he was taken to hospital but we never heard anymore about the others. We finally arrived home lst night about 10.30. I went straight to bed abd dont remember a thing until I woke around 5 this morning.

Well the weather really stank. Our 2nd day there was the best. Clear sunny skies, we went down to the beach and the kids swam. We all had an icecream and got burnt. But, that was the end of the lovely weather. Our other sister Bev arrived with two of her children and various grandchildren on the 20th Dec and it started raining and that was it. There were 28 of us for xmas and we were pretty much stuck inside for the day. My two sisters and I put on a singing, dancing item for the family, who quite frankly looked pissed about the TV being turned off. We made them suffer through it anyway. We lipsinced to 'We are Family, I've got all my sisters with me'. They should be thankful we didn't actually try and sing it!!
Anyway after lots to eat we went for a walk down to the beach cliff where mum always loved to walk to and sat staring out to sea.
While we were there I got to revisit so many places of my youth. Steve, Hollie and I also went down and visited mum and dad's grave site.
On boxing day, Steve, Hollie, Phillip and the Momfug went to New Plymouth and did some shopping at the sales. The next day Bev and her family left and we sat and watched the awful storm outside. Suddenly around 3pm it all blew over, the skies cleared and so we jumped in the van and headed back to New Plymouth. The kids all went to a movie, including Hollie who actually sat with all the kids and from what I hear played up more than they did. Judy, Steve and I went and visited Phillip who was with Tineka and her Mum and Step-dad who were up from Wellington visitng family. We then went and had a cappuncino, picked up the kids, had dinner at MacDonalds then went to Pukekura Park to see the lights at night through the gardens. I believe this would be one of the most beautiful parks in the world. We got home around 11pm. Was such a nice day.

What is a m.o.m.fu.g ? you ask. Stands for 'mother of my future grandchild'.
No pressure of course. Her name is Tineka and had I handpicked a partner for my son (Phillip) I could not have done a better job than he has. She is awesome and fitted into our family as if she's always been there. She even let my sister and I tease her about being the MOMFUG and the wedding the two of us have designed for them. Kind of goes like this, on the beach, paper flowers, colour scheme of purple, yellow with red accents. My goodness, who would have a problem with that? Of course Hollie is not happy with the nickname given to her boyfriend Chris, does not look the best when spelt out I guess. D.O.M.FU.G.
Seriously though, Tineka is wonderful and I couldn't be happier for him and should they choose to remain childless she has Phillip who we all believe will remain her biggest child forever.
Phillip handed over his car to us at the airport and he and Tineka led the way in her car.Took us an hour and a half to leave Auckland because of evening traffic. Phillip drove until we hit Otorohonga where we had a toilet stop and filled the car with snacks. Tineka then took over the driving and we weren't two minutes out when she got pulled over and handed a speeding ticket. Poor thing, what an impression to put on the inlaws. Really though, we were just glad it was her and not us.
Finally arrived in Opunake around 11.30pm.

Hollie asks, "what time are we leaving to go to the airport?" 6:30am I replied. "Ok then, she says, "I'll get up at 5am, I need to do my hair".
Geez, I just can't be bothered spending that much time on my hair. Oh well each to her own. Anyway we all got up, Steve and I had our showers then spent the next 1-1/2 watching Hollie do her hair!!
We checked in at 7:15 and went and had breakfast. Boarding time was 9:45 but an announcement said it was delayed half an hour. They had been late coming in due to flight congestion and then someone became ill and they had to get an ambulance for him. Couldn't wait till he got off the plane till he got sick could he. We finally left. There was quiet a bit of turbulance due to bad weather, Sydney was cold, wet and windy. The flight was quick and a nice flight really. We had the monitors in the seat in front so it was good entertainment and made the flight quick. We arrived and had made up time on the flight over, everyone starts standing up to get off the plane when the captain announces the walkway has jammed and we can't get off the plane. We were stuck there for about 1/2hr. It was so good to finally get out of the airport. Hollie got pulled over for a random questioning. Guess she looked like a criminal. Will continue this tomorrow, I need a coffee.