I wasn't going to...

...post again until after New Year 

but couldn't resist the pull, haha.

So that's my willpower down the drain

 before we even get to the resolutions bit, 

so I don't think I'll bother.

Four of my six grandchildren were at youngest 

daughter's home for Christmas dinner, 

along with parents and grandparents and one great grandparent,

 so it was quite a crowd. Later in the day 

another cousin arrived from up the street 

where he had been celebrating with his grandparents 

and all the kids had a good time together.

Youngest grand daughter is modelling the scarf/stole

she received from her aunty and uncle in Japan.

All the girls of all ages received one in different colours,

mine was in neutral colours with a rose pattern. Lovely.

It was a lovely day with just a bit of a breeze. 

We had been planning on a barbecue 

but the long term weather forecast was a bit iffy

 so we decided against it. 

We still had hot weather desserts though, 

because that's what we do in New Zealand.

I can't begin to imagine what to make 

for a cold weather dessert at Christmas.

I ate far too much of everything 

and will be taking myself out for a walk

 after tea tonight when it cools down a little.

Mackie, youngest daughter's old cat (about 12 or 13) guarding 

his Christmas chow from the kittens (about 4 months).

And of course the Boxing Day sales were all on today. 

We don't usually indulge because it is such a mad house, 

but guess what? We found ourselves at the Warehouse, 

quite accidentally of course, but didn't spend too much. 

We just bought stuff we needed - like the new cushions 

we had been planning on getting for the swing seat.

 Half price, a bargain ! Now we just have to get a coat 

of paint on that swing and she'll look as good as new.

And of course I really I needed wanted this blingy top. 

I have been looking at it for a couple of months

 and as it was also half price I thought it was

 too good an opportunity to let pass :)

We had actually only gone up to the local shops

 to buy vacuum cleaner bags but ended up in the city 

because our shops didn't have the ones I needed.  

That's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it. :) 

And just because I can here is a windmill I grabbed from the 

Good as Gold $2 shop because I liked the colours!

Sometimes you just have to let your inner child loose.

joining in with the party at:

Wake Up Wednesday

Hoping your Christmas

was truly blessed

and that 2016 brings

all you hope for.

Diana

Christmas greetings

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David

 a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

Wishing you and yours the many blessings 

of a joyous Christmas and a prosperous 2016

Diana and Bob

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree...

I thought I could show you some of my 

Christmas tree decorations. Not many, 

just some very old special ones and a couple of fun ones.

You will see there is no rhyme or reason to my tree, 

I just put an eclectic mix of ornaments on it, 

because that's the way we like it.

The tree in all it's Christmas glory, both taken at night, 

one with the flash on and the other with the flash turned off.

This old plastic Santa is so old and I don't know where he came from but I rather think he once belonged to my sister who 

moved to Australia what seems like a lifetime ago.

She also owned the little gauze fairy on the right. 

Very olden pieces, not that she is mind you :)

Both pieces precious to me.

These ones are more recent buys and are just for fun.

On the left is All Black Santa, dressed in our national football team's colours of, you've guessed it, all black!

He is accompanied by fishing Santa 

in honour of my GKB who loves fishing.

This angel was sent to us one year by the one of the children we sponsored for several years. I always put her in a prominent place on the tree, somewhere in the front, so we can think of her at this time of the year even though her sponsorship is finished.

Our tree topper is a silver star with a dove just beneath, 

not a good photo of them I'm afraid but you get the idea.

And this is a little glimpse of my glitter church 

and an ice house I have on my kitchen table.

I'm wanting to make a little village 

but as yet only have four houses - but four is 

more than none and something to start with :)

The week just gone...

No, the photo below is not taken in Rotorua at the geysers 

but one day during the week as my GKB

 was heading up the road to pay a couple of bills.

Council workmen had hit a water main while

 digging up the street, for goodness knows what,

 and this was the result. He actually rushed back

 home to get the camera so he could take some shots.

a geyser - not

It looks quite spectacular, as, I think, does my lovely girl below. 

This is Caitlin, our middle grand daughter at her graduation.

She has just finished a years study and could

 leave her course now but has decided to go on

 and do the second year and get the full diploma.

So this was her graduation for the components

 she has already achieved.

Caitlin - middle grand daughter

And below are some of her proud supporters.

Five daughters, four grand daughters, three mothers

 three cousins, two sisters and one great grandmother. 

Which adds up to five ladies believe it or not, not eighteen.

Of course this is just my side of the family, 

her other grandparents were there as well as a couple of other family members. All very proud.

grandmothers, mothers, daughters and cousins

We all had a lovely evening at the Town Hall,

 good food and drinks, non alcoholic as well as alcoholic.

 Lots of photos taken. And I won't tell you 

about the tiki tour I took on the way home. 

Suffice to say what should have taken approximately

 10 minutes took me about 25. I took one wrong turn 

and things went downhill from there, haha. 

 I knew where I was, it just wasn't where I should have been.

food bank collection vehicles

 And that brings us to tonight when we were sitting home 

quietly minding our own business and we heard sirens coming

 down the street and then an ambulance pulled up outside.

But all was well, it was the annual food bank collection 

with the ambulance heralding the arrival of the collectors.

We had forgotten to get anything for it but I managed 

to find some things in the cupboard that we could donate. 

The service clubs man (woman and child) this appeal just before

 Christmas to boost the food bank supplies over the holiday period.

Christmas goodies

And talking of Christmas holidays, 

I have decided to take this week 

off just to do those things I need 

and want to do for and with the family. 

Apart from a lunch date I have on Friday 

that has been organised for a few weeks.

One of the things to do is wrap Christmas presents

 and I need to do this before school finishes

 and little grands start to appear occasionally at the house.

Tomorrow morning is a visit to eldest daughter

 and then some Christmas shopping with little mother.

**************

joining in this week with:

Blue Monday
and:
roses of inspiration

And that's it for another week.

Happy Christmasing.

Diana

Market day

December has arrived, heralding the beginning of summer, 

and the weather is playing ball.

 I got slightly sunburnt while out walking yesterday.

The Christmas tree has been erected in Anzac Park.

And on Saturday we had our annual Market Day.

The organizers were hoping to get about 8000 people along 

and as it was a good day I'm pretty sure they did.

Both ends of the main road were closed off for about six hours.

The shops were open and a lot of them

 had tables outside with sales goods on them.

There were critters for the kids to interact with 

and bouncy castles at either end of the street.

Little Flick was there as well,

who remembers him from their childhood?

I used to listen in on the radio and hear his tale.

Lots of kids riding on him :)

A sound stage had been set up and there was almost 

continuous music throughout the day as well as a talent quest.

Of course there were a lot of arts and crafts stalls 

as well as produce and boutique style products.

We found a lovely pendant we are sure 

our eldest daughter will love. One Christmas present

 down, heaps to go. Oh well it's that time of year.

We have to have the overseas posting done by Thursday 

and we haven't bought anything yet!

Methinks tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a tad busy.

We spent an enjoyable hour or so down there,

and did see one or two other things we'll maybe

 go back and buy sometime from one of the boutiques.

And that is pretty well it for this week.

Because the sky is blue 

I am going to join in with;
Blue Monday

Until next time, keep well.

Don't overdo things 

and enjoy the season.

Diana