Happy Christmas everybody

Its christmas night and the sun has just set we are feeling slightly achy from all the nuts and cheese and watching The A-Team (Jack got it for christmas). We've said it before but we'll say it again its just to damn weird having christmas at mid summer. Where's the incentive to feast drink and make merry when the sun is high in the sky, you've got swallows building nests in your shed and you're out helping your neighbours bring in their hay as the sun sets?

Anyway, we monahans gave it our best shot to do it kiwi style. So it was up with the lark for a present ripping open frenzy. The boys did very well. Jack looking so cool in his new German Army parka - he's going to need that very soon when we step off that plane into the new subarctic climate in the UK. And a widget for his camera so he can take some cool pictures. Barney got a mobile phone, a bushmans hat and an All Blacks watch. Sean got a fossil fish and a very fetching neck pillow and eye mask for his coming travels. Jenn got some wool dye (for all that stuff she's been spinning), and a rather lovely Lazy Kate hand made by Sean (also for the spinning go look it up on google if you need an explanation) and a beautiful silver spoon from Parliament in Wellington.

So we made plans were for a joint big family affair with the Davidsons next door. The girls were especially chuffed as they have never had a christmas with the cousins and aunty. So in the kiwi spirit of doing as much as is strictly necessary the barby was wheeled around to the least windy side of the compound and some steaks were defrosted and salads knocked up and vast quantities of beer put down to chill. Jenn went all out and made a pavlova (kiwis have a very very very sweet tooth and love their puddings to be teeth achingly sweet):
which was yummy and she thinks she will have to institute a new family tradition of mid summer pav fest. Expect your invites in June.

No crackers or hats. No nuts. No turkey (or suitable vegetarian substitute), or christmas puddings. No brandy, champagne and orange juice breakfasts, port or sherry. No old movies or cheesy repeats of those rubbishy old favourites (Jenn misses The African Queen but dug out her old copy of Casablanca instead). No storing the beer outside the back door with the cream and vegetables that wont fit in the fridge because of the vast amount of cheese thats in there. And, worst of all, no time with the people that we like to spend time with.

Anyway in keeping with the traditional kiwi christmas we are off camping now for a week. Back for the new year when things get busy preparing for the return journey.

We hope that you all have the best christmas ever. And we wish you all a very very happy near year. Whatever it brings. XXX

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