I know exactly what it’s like to be the matriarch of a busy household of three boys in West Auckland, and I definitely identify with Cheryl. The boys told me to watch the show as our house was sometimes in the background and we soon recognised, and loved, all the characters, as well as the stories. It’s challenging to bring up kids out West.
one time, my husband Lance (59) and I left the eldest two at home when we went to a panelbeaters’ conference in the Hauraki Gulf. I phoned them in the evening and could hear loud music. When I asked to speak to the eldest, I was told he had fallen, dislocated his kneecap and gone to hospital in an ambulance, leaving the 13-year-old in charge of the party.
Parties at our house were banned after that so the boys went to their mates’ ones. This was at a time when kids had huge parties that were often broken up by the police. The boys thought it was great if a party they’d been to made the news.
Now they’re older, they look back and say their teen years were awesome and nobody ever got hurt, except for that knee. I did worry about them. I nearly had a heart attack when I arrived home one day to find three police cars outside the house. I thought, ‘oh no, someone’s died!’ but it turned out one son had scored a holiday job sanding the cars to be repainted. of course, they had to take one for a joyride with their mates. It overheated when they got to the motorway and another police car stopped. They were in big trouble for that.
A posh friend of the boys, who lived in Remuera, stayed over once and parked his car on the lawn. We’d never had anything stolen, but the next morning the poor guy had no car, just the steering lock was left. His car was eventually found a month later.
The boys were just typical Westie kids and I’m proud to say they’ve all got degrees, good careers and happy memories of their teenage years. They gave me a few grey hairs at the time, I must admit. We are all proud Westies though, and the diversity of West Auckland prepares kids for life.
Now the kids are older, Lance and I have more free time to pursue our passions, rock music and hot rods. Lance has spent the past three years building us a motorhome and working on a 1932 Ford, which will be painted black with flames up the side.
We’ll be cruising music and hot-rod festivals all over New Zealand the perfect Westie retirement. I know Cheryl would definitely approve!
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