The First Day

Evie rose bright and early despite not settling to sleep until 11pm! Bob arrived this morning and pitched tent outside our cabin. This is Bob and Evie exchanging greetings .


Evie and I discovered the Kiddies' tent - I had a great time! Evie quickly commandeered any toy that resembled a ball!

This is Maggie and Nula Haplin who are sharing the cabin with us. Evie had a great time running around the cabin yesterday evening with Nula. I think that is why she wouldn't settle to sleep, she kept lying in bad calling out "bubba" to Nula and wanting to play! Nula is 2 and a half.


We saw Siobhan in the morning.

This is Keiran Haplin and eldest daughter Ellen, who were in the cabin with us. They put a tent up outside our cabin today for Maggie and Nula to sleep in, apparently Maggie didn't sleep well last night as she had to share her narrow bed with Nula!

To Whare Flat

On the 30th we drove down to Whare Flat Festival. We were a little bit apprehensive about how Evie would handle the long drive but we took a couple of big stops on the way down. We left at 11am and arrived in Dunedin at 6pm. Evie did really well and slept a couple of times but mostly just looked at her books. We stopped at a park in Oamaru, Evie was more interested in picking flowers than going on the swings!




When we arrived at Whare Flat we had dinner then gave Evie a bath. We thought it might relax her after her big day. She was pretty excited! We were staying in Cabin 2 - exactly the same cabin that Kenny's family had stayed in last year when they were at the festival!

Boxing Day

Evie wore her new dress on Boxing Day. Frustratingly enough, the weather is cool enough to be able to wear leggings and long sleeve tops! We're still waiting for Summer to settle in! At least Evie has the wardrobe to cope with it!


She watched her new Winnie the Pooh video - well we probably saw more of it than she did!




This is the tent that Kenny bought us for our Christmas present. As soon as Evie's cold has cleared up we are heading off!! ...weather permitting!

Christmas Morning

We started out the day opening our Christmas stockings in bed. Santa bought Evie a duck puppet which quacks Old McDonald had a Farm. Evie thinks it's great!





We then went down to the living room and opened up our presents from Orkney!

At Fernside Christmas Day

We got a photo of all the Bradshaw cousins - and Ritch!


Then we got a photos of all the Bradshaws and honorary Bradshaws!!

A Very Hot Day

It was too hot to do much today so we stayed outside in the shade most of the day.



We put the sun umbrella up and Evie ate lunch outside.


Evie put her swimming togs on and went for a paddle.




Later on Evie had her first bubble bath. Very exciting!

Garden Seat

Kenny finally assembled our bench seat! We kept forgetting to buy the screws for it but now it is in the side garden underneath a tree.

A Bonny Evening

It was such a lovely evening that we ate dinner in the garden tonight.

Santa Parade

Evie went to her first Santa Parade today with me and Mum and Ashley. She had a great time pointing at everything and waving to the children on the floats.

She's waving to one of the "bubbas" in this photo.

This dog was the highlight of the parade for Ashley!


Then in true Kiwi tradition we had a to have an ice-cream at the show afterwards! I couldn't decide which photo to use so I've put them all on. I think she was using her lap as a plate! Who needs sunblock when you can use chocolate!?!