Merry Chrustmas and a Happy New Year!

A lot has happened to me since we last spoke…………….

Dudas National Park (one week before Chrussy)
Took a stroll through this lovely scenic area one Sunday afternoon. Stopped at the little beach and son sat under a pohutukawa tree to enjoy the shade and read his book.
Son would not lean on a rock due to a multitude of cobwebs and the little creatures that make them.
Later on I ventured onto the squelchy mud beach to explore.
“What pretty shells” I thought and was about to pick one up when I realised it was moving! They were all moving across the mud – hundreds of pointy shells and the beasts therein, leaving trails behind them. Fascinating.
I was about to venture further when I noticed holes everywhere and something plopping down into them – that’s when I began to realise that I was surrounded and they could be under my feet too.
Panic set in and with shivers down my back, I beat a hasty retreat back to the beach, making farty squelchy noises in my rush.
I was also trying to avoid cutting my feet on the oyster shells that were liberally spread around – not easy you know – especially in a black gypsy skirt!
As I returned to the tree, heart pounding, son was standing there shielding his eyes looking for me – must have been gone a while.
What an intrepid explorer I am!

GMTV
Son and I have been on the telly! We went down to the viaduct on a windy, cold evening and managed to be seen by Kev, daughter, mum, brother and friend! Goodness knows what I looked like, but they saw me.

Kev rang me straight away on my mobile and mum shouted at the telly setting off the dogs a-barking!

Chrussy Day
Got up at a reasonable time and made our way to the North Shore to spend the day with lovely lovely friends.

Arrived just in time to teach the youngest knitting. Peeled a few carrots, played with the most cutest kittens ever, drank a cup of tea and watched Revenge of the Sith. Carved (decimated) the chicken.

Ate a delicious Chrussy dinner fortified by Lindauer Fraise. Things are a little hazy after this.

Sat on the deck (dick – sorry – but still cracks me up that does) for a while with the rest of bottle of wine. Spoke to friend on phone and discussed the Jesus sticks (candy canes – J for Jesus) I was eating at that point in time – fruity ones if memory serves me right.

Returned to house only to find out that the kittens were missing! Searched high and low literally and gave up totally baffled. Eventually the man of the house found them – they were curled up together in a little grey ball inside a dressing gown on one of the beds! Awwwww…….

Altogether, we had a lovely day and thank you very much for your invite and company……(and your telly and DVD player!)

Boxing Day
Got up early in order to be picked up by more lovely friends in order to speed off up north to a surf beach (Langs Beach I think – near Waipu).

On arrival, dick chairs (sorry!) were set up and swimming cossies were thrown on. In we went….

It was a bit chilly at first, but fine once immersed.

The waves weren’t too high – but never mind, we still had fun. Panic set in at one point when one youngster pointed out he’d seen something big in the water. I made a quick head count – noone missing!

A massive white thing bombed into the sea behind us, making a huge splash. A few seconds later, a bird flew out of the water!

Refreshed by our antics in the waves – we sat in the sun to dry and then ventured back to the car for a delicious barbie.
We had just finished and the packing up was done when daughter of friends shouted out that she could see something in the sea. We all looked over to where her finger was pointing and we saw…….DOLPHINS!

One of the most amazing sights I’ve ever seen. They swam so fast – leaping out of the water – how amazingly powerful. Everyone on the beach stopped what they were doing and just watched. It gives me goosebumps remembering! I felt so very privileged.

What a wonderful way to end our day at that lovely beach…..

Thank you.

27th December 2005
I received visitors on this day – both families from Christmas Day and
Boxing Day.

We had a lovely natter over a cup of coffee/tea, whilst the kids ran around, played footie, got stung by a bee and played electric guitar. Later on, family no 2 left for a Christmas money spending trip to the shops.

We went for a walk to the Eastern Beach – such a lovely sunny day – families enjoying the sun and sea.

I slaved over a hot telephone and ordered pizza for tea. Once pizzas were consumed (well, mostly – son finished them for breakfast the next day), 2 pies (apricot and apple) were put into oven to be warmed up for pud.

A faint smell of burning alerted son to warn me, to which my reply was:
“I’ve only just put them in!”

Anyway I checked – they were BLACK! Smoke billowed out and the smoke alarm promptly roared (well – at least I know it works now).

Unfortunately, I am unaccustomed to New Zealand ovens and did not realise it was switched onto GRILL…….

Luckily, guest dad scraped the lids of the pies off and we were able to eat the rest. Son said they tasted just like Pop Tarts! Oh well.

These were my first guests to eat a meal in our new home. In my defence, all I can say is that I can cook – honest m’lud.

Other stuff…..
Watched the first series of The Office in one sitting last night – very funny. Loved the stapler in the jelly. (Thank you so much for the telly).

Tuned in the telly to NZ programmes – found 9 channels (NZ only has 5 that I know of!). One of them is a NASA channel – no idea where that one is coming from.

Have seen some beautiful orange butterflies – quite big too!

The water empties from my sink and bath VERY quickly! Is gravity stronger in NZ or something?

Well – that’s it for now.

Byeeeee…..

X Sue