New Ink, Old Promise

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 18 Jan 2014 23:57
New Ink to Honour an Old Promise
 
 
 
 
 
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Back in November 2008 our grandson Jack was born at twenty eight weeks, weighing in at just two pounds and two ounces. Many prayers were obviously said for his survival and well being. The doctors and nurses warned us about the risks he faced.......................I need not go into the details of that. I found myself at such a low ebb and quite spontaneously I did something I have never done before. I stood and placed my hand flat on his incubator and made a deal with the devil, if Jack was spared and grew fit, strong and healthy – I would have visible ink. Up to that point in my life, I had fervently believed tattoos should be undercover, only coming out at the fancy or whim of the owner.
 
 
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Our prayers were indeed answered and Jack is loving, happy, bright and strong. As are all our grandsons and our granddaughter – The Duchess. Back to my deal - I waited thirty years until the first ‘must have’ picture came and five years for this one, a hummingbird and hibiscus. The gecko on my foot was a trial run, but he spends all his life under my flip flop strap – or in these parts – my jandles strap.
 
 
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Off we went on the ferry this morning, Peter of Bay of Islands Ink kindly came to pick us up and off we went to the studio. The mock up was soon in place. Pete sat back for a critical look. Outline done. Bear settled to doing some on-line with his IPod and Kerryn (Pete’s wife, assistant, secretary, piercer and go for the tea – amongst so many other jobs) looked after us all.
 
 
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Shading. Hummer in blues and greens and hibiscus coloured.
 
 
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Bear loved the plaque on the desk. Something to be heeded perhaps......... Mmmmmmm.
 
 
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Nearly ready for the grandbabies names to be added to the Kora pattern, this is traditional Māori meaning beginning or the start of life. Pete is descended from the Ngāpuhi people.
 
 
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Ngāpuhi is a Māori iwi located in the Northland region, and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands and Whāngārei. Ngāpuhi has the largest affiliation of any iwi, with 125,601 people registered (2013 census), and formed from 150 hapu/subtribes, with 55 marae.

The founding ancestor of Ngāpuhi is Rāhiri, the son of Tauramoko and Te Hauangiangi. Tauramoko was a descendant of Kupe, from Matawhaorua, and Nukutawhiti, of the Ngātokimatawhaorua canoe. Te Hauangiangi was the daughter of Puhi, who captained the Mataatua canoe northwards from the Bay of Plenty. Through intermarriage with other iwi and expansionist land migration, the descendants of Rāhiri formed tribes across the Northland peninsula. These actions also fostered ties with neighbouring iwi. The name Ngāpuhi came to describe the tribes settled in the Hokianga and Bay of Islands.

 

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Done. Just a bit more detail. Kerryn takes a picture for the album and the internet.

 

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Kerryn, Happy and Pete wielding a traditional knife.

 

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Joshua, Kaiser, Jack, Benjamin, Oscar, Faye, Jacob and Seth written in a traditional nautical font. Room for our two new grandsons due on the same day in May and any more additions to our wonderful family. So much love to you all xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx

 

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 ALL IN ALL THERE IT IS
                     THAT’S IT – UNTIL THE NEXT TIME........