We are so truly sorry, sad and shocked to hear about Steve. Thinking of you during the coming days and your trip back home to NZ. Take care, lots of love Kirst, Mike, Gus, Madie and George.xo

The world has stopped revolving.......the distance between us feels so great...if only we could be near you Pip to hold you and help you in your time of need....hurry home, we love you all and want to have you back with us.....so many great memories of the man with a huge smile and a green bottle in hand - father, husband, son, brother, uncle, friend - he will be sadly missed.

Hey bro so many years we will miss out on in years to come , but one thing that we will never forget will be the memories we have had. Pipa,Sam and Libby I don't know what to say that could help you guys over their apart from be strong be brave and you have so much support here with family and friends

Steve....Love you bro..

Oooooops ... we seem to have missed a few birthdays along the way .... still nothing we shouldn't be able to catch up on sometime soon ... yeah right! ... happy birthday to you all!

Hapy birthday Geoff and Tony hope you celebrate in your streets like we do. No texts in our street last week but I am positive Steven would have planned the accommodation to celebrate them! Cheers travellers, keep safe ,drive safe and enjoy the rest of the journey. xxxxxx

Love the photos of the kids in the snow in short sleeves and shorts!! nice to see a family shot too although the view was not great! Was that deliberate to make the people stand out?

Sidwell family is head-long into preparations for Joseph - opens later this month. Both Rose and lucy are in the show so much excitment and logistical challenges in getting them to and from rehearsals. Bit of free time for me though so that's a bonus!

Missing you Pippa at our girls catch up lunch/dinners - we are having another next week for my birthday so will toast you again - to absent friends!

Hi guys, yet another set of wonderful photos to add to your album.

Really looking forward to joining you this weekend, glad to hear that the stocks of wine are replenished! Much love xx

Hi guys. Good to see you still enjoying yourselves. Can't yet see all the ice creams around the waistlines - must be the cycling keeping them at bay!! Endorse Chris Walsh's comment about not looking older - applies to both Alsemgeests!!! Put us back in touch with the Walshes if you can. Love to you all

In reply to Geoff

I heard the ref helped alot on the morrinsville game. I was out drinking with him saturday night and he have alot of spare money on him

are you there yet

New neightbours have moved in to street so have meeting with them this week about birth date. Will let you know

Hi again you four. Keep it coming. So glad to know you have experienced a taste of what has been a wet winter so far for those of us not on your side of the world doing what you are doing!!

We now have a new Constable Roberts in the law enforcement work force after attending the official graduation etc. last week. Came back to Opito to be confronted with the largest Possum I have ever encountered face to face, sitting in the rafters of the garage - again I shouted for my neighbour with trap etc. but to no avail. Hence the purchase of a bright shiny yellow Possum trap and there it sits in the garage. What I will do if it does catch the beast, I have yet to decide. Al not coming down for a day or two so could be a bit smelly if I leave it for him. All okay otherwise in this small piece of the universe where we mere ordinary mortals just plod on with our lives and await the adventures of those of us more fortunate!! Keep it coming - we love it.