Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 10:59AM Tonight the Mayor of Wandsworth bestows on me my naturalisation as a British citizen. Amongst 60 others I take an oath of allegiance to Queen and Country. Kate Nicky Stephen and Sue cheer me on. MT arrives for the post ceremony celebrations. The juice bar at the Town Hall held no attraction for him.
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 10:49AM After homework and a review of my beautiful boys wayward behaviour at the posh Anglican boys school that he attends in Melbourne we have little time to squeeze in the obligatory wrestling .... yes he beats me these days.... the cycling along The Esplanade, the tennis at Elsternwick Park....Kate takes a couple of games off the lad and he is v sportsmanlike about " not trying too hard against a girl, Dad! " We talk about his future life in Australia how I am unable to take him back to London and that his Mother, however misguided, does the best she can for him.......... and then its manful goodbyes to my boy and a tearful flight back to London. God only knows what makes us stronger and why we need such pain in our lives but we do try to be the best and most talented and most beautiful we can be.
Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 05:56AM Who says Australians don't eat quiche?...and I mean proper tasty with a side salad. Tara is a supermum who handles The Groover with the same style as Tommy and Chloe. Bert loves hanging out with the kids....prompting rather pointed questions about whether he may finally have a brother or sister !!! And asks the blushing Kate rather than me!! We have the loveliest of times on the back terrace, a windy gust takes the vase off the table and crystal shards rain down. We do a forensic cleanup that Horatio would be proud. All the better with 3 year old Tommy tearing around... the boys golf swing is to behold even though its with a plastic club and ball. Middles it every time and with force. Groover is Bert's godfather and tries to keep an eye on him. Always thought he would come into his own with those awkward teenage times but Bert seems to be getting there early. Testosterone flowing. But still warm and engaging with it.
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 06:17AM It has been 12 years since i have travelled to NZ. Although I dont think much about living on the other side of the world from my native land I dont miss the irony of arriving into Auckland airport the week that I have been notified that I am now a British citizen. I have such strong memories of a happy childhood in an idyllic setting. Rugby, swimming, bush walking, sailing, scuba diving and spending time with a close extended family. Tony Lynch a lifelong friend meets Kate and I at the airport. We drive the empty motorways late at night back from the airport to his Ponsonby townhouse. The children, Kezia and Matthew are asleep as we reminiss over a bottle of Hawkes Bay Merlot. In the morning we will pick up Michol, Tony's partner from the Waiheke ferry for a day of hanging out in my old home town.
Did I mention that Kate was asked for ID on the flight from Melbourne ? "Excuse me miss but you need to be 18 to drink wine with your meal" Kate takes it well but I dont get asked !! :( :(
at home with tony and michol
Mark Bender
Tony and I walk Kezia and then Matthew to school. Lots of school uniforms and relaxed teachers at the gates. Very multicultural and the Pacific Islanders smile with a broader grin than any other group of people. Kate and I team up with Tony and Michol for a visit to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. We see a doodlebug hanging in the stairwell of the Neoclassic building. The Museum shines in the Pacifics midday sun. A fair remembrance to those Kiwis who gave their life in several wars. I am lucky enough to log on to the war records at the top floor IT department. I search for my Great Uncle Reggie who lost his life at El Alamain and my Grandfather Roy who made it home but , they say, was never the same again. Great photos of the Sapper and Quartermaster on file and various other details. Touching history...
Mark Bender
Last night Kate and I join Michol on the ferry to Waiheke Island. Weather is pretty variable. We arrive a bit windblown, drive to the bottom of the island where T and M live. A deep sleep and we wake to a glorious sunrise. I swim in their private bay and enjoy the buoyancy of the crystal clear salt water of the Hauraki Gulf. A day follows with visits to world renown wineries and some of the most sort after beach properties. Lunch is grilled fish and salad overlooking the bay.
If ever I could have asked to roll the essense of NZ into one 3 day visit I could not have done better than spending this time with T and M in their homes. We sample this year's summer dinner party fare with Michol. The roast pear with brie and cranberry being the favourite before getting the last ferry back to Auckland. I had to apologise to Prof. Wayne Hing on not making it to the BBQ. The 3 day visit far too brief to do justice to those I should have caught up with. I make a silent promise to myself to get back soon. Not another 12 years. Thats for sure !!
must be 6pm somewhere in the world !
Mark Bender
Early morning drop off at Auckland Airport and a flight back with awkward hand luggage.... Kate managed to track down a very cool Devonport artist called Christian Nicholson and bought a piece called "run for it" which is what we seem to be doing .... on the move yet again to be with Bert tonight in Melbourne.
If we can only spend time with him Wednesday nights and the weekends so be it, but what a good time we will have.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 05:54AM Kate and I luck out and pick up a listings paper that alerts us to Elvis Costello playing at The Palais in St Kilda. I can remember dancing badly to Elvis and the Attractions at high school discos in the late 70's. Never seen the legend live. Kate and I rush to the box office and get good seats. He plays a bluesy acoustic set with all the old favourites. Alison the best. We leave after the 3rd encore from The Man. Straight into the Melbourne rain. A lucky arm manages to flag down the only Taxi in the area and we are back at the apartment in Brighton 30 mins later. Ears still ringing....
Mark Bender
Dear CK and the gorgeous Kaylen host the BBQ of the year. Do you know that if you rub raw Kiwifruit into the raw fillet steak it tastes even better than fillet steak ? Cooking tip of the year from Charlie Kornberg. Prawns with more garlic and ginger and chilli than any Wok Chef in Bangkok !! Bert enjoyed hanging out with Jackson and Mitchell who I didnt recognise since my last tour of Melbourne. Jackson in particular now very much the one at the grownups table. His table manners and mature conversation a delight. Some Aussie dessert wine to finish ?... dont mind if i do CK. Thanks !!