Meet Ruby...

Meet Ruby guys, this is the doll that has been made for us, and if you're in the Hockin Building at Waikato Hospital, you'll see Ruby on the main reception counter...More to follow!!

Fiona Tunnicliffe's Cow

Life In Perspective.....

Okay, so this next post has taken 3 days to prepare...There's so much to get onto the screen. Last week, we had planned to make our movie with the amazing Annette. Due to her constant chemotherapy (and some nerves), her nausea was too bad to film earlier on the week, so we made plans to do everything on Friday. I finished work and picked Annette up at 2o'clock, met up with Nat then on to Unichem Putaruru, where the amazing Trudy B waved her magic make-up wands - Annette looked gorgeous (thank you Trudy) then onto Tuscany Road. Kay from Tuscany Road had told Nat and myself to pop down on Thursday to look through the shop for some ideas. Annette wanted nothing frilly, pants and nothing red. We looked through with Margaret (who was sssssooooo amazing it just wasn't funny) and picked out some outfits (even a red one!). I found this gorgeous wool jacket that would look great on Annette, but as Margaret pointed out, it would just be too heavy for Annette to wear, she simply doesn't have the energy to carry the weight. I hadn't even thought about that as a factor!! Eventually, on Friday, with the help of Rose, Annettes mum, Annette chose a gorgeous top and trousers with a lightweight RED overlay with a very slight frill (all women are allowed to change their mind at anytime!!!!!) Then it was on to @Junction to film the movie. Mike and Raewyn were thoroughly amazing( thank you guys ), and everything was ready for us as we arrived. After a few nerves, we got started. Annette was a complete star, stopping every so often as her own story caught up with her, needing to take a breath and dry eyes. I know that I fought back the tears just watching her, so Lord only knows how she was feeling, but she did it with an amazing grace. Thank you Annette. On Saturday morning, I awoke thinking about her and everthing she is going through and found myself drying my eyes again. Then on Sunday, the music that I've chosen to play with the movie comes on the radio and the flood gates open...bloody hell, I was just outside Woollies in Putaruru, and got quite a few stares!!!! You know, we've been arranging this for sssooooo long that you become immune to words, then the rawness and complexity of how this disease affects families comes along and WHACKS you in the face. Annette has to be the most gentle humbling person to be around and I know that you'll agree when you see the movie.

Our Little Pocket Rocket - Maree Worth.....

Although I'll fill you in on the latest from our little pocket rocket, firstly - A MASSIVE THANK YOU goes to TIRAU EARTH MOVERS.. They have donated $1500 worth of product for our "Garden of Eden" auction lot, so a huge thanks to Steve Ensor and his team, it is another great prize (that we girls want - lol!!). Maree - our little Pocket Rocket at Putaruru Super Liquor is waving her magic wand constantly - although last night she was magically waving extemely superior sauvignon blanc - yum. We decided to have our annual pre-calving dinner, throw the men in the other room to watch the telly and we had a Think Pink meeting until midnight, along with Nat and a warm toastie fire. I really don't know what we'd do without Maree and her mine of information she has stored.. Yet again, a huge THANK YOU MAREE...(and thank you for the bottle left in the fridge - hehe) - Now I have to go as I've had the rolling eyes from Nolan at Odeon Computers as he's waiting for info to complete the site. Back to the grindstone.......

The best way to get it done....

Well, request letters for sponsorship have started to go out.. It sounds like we haven't been doing much lately - so I'll fill you in! I'm sat typing this on a sunny winters day, overlooking Mt Maungatautari with 2 rabbits and a pheasant on my garden, my husband would think this alarming that I find it peaceful rather than see it from the eyes of a hunter.... Now there's 3 rabbits - that was quick reproduction! We have our Kitchen - Keeping the heart in the home, courtesy of Hopkins Joinery here in sunny Putaruru but Ron & his team are organising more for us - so like may other items for auction, we can't actually list them until we know what is what. BUT - if you are thinking of buying a new kitchen this year THEN DON'T... Wait and come and bid on this. You'll be able to choose everything, but we're getting vouchers to cover cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, appliances, tiling, flooring - THE WHOLE NINE YARDS - so get saving as this will be worth tens of thousands, and ALL of the money raised throughout the night will go to the trust. How cool would it be if we could fund a whole research in Linda's name....

I start my new job on Monday - yes unintentionally at the start of the holidays - the boys are getting lists of chores to do on the farm - but I'll be Manager at Pride in Putaruru, so it will tie in perfectly with what I do with the Rural Party Girls, so one can have their cake and eat it (unfortunately it shows!!). 50 corporate packs went out last night, we sat over at my house, fire raging, switching between checking requests & Coronation Street (I may sound like someone off "The Street" but I don't watch it - I just ring my sister!!), nibbles, cheese and crackers and a few bottles of Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2007 - most divine AND $9 A BOTTLE OFF AT WOOLLIES!! Someone called at the farm this morning and said "I don't know where you girls find the time" and I had to stifle a giggle - on a professional scale of 0 to 10, we'd be a 0 - late night meetings, more concern over who's doing morning tea - or now that we have night meetings, supper & wine, on a passion for what we're doing we'd be a 50 - we love every minute of it and Nat and I drive Anne INSANE with constant requests of new things as ideas. Anne is the sane(ish) one amongst us, has 6 kids between 5 and 16 and is ssssoooooooo organised. So, blogging through the school holidays may be a little sporadic, but one thing can be said - you're in for a bloody good event!