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CHRISTMAS NEWS

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Coffe,Devonshire tea, high tea, English Confectionery. Groups of all sizes welcome.and may peace good health and
happiness be with you all in 2012.
We see the end of 2011 with a mixed bag of emotions. For myself the sadness of loosing Mum at the start of the year,
with the anniversary of her passing coming close, on January 10th. I thank every one of you who have become
customers and friends and have given me such wonderful support throughout the year. Some days it has been so hard
to put on my bubbly appearance, but with your smiley faces when you come into the Café, my little sad moments
disappear, and we are soon chatting and having a laugh .Our life was blessed again in April when our new little grand
daughter was born, and named after Mum.,and also the very special day when Bill and I were married April 27th.
Bill and I have been so blessed this year with the success of the Café reaching great heights. T.V. 4 times, magazine
write ups, Getty’s Images Royal photos, and many Newspaper articles. We have achieved huge amounts of dollars with
the fund raising, for so many causes, all directed through the Red Cross for distribution. Right now, as you will see with
one of the pictures our Christmas Tree is hung with bags of money which in a few days will be taken off and given again
to the Red Cross for the people in Nelson who have now been flooded twice in such a short time. We are so excited to
see customers taking the little plastic bags which we have supplied and tying them in place on the tree. Again it has been
another wonderful Christmas visiting the ‘olds’ and ‘not so old’ in the Tararu and the Booms Rest Homes, Hospitals and
Apartments. What joy it is to see their faces as we appear all dressed up to give them their gift. None of this could be
done without your help. The wonderful soft toys, those donated and those bought from the many cash donations, and
this year pens from National and ANZ Banks, (thanks for that!), plus the wonderful knitting done by our close neighbour
of tiny little Santa socks, into which we stuffed lollipops and candy canes. , and a thank you for the many magazines that
were dropped off which also were included in the gifts.Don’t be shy if you still have a soft toy, magazine or something
that can be used, as we now start our Easter collection which comes around really quickly.
Our next exciting news of course, is the winning of the Hot Rod Car that came Bills way when he purchased 3 tickets in
the Hot Rod Assoc ions 50th. Anniversary. Raffle. What a wonderful surprise when he had that phone call live on 19th
November. The car was used in the Paeroa Santa parade, ( We both had sore bums after that as that road is really
bumpy!) and he has also driven it up to Auckland to show his folk. On really good days it will be on show for you all to
see, and if we are not too busy he may even take you for a ride. I must point out though it is Not lady friendly as there
are no doors, and one has to climb into it, so unless you are in trousers/ jeans..there will be no ride!! Bill has also been
asked to lead the parade in February in their V8 and Hot Rod weekend, he’s really excited about that, but sadly my
bottom will not take another trip to Paeroa! Then at the next Whangamata Beach Hop he will again drive with pride as
part of his prize was the ‘ultimate ticket’ and so he will be taking part in that parade also.
I guess the climax of our year was a few weeks ago when we opened some mail, only to read that both Bill and I have
been awarded medals from the Kiwi of the Year awards for our works in the community. It was such a surprise, and we
feel very honoured to think that we had been nominated and chosen to be recipients of these medals. They are to be
presented to us in March.
Now we have been visited and photographed by hundreds of tourists thus far. And we want to mention one couple in
particular who have been on a biking tour of New Zealand and came twice to the Café, and then ended staying with my
daughter in the area for the night. They have been on the road since 2004 and have I believe visited 59 countries. They
have a web site which is www.culturequest.ca and when you have the time I think you will find this most interesting. We
were delighted to meet them, and they will be back for a short while again in February before they leave for their next
great adventure through yet another country.
The Christmas lights both in and outside will remain on until the start of the school term. We had fabulous evenings when
we entertained first the Thames Ministry for the Disabled, with lots of families attending and enjoying the supper we
provided and then meeting Santa and seeing the lights. We also had a lovely visit from a group from one of the rest
Homes we visit, and it was so much fun taking them around the inside of the Café and then in pairs around the garden.
They thought they were in another world. It will be sad to pack everything away. The beer bottle tree was a hit, with
almost 1000 bottles glued and stacked to the height of over 7 foot. With the interior lights and the rope light which was
wound round the outside it looked magnificent. That will remain as a permanent fixture as I can’t even think of knocking it
down.
We are now planning our next 12 months, with already bookings in February and March for wedding groups and clubs..
The items in the cabinets which are at the moments items that we are selling, will soon be packed away, and our
exhibitions will commence. Remember this year is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth and so the Café will be
rejoicing in this with fantastic Royal events.
So for the moment we just want to say a big thank you for helping us keep Inland Revenue in funds, and supporting us
and our English Café. Lots of coffee and Devonshire tea love, Angie and Bill