40 Comments

Oh Emily! I know I'm always saying Oh Emily, but hey, another wonderful post which made me laugh and almost cry. What a story! As an old(ish!) widow, I have struggled in recent years to care a great deal about Christmas, but you have piqued my interest anew! I will now look forward to Christmas joy! No polystyrene balls, though.

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Oh I’m so glad Alison. Meri kerihimete ❤️❤️

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Hi Alison, I’m not sure if you remember me but you were my teacher at Enner Glynn School back in the 80’s! For two years - Standard 1 & 2. You were such a fabulous teacher and I have so many great memories from those days...singing ‘Mockingbird Hill’ and ‘Moonlight Bay’and doing our class science fair project with the giant paper mache fly!! We won some prize money and you bought our class a bag of soccer balls!

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Oh yes, I do remember you! And what wonderful memories! Find me on Facebook and we can have a catch up. 💗

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Sorry - I pressed enter too soon! Anyway, it was lovely to see your name there under Emily’s post. Wishing you a lovely Xmas with hopefully a little bit of joy! Anna McLeod

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I'm spending the day with Toby and his family. All the best to you.

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founding

How can you make me lol and cry seconds apart 😆😇😭😆

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Omigosh yes, same here!

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😍😍

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Couldn't be prouder to support you and your writing, e hoa! Best money I've ever spent, I reckon. Meri Kirihimete!

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Ngā mihi e hoa that means a lot. Thank you for your fearless and amazing mahi too x

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Hope you find a space for some quiet time to yourself. Thanks for the thoughts you are kind and courageous enough to share. X

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Ngā mihi x I will ❤️

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laugh/crying here - thank you for this beautiful funny/revolting story, and now I miss my nannie all over again (8 Xmases gone now) <3

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I miss mine too x we were lucky to have such good nanas!

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Crying. Happy and sad tears. Families, eh? The immense capacity for joy, but also pain. Feeling a bit of both tonight. Merry Christmas Emily, to you and yours. Love your work.

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Meri kerihimete Paula thank you x

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founding

First I laughed and now I have tears. I’d been thinking a lot lately about my Nana and her/our Christmas traditions and this surfaced all the goodness and fun and childlike joy she had (in her 90s no less). Beautiful!

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Beautiful ❤️ nanas are the best x

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I read this every year and every time I somehow forget the full impact of the Xmas balls in your house. Every year I laugh and cry. Thank you! I love being a subscriber, I hope your whanau has some well earned Christmas magic this year ❤️

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Ngā mihi thank you so much for your support x

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As someone who misses her Nan deeply every Christmas (even though she’s been gone 12 years) this brought tears to my eyes. I am also 2 negronis deep but also this was some really special writing!

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Love it x perfect time of year for negronis!

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This is so good love this story.

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❤️❤️

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Thank you for the stories or apwoyo matek as we say in Gulu. My Grandmother never had a water pistol nor did we have water fights but your story certainly brought back memories of childhood Christmases at our Grandparents and what simple yet Grand occasions they were with family and friends.. maybe up to 30 filled with kindness!!

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Beautiful. Meri kerihimete Geoff ❤️

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Oh I love this story so much. I wonder, does Eddie look back on it now as amazing or gross 😂

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I just asked him and he remembers! I’m so happy! He asked if we could do it again - “Ronnie probably won’t vomit this time” haha

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No matter how many times I read it this story still makes me giggle and then get all teary at the end! Mere Kerihimete to you and your whanau Emily :)

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founding

OMG laughing and then trying not to pee myself - the gift that keeps on giving 😭 Meri Kirihimete 🤮⚽️🏀🎾

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Oh my good lord - I just read this at work, and I have tears streaming down my face. That is the most beautifully hilarious vomit-covered story I have ever heard!

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This is such a great Christmas story for so many reasons. What a wonderful kids picture book “Vomit ball Christmas” would make.

Also, Nana’s really are the best. Mine has been gone 20 years and I still miss her and her huge heart and incredible child-like sense of fun.

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