The Annual Family Poem - 2019

Christmas 2019 – the Annual Trodden Poem

On the First Day of Christmas, my good life gave to me

                A proudly earned a Bachelor’s Degree

On the Second Day of Christmas my good life gave to me

                Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s degree

On the Third Day of Christmas, my good life gave to me  

                Three sold-out shows, two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned a Bachelor’s degree

On the Fourth Day of Christmas my good life gave to me

                Four quotes in the paper, Three sold-out shows

                Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s degree

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, my good life gave to me

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper, Three sold-out shows,                 

               Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelors Degree

On the Sixth Day of Christmas, my good life gave to me

                Six dancing classes, Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper, Three sold-out shows,                

               Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s Degree

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my good life gave to me

                Seven days of driving, Six dancing classes,

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper, three sold-out shows,                

               Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned  Bachelor’s Degree

On the Eighth Day of Christmas my good life gave to me

                Eight awesome staff, Seven days of driving,

                Six dancing classes,

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper, Three sold-out shows

                Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s Degree 

On the Ninth Day of Christmas my good life gave to me

                Nine driving lessons, Eight awesome staff,  

                Seven days of driving, Six dancing classes,

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper

                Three sold-out shows, Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s Degree

On the Tenth Day of Christmas my good life gave to me

                Ten grand of new boobs, Nine driving lessons,

                Eight awesome staff, Seven days of driving,

                Six dancing classes,

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper,

                Three sold-out shows, Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s Degree

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my good life gave to me

                Eleven massive concerts, Ten grand of new boobs

                Nine driving lessons, Eight awesome staff,  

                Seven days of driving,  Six dancing classes,

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper, Three sold-out shows,                 

               Two gorgeous children and

                A proudly earned Bachelor’s Degree

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas my good life gave to me

                Twelve awesome ladies,

                Eleven massive concerts, Ten grand of new boobs

                Nine driving lessons, Eight awesome staff,  

                Seven days of driving,   Six dancing classes,

                Five pets at home,

                Four quotes in the paper

                Three sold-out shows, Two gorgeous children and

                 A proudly earned Bachelor’s Degree

Tis the Season to be Jolly - The Annual Christmas Poem - 2015

Tis the Season to be Jolly

I like to think I'm organised, by shopping through the year

Snaffling up the bargains and squirrelling here and there

Which means of course come Advent, when all the rest are fraught

I'm the one who's oh so smug, my presents all but bought

But therein lies a problem - my recalls just not great

And so the Christmas present stash got rather over weight

(And to add insult to injury the challenge that I had

was triple gifts for Mum in there, and not a thing for Dad)

I also found a gift or two I'd bought as 'special things'

A ball gown for Niamh's formal dance, a pair of Angel Wings,

A pile of books, a stash of pens, a clutch of fake tattoos

The list went on, the pile it grew, but nothing I could choose

So fatefully, so fatefully, I headed for the city

A list this time clutched in my hand, (and budget mores the pity)

At last! At last, the work was done, the gifts all fit to wrap

All that was left was cards to write (and perhaps a Nana nap)

The tree is trimmed, the lights are hung, and ornaments abound

I've filled the fridge, and pantry, and had some friends around

I draw the line at Christmas tunes - that is a step too far,

but do concede if by some chance I hear them in the car

I've even soaked the Christmas mince, it's languishing in brandy

My Masterchefs will make the tarts (they really are quite handy)

We've wrapped the gifts and trimmed the tree, made visits far and wide

I swear we couldn't be more festive even if we tried

We've 'done the lights', a late night shop, and Tree-Awamutu

Just Christmas Day itself and  midnight mass still yet to do,  

It is the season to be jolly, and for a time I'll be 

but  Boxing Day can't come to soon - so I can pack up that darn tree. 

Merry Christmas - the 2014 Christmas poem

A busy year it’s been alright, for Joseph, me and Niamh

A year of highs and lows indeed, and some hard to believe

The Christmas cards are still to write, the Christmas mince to make

The presents still remain unwrapped (and forget the Christmas cake!)

For me, a change in job of sorts, Raglan Chamber’s mine to run

The hours are long, the brain gets worn, but it’s calorific fun

One office overlooks the sea, the other glimpses snow

There’s always someone new to meet, and somewhere new to go

Prime Minister to lunch one week, a journalist the next

A black tie do, a lunch or two and planes to catch betwixt

Conference in Nelson, Auckland for a meeting

For me there really is no doubt, this job would take some beating

Niamh is now a ‘tweenager’ – she think that it’s the best

Fashion mad, its iPad games, loud music and the rest

Tonight she has some friends to stay – 5 kids awake all night

Makeup, music, DVDs – I’m the coolest mother, right?

This year she’s climbed two mountains, and danced at her first ball

She’s learned to cook, and clean (a bit), go shopping at the mall

Learned piano, Met John Key – and some pop stars too

Loves to read at bedtime, only ‘Girlfriend Mag’ will do

Joseph’s doing well at school – he really is quite smart

Especially when doing maths, or working on his art

Still dreams of building rockets, and shooting into space

But says he won’t leave Mummy, nor stop living in this place

He’s also quite a reader, a book a night at least

Keeps a torch beside the bed, and reads beneath the sheets

Back at scouts and loving it – camps and knots and stuff

Although prefers some comfort – this boy don’t like the rough!

So as I stop, reflect, say thanks, for all the joy we’ve had

A tough and busy year and yet I’m stoked with where we’re at

Yes there's been some ups and downs but now it’s time to pause…

A very happy Christmas from us, to you and yours

The annual Christmas poem

From our house to yours

.A Christmas Carol

Oh little town of  Alexand how still we see thee lie,

Can only mean we’re not outside,

my daughter, son and I

Yet in the dark street shineth an everlasting light,

 I think it be my Christmas tree, those flashing things are bright!

How silently how silently the cat comes sidling in…

Since joining us in February, she’s had us in a spin

She sulked for the first week or two then hid under the bed,

And though she should be TLE's cat she fancies the Queen instead

Listen and you just might hear some voices singing gaily

Could be Kapa haka (her) or him and ukulele

Born to please a crowd they are, with not a hint of coy

On the stage or a YouTube clip, that’s my girl and boy

Out in the garden -  one for each-  lots of plants abound

Berries, peas, and spuds and beans are all there to be found

The Engineer's the green thumb, the Dancing Queen, likes cooking

(Though more whipped cream and chocolate cake is pinched when I’m not looking)

The adult of the house is great – in work and home life too

The job, the gym, the Village Voice, the dancing that I do

A special friend to share my time, (who’s learned to dance as well)

In retrospect I must declare the year has turned out swell

Happy Christmas from Us