2014

A N N UAL

U P DAT E

FREE

J E RR AMS KIWI TAI LS

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY

NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. HOPE
TO CATCH UP SOON

2014: The Rollercoaster Never Stops!

We have had another very busy year.
We began the New Year on the Isle of
Man as part of our 6 week overseas tour.
What a trip. All six of us got to experience
Bangkok, Paris, London, New York,
Orlando, San Antonio and Vancouver.
Along the way we caught up with precious
friends and family in Chambery, Norfolk,
Isle of Man, Texas and in Victoria,
Canada. Our photos are loaded on
Facebook for those into social media.
Amazing experiences and sights, too
many to list here but it was a very special
family time for us. Memories to treasure
always.
As soon as we got back it was straight into
life with work, school, sports and more
sports. Cricket, triathlon and athletics got
the year underway. All three boys have
had successful years in cricket with them
playing in representative teams regularly
and performing well. The NZ school
triathlon champs were held in Gisborne
with a scary surf swim, we were proud of
all four of them for competing and finishing
unlike many others. Braden and Tyler did
well in athletics but cross-country is their
thing. Braden won school cross-country
for the 9th year in a row and Tyler placed
second in his. Marcia won the Waikato
BOP cross country and 3000m on the
track. Both Marcia and Tyler competed in
the New Zealand cross country champs
also. Marcia was an inspiration as captain
of her netball team, she just missed out on
the NZ Schools team and made the local
rep team and performed very well at the
Schools champs. Carron was very busy as
the coach of Marcia s school team, it was
challenging but lots of fun. Cycling was
again a big part of the winter with Tyler
and Cam making their top teams, both

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

improved during the year and ended up

with trophies at the prizegiving. Richard
was a struggling coach again with the
newbies. Braden had a great year at
hockey, a sport his parents are beginning
to understand, and he looks to have some
skills moving forward to high school. All
four kids competed in the Duathlon
champs in Taupo and did very well.
The big trip at the start of the year meant
that we had very few holidays this year but
we did manage a family trip to Wellington
to catch up with Kristen/Dave/Rose/Josh.
While the girls went shopping and visited
the Wearable Arts show, the boys decided
to try zip-lining. Then we visited Dave/
Gina/Ava/Jessica in Taranaki for a few
days. We have begun some major
renovations at Waihi Beach and
unfortunately go into this summer without
a garage or sleepout but next year there
will be a new two bedrooms, bathroom
and playroom space for the kids and their
mates to disappear into.
We were lucky enough to have visits from
overseas travellers. Firstly Sandy & H
from the Isle of Man visited in February,
we had a lovely few days sightseeing
around Auckland, including a jetboat ride
in the harbour. Then later in the year
Chloe visited from Norfolk and we were
lucky to have her in New Zealand for
almost three weeks. We did lots of
sightseeing and thrill seeking during her
time here, including a walk around the Sky
Tower platform, which is only 192m off the
ground!!
Braden turned 13 in July so began the
period with 4 teenagers in the house! So
far the parents are coping okay with this.
Marcia also reached a special milestone

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

turning 18 in October. Seems like only a

few short years that she was running
around at kindergarten. Time sure has
flown.
Marcia has finished her high school years
and is leaving the nest next year to start
university life studying sports science and
nutrition at Otago University in Dunedin.
It ll be strange not having her around as
much but we re sure the calls will still
come in for parental assistance. Our 14
years of involvement with Conifer Grove
School is over too as Braden moves off to
high school. It has been a fantastic place
for all 4 kids to get their early schooling
and we will miss it. All three boys will be at
the same school next year which should
reduce our mileage and Braden will be
well protected by his older brothers.
We have had some sadness this year with
the loss of Carron s cousin Mark in
Norwich. We are so pleased we got to
stay with him over Christmas 2013 and will
miss his beaming smile. We also lost
Richard s Uncle David, another man with a
beaming smile and quick wit. To replicate
his wine cellar is one of our lifetime goals.
And not forgetting the loss of our beloved
dog, Queso, after 11 years of food
stealing, chasing joggers and general
disobedience. They all leave a hole that is
filling with happy memories.
We did decide to add another pet to the
family and in late December Luna a lilac/
caramel Burmese kitten became part of
the family. She is adorable but absolutely
crazy so is fitting in well. We are hoping
she will learn to sleep better as we feel
like there is a new very noisy baby in the
house who wakes us around 2am each
day!

FAMILY TOGETHER

MARCIA
Hey$Everyone!$WOW.$Where$has$the$year$gone?!$2014$was$my$:inal$year$at$school,$where$next$year$I$am$off$to$Otago$
University$to$study$P.E.$(Sport$and$Exercise$Science)$and$Food$and$Nutrition.$I$am$nervous,$yet$very$excited$to$have$
an$awesome$time$there,$with$a$lot$of$study$to$of$course...$This$year$was$a$really$enjoyable$year,$although$it$had$its$
ups$and$downs$with$a$heavy$load$of$school$work$and$some$disappointments$in$sport,$I$had$a$really$good$year$
overall.$Sport$again$was$the$forefront$of$my$schooling$life.$I$was$extremely$fortunate$to$be$selected$as$a$trialist$for$
the$NZSS$netball$team$in$April.$This$was$a$very$cool$experience,$where$I$was$competing$with$and$against$the$top$
secondary$school$netball$players$in$New$Zealand.$As$well$as$netball,$I$was$heavily$involved$in$Triathlon$
(multisport),$crossRcountry,$athletics$and$the$occasional$cycle$and$swim.$I$was$also$very$humbled$to$be$able$to$put$
up$my$photo$in$the$Waikato$Dio$Sports$Hall$of$Fame,$for$the$U18$NZSS$crossRcountry$team$in$2013$at$the$Waikato$Dio$
sports$awards$dinner$this$year.$It$was$crazy$to$see$how$many$NZ$representatives$Dio$have$had$and$to$be$up$there$amongst$so$many$successful$
athletes$was$pretty$special.$On$the$academic$side$of$things,$NCEA$level$3$was$pretty$full$on$with$many$internals$as$well$as$very$dif:icult$
external$exams,$so$very$happy$all$that$side$of$things$is$over$and$I$am$hoping$my$results$are$okay$when$they$come$out$in$January!$Another$
special$event$in$the$school$year$was$de:initely$the$Graduation$Ball$where$not$only$myself,$but$my$parents$were$able$to$dress$up$for$a$very$cool$
night$of$celebrating$our$time$at$school.$At$the$moment$I$am$enjoying$some$nice$NZ$weather$and$working$at$a$cafe$down$in$Waihi$Beach$as$I$
prepare$to$be$a$poor$student$for$the$next$few$years!$Have$a$Merry$Christmas$and$a$fantastic$2015!$Lots$of$Love$Marce$

C AME RO N
2014$has$been$a$very$exciting$year$following$our$trip$around$the$world.$Year$12$has$been$a$huge$step$up$
from$year$11$with$the$workloads$getting$bigger$and$more$challenging$and$exams$a$hugely$more$important$
part$of$life$at$school.$Sport$has$always$been$huge$in$my$life$and$that$hasnt$changed$as$I$competed$in$
numerous$events$throughout$the$year.$In$cycling$I$made$a$good$start$to$the$year$winning$the$under$17$
North$Harbour$criterium$against$tough$opposition,$I$managed$to$make$the$Senior$A$cycling$squad$and$we$
came$15th$at$the$National$Schools$time$trial$this$was$an$excellent$result$as$our$squad$is$quite$young$and$
inexperienced$and$we$placed$7th$out$of$the$Auckland$teams$which$was$good$as$we$were$10th$in$the$
Auckland$competition.$In$cricket$my$team$continues$to$improve$as$we$sit$in$the$top$half$of$the$competition$
going$into$the$Christmas$break.$In$other$sport$I$competed$in$the$National$Duathlon$champs$in$Taupo$in$a$
team$with$a$member$of$the$cross$country$squad$we$came$1st$in$the$under$19$category.$Throughout$the$
year$I$have$gained$a$few$high$academic$marks$such$as$high$merit$overall$for$history$as$well$as$merit$in$English$
and$Economics.$Hope$everyone$has$had$an$awesome$year.$Merry$Christmas$and$Happy$New$Year$$$$$$
Cameron$

TYLER
2014$has$been$a$very$exciting$and$fast$year$beginning$with$our$arrival$home$from$our$exciting$trip$around$the$
world.$YR$10$at$school$has$been$a$whole$different$story$to$YR$9$as$I$have$settled$into$the$working$day$life$of$
Kings$College.$School$life$has$run$a$lot$smoother$now$feeling$comfortable$in$what$was$a$new$environment.$YR$
10$has$brought$a$lot$of$success$also$especially$in$academics$where$I$was$1st$in$class$in$Term$1,3$and$4$which$
was$great.$Sport$has$been$kind$of$a$theme$through$my$life$and$it$was$no$different$this$year$where$I$
participated$in$many$different$sporting$codes.$In$cycling$I$was$able$to$place$3rd$in$the$National$Secondary$
Schools$Time$Trial$and$my$Junior$A$team$managed$to$place$it$best$ever$5th$at$the$Nationals$which$was$our$
goal.$I$got$the$opportunity$again$to$play$for$Counties$Manukau$Cricket$in$the$annual$Junior$Secondary$
Tournament$held$in$Manurewa.$Even$though$it$did$not$bring$much$success$it$was$still$a$great$experience$that$
was$very$worthwhile.$Continuing$with$sport$in$triathlon$I$placed$3rd$in$the$Auckland$Secondary$Schools$
Duathlon$and$then$4th$at$the$National$Duathlon$Champs,$which$I$was$gutted$about$but$still$pleased$with$myself.$Rugby$
this$year$was$not$much$of$success$but$my$team$managed$to$scrape$through$with$2$wins$in$the$last$two$games$of$the$season.$
Throughout$the$year$I$gained$both$academic$excellence$and$endeavour$awards$which$I$was$very$pleased$with.$I$also$won$the$cup$for$
best$junior$cyclist$and$I$was$lucky$enough$to$win$the$cup$for$best$Yr$10$student$all$rounder$which$was$a$big$surprise.$Hope$everyone$
has$had$a$great$fun$year$as$well.$Merry$Christmas$and$Happy$New$Year.$$Tyler$

BRADEN
This$year$has$:illed$me$with$success$and$some$failures$challenging$me$to$the$boundaries$of$my$potential.$At$the$
start$of$the$year$I$was$quite$nervous$going$into$a$new$class,$and$having$a$new$teacher.$This$year$being$my$last$year$
made$me$want$to$do$extremely$well$in$school$and$make$the$most$of$my$opportunities.$In$my$class$my$teacher$sets$
very$hard$:itness$for$our$class$and$usually$we$would$:inish$and$be$out$of$breath$for$a$few$minutes$recovering,$but$
during$the$last$term$we$had$become$:itter$and$found$it$easier$to$complete$:itness.$During$term$3$at$school$it$is$a$big$
term$with$a$lot$of$assignments$including$a$mental$health$assignment,$a$magazine,$a$big$book,$a$novel$study$and$3$
art$assignments,$this$term$gave$me$a$lot$of$stress$and$sometimes$the$odd$tear.$After$this$term$I$had$passed$every$
single$assignment$and$I$felt$extremely$proud.$I$have$also$a$lot$of$sport$this$year$signing$up$for$everything.$But$I$have$
done$well$in$crossRcountry$winning$north$counties$and$counties,$and$also$coming$23rd$at$Auckland.$And$in$athletics$I$won$1500m$and$
came$second$in$800m$in$north$counties,$I$made$the$Counties$Primary$Boys$rep$team$for$a$tournament$in$Hamilton.$I$also$captained$
the$$school$cricket$team,$made$north$counties$for$swimming,$went$to$counties$with$the$touch$team,$came$2nd$at$counties$and$north$
counties$for$badminton,$my$team$at$the$tag$team$triathlon$won$the$yr$7,8$race$and$loads$more.$I$have$also$made$the$Conifer$Grove$
School$honors$board$for$being$sportsmen$of$the$year$which$I$was$very$proud$of,$and$at$the$yr$6,7,8$prize$giving$I$was$the$top$yr$8$
robotics$student$and$also$student$of$the$year$in$my$class.$Have$a$Merry$Christmas$and$a$happy$new$year.$Love$Braden$

PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR

AROUND THE WORLD IN SIX WEEKS. !

IN NORFOLK WITH THE COLLIER AND RAMSDEN
FAMILIES. !
GETTING BUDDHIST IN BANGKOK.!
IN TIME SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY!
AT THE ARC DE TRIOMPHE, PARIS!
AT PLATFORM 9 , LONDON

PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR

2015 OFFERINGS!
IN
1. MARCIA TO ONE DIRECTION
SYDNEY!
E
2. CARRON AND RICHARD TO TH
EAGLES IN MELBOURNE!
THE
3. CARRON AND RICHARD TO RUN
RCH!
LOS ANGELES MARATHON IN MA
Y!
4. MARCIA AT OTAGO UNIVERSIT
SCHOOL
5. CAMERON TO FINISH HIGH
AND PLAN A FUTURE!
YEAR!
6. TYLER BIG EXAM AND SPORT
H SCHOOL!
7. BRADEN FIRST YEAR AT HIG
NARY
8. RICHARD BUILD NEW VETERI
HOSPITAL!
OAT!
9. CARRON KEEP THE SHIP AFL
HT
10. TIDY THE HOUSE.YEAH RIG

Just in case you were wondering whether we d be

quieter in 2015, here s what we have planned already :
Richard doing a Half-Ironman triathlon; Marcia &
Carron to One Direction concert in Sydney; Marcia
to Otago University; Richard & Carron to Melbourne
to see the Eagles; Richard & Carron to Los Angeles in
March to run the LA Marathon; three boys at high
school with cricket, rugby, cycling, hockey, triathlon,
cross-country and academics; building and setting up a
new specialist veterinary surgical hospital complete
with CT scanner, 24 hour care and veterinary
rehabilitation centre; renovations at the beach house;
big tidy up of 15 years of clutter at Walter Strevens
Drive.
Think that ll do so have a very Merry Christmas and a
great 2015 and we ll see you on the other side.
Love the Jerrams