This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Jean Leiper - Niven, 83, born on November 11, 1927 and passed away on September 2, 2011. In Insch War Memorial Hospital, Aberdeenshire Scotland. We will remember her forever.
A memory from long ago, when were we based in Rotorua, well Ngongotaha, and still had Dad with us.
Being Mum to seven kids was always a busy hectic time, each day much the same as the one before.
Washing, cooking, cleaning, caring for the little ones.
This particular day Mum and I went, with the two youngest boys, to do the shopping.
All went pretty well, no-one fell and hurt themself, or got lost, we managed to get everything we were needing too!
When we got home one wee chap needed his bottle and put to bed for a nap and we needed feeding too.
I bottle fed and changed our youngest, after helping Mum unpack the shopping bags.
Lunch was duely made, consumed and the dishes done, 2nd youngest went out to play with a pal, and as Mum and I were about to sit down for a cuppa, she suddenly realised she had not seen her purse since returning from the shops!
Well we searched the shopping bags, the little fellas pram, looked high and low to no avail.
I can still hear her saying (in her bonny Scot's accent) 'fars ma purse..oh meee, fit hiv a deen wi it' !?!
A cup of tea while the pot was still hot, that was the ticket...sit quietly and think, because she was sure she had her purse with her when we left the shops
Mum put out the cups and poured the tea, I went to the fridge for the milk.
Lo and behold! What was this?
Sitting by the new pack of butter in the fridge....Mum's purse!
Well we laughed and laughed, she must have put it there while putting the butter and milk away!
Poor Mum was always so busy thinking twenty steps ahead, planning dinner while ironing or doing the washing and cleaning the house, making beds etc...she just was always on the go!
Little wonder she lost her purse from time to time, in fact amazing she did not lose her sanity with us lot!
You taught us all to be organised and self sufficient Mum, ( 'dinae dee fit I dee, dee fit I say'...was a frequently used term), shared some grand stories and good laughs.
Hope you are at peace and able to relax now.
Love always,
Liz
Mum came to visit me in Sydney November 1997 and we had the best time. Some of the time she was home on her own while I was at work so when I came home I would say to her what did you do today and she would sayy I went for a walk here etc she walked places I had never been too. On the weekends we went out and did things and one Sunday we walked down the end of my street to Botany Bay and sunbathed on the beach there. Mum was wearing a straw hat to keep the sun off her head and a sudden gust of wind came up and blew the hat off her head. So me being a good daughter haha set foot to retrieve the hat well everytime I went to pick it up of the sand a gust of wind would blow it away and further up the beach. After running a fair didstance I managed to get the hat. I got back to Mum exhausted and breathless and she was just laughing her head off at how funny it was that everytime I bent down the hat blew away again. Was a real laugh. My good friends Hans and Esma and Jenny joined Mum and I for Mums 70th birthday dinner. Esma kindly organised a white stretch limo to pick us up and take us the 15 minute ride into The Rocks at Sydney Harbour. Mum didn'y know about the limo, we thought we would surpirse her so I was keeping an eye for it coming and when it turned up I said to Mum right lets go thats the taxi (she couldn't see the limo until we got further down the drive). When we got in sight of the limo she said thats not for us is it and I said yip thats our taxi ride into town. She just beamed a big smile and climbed in like quite the thing and sat back with a glass of Champagne enjoying the ride and the view. When we got to the Harbour a mob of Japanese tourists surrounded the limo cameras at the ready wondering which celebrity was arriving. Well Mum was first out and she flashes a big smile and says "its only me". The Japanese weren't sure who she was obviously but were disappointed I think that it wasn't Nicole Kidman or Russell Crowe. Yet another funny moment. Also while Mum was in Sydney Michael Hutchence from INXS committed suicide (accidentally??) and his funeral was aired live on t.v. It was through the week so when I got home from work I got in the door and Mum was all puffy eyed and looked emotional. I said whats wrong have you been crying. Aye she says I was watching Michael Hutchence funeral and it was afa emotional I've sat here greeting a efternein. I laughed coz it was so cute a 70 year old woman getting emotional over a rock stars funeral. We went to New Zealand for 2 weeks as well during Christmas and New Year and had a great time visiting family and friends and it was great she got some time with our dear brother Alistair who sadly passed away February 2011, 7 months before Mum. I have many Mum stories but the time she spent with me in Sydney/New Zealand was the best time ever and after she left to go back to Scotland I was so lost without her for a good month. I would go to places we had been and cry because I missed her so much and that feeling is with me now permanently because the empty lost feeling I felt then is with me all the time now because we won't ever share laughs like we did then ever again but I know she is with me and is watching over me. I love you Mum so much and miss you more than words can say. Hope you are up there looking down on me and getting a laugh some of the time. xxxxx
