As the older sister, with both parents now working, I took care of my little brothers. I grew up very quickly, but with my new responsibility came a sense of independence. At 14, I had my first paid job, doing the dishes at the local Leopard Hotel, then moving up to waiting tables in weekends. I'd bike the 5 kilometres into town, and after work, I'd stay with my Granny Pam, who I adored. She was also the secretary of the first Waipukurau branch of the Labour Party, and I helped her sell the raffle tickets. We'd get up early to bake a sponge cake, which had to be filled with red jam and lots of red strawberries on top. 