Aki and Grandma
My Grandma is in Japan.
That’s me sleeping up the top bed and that’s my Grandma sleeping down the bottom. I don’t have bunk beds but I drawed it - and the coloured lights too - and I would just like to say hello to my Grandma.
Alfie, Grandpa and Zhima
Alfie and his fur-friend Zhima
(A story from Alfie’s grandpa)
Time flies by, and it feels like just a blink ago that Alfie, the newborn who had just returned home, is now almost 7 years old. I still remember when Alfie was first brought home; our little dog, Zhima, seemed to sense something and became restless and anxious. It paced back and forth in the living room, letting out soft whines.
Seeing Zhima like this, I hurried over, gently stroking its head and reassuring it, "Zhima, don’t worry- a new member has joined our family, and it will be livelier and warmer from now on."
However, Zhima didn’t seem to fully calm down; it frequently glanced toward the door, as if waiting for the new life to appear.
As the days went by, a wonderful change occurred in the relationship between Alfie and Zhima. From initial strangeness and unease, they gradually became inseparable. Now, Zhima and Alfie are the best of friends. They play together and run around; Alfie shares her snacks with Zhima, who quietly stays by his side whenever he feels sad.
Aria and Grandma
My painting was when I got a fruit.
That’s a glass and I have noodles.
When I am cooking with my grandma, I eat the fruit - that is an apple - I like to draw and do cooking with my Grandma best.
I like my Grandma - and she always takes me to the beach to play in the water and swim in the water!
Betsy and Nana Robyn
A story of Larnarch Castle
(By Nana Robyn)
A story from the past!
Back in January 2002, Poppa and I took our darling children, (Teri 14 and Jason 12) on a South Island Xmas holiday and we had one night staying outside Dunedin, on the coast at Larnarch Castle.
They had set up the stables at the back with family rooms. The kids loved that we were inside a big stable (where the horses used to be housed) and were staying up some big open stairs on a mezzanine floor, that went all the way around and overlooked and ground floor below.
We were taken on an evening tour of the actual castle and told of how and who it had been built for 100 plus years ago. Being night time it was very airy and a bit spooky.
Then we walked around the grounds and the sea mist came in and it was very hard to see far in front of us.
It was very creepy, but exciting.
Caius and Pop
This is my Pop and I was playing golf with him-
And also after that we went to McDonalds.
My Pop lives in a different house and he comes to do things with me. I want to tell my Pop, “Thank you for taking me to places.”
Charlie and Nana Maureen
I have lived at Northcote point and saw the harbour bridge being built between 1953 and 1959.
I walked over the bridge in 1959 when I was seven years old, before they opened it to cars.
Charlotte and the Whole Family!
I drew Santa - and Dad and Giselle.
I don’t do Christmas with Nona and Nonu- because they live in Italy- but they are here at the moment! I love Grandma and my poppa.
Cove and Grandma BamBam
My first pet.
I know you have always wanted a pet, Cove.
At your age, I had many pets.
Do you know why? My father was a farmer. My first pet was cocky, a multicolored parrot we taught to talk. We had a farm dog called Tip. Two ginger kittens we found alone and hungry when we went blackberrying and brought them home. There were chickens and roosters, baby lambs, baby calf’s, which had to be bottle fed. It was my job to feed them all. It did keep me busy. Having a pet is a big responsibility.
Daren and his Grandparents
When I was sleeping with my Grandma and my Grandad, they used to read me stories.
Now they come up with their own stories - and they taught me how to be a grown up. They told me when they were little, they used to go fishing and find crabs.
Hello Grandpa! I have been missing you these years - so I am going to go to India in December to see you!
Ether and Grandma
My Grandma’s real name is Lulu and I call her “Amachin”.
In my painting, the scooter was my Dad’s scooter - because my Amachin buyed that scooter for my Dad when she was little - and I got to go on it. I was in the middle of the street and when there was a big hill, we go up there. My Amachin calls it my Dad’s world because it looks like my Dad’s world.
I love you Amachin.
Florence, Grandma and Grandad
When we were young children in the 1950s in England, it snowed hard and for a long time in the winter. There was so much snow that you could make tunnels through the snow drifts and igloos out of blocks of snow.
The ponds, lakes and rivers were frozen over and the ice was so thick, that you used to skate on it and slide across it , with no fear of going through. We made lots of snowmen which lasted a long time too. We got very very cold, but it was so much fun!
Grayson and his Grandparents
One day when I was with my Grandparents, when I went to my Granny’s work, I got to go to Crystal Mountain.
Before I got to go to Crystal Mountain, I got to colour-in book marks. When I got there I always see a little stream, so then I painted the stream - and I drawed a box because that is where the play area is.
I did some mistakes in the sky, but I dont mind about it.
Harlow, Nana and Popa
An amazing day...
One day, papa and I decided to go on holiday to Ohope, one of New Zealand’s sunniest coastlines, which has an amazing beach, with white sand and huge waves. Ohope is just over the hill from Whakatane where Popa was born.
The morning after we arrived, Popa and I knew it was going to be a special day. The sun was shining, and the birds were singing. We got up, got our togs on and started out on our walk over the track to a small bay called Ōtarawairere Bay. It took 20 minutes to walk the track, and it can only be accessed by foot. When we got there, we saw a few people laughing and pointing in the water. As we got closer, we could see a dolphin swimming close to the shore. The dolphins name was Moko.
Popa and I got into the water and Moko swam around us. Moko was really large, and I got a bit scared. One of the people also swimming had a pool noodle, and Moko took it and swam out into the deep sea, playing with the noodle.
It was so exciting.
Not many people get to swim so close to a dolphin.
Hitha and Grandma
During my childhood, we celebrated Christmas and New Year.
All the children in the neighbouring houses were very happy by bursting crackers and lighting flowers. Santa Claws would visit every home with a bag full of gifts and sweets and we also visited our grandparents and spent time with them.
My childhood Christmases were unforgettable days for me.
Letty and Grandma
I like how Grandma cooks a cake, because she cooks yummy food.
She learns it from her I-pad (and I cook with her) and she even cooks my favourite snacks. She lives with me and I love her because she cooks me yummy food and she brings me presents too.
Lucy and Grandpa
When grandpa was a young fireman at Christchurch in the 1970s, it was often very cold in the winter, especially at night.
He likes to tell me about it:
“So I was quick to get dressed when a fire cool came in, we would leave our boots out on the cold fire station floor. This made them very cold to get into, and our toes became cold and sore! One day I decided to blow a couple of puffs into my boots before putting them on...
Woohoo!!
They were much warmer, and no more cold toes!! The moral of the story is, if your boots or shoes are cold...
Always blow in your boots!!”
Norah and Grandma
First we take a piece of paper and take a painting brush and a cup - and take a tissue to wipe the painting brush, so you can do the painting quickly.
We painted the house, and my friend because my friend is coming to my house today- and I made this alone because I like to paint it alone, because I am an artist. In my house I make art so goodly and nicely.
My Grandma makes cooking and can speak “Malayalam” - this language is in India - I have been to India & NZ and can speak “kerala”- “I love you Grandma!”
ഞാൻ നിന്നെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നു മുത്തശ്ശി
njaan ninne snehikkunnu muthashi
Nuveena and Grand-Mam Nimmi
When I was young, my house was near a river.
I used to swim in the river with my siblings every evening after I returned from school. As we did not have TV at that time, we had a wonderful time close to nature.
Riley and Grandad
My Grandad won't remember, but when he read me a story my Grandma was climbing up the ladder to the attic to get a few old things from the drawer.
My Grandad liked reading a lot and I would tell him I liked the story and I really liked how he wanted to read me a story.
Ruby, Nonna and Pop
A special place for my family is Tairua in the Coromandel.
My Nonna and pop have a batch in Tairua and we love to spend our summer holidays there. We catch crabs, jump off the bridge into the water, eat ice creams and go on the JetSki. We sometimes see orcas in the estuary.
We always love our family time in Tairua!
Serah and Grandma
My painting is about my Grandma and that we play on the playground together.
My Grandma will exercise. She is fit - and I call her Mama. I like to cook with her and play with her.
I love you Grandma.
Spencer and Nana - Dr Roz
I was born in New Zealand and as a child lived with my mum and dad, four sisters, one brother and a cat in Takapuna. My favourite activity was going to the beach to swim, collect shells and play.
When I got older I trained to be a nurse. What was very special was having my own children and then my grandchildren- and my most memorable moment must have been climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
TJ and Grandad (And a Sea Monster!)
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We were going to the beach with my Grandad, but then a sea monster comes out of the water!
It has blood on it and it eats people in one bite. It was about to eat my Grandad - but then it changed its mind to eat something in the water... Yes, it wanted to eat a shark.
I made this story for my Grandad.
Teddy and Grandpa
Whenever I leave my Grandpa, he always says “Bye Ron” to me and I say it back...
It’s some one elses name but he’s saying I will see you later.
In the painting- that was when we were at this house in Rotorua and we were leaving him. He lives here (in Auckland) but we all went on a family holiday. That was when I was little so it’s hard to remember...
I'll see you later-Ron!
Milford Primary School
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