Cousins

This is the third and last time we have a guest author to write for our website. 'Cousin' Jocelyn a.k.a. Jocelyn NZ has put a lot of messages on this weblog so you know her already, more or less. Here is her contribution:


I was honoured when Edwin asked me to be a guest writer in New Zealand on their site. I’m Ed’s cousin, Jocelyn, my parents immigrated to NZ in 1951, my Dad, Arie is the oldest brother of Ed’s Dad, Henk. To have Henk, Riet, Edwin, Inti and Jocelyn all in N.Z. at the same time has been a dream come true, just awesome. They all enjoyed seeing our beautiful country and meeting the family.

Edwin has started a project, 'Me and My Cousin' in which he’s aiming to take a photo of himself with each Nugteren cousin within 12 months, by my counting that’s 25 photos, he started with David in Bangkok, then onto NZ for more photo opportunitues. The Nugteren family reunion in picturesque Queenstown saw Inti taking many photos of Ed with cousins, many of whom he’d never met. Happy chappy.

What do 43 family members do during 3 day’s together? Talking was the main activity, also eating, (BBQ with Whitebait fritters and Venison steaks!), drinking, singing by the Dutchies (Potje met vet), games, a family competition of sjoelen – the Family Klomp award was won by Andrew & Ldyia (Andrew is a first cousin-once removed). Plenty to do in the spacious camp and surrounding areas, even car maintenance, eh Ed (oil? No, it runs on petrol, doesn’t it)? Thanks Wayne. Energetic ones played Cricket, basketball, table tennis, went kayaking, sailing or even bungy jumping – Aunty Bep enjoyed watching it so much she got the family together to enable Steven to also throw himself off the 43 metre bridge. Now that's family for you!

Being together as descendants of Henk and Metje Nugteren-Bakker was the important thing, four generations were represented. Henk and Riet could proudly claim to have their family completely there. We were very overjoyed to have them here.

We also discovered many family traits and interests – those rolls of skin at the back of your head... Coronation Street fans!... car racing fans... it's all in the family.

Henk, Riet and Jocelyn are now safely back in freezing Holland while Edwin and Inti are touring the rest of the South Island and hoping for some Summer weather.

Thanks for coming .. and see, we’re not all eccentric..

Word to my Dutch Cousins – Edwin and Inti are hoping to complete the 'Me and my cousin' project before the year is out.