One of the true highlights of Charlotte's trip to Dunedin was meeting Murray's boys. We have heard so much about Taikawa, Tumai, Kiringaua and Te Atarau over the past couple of years; so this was quite the honour for Charlotte to be able to sit down on the mat with the young fellas, do some colouring in, and play with Michelle's iPad.
I'm fairly sure Nanna Niccy has been raving about her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter in Canada just as much as we have heard about Muzz's boys; so Charlotte's arrival was well anticipated.
Mum (Nanna Niccy) cooked up a giant leg of organic pork and all sorts of goodies fresh from her garden; so after another massive feed we all got down to the serious business of eating more of those wonderful chocolates and cherries.
It wasn't long before everyone could all see that poor Tig was tired out of her little brain; but there was so much fun to be had with the boys, there was no way that she was going to bed early.
Thankfully, (by almost 10pm) the boys pulled out a paperback 'Golden Goose'. The Cassidy/Tamati-Elliffe Clan had come armed with bedtime stories that have 'literally' changed Charlotte's entire bed-time story experience.
Once changed into p'jamys, we curled up and got down to the very serious business of reading extracts from the literary genius that is:
- "Poo Bum" (the nut-case Rabbit tripping out on acid); and
- 'The Wonkey Donkey' (a Neigh-Ban-wearing-undie-munching-bronco).
Well - for those of you that don't know Charlotte very well, I can tell you this: she is already a flamin' nutcase - so the last thing she needed was more encouragement to be mad... but rest assured, hanging with the boys at Purki reading stories about 'Poo Bum' had the little nutcase-bookworm totally in her element.
After Komene's stirring rendition of 'The Wonkey Donkey' (and a quick night-time bottle), Charlotte's eyelids quickly started to droop - but as tired as we all knew she was - Tig simply refused to go to bed!
After plenty of poking and prodding from Nanna Niccy, Paulette finally hauled out her guitar and the lads got into a bit of a bedtime sing-song. This is the stuff Mum lives for, and you could see her bliss in the way she kicked her feet in time with the music. (For those that don't know Mum, her feet never quite reach the ground when she sits in the Lazy Boy, so they stick straight out in front of her, and dance when ever there's music on).
Michelle was loving it just as much and I could tell she was loving being surrounded by all the aroha (love) and energy pumping off the boys.
Eventually, little Miss Charlotte reached the end of her tether and the jet-lag finally got one up on her. I picked her up so she could give everyone a goodnight kiss, and the music quickly switched jovial waitata, to a lullaby version of Vera Lynn's "Now Is The Hour".
Charlotte kissed everyone good night, but even as I laid her down to sleep I remember watching her fighting off the sandman. As tired as she was, she knew there was more music to be had and there was no way she was missing out.
In spite of the weight of nine time zones hanging off her little body - I could see that she was still tuned into something special about the music's sudden change in tempo.
The way she looked at me right then, I could tell she was asking; "What's happening, Dad?"
I explained to her, "The music is for you poppet. The boys are singing to help you sleep!"
What happened next was so cool.
Without any more questions Tig just accepted what I had told her and immediately rolled over. It was as if she already understood what was going on, but she needed permission from her Dad to lie back and relax.
She let out a giant sigh and when she did, all of the fight she had left just faded from her little body, and vanished out the window. In that wonderful moment, with the boys weaving a sleepy cloak over her with their popo (lullaby); Charlotte let herself be overcome by their spell, and within seconds she was deeply... sound... asleep!
zZz zZz zZz
So cool to be home amongst the faces of those kids. I loved hearing about all the things that they're into and listening to their beautiful New Zealand accents - all giggling and heckling one another in Te Reo.
Still, as beautiful and wonderful as all that sounds - it still doesn't change the fact that these people brought the meth-lab dwelling Rabbit and that crazy Wonkey Donkey into our lives:
Now Charlotte and I can't get this stupid song out of our heads, [groan]; thanks you guys!!!
Just kidding. It was really great to have you with us while we chilled out Purakaunui.
More than that, thanks heaps to all of you for taking such good care of my dear wee Mum while we are living so far away. She just thinks you guys are great.
Meri (belated) Kirihimete me ngā mihi o te tau hou ki a koutou katoa.
Kore rawa e rawaka te reo kotahi. Chur boys!
Will
