Timo Stroenisch, Waikato

We think our Timo should be Au Pair of the Month.  Actually we think our Timo should be Au Pair of the decade!  From his ability to cope with being squashed into our city apartment on his arrival – 3 adults, 1 boy, 1 (large) dog and 1 cat in a 2 Bedroom – to him living through the move into our not-quite-completed house (no kitchen, electricity that came and went, filthy dirty with tradesmen still everywhere), and to see him the other day leading the way up the hill opposite our rural property, with a sun-hatted, sun-screened small boy trotting 3 feet behind carrying his picnic lunch, and a dog trailing 3 feet behind the boy, on their expedition to the trampoline.  Or our Big boy and our Small boy riding their bikes round the road, and then setting off across the paddocks to the stream.  Or the pair of them practicing at the piano with the books that Timo had ordered online at Amazon, so that Fraser could begin his music lessons as Timo had.  From his Lemon Grass soup recipe, to his meticulous cleaning, but primarily for his love and care for Fraser and his endless ability to come up with games that delight, entertain and educate, we wish to nominate him.  On Mothers Day, while Fraser had a short nap he devised a Treasure Hunt with clues that trailed all around our property, and Fraser (aged 4), solved and hunted and ran and climbed and eventually dug up the cardboard box with his treasure in.  I can’t imagine how we will ever find someone to take over, when Timo goes home to commence his degree in Medicine, but I can imagine what a wonderful doctor he will be in time to come and we will always be pleased he is forever part of our family.

Timo Stroenisch