100 Years.

At the weekend we have been down in Taupo joining in with the celebrations for my Uncle's 100th Birthday.

 When one gets to 100 years cards arrive from the Queen and the Prime Minister.

Great Grand children ( 10 ) and everyone else sing Happy Birthday very nicely. ( quite a few good singers in our family ! ) 

 Of course lots of rellies wanted  to get a photo of the candle blowing and the cake cutting.

 This Uncle was one of 3 children, my Dad who died 17 years ago was his elder brother. their only younger sister died aged 55 so it can't be ALL in the genes one inherits.

 Looking back into Family History I think the longevity might have come from his Great Grand Mother ( my Great Great  ) called Harriet Humphrey who was born in 1847 and lived till 1941. 

 This lady was born in UK;  married at St. Pancreas Church in Euston Road London in 1866

 and 8 years later travelled with her husband and 4 young children, to New Zealand on the ship Euterpe. ( this ship is still afloat, now called the Star of India, in San Francisco harbour )

 At the 100th Birthday luncheon their were 50  guest; relatives and some carers ( as Uncle is now mostly confined to a wheel chair, but still lives in his own home  ) So guests spanning 3 younger  generations.

 This was a great Family get together. It was the first 100th Birthday Party I have attended. We were all given  the prescription of how to get to 100  in a "Humorous speech, "  by my Cousin.

 Certainly something to aim for especially if ones mental faculties  are all in tact. 

The Coldest day so Far.

As forecast the weather is cold. Even here in BOP. The further est I have ventured today was to pick some broccoli I knew was ready. As there is not a lot ready in the vege garden at present I wanted to pick the first head at the tight young stage.

Grown in a raised tub the sides get heat for growth more than plants in the ground.

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 I have been working on these. Each is a pile of 15. Each 15 is now joined in a long line top to bottom. ( 165 hexagons here.) ( More to do. )

 We have a long quilting weekend at my P and Q group, starting tomorrow with Midnight Madness. We start at 10 am and keep going as long as we can, with shared Pizzas dinner . I hope to get lots done.

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 Yesterday I finished reading this .

 All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.

 I would recommend it as a very good read. The only thing I wish is that authors would put the chapters in a more chronological order.

 There are 4 more books by this author( previously unknown to me ) that I can hunt down.

 Keep warm everyone in NZ.

Muri Beach.

3 generations of our family are back from a week staying at Pacific Resort at Muri Beach in Rarotonga , Cook Islands. Our Villa was right on the beachfront.

 ( taken from the front door )

Muri Beach is the right lower corner.( click to enlarge )

 I purchased this small breadfruit design, hand pieced and hand quilted table runner at the Sunday Market in Avaroa. The quilter had not labelled it.

The first few days and nights were very, very windy, then fortunately the weather improved and the sun came out. It was not as hot as I had expected but I did swim on 4 days.

 In the grounds of the Resort gardeners were keeping us all safe from falling Coconuts.

 Theses guys below are making plaited covered poles ( from coconut palm fronds ) for the decorations at a wedding that happened one evening.

 Sunset.