Hello All and Merry Christmas! This is coming to you on Christmas Day for us, middle of the night for you in North America.
We had a great Christmas Eve and Day. Spent part of the day on the 24th at the beach and then a little waterslide place. Then we headed up the road to neighbours for a Christmas drink and visit, and a ramble around their orchard – really their “front yard”, but it is entirely planted with fruit trees! We had apricots, lemons and oranges right off the trees. You gardeners would love it here – they have things in bloom 12 months of the year.
Then Sam ran down to Maupuo, a harbour town about 20 minutes away, and picked up Fish ‘n’Chips take away for dinner (oops – that’s “Tea”here), a nice traditional Kiwi feast.
Quinn put out a snack of kiwi fruit and milk for Santa and we went off to bed. The sky was so clear and the stars seemed so low you could almost reach out and touch them – like being in Northern Sask. for Christmas, only warm!
Today, the 25th, was hot and sunny and we were all up early for stockings, breakfast and gifts. Lots of lovely things for everyone, including some Kiwi clothing, hats, games and food.
After a visit with more friends of Scott and Leigh’s we were off to the neighbour’s OUTDOOR pool for a swim – what a change from skidooing or toboganning!
Scott and Leigh put together a wonderful feast of bar-b-qued turkey, stuffing and salads. Ian and helped out with the chopping of fruit and vegetables, but really not a big fuss for a dinner when it is kept to a fairly simple summer barbeque!!
The boys are all downstairs playing a game of Pit – you Willimasons will know that this is an extremely loud game of cards/trading and basically yelling. I lasted a couple of rounds before coming up to the quiet computer room. Leigh was smart enough to takethe dogs for a walk and escape altogether!!:)
All in all, a good day; very different from Canadian Christmas, but I can’t say as I missed anything about a cold December Christmas except seeing all of you family and friends.
Have a wonderful, peaceful and blessed Christmas Day
Much love to all from all of us down under!
Shel