I was born in the South Island of New Zealand in the 1950s and had an idylic childhood. What could be better than being brought up in 1950s and 60s South Island New Zealand ?
We had a cottage in the Marlborough Sounds - I fully support the beliefs of the TheGuardians of the Sounds - please do take some time to look at their website.
My parents (father died in 1994 at the age of 87 and my Mum turned 94 on 1st June this year) were from Europe with mother from the north-west coast of Ireland and father from Somerset.
I have a sister, Sue, who still lives in New Zealand and to whom I seem to have abrogated responsibility for keeping an eye on my Mum
My sister has three children; Virgina, Richard and Michael. Virginia has two children; Shirvananth and Jack and married Hugh Stark on 6-January-2007, Richard is married to Sarah from Timaru (and now both living in Christchurch and teachng at my sister's old primary school) and Michael is happily married to Kerry; they have two daughters and have just bought their first house.
My Mum lives in a retirement village (Oakwoods) in Richmond, Nelson, New Zealand which I believe suits her needs well. She is now the longest serving inhabitant.
And me ? I live in rural Surrey alongside the Basingstoke Canal (often described as the most beautiful canal in the United Kingdom) in Brookwood, with my two burmese cats; Alice (Red)and Florence (Chocolate Torti) and my rare 1961 twin-engined 2CV - Sahara. The day job is working for British Airways (just over 30 years now - and they will not let me take early retirement - one of just 4 people !) on the business side of IT looking after BA's operational and HR data.
