Updated January 3rd 2007
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Phyllis New Kittens Caspurr Columbine Finding Douglas Renovation News
After 8 years, we've moved from 21 Bowen St. We leave behind fond memories of getting married, looking after Columbine, living with Caspurr and a great life all round.
We haven't moved far though. In fact, we moved into the next street - Athelstan Rd. (We still have the same phone number.)
Email us for the details.
Simon's maternal grandmother died on Wednesday July 20th 2005. She had recently suffered a minor stroke and developed complications including kidney failure.
Phyllis was a well loved resident at Heatherlea Nursing Home in Hawthorn East ,and previous resident of Cluny Hostel in Kew. She was also a well liked and known resident of Pleasant Rd Hawthorn East, where she lived most of her life. Her house has been in our family for nearly 80 years.
Phyllis and her late husband Robert (Jim) were very social people and hosted fabulous dinner parties. Jim would spend days preparing fabulous Chinese meals of many courses. They were known as fabulous hosts. Phyllis and Jim lost their eldest son Michael (aged 14) in a tragic accident. Phyllis then lost her husband Jim in 1977 to a heart attack, and her 2nd son Travis (Christopher) in 2000. Despite the tragic losses, Phyllis just got on with her life. She was a strong woman right up until her death. Days before she died, despite her well concealed pain and knowing the end was near, she laughed heartily and said "I'm alright".
Nan, we miss you, love you and thank you for all you have provided us.
Warning
By Jenny Joseph
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
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Simon and Cass with Phyllis (laughing!) on Sunday July 17th. |
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Phyllis on Sunday July 17th. |
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Cass, Noelle and Ysolde with Phyllis on Monday July 18th. |
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We have 2 new kittens - Carmen (female) & Chijo (male). They are siblings and remarkably social. They are also remarkably active (code for wreakers of havoc!), and given half a chance would tear the house to pieces. They spend most of their time chasing each other (or any object they can toss around), and the rest of the time is spent cuddling up with us or each other.
Update: Since moving to Athelstan Rd, Carmen & Chijo have been thrilled by the adventures available to them around our house. They relish having our company outside, where they love playing games with us.
Although we still miss our Caspurr (see below), we're thrilled to have these delightful Cats in our home.
Our cat Caspurr died at home on Monday Feb 7th, aged 15. He was diagnosed with cancer (bowel & stomach) in December 2004 and, after surgery, was given 2 weeks to live. With the aid of our Nikken PiMag water system and the Nikken Palm Mag we managed to put his cancer into remission, improve his quality of life and he lived for another 8 weeks. Unfortunately, he already had congestive heart disease, and this eventually got the better of him.
Caspurr was born wild, and was adopted by Ysolde after falling through the storeroom ceiling at her work, aged approximately 6 weeks. Caspurr immediately bonded with Ysolde and they formed a special relationship. He pretended to be terrified of anyone else, and it took several years for him to accept Simon. It even took 9 years for Caspurr to enjoy a tummy rub, an experience he eventually craved.
We miss him dearly.
Columbine Frances Salter Nichols 7.7.1917 - 5.6.2004 Columbine (Ysolde's mother) died peacefully at home at 10:40am on Saturday June 5th. Ysolde and Simon were by her side.
Columbine's health had deteriorated after a nasty accident just before Christmas last year.
After plastic surgery and rehab, Columbine returned home. Ysolde spent much of her time caring for her, with the support of professional carers. Although it wasn't easy, it was a better option than a nursing home.
We're going to miss her dearly. Especially around the Bledisloe Cup as it was always fun seeing her one eyed support for the All Blacks and Simon's support for the Wallabies. (What a contest, each trying to outdo the other with rude gestures!)
We thank everyone around the world for their kind messages and love. The support from our friends has made a great difference in dealing with our sad loss. Thank you and we love you all.
Columbine Nichols - Greatly loved and sadly missed.
Ysolde & Columbine
Paula & Columbine.
Paula was one of Columbine's Carers
Columbine, Ysolde, Yolanda (Ysolde's sister) and Trevor (Ysolde & Yolanda's dad, before he died in 2000). This was taken on the celebration of Columbine & Trevor's 25th wedding anniversary.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift up lifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.....
Anon
Captain Douglas William Lane Nichols MC, was Ysolde's Great Uncle. He was killed in France on August 20, 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He was 23, and left a wife and son.
However, the family had no record of where he was buried or commemorated.
After 7 years of casual searching, we finally found that he is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, in Northern France. His name is recorded along with over 70,000 other men who have no grave.
We also discovered that he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry".
As the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) had no record of his medal, we forwarded copies of the London Gazette, which published the names of those who were awarded honours. (You can view pages of the London Gazette,published during the first World War online.) As a result, the CWGC ammended their on line record of his commemoration and his plaque at Thiepval.
Captain Douglas William Lane Nichols MC
They shall not grow old
As we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them
You can see photos of the renovation work on our Renovations Page. (Click here)
Cass & Noelle have moved in!
After the kitchen & bathroom install and the floorboards were polished at Easter,
Cass and Noelle finally moved in. There's still more to be done though......
Plastering and painting...... finally!
We've replastered and painted. Plaster sheeting was hung in most rooms and we repaired solid plaster where we could.
We hired a spray gun over a couple of weekends, and undercoated then finished the walls and ceilings (that were ready) in Dulux "Camomile Cream". Spray guns make fast work of painting so we recommend it over rolling.
There are now photos of the plaster and paint work on our Plastering page. (Click here)
The kitchen has landed.
Our new kitchen has arrived, and we've almost completed the installation. You can see photos of the progress on the Kitchen page. (Click here).
Window repairs - Simon's advice!
If you've never experienced the "Joy" of repairing & painting sash windows and frames, take it from us - there are easier ways to make you cry.
Our hints for tackling sash windows are:
1. Don't do it.
2. If you must do it, allow more time than you expect to get the job done.
3. Calculate that extra time and then triple it.
4. Allow more time just in case
5. Seriously, be prepared for repairs to rotten timber in the frames and the windows.
6. Tackle 1 window at a time rather than windows in 2 - 3 rooms at the same time.
7. Prepare to become friends with "Builders Bog".
8. Start early in the day, so you can apply paint early and often. (Sounds like voting ;-))
9. Allow paint to dry on contacting surfaces (window to frame, or window to window) for several days before reassembly. The drying time stated on the paint tin is never enough.
10. Learn to meditate, invest in a zen rock garden or find some other way of relieving frustration. Of course, allow still more time just to be on the safe side.
