Dad so fond of his baby sister: He used to tell a story about teaching Steph to drive in his MG, low on fuel, Steph put the pedal to the metal to get home before the gas ran out. All those years later and Dad still thought it was the funniest thing ever, and stomped his foot, slapped his thigh and cried with laughter just thinking about it. 

While so jolly, Steph is not likely to let any social injustice pass without notice, in that distinctive voice, which sounds like you’ve smoked 1,000’s of cigarettes. 

Most importantly, Steph is so incredibly kind. 

Much, much love, Marigold

An advisor, a listener, a giver no end

The rhythm of the day starts with you

The end falls asleep when you do

Your energy, your class, your sense of fun, and that laugh

Rā Whānau kia koe, Happy birthday “aunty”

Arohanui X Wikitoria

These are just a few from 1987.

Happy Birthday to you.

Much love Virginia xxxx 

WARNING:  Maria  Inez  Alvarez  is considered  to  be  highly  dangerous, and should not be approached.

 

 

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

 

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

 

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

A swim before lunch

Best enjoyed in a sea, warmed by a Northerly 

A walk over the hill

Kit’s treadle sewing machine works late into the night, whipping up ball gowns, dungarees and corduroy pinafores with room to grow

The delicious smell of Youth Dew on your skin

And ‘My Boy’, Joe always a few steps behind you

A whirl of activity always

Friends, family, lunches, dinner parties, tennis, badminton, skiing, travels to the corners of the earth, Labour Party meetings, so much activity and energy, yet never a sign of stress or worry

Fishing off the Days Bay wharf

Lemon square, bran muffins, soups in the pressure cooker, three course meals on a Tuesday night and veggies, so many veggies from the ever-giving garden or the Coop

The Coop.  Inspired living before anyone had even heard of grocery delivery. 

Books and art and creativity in abundance.  Potting in ‘The Pottery’.  A huge garden wherever you go.  

A teenage party that derails in your garden on a summer’s night.  And a hug, no judgment, never judgment, for a contrite daughter full of beer and still wearing her togs. 

And after all the care that went into your children, a career that launched and fed and nurtured the imagination of hundreds of lucky kids. 

A farm resurrected, that is part of our story and still in our blood.

And later, long swims in a balmy Mediterranean sea.

Grandchildren, so adored and cherished.  They tell me how much they love you. 

Grandparents never known by us but so much family history imparted and shared, bringing your whanau to life after they’d gone and tying us to our whakapapa

So much style always.  80 years of beautiful clothes, nails, jewelry but more than that, an energy and a light that lifts us all. 

Your laugh.  Your sense of fun.  The ability to make friends with all you meet, irrespective of age and life path.  

Helen Reddy. Joan Armatrading.  Grace Jones.  Tunes to be belted out while drying the dishes. Neil Diamond sung at the top of our lungs on a hot Wairarapa day. 

A soundtrack to your extraordinary life, lived with so much love.

How we love you so. 

Happy 80th birthday!! Have an AWESOME Day and I hope you get lots of presents too. I have loved you for 1 decade (or 10 Years) and Counting!! I hope that today is one of the most special in your life!! You are an inspiration to us all!

Cant wait to see you again!
Love Gus

XXX