Saturday, January 30, 2010

It's all about family.............

I was just going to do a post and say go, here, here, here , here, here, here , here, here and here to read such special tributes and loving tender words for a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. You see because he was Simon's Pop, he wasn't my Pop, or was he??

I don't have the privilege of sharing in wonderful childhood memories of a man who had the highest of work ethics, who worked marvels with God's land, a man who also tended to God's other vineyard, loving and embracing everyone, no matter their walk of life.

I have no memory of a Pop who would take his grandkids on the back of the ute with the dog down to the river, where he would work tirelessly while they were able to explore and play in the river. (Simon's favourite memory)

But I had the privilege of sharing in his twilight years when we moved to Westbury five years ago, seeing him every Sunday and more often when him and Nan moved into Deloraine from the farm.

I have the memory of him standing at the church door every Sunday, greeting everyone as they entered with a quick peck on the cheek and a "how's it going love?" Of popping in to visit them as they sat in their twin blue chairs and sunned themselves out the back in the sunroom, where he would take Simon out to show him the veggie patch. Of him being able to participate in the blessings of each of our children and the kids shly shaking his hand each week.

And of being at the nursing home to say goodbye and walking out of the room, not realising that some minutes later, that is exactly what he would do, slip quietly away. My last tender memory is of walking back in the room, after his passing, and after his dear wife of 66 years, had shared some precious alone time with him and standing quietly with the kids, just our little family, while Simon shared a sweet family prayer for his dear Pop, our Pop.

For that he is my Pop too, a kind of surrogate one for the grandfathers that I had who died when I was a young girl, who as I dwell on the wonderful man of Henry Leo, find that I miss my own two Pops and hope that in time, Harry will introduce himself to them as my 'third Pop' and the wonderful work he did on earth will continue forever and ever.












This one made me smile, Lisa multi-tasking - taking a photo with one hand and making sure Kobe didn't fall down into the hole with the other.



I was going to do a separate post about the family reunion held today but I know it is something Pop would love to see, that after the rain, especially on the land, always comes the rays of sun and that was what today was about, coming together as one big family and enjoying each other's company in the house that was once, Nan and Pop's.
I know he would be happy looking down on his 6 kids, 29 grandkids and 58 great-grandkids and so for that reason, I have made this post, as one.

Oscar practicing to be the next Roger Federer.

Never a BBQ without some cricket.







These guys were the only ones organised enough for a family photo.

Uncle Kim getting in on the water fight.


Jarom on the tractor.
And then on the trampoline.

Uncle Kim then brought out the big guns, the blower vac. The kids went a screaming.

Right at the end, I missed taking photos of Lisa being dragged by Lorraine and Aaron toward the hose while Hallie, with the hugest mischievous grin, soaked her with water. You wait til YW Hallie, Lisa will be out for revenge. :)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Simon's family

On Christmas Day we took some photos because it had been so long since everyone had been together. Next time I think we should get someone like this talented lady who lives close by, to weave her magic. Imagine the beautiful shots we would get!!

If you are wondering who took this photo, see who is missing, Jonty of course!! No Jason's Mum Lynne did a marvellous job patiently waiting for us all to get into position. Jonty was asleep at the time.

The Rowlings. L'ton. (Tammy) Tammy, Jason, Aneika, Jakob, Henry, Nathan, Katie, Lilly

The Binghams .USA.(Penny) Penny, Elliott (youngest grandchild), Chris, Sam, Ella, Owen

The Triffitts. Burnie. (Dion) Kay, Savannah Dion, Josh(oldest grandchild), Allister, Paige and Piper

The two who started it all, Chayne and Margaret. Ulverstone. (5 kids and 19 grandchildren)


The girl cousins - back row - Savannah, Piper, Hallie, Lilly, Ella, Paige, Aneika, Katie and Sarra

One of my fav pics, Jason and the gorgeous Kaisa, currently residing on King Island.
Hang on we're not ready yet

The Triffitt kids and their partners
The Triffitt kids in age order, Dion, Tammy, Penny, Simon and Jason
Mum and Dad Triffitt with their five kids
Because Jonty decided to be a slacker and have a good old nap, and it is a crime to wake a sleeping baby, especially on Christmas Day, we don't have any photos of Simon and me and the kids but because this is my blog anyway, if you are reading this, you know what we look like!! LOL.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Glimpses of the Binghams

Over the 5weeks that the Binghams were here visiting from the States during Dec and Jan, we had many opportunities to create some wonderful memories.

Here are just a few.....................

The last week that the Binghams were here, we had one last play together at the bike centre with the Kings, Rowlings and Horsmans. Penny and Jacquie used to live together in Melbourne when they were both single and Lisa and Penny grew up together.

I like this one infront of the old hut because it looks just like an old Australian bushman's hut.



Lisa took some awesome shots of these guys. I stood right next to her and have the exact same camera and still they don't look the same. :)




Jared on BBQ duty.









Jakob was a great help, entertaining his younger cousins.


I love this one of Jac with her feet propped up on the eski. What is she saying here? The fish I caught was .........this big??

After Christmas from the 27th to the 3rd of January we spent a week at Bridport with Penny and Chris and the kids at Collette's house, soaking up the gorgeous weather and spending many hours on the beach.




These are some of my favourite pics. Elliott and Jonty getting to know each other and Jonty deciding he very much liked Elliott's dummy.






More action at the beach with Owen getting the hang of the boogey board and concentrating very hard I might add.......with his tongue out.




Resident pro surfer.



Sarra caught up with her bestie Naomi.





This is nice with the old pier in the background.


On one of the nights we sat up talking in the dark after the kids went to bed. We didn't have the heart to turn the light on because this is what greeted us outside the big lounge window.

Getting together on Christmas Day. It was great to have everyone together and also to see Jason again and meet his Finnish girlfriend, Kaisa. (Jonty missing as asleep in bed)




Chayne and Margaret with their 5 kids, Dion, Tammy, Penny, Simon and Jason.

Opening presents... bedlam time.

Pop looks a bit swamped.


All the girl cousins.

Savannah, Piper, Hallie, Lilly, Ella, Paige, Aneika, Katie and Sarra.

In December we went to the Punchbowl for a BBQ with the Rowlings.







Chilling out in the hammock at our house.



On the 8th of January, Penny and Chris left to go home to Georgia. There were some frantic moments with the luggage, but they made it home safe and sound. From the first day, our kids had a ball catching up with Sam, Ella, Owen and Elliott and have already asked when their cousins are coming over again.

Wish we had a Harry Potter wand.