Happy New Year

dear Simon and everyone,

Happy New Year and thankyou for my Xmas hoodie. We had new year before you did because we are on the other side of the planet or something like that.

Yesterday I went on a walk wearing a halter. Every now and again I would sit down but I would be pulled up again by the harness strap. I walked 1.3km. I exercised my lungs the whole way in protest. You could hear me all around the valley. I don't know why nobody came to my rescue. In fact a couple of people who walked past just smiled at my persecutor.

love

Mctosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nearing the end of 2008

dear Helene,

We are here on the Island for the whole of Summer. We have been here a week now and lots of people have been to visit.

Yesterday Hope came with her family and we played in the paddling pool, went to the beach and the park.

The first day I went to the beach I had a great time in the surf but the best bit was being wrapped in towels after the swim and lying in the sun. I have now decided to forego the swim and go straight for the towel wrapping. My strategy is I start to cry when I am being taken towards the sea and I don't stop until mummy gives up and takes me back up to the shore again and wraps me up. I think it is a winning strategy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

love

Rosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Christmas Day

dear Eleanor,

Merry Christmas. Thankyou for my christmas gift- 8 hours with you having adventures is a really wonderful idea. I might steal it. I could give vouchers to people to spend time with me, having all sorts of fun.

On Christmas day we opened all our presents and then I had a long sleep. In the afternoon I played in the paddling pool and I even had to have my lesson for the day there. We did naming body parts and used new soap and flannels and a scrunchie that mummy had got for Christmas.

I had nice food to eat but I do have one complaint. Daddy made a roast chicken and it didn't come out of the oven till I was in bed and I am sure I heard a champagne cork as well. I don't really think that is fair.

This is my new tunnel I got from Hope. It is a little bit different than the ones on the Brooklyn Hill. It has a tent at one end and a house at the other. I can go inside and play my harmonica and my recorder.

lots of love

Rosiepo xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am a city girl...

dear Grandma and Grandad,



I am a city girl- I do not walk on stones barefeet. Let me repeat this so that all caregivers can really understand- I DO NOT WALK ON STONES WITH MY BAREFEET.



Yesterday my cousin, Alexandria came to stay. We went swimming and she tried out on the boogie board. She had one good ride but then it was wipe-out and she got dunked big time.



After we sat between mummy's legs, both of us shivering and wrapped in towels. Then it was sausage sizzle time though it was raining by then.



Merry Christmas,



Rosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Wellington to Waiheke

dear Nicola,

I did meet you, didn't I? When I was very small, at the park in Oxford. Yesterday I spent all day in the car travelling from the city to the island. Our country is very beautiful and best of all when I looked out the window at it, I could also see my reflection in the window.

We stopped in Taihape at the Brown Sugar Cafe for breakfast, then Taupo to see my uncle and cousin and dog for lunch, and then Whakamaru for icecream. We travelled on the car ferry to the Island and the whole trip took 12 hours. It is summer here.

Have a merry Christmas,

love

Rosie

Waiting fro Christmas

Dear Fatima,

This is a lovely shalwar kameez you and Aunty gave me last year for Eid. It fits me now and I am wearing it to school today.

This is the second to last day of school for the year. These days we do a lot of eating

of sweets and lots of going swimming at the pool and santa comes to visit the school. It is Summer now and the garden is full of flowers. How was Haj?

lots of love

Rosie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxx

Shaving cream is not toothpaste

Dear Grandma Stella,

Today I was so clever I brushed my own teeth. I got the toothbrush out of the holder and turned on the tap (the water was a bit hot) and I put the white stuff on the toothbrush.

But it tasted very bad. I ran into the kitchen to show mummy and she didn't really understand at first. She just kept saying 'good girl' 'clever girl- cleaning your teeth'. Then she came to the bathroom and had to explain to me that the nice green round pot is daddy's shaving soap. Even though he isn't meant to shave upstairs anymore since I shaved my tongue last month. So she turned off the hot tap, washed my mouth out with lots of cold water and gave me lemonade.

lots of love

Rosie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Coming up to Christmas

dear Aunty Tehzeeb,

Are you back from Haj yet? Soon it will be Christmas at my place. Each day at school we are preparing. Today our whole class went to the shopping mall on the train and I bought a present for mummy and daddy. Then I wrapped it and brought it home to put under the tree.

Tomorrow there is another Christmas party that our school is having. And on Friday we finish for the Summer and I will go to the island. And then very soon after it will be Christmas day and I will have presents to open.

Lots of love

Rosie

Warm Summer Rain

dear Kelly,

Today the Girls High School holds a christmas party for all the kids at my school. I have dressed up for it in my beautiful pakistani dress.

Did you know that last week Melody came and looked after me for the whole week? And her mother came and stayed as well for a couple of nights. We had lots of fun. We went downtown and listened to music and saw entertainers. Then we just hung out in the sun at home and I got to play in the swimming pool on the deck.

How is Belgravia?

lots of love

Rose xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bit Grumpy

dear Judy,

Today is not such a good day. My school note says 'Rosie was a little bit off today- a bit grumpy. We walked to the supermarket but Rosie wasn't too keen to walk. She took a bite of a tomato while I wasn't looking- oops. She ate 3/4 of it while walking around the supermarket.'

And now I have arrived home and I am still feeling out of sorts with the world.

Luckily Carolyn is coming to play music with me soon.

love

Rosie

Happy Birthday Kelly and Bill

Happy Birthday Kelly and Bill,

Today I went to the Marine Education Centre with my class. I dressed in this penguin tutu that Elizabeth gave me. I got to stroke an octopus. It was too windy to go outside to the rock pools.

After school I just growled lots at Daddy as he tried to take this off me. But after a while I agreed and then I got to go to the gun emplacements on Brooklyn hill with Eleanor. The wind was howling through them, making all sorts of cool noises.

lots of love

Rosie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

Musician in the making

dear Grandma and Grandad,

This morning I woke up and explored my wardrobe. Usually it is inaccessible to me. Mummy came to see what the noises were and I firmly told her 'bye' and pulled the door of the cupboard more firmly around me.

I found this bike helmet in there.

My piano playing is going very well. My favourite song at the moment is Intsy Winsy Spider.

love

Rosie

Long time

dear Julie,

I am sorry I haven't written for ages. My secretary has been so self absorbed. But she is back now from Pakistan and in action.

Yesterday I was enjoying the garden and weeding with Daddy. Then I decided the lawn needed mowing and so I went to the shed and got out the lawn mower. I made a very good attempt. Later I thought the washing machine needed fixing and so I got four screwdrivers out of the cupboard and tried valiantly to fix it. Actually on reflection I think it might have been working fine.

love

Rosiepo

From Oxford

dear Rosie,

It took me 48 hours to get here. I was very tired and so I am sorry I haven't written much this week. On Thursday I went with Jess to Bath. Jess is very nice. We tried to go shopping but there weren't very many nice clothes to buy.

We had lunch in a french restaurant which made me remember lots about living in Paris.

I hope you are having lots of adventures with Eleanor,

lots of Love

Mummy XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

Home alone with Eleanor

dear Daddy,

I got home after school today and mummy has gone as well. But all is fine as Eleanor is here. She has brought lots of luggage and looks set to be here for a while.

How is Cambodia? Is the river still in flood outside your hotel? How many tuk tuks did you catch today?

In the weekend I had lots of people over to play and I also went to Little Monkey's with Mel and to the park with Briony. Mel made an excellent pizza using fresh herbs from the garden.

The best thing though was I found out that if you turn the dishwasher on and open the door you get wonderful spray which covers you all over. Unfortunately mummy wasn't too pleased. She also wasn't pleased at my flooding the kitchen by turning on the kitchen tap and plugging up the sink, nor when I up-ended a glass of water all over the floor (well it was already wet!!!). I was sent to my room for at least five minutes for that one,

lots of love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxx

Biking demonstration

Dear Eleanor,

Look what I can do. It is so cool. I just have to learn to steer now and the world will be mine,

see you tomorrow,

love

Rosie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In remembrance

In remembrance of Sue,

You loved all that was colourful in the world. I think this tulip grew in our garden just for you.

lot of love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxx

Mummy in Melbourne

dear Aunty Tehzeeb

Mummy has gone to Melbourne with her girlfriends. She went for a ride in this car around the city and out to the sea and then to a park, where they stopped for coffee and watched kids canoeing.

I am having a lovely time playing with my niece and nephew who are staying with Daddy and me.

Happy Eid,

love

Philippa

waiheke in the spring

Hi Craig,

I am glad that Eleanor hasn't made you sick as well. She was blaming me, but I don't think so.

We came on the boat over to the island. It was very exciting, climbing round the decks and driving the car on the journey.

I have already been to the beach twice. Once to Little Palm Beach where the nudies go in Winter and once to Whakanewha which has lots of birds.

love

Rosie

Island time

dear Eleanor,

We delivered your shoes yesterday to the buyer. Mummy and Daddy made me walk most of the way there- 700 metres. The lady was very nice and later she came round and brought some chocolate and a little toy dog for me that I like very much and can say woof woof to.

We have some of the new curtains up in the house but there are a lot more to bring back from Pakistan. They look pretty nice.

I am going for a walk now with Daddy to see the dotterells.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Big Trip North

dear Danial,

It was very pleasant to visit, even for a such a short time, today. I would so like to have a laptop like yours and cool headphones.

I am on the island now for two weeks. My sister is coming to stay and bringing her children, so I will have someone to play with.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sporting activities

dear Glenda,

This year I am doing lots of sports. This one in the photo is waterpistolling. You just run straight up to the opponents pistol and latch on. They are so disarmed they feed you all their water and then bamm- you still have a full gun of your own.

I am also still climbing, swinging, swimming and riding pony's at Riding for Disabled. I am on the list for this term and we go on Wednesdays when it is not raining.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

Christmas time

Hi Jamie,

Daddy came home yesterday from Lahore and Entebbe. I was very happy to see him. He read me lots of stories and I got to show him my babydoll.

I had five mini-beef patties for dinner with cheese on top. I am practicing for when you come to play with me, fresh from your job at MacDonalds. We have Macdonalds here in Wellington but not on Waiheke Island.

Do you have a recent photo you can send me?

lots of love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A very busy weekend

dear Grandma and Grandad,

This photo shows how my leg is tied straight using mummy's knee support. I can now do 8-9 rotations at a time.

In the weekend I had lots of friends over to play. Ailsa came on Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon and Hope came on Saturday afternoon and stayed over. We were able to play on the deck, on the swings, the trike, the swing car and the mini tramp. The most fun was with Hope rolling round in the tunnel (fabric and mesh) and my chasing after her. Hope and I got to sleep in the big bed and wake up in the morning. We can chatter to each other. We even worked out how to put purple markings on the piano keys. The pens said they were for whiteboards and would erase but that ajax spray that is meant to clean everything has really failed on this one.

love

Rosie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Penguin

Hi,

Yesterday a penguin tutu arrived in the post. It came from Auckland and it looks very very cool.

thankyou

Rosiepo XXXXXXXX

Washing nappies

dear Kelly,

I am getting so clever at putting my clothes in the washing machine. Last night I even put a nappy in there as a surprise for mummy. Now we have learnt that when a nappy goes through the wash it bursts and this gelatinous substance covers everything. So very very cool.

I am looking forward to seeing you on Waiheke but I am not sure I want to eat tofu.

lots of love

Rose

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wheat bags

dear Julie,

Happy Birthday! You didn't even tell me it was your birthday. Maybe it was because you didn't want to invite me to your party. But I invited you to mine.. so what do you have to say to that!

I am holding mummy's wheatbag. It is nice and warm. In this bed there is hot water bottle as well.

I hope you have a very nice day. And yes I would like to go to the zoo with your as well- lets get that Eleanor organised.

lots of love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXx

Signing up

dear Morgan,

It is spring time here. In our home we have daffodils, daphney, lavender and tulips, all grown in the garden.

I now have a goal of learning 15 words in 2 years. Most of these word I already understand; they are; no, yes, toilet, book, hello, mummy, daddy, sleep (bed), eat and drink. I don't yet understand; 'go' and 'on', though I do know what 'go to the car' means. The next step is to be able to sign or say these words. I can sign toilet and drink. I can say hello.

We are going to Waiheke for the Summer again this year. If you come to New Zealand you should come and stay with us. Give my love to Jeremy.

lots of love

Rosie XXXXXXXXXXXX

Introducing BabyDoll

dear Julie

Let me introduce BabyDoll properly. She is a lovely baby, very well behaved and hardly every cries. I feed her regularly and she sleeps through the night.

Yesterday I went to the zoo with Melody and saw bears and ostriches. Then my friend Ailsa came to play. We had a nice bubble bath together. I can climb in and out of the bath now.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXX

Happy Birthday Melody

Dear Mel,

Happy Birthday for yesterday. That is very cool your boyfriend gave you a surprise birthday party. Thankyou for taking me to the zoo today. I am having a great saturday. I went swimming with Caroline this morning; then a Big Mac as part of the 'supersize me' diet; the zoo with all the animals and then a friend over to play.

This is my hair when it is frizzy from being braided.

love

Rosie XXXXXXXXXXX

Rosie goes to school

dear Cassie,

This is my taxi driver. He takes me to school each day and brings me home. I love going in the taxi and get very excited coming down the steps each morning knowing that he will be there

My hair was all frizzy this morning because I had braids in yesterday and I didn't take them out until this morning.

It seems a very long time since I saw you. You should come and visit me in New Zealand.

lots of love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mummy has a bike

dear Johnny

Happy Birthday. I hope you got some nice presents. Ours is coming sometime soon. Today Eleanor and I helped mummy to buy a bike


"Comfort bikes have lighter frames and components for even easier pedaling, and are perfect for a relaxed rides around town or on the trail. "

We then followed mummy all the way home from the bike shop, round the bays and up the long long hill of Happy Valley. This valley isn't really happy- it is just called that.

lots of love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

My new baby

dear Glenda,

I have a new baby, that looks quite like Isabelle. My new baby drinks from the bottle, then she burps, and goes to sleep, closing her eyes. If you make a noise, she wakes up and cries and you tickle her to make her laugh.

However when Isabelle came around today, I lost interest in my little darling and only had eyes for this lovely visitor.

As the rain had stopped, we swung on the big swing and I showed her how to use the mini-tramp. When she is older I am going to show her lots of other things.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxx

Cleanliness and Dirtiness

dear Mummy,

I am sorry I got up from the toilet, tipped the new box of washing powder all over the floor and then did what I should have done on the toilet. I am also sorry to see you looking so frustrated with me. I will try harder.

lots of love

Rosie po XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

Hansel and Gretel

dear Uncle Fun,

So you and Daddy are enjoying the warmth of my home country. I am being fattened up and I am not sure what for. This fluffy has four bits of chocolate in it. The first time I was fed one, I was very very excited. But now I am a little suspicious.

This morning I am going to see an ENT surgeon about my chronic ear infections. This means I get to have a sandwich from the Fuel outlet at the hospital. They have excellent sandwiches.

love

McTosie

Travelling to Pakistan

dear Daddy,
I hope you have arrived safely in Lahore. The daffodils from the garden are looking very pretty.

Yesterday Mel took me to the fruit and vege market and a man gave me a bunch of roses to go with my name. Mel also got given discounts which she reckons was because I was there as well.

I had to eat those horrible bacon bits for breakfast this morning and an egg with tomato. But then when mummy came and took me from school to the doctors she bought me a cinamon and sugar donut from the Island Bay bakery to make up for it.

lots of love
RosiepoXXXXXXXXXXX

Daffodils from the garden

dear Kelly,

Mummy came in tonight with an eyebrow shape and tint. I want one too! Daddy is doing lots of biking. I want to do that also.

This flower is from our garden. About once a week another one dares to come out.

When are you going to visit? We are coming up the end of September for two weeks to the Island.

lots of love

Rose XXXXXX

Moving along Frodo

dear Eleanor,

Thankyou for the lovely photo of my stick. And thankyou for taking me to the beach.

I hear that you have a new home. I am very excited about coming to visit you in it. Now I have Bill and Eleanor in the same streeet. And of course, Janet, and Craig and Ike,

love

Rosiepo XXXXXX

Dino and me

dear Julie,

Thankyou for the lovely biscuits yesterday. I certainly didn't need any dinner. This is my new friend dino. He can roar and walk. Mainly he likes to eat Barbies. But the Barbies are very clever and jump on top of his back and then he falls over and cannot get up by himself.

My ear infection is a little bit better today. I am on a waiting list to see an ENT surgeon. Maybe there is something that can be done,

love

Rosie XXXXXXXX

Weight lifting

dear Grandma and Grandpa,

I am starting training for the 2020 Olympics. Not quite sure what my speciality will be yet.

Today the Kara and Georgia came to visit. I got them a bowl of water to drink and they ate up my bits of mince pie off the floor. Then we played for ages in the coloured tunnel.

It is windy and cold here in Wellington.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXX

Skipping Roepo

dear Simon,

Mummy brought a skipping rope today. I was very excited by all the possibilities as I have seen the kids at the nearby primary school using them. Of course, mummy can't use it because of her knee.

This photo of the flying fox at a park near out place. It is heaps of fun and I hold on very tight.

love

McTosie

Practising for Spring

Dear Briony,

When spring and summer come I will need to water the garden. Not now- middle of Winter and so much rain.

Tonight my speech therapist came to video me at home for her masters thesis. I found it very hard in music therapy to pay attention to Carolyn as I really wanted to get behind the camera.

It will be nice to see you on Saturday. It has been a long time.

love Rosiepo XXXXX

Rock Chic

dear Ailsa,

Thankyou for the cool clothes. I wore them to school yesterday.

Today was the IEP meeting at school. It meant that Eleanor, Daddy and Mummy all came after school to talk to my teacher, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and speech therapist to set goals for me.

The focus is to be communication in the long term and in the short term; toilet training, undressing, paying attention, and agility.

love

Rosie XXX

Shalwar Kameez

dear Auntie Tehzeeb,

Thankyou for the lovely clothes. It is Winter here but in Spring I will be very happy to wear these to school.

Daddy arrived home yesterday. He is resting today. He has got a haircut and been to gym and is thinking about joining mummy on her quest to lose weight and become fit and he has agreed to help with the cooking.

My godmother, Kelly is promoting a group of friends to do 10 years younger in 14 days with no botox or surgery. They are starting this Friday.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wet wet world

dear Alex and Jamie,

It is exciting that you are moving to our part of the world and will be able to come and see us.

Send me a photo Jamie, of you with your hair shaved off. Maybe I could try that too?

Daddy is in Pakistan at the moment and coming home on Monday. He has been in Peshawar and has been stuck in the guest house because of security issues. When he walks down the street- just a few yards to the office, he is accompanied by two gunmen.

love

Rosie XXXXXXX

Significant Achievements

Hi,

I have two cool things to tell you about the Po. Firstly, she is making progress on the trike. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny afternoon and we went down to the school. I took the bell off the bike as it was a bit distracting, and used it as an incentive. When Rosie managed a couple of revolutions of the pedals she got to hold the bell and ring it for a few minutes. She hasn't quite worked out how to make the bike go all the time, but there were four or five moments where she managed it and made the trike roll for a few feet. I didn't expect her to make such fast progress, so it's all very promising.

The second thing is that this morning before school she picked up the cued articulation sheets that the speech therapist gave us. Rosie was sitting at her mirror and she studied the pictures for a while before looking at herself and quite clearly making the sign and noise for "T". She sat doing that for a few minutes, looking at the pictures of the therapist and then looking back at herself and making "T". It was very deliberate and clear.

love

Eleanor

Music Music Everywhere

dear Daddy,

Here I am multi-tasking as usual. I have worked out how to turn the IPod on and reach behind for the telephone. At the same time I can dance on the keys.

It is raining every day here at home. I went out with Eleanor this afternoon to her mum's place and then to see a flat that she might rent. Then we came back and Eleanor made excellent pink playdoh which we rolled and cut and rolled and cut.

lots of love

RosiePo XXXXXXXXX

Car Accident

Hi,

Our car has been written off. Here it is at the Turners caryard. The insurance company gave it to them.

Mummy and I were driving in it and a man ran a give way sign and then crashed head on into us.

Mummy has lots of bruising in the chest but I am fine. I am just sad I don't get to drive the car anymore.

love

Rosiepo XXXXXXX