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Published: December 2nd 2008
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27 Bower Rd, Bedford
My Grandmothers birthplace 27 is the door on the left The reason that I am able to live and work in Britain is because my grandmother was born here and that has entitled me to have an "Ancestory Visa". Yesterday I set out in search of the birth place of my grandmother Mabel Haultain nee Dean (mother of my beautiful and inspirational mother). Nana was born in the small working class village of Bedford (about 100km) north of London in 1896. Well a little under three hours after leaving home (Finchley Central), on a cold (3 degrees), drizzly Sunday morning and with only one wrong turn, I found the tiny two bedroom house that housed my great grandparents and their three daughters. At 27 Bower Street, Off Castle Street, about 1 mile out of Bedford and a mere 50 metres from the Gordon Arms stands the birth place of my grandmother. It was a very special moment.
This blog is all about special moments and the first was two weeks ago when we set off, along with our Kiwi friends, to Cardiff to support the mighty All Black's in their match against Wales. What made it particularly special was that I would be going to the Millinium Stadium, Cardiff Arms
Off to the game
The humble kiwis allow the Welsh to be in front Park. Like many Kiwi kids, in the 50s and 60s, I had grown up in a family that lived Rugby. I put on my first pair of boots at eight years old and I still have strong memories of waking up in the early hours of the morning when the All Blacks were touring Britian or South Africa and listening to the commentry with my Dad (and sometimes a neighbour or two), at 3am. Huddled around the old band wave radio we listened to the distorted commentary. The rivalrey with Wales was second only to the Springbox but as I got older and live television came into its own so did the atmosphere of Cardiff Arms Park. The games were alway tight and tense but it was the Arms Park that evokes emotions. It seemed to be in the middle of a housing estate and the atmosphere created by the singing, the steam created by the cold, rising from thousands of spectators singing. Of all the Rugby grounds in the world this is the one I wanted to visit. I was not going to miss the chance to experience it first hand.
The day got off to a great
Millinium Stadium
A liitle worse for wear after a few tears several pints of "Brains" but a victory. Thanks Chris start when we all went down to the Walkabout Pub, in Cardiff, to watch the Kiwi's kick arse against the Kangaroos. Talk about foreplay, Trev, 200 Kiwis cheering their lungs out, not really believing that we could win and then winning!. It was an amazing start to the day. After lunch, Anita's Welsh cousin Chris and his wife Jenny arrived at 11am to pick us up and we headed back down to the city. Cardiff was buzzing three hours before kickoff and the streets were full of supporters, Kiwis and Welshman soaking up the atmoshere. The pubs were packed and you had to fight for every pint. About an hour before kickoff we headed into the Millinium Stadium and despite having seats up in the gods I was not disappointed, it was surreal. Of course now completely closed in the ground was picture perfect and as the stadium filled to its capacity of 75,000, it got better. The tension built as the teams ran on to the stadium and then with the National anthems, the tears rolled down my face, they continued through Bread of Heaven and then the Haka, drowned out by the Welsh chanting W..a..les and then the
Ngati Ranana
A touch of Aotearoa, Tumeke stand off, unbelievable. It wasn't a great game (too clinical), who cares, I was there and felt humbled, just by being there.
This weekend just gone was the game against the Poms. Twickers has never had that something thats really appealed to me, (especially with tickets costing over $220), so I was happy to go and watch the game at a sports bar. What was special that day was a the Xmas Cultural Concert being held by Ngati Ranana (the London based Maori group). I had done a couple of gigs with them in 1995 and Anita and I were looking forward to a drop of our own culture as were John and Jude. Again we were not disappointed and again the tears rolled down my cheeks as we listened to the Karanga, Karakia and Waiata. Now as most of you know I am not one of those sensitive new age guys so I am unsure were all these tears are coming from (yeah right). But I have found a buddy who cries as much as me so John and I are a right pair of sensitive blubbing, emotional sissies. (John features in many of the photos on the
Ice Skating
Its not a great picture but ice skating in the moat of the Tower of London is just so cool. blog.)
We loved the dose of Polynesian and Maori culture and afterward we watched the game with the Ngati Ranana Group and followers. It was just like being back home in a Kiwi Pub with all the bro's, choice man!. We finished the night by watching some ice skating in the old moat at the Tower of London. Another very special day that helps get me through these dark (nearly winter) days. I've decided that England does not have four seasons it has three seasons and five days. Six months winter, three months spring, three months autumn and five days of summer sprinkled in between June and August.
Tomorrow I'm off to Wembly to watch the BaaBaas play Ozzie then Saturday night we'Blood Brothers in the West End. On the 21/12 another highlight I'm off to the Emirates Stadium to watch my belovered Liverpool play Arsenal. I am so looking forward to that. The only problem is I'm going with Arsenal fans and they take they footy seriously so I won't be able to cheer for the Scousers, but what a match that should be.
Honest we do work and its not all easy going, believe me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best mates
50 years of friendship (this should be in the last blog) And finally CONGRATULATIONS to my two friends that are expecting their first children. For me being a father has been the greatest gift ever and guess what, I am still harvestng the rewards. May you experience all the joys of parenthood and the amazing rewards that brings. If you are like the rest of us you will also experience the defiance, the outbursts and the frustration that brings a balance and makes us appreciate our own flaws and in most cases, the trials and tribulations we have put our parents through.
E noho ora mai Koutou
I miss you all
TonyandAnita
Anita's Sideswipe
It was wonderful to share a bit of my NZ culture on Saturday with Zoey, Carla and Neve (my nanning family). The homesickness must be just gurgling under my skin. I couldn't stop the tears. Hearng the familiar sounds of the Pacific. I could just about feel the sunshine! only dreaming/kidding!. Neve (5 years) asked me what they were saying and I said "You have to feel it Neve". Zoey (the mum) did. She was a bit teary eyed too. Maybe seeing me blubbing. We left home at 9.30am on Saturday and got home at 9.30am. The darkness does my head in about now. But WOW we are living our dream! A few weeks back I experienced Oxford , Regent Street and the Christmas lights. Thanks Malinda for the fantastic shopping spree!! Yeehaa to have ££££. Its great now I have "a girlfriend" handy. Thats you Malinda!
Thanks to you all who are keeping me informed of the sunshine and the beauty and smell of the sweet peas from the seeds I gave you the seeds last year. This time next year I will be back in the sunshine contemplating my next swim maybe. For now I am just working my way towards my first winter, possibly white Christmas in Europe, (Paris, Amsterdam, Germany and Switzerland) . Miss you all and will be trying to give you a call before Santa arrives. Take care . Love Anita
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