My most vivid memory of Dad is high in the mountains. We are near temple basin where we had come to do some work on the ski tows in the summer. I am about ten years old and there is a fog coming over the pass.Everyone else has chosen to go down by the normal path, but I am following my Dad over these wet stones. I am clutching my toy tin canteen like it is survival equipment and trying to keep up with the big figure in the mist ahead. What I remember most is his confidence, his passion for exploring. If he could avoid the beaten track, Dad would, at every opportunity, and yet we would always trust him to know his way.
The day after I head the news I went for a walk in the rain. I stood under a kind of awning and watched the rain come down on a dreary Long Island baseball field and remembered another time in the mountains. Standing in the shelter of a bivvy that Dad had built and watching the rain fall in the forest. Eating scroggin. I think this is one of the times I have seen Dad at his happiest.
I also remember how happy Dad was the last time I saw him. Watching over my three kids and helping them build marble castles. I remember thinking he has been really enjoying the moment in these recent years. Just passing from one moment to the next without worrying about things that had to be done. Certainly he never stopped committing to help so many people out, in so many ways, but I think he finally got to where he could do all these things by his choice alone. Mum says that he didn’t believe in planning ahead, but he lived every day very fully. He has certainly packed a lot in to the time he’s been around.
I think he was a great man, probably greater than I can ever be. Certainly his PhD at Cambridge and a first ascent at Mt Cook stand out as accomplishments of which I am very proud but perhaps his greatest achievement was his commitment to ideals higher than mere career. I understand now how many sacrifices he must have made to be so dedicated to his family and to making things better back here in New Zealand.
Some would say it took time to discover this, but ultimately Dad was a very tender hearted family man. He can be very proud of all that he has done in his life, and for all that he and Mum have built together.
Thank you Dad, for all that you have been and for all, and from all, that you have made. We will miss you terribly.
–
UPDATE: I probably delivered it differently at the funeral, and there are probably things I would change now, but yeah. It stands.
Manhattan from the plane… After many hours and a 13hr flight delay I’ve finally made it back to the big apple.
UPDATE: Back in God’szown since ages ago now, but way too busy to update the blog. Sorry ’bout that.
UPDATE August 2008: Since the above I’ve returned to NZ, gone back to NYC again, returned to NZ in a hurry, attended my own father’s funeral.. and still not updated my blog. S0rr7 ’bout that.
“lemon trev” – courtesy of Trev ***1/2 stars serious pud
lemon sponge with sugary yum
“smokin’ aces” – probably one of the worst movies we’ve ever seen. piece of unmitigated crud. watch the ‘making of’ to get an idea of the true douchebag you would have to be to make a movie this bad. bad movie no stars for you.
“just a vanilla cake with cream and jam in the middle”
took a long time to cook but was worth the wait **** stars everybody goin’ yum
“the double life of Veronique” - not quite as bad as smokin’ aces so we’ll give it * 1/2 stars ’nuff said
Trev’s “Black Doris Plumb Joy” almondy, pancaky mix and ‘The Last Wave’ Crown Lynn. Actually it was a night of awesomeness. **** four 1/2 stars for that awesome pud.
Kinky Boots - which broke the string of terrible movies with a fantastic not-bleak flamboyant english movie. Could be described as the full monty crossed with the crying game. Easy ***** five stars. Finally.
We think we may have lost track of a pudding and a movie somewhere in there actually. Something about an awesome chocolate and jam in the middle extravaganza but we can’t seem to find the photos of anything and we can’t even remember the movie but probably better off without it cluttering up the cobwebs up there anyway.
this camera is not so much ‘old’ as the one before the one before the one before. in fact these pics are from a camera that pre-dates me… some pictures from Dad’s old ’slide film’ camera (not sure on model actually hmm) anyway just a very small selection from a much larger selection at Anna and Fin’s slide evening the other night ..
Grandpa (Jock) and Tessa.
Tessa, Alastair, Dad, Fin, Mum and I. love the hair dad. In fact there’s three of us with the mad hair sweep and four with the mad white mop.
Alastair, Tessa (at the front) and probably Rosalind and Kent helping Grandpa out of Uncle Ian’s boat. Love those red gumboots! (click through above for a few more)
anyway thank you so much Fin and Anna it was an awesome night! Looking forward to the digital versions.
MacKendrick - after his great, great, great, grandfather Henderson. (MacKendrick also means son of Kender, or Henderson. You see) Passed down from his grandfather Stephen MackKendrick and father Miles Kendrick, Thompson.
Thompson - after his dad, grandfather and great grandfather, Thompson.
Gray - after The Gray, The Gray and The Gray* and especially after Captain Gray Edwards from The Spirits Within.
Captain Gray Edwards
Ezra William Thompson Gray
Ezra - after Ezra in the song by David Weinstein. Also after, Ezra the coolerest hipster in Williamsburg at the time of his birth. And after Ezra Jack Keats, author and illustrator.
William - asfter Williamsburg where he was born. And Williams his mothers, mothers, mothers maiden name. And of course..
Thompson Gray - for the same reasons as for Baxter.
Ezra Jack Keats
Noah Finlay Thompson Gray
Noah - after, well Noah. May he rescue us all from the coming flood.
Finlay - after his uncle Finlay.
Thompson Gray - for the same reasons as Ezra and Baxter.
Noah
* NB Even though none of us explicitly share a bloodline with the clan gray its a virtual mathematical certainty - given our heritage - that we have clan Gray blood in at least some aspect of our past - see the mathematics of geometrical growth vs the population of Scotland in 1600.
Trev would also like to thank the Academy - reminiscient of the movie Chocolat, water street and train rides the way they are supposed to be, we are glad to award
**** - 3 1/2 Stars for the chocolate. I reckon more.
…viewed by us (at this time) as a Cheap russian “import”, with, regrettably, some fairly poor quality transcription (that’ll teach me) which somewhat degraded the watchability of the extraodinarily complex dialog, notwithstanding the fantastic effects, and of course that special insane Moscow thing, which came through loud and clear. I think that, after all you did need to have seen the ‘first one’ to really appreciate it - which put the womyn at a bit of a disadvantage - - so probably not quite as good as NightWatch but I think we would all agree dang fine, nonetheless.
And, there’s a book? Cool. I bet that would rock. Must get. Might be worth another crack at the movie in fact but i think it did fly past a few of those who perhaps feel asleep or damn near.
