Christmas Day 08

Cathy and Gordon gave me this wonderful wooden word 'laugh' which will sit in place of prominence in the living room. This is nephew Liam and I on Christmas morning, about to open the presents under the tree.
When we got down to eating the cold meats and salads for the lunchtime meal, the spread of the dinner guests was this deep. That's Ashley refusing to look at the camera in the foreground, his brother Liam at the table beyond and the rest of us on the verandah.
Cheers!
Ash and Liam . . .
Cousin Gordon and Steph
And a very New Zealand dessert: Pavlova with berries and cream. Mmmmm

Christmas picnic in the park with church

THis is the church, on the edges of the Henderson creek, by Falls Restaurant, enjoying a picnic at 4pm and singing the occasional song, or carol.
Very haphazard and rambling, but a pleasant occasion overall.
The kids enjoyed it most, I think.
Plenty of space to run around and play games.
And the youngest of us, Atawhai, finally awake and taking it in.

A spot of Christmas baking on this sunny day at home. . .

Very keen to do some Christmas baking today - and I wanted to make gingerbread men, but found I was reminiscing about a shaped cutter I owned years ago I've since lost. So it was not to be. I did mince pies, ginger shortbread biscuits and a lattice berry pie instead.
I always make a mess when I bake. . .
Sheesh. It's all cleaned up now.
The stars and bells of ginger shortbread
mmmmmmmm
Christmas fruit mince pies and the punnets of strawberries I bought today.
I used some of those strawberries with blueberries in the lattice pie I made of leftover pastry. It was yummy. Enjoy your festive feasting everyone.

Friend's Christmas BBQ

Last night I had the good friend's barbecue at my place. This is Cathy and Gordon, ready to sip wine, eat nibbles and chat in the light of the golden sunset.
By the time we had the barbecue finished and the food on the table, John and Naomi had joined us.
Then it was 'showing off' time - me on my 'newly repaired flat tyre' bike - keen to hit the road again.
. . . which I did, for the purposes of photography
Ah, how well this captures my keen attitude to the idea and romance of LEISURE cycling.
Cathy preparing to be helpful in the kitchen, bless her.
Naomi forced to watch the cycling.
We finally moved into the lounge and continued the evening there.
. . . before the inevitable cleanup. BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT. Merry Christmas one and all.

CHRISTMAS has landed!

What is it about Christmas lights on a tree that can thrill you year in year out? It sure doesn't seem 12 months ago I set them up last time, and I can see a day may come where I overlap the putting up with the taking down and never pack it away!
Just a step behind these days, so didn't get a real tree and am sadly missing the smell of pine in the air. HOWEVER, at least there's a triangular green shape with decos all over it, and at night with the lights on, who'd know. Love my angel hanging down from the room light.
And someone gave me this cardboard tree last year, and so it too has a place in all the festivities.
Emma Boyd, all face painted after a recent party - with very typical New Zealand Christmas scene: sun, blue sky, sailing, and the NZ Christmas tree, the Pohutukawa.
Gorgeous wee canvas to paint on as well.

Summer has come at last!

I made full use of my new (secondhand) bike on Saturday - cycling with Helen around the bike trails of Henderson, and then later in the day heading to the supermarket to stock up on supplies.

And later in the day, we sat down in the warm fuzziness of the summery Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a first cocktail of the season.What better way to shoo in the sunny season?
My good friends John and Naomi Cowan took me to dinner at Prago in Ponsonby, with their youngest son, Guy. Great Italian food and good company topping off an excellent Saturday.

Happy Birthday John!

Marcie's gone - this was her last day

I took Marcie up to the Kauri Gumstore Cafe on this, her last day here, to meet my good friend Cathy.
Cathy has just enjoyed another birthday, so that was also part of the celebration.
And at the tail end of the day, here's Marcie at the airport with me, and Steve, who came from work to join us and see her off. God bless you, Marcie. . . and thanks for coming so far to be with us. Love you lots.

Marcie and I go to Waihi Beach

This is one of a few swing bridges leading along the Karangahake Gorge on the way to Waihi.
Marcie and I heading deeper into the walk. . . through the remains of an old gold mine.
Beautiful Lothlorien forest on the way.
Marcie ahead on the path as it slopes down toward the river.
Late Spring daisies added some colour to the slopes
We walked through this dark, wet 1km long old train tunnel, which is part of the circular Karangahake Gorge walkway.
FINALLY, Marcie arrives at Waihi beach - our family holiday home and haunt for about 45 years.
Fish and Chips eaten from newspaper on the beach after we arrive.
Lazy mornings spent enjoying the late Spring sun.
or a 'flat white' at a local cafe.
With matching hats, heading out toward Orakawa Bay - which can only be reached by walking or boat. .. from Waihi Beach.
Rich azure sea and the distant Bowentown hills.
The long line of Waihi Beach and distant Bowentown, and the last couple of coves we've just walked round.
Will we get there?
Ah - sparkling in all its pristine glory in the midday sun.
Orakawa Bay.
Returned to Waihi Beach and Athenree for a hot spring soak, and then lamb shank dinner at this cafe.
Mmmmmmmm