A beautiful southern Christmas Day

Christmas Day dawned bright and sunny and beautiful. We sat in the yard and chatted and relaxed over coffee and Christmas cake at morning tea time. I stayed there for a while and read for a bit. We didn't have to be anywhere until mid afternoon.

Mid afternoon we headed over to number one son's home and congregated with the rest of the family. There were 18 of us in total as my brother and his partner from Aussie had arrived unexpectedly.

As usual there were parcels under the tree

and we had fun opening them :)

And then it was time to head outside

to seek the shade and maybe catch a breeze.

Under the house for some

and under the umbrella in the back yard for others.

Sunblock and sunhats were the order of the day.

A couple of the men got the barbie going, the girls had already done their bit with the salads, desserts and nibbles.

Enough food to feed the clan and then some left over.

Well maybe not the meat but some of the salads and sweets.

Later it was time to head around to the front garden

out of the sun and heat, to chat and eat desserts.

And that is a snapshot of our Christmas Day.

Diana

joining Deb at Breathing in Grace

for Friday foto friends

An icy start

I know I haven't been around much lately but I have managed to find some pics to put up for the photo challenge over at 

I live, I love, I craft, I am me with Hawthorn. Most of them were taken while we were on holiday earlier in the month. I hope to get back to normal in the not too distant future, in the meantime I will visit and post when I can.

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1)  Making

We have been away on holiday for a few days and decided to go into the city centre for a bit of a stroll and look around. It just so happened that there was a street party and a good crowd of people. Amongst all the food stalls were one or two more interesting ones and this one caught our attention. An ice sculptor at work. Making!

And I'm sorry there are two pictures but I wanted 

to show you some of his finished work (even though they are not very clear).

2)  Empty

Once more two photos but you need to see the size of the pre meal 'while you are waiting snack' to appreciate the empty bowl below. We were out with our grandson, his partner and friend while on the same holiday. An enjoyable meal followed.

3)  Starts with an F

On another nice day we decided to go and have a look at the 'Cardboard Cathedral' which is being used in place of ChristChurch Cathedral after it was devastated by the earthquake almost seven years ago. This is the font just inside the entrance. The font and base are made from beautiful wood but the upright is cardboard. 

4)  Paper

Now this one is from the archives. We went up to Alexandra one Saturday during the blossom festival a few years ago to watch the procession and just generally hang. When I was young I always thought the procession floats were decorated with blossoms but of course I now realise that is not possible if we want to have summer fruit. So these lovely floats are made with tiny paper flowers.

5)  Neat

I think this tiny pansy is neat. It was only half an inch 

across and those little light dots on the purple are actually

 specks of pollen. I hope you agree this little flower has a neat 

little face as well as being so dainty and pretty.

6)  Street

Still on holiday. On the day we went to view the cardboard cathedral we also found this memorial to the 185 victims of the earthquake across the street. It stands on a street corner and is quite poignant. It consists of 185 white painted chairs. The tiny chair in the front is a baby's car seat and what makes it more moving for me is that it represents a young girl and her tiny newborn baby from my town. They were killed when a building collapsed onto the bus they were sitting in at the bus stop. 

7)  Kettle

This one had my brain ticking over...what to do that was different? Copper kettles? Nah. Electric kettles? Nah. Then one night...an 'Aha' moment. We have a sports field in the city named Kettle Park! So last weekend in I went and took a photo and here it is. Football (rugby) and football (soccer) are both played here but not in the same areas obviously. The park adjoins the beach just over to the left and a wild wind blows off the water at times during the winter. Believe me I know - I've stood in it whilst watching my grandsons playing football (soccer).

8)  Unexpected

Another holiday pic - when we went out with our grandson for an evening meal we saw this round, glass topped table in the main bar but didn't take too much notice. It wasn't until we were leaving that we managed to have a closer look at it - a well in the middle of the bar! Totally unexpected. This is taken looking down the well and that is a light reflecting off water at the bottom. Unfortunately I never thought to find out the background story to share.

9)  Vase

Not very original I'm afraid. I mean what can you do with with 'vase'? I asked myself. And so all I came up with was this pic of shelves of vases in the Warehouse. A real challenge here so I'm interested to see what others have done with it :)

10)   My choice

Back to the holiday pics. I would love to have a ride in a punt sometime. It always seems quite romantic to me. This is a punt on the Avon River in Christchurch. Taken after we had spent a restful afternoon strolling around the botanic gardens.

Reunion - part two

Saturday night found us all gathered at the Recreation Hotel for a celebration dinner. We had been able to go in earlier in the day and put Easter eggs at each place setting and although it doesn't seem so in the picture, it looked quite pretty. One sis had wrapped several eggs in cellophane bags and tied them with pretty curling ribbon, enough for a bag each for each person there. With wine and soft drinks on the table it added to the effect.

We started with an entree served at the tables followed by a buffet main course. This meant that those with special dietary requirements could have what they needed. Once again when 

it came to desserts we were served at the table. The food was delicious but it was a shame that the noise from the open kitchen made it difficult for people to hear our eldest cousin when he gave a tribute to our grandparents and then made the toasts. Luckily he had written it out and we were able to get a copy posted on our facebook page.

Immediately after dinner was over we cut the reunion cake. We would have left it a bit later as some people were still eating dessert but our Aunty was ready for home and we really wanted her to do the honours. The cake was made by my eldest grandson, very decadent, layered mud cake filled with chocolate ganache and iced with chocolate. Once again the theme was flags and daffodils, all made with chocolate - well the ones on the cake were anyway :)

Just after it was cut there was an accident with a wine glass and one end of the cake was covered with wine and broken glass. Luckily it was a big cake and we were able to salvage most of it but the waitress who caused it was very upset as she was new at the job.

A good time was had by all and not a cross word was heard. The little kids were all marvellous, and cousins of all ages caught up with each other. The four in the picture above all live in the same city but had to travel to the Coast to visit with each other :)

On Sunday lunch time we had a farewell at one of the local cafes, "The Gap". Sharon, the owner, was so obliging. When I rang her to confirm our booking it was the first she had heard about us wanting to use her cafe to say our farewells. She had bought the business since we booked and I rang her less than a week out from the event. But she reserved space and set up seating for 30 which worked really well as we arrived in groups of 10 to 20 and there was plenty of room for everyone at any one time :) The staff were very friendly and obliging as we were there on a very busy holiday weekend.

On Sunday afternoon those of us who weren't travelling did some exploring, my GKB and I went to Punakaiki to the blow holes but I'll write about that another time as it really warrants it's own post.

One thing we of the older generation find interesting is that our families enjoyed themselves so much that they all want to go back for holidays and do some more exploring. A real positive spin off as most of them have shown no interest up until now :)

Joining in Five on Friday

over at FAST

Diana

Winter activities at home

Yes, I do in fact, spend time at home and in the winter

 it is a matter of finding things to do on long dark evenings.

So, no. 1: I like to read. This is the latest book I have finished for the reading challenge. A Fistful of Summer by Peggy Dunstan. 

It is a collection of short stories written by a New Zealand author and based on her childhood in Christchurch and Wellington. Although set a decade or two before my childhood days,

 probably in my mother's, I could relate to it and so 

thoroughly enjoyed it. I may have to read it again.

No. 2:  Now I don't neccessarily like to knit but have found myself enjoying it more now that I am not trying to keep my family warm with nice woollen jerseys. It was such a challenge to make sure they all had nice new jerseys for the winter, then as they got older there were those  jackets worn by Starsky (or was it Hutch), and everyone had to have one or they would be the only kid in school looking uncool. I find it more relaxing these days and as well as the snoods for my daughters I have knitted this beanie hat. I will probably put it on a bring and buy table later in the month.

No 3: I quite enjoy doing and completing a jigsaw. This is the latest one and let me tell you it took me as long, or longer, to do the sky as to do the rest of it. The one before this was shades of white and grey with a little bit of blue, this one is shades of pink and peach with some darker shading. I pulled out the next one in the pile and it was shades of white and grey with touches of gold! No! I wanted a change so have opted for a more busy one, I've done it before quite a while ago but am finding it more challenging this time.

No.4: I have had a few cards to send out this month, bereavements, birthday and invitations. But finally they are all done. Well no they are not really, next week youngest grand daughter is turning 18.   So I will be on the lookout for a nice card for her over the next few days, and a gift to go with it. I can't believe how quickly these kids have grown up.

And so to no.5: Once a month I am rostered on to help in our church hall in the kitchen, I generally enjoy this particular evening out. An alternative church service is held each Friday night and I usually make a dish and take it down. The service is attended by some of the more marginalised people in the community some of whom travel out from the city to attend. They start off with a cuppa and a sing along followed by a bible teaching, then they have a hot meal followed by another cup of tea or coffee. It's my night tonight and I have made a big fish pie. It looks a bit pale in the picture but is set to go into the oven to brown up before I take it down. Maybe I'll grate some cheese onto it as well.

And that's my five for this week.
I'm joining Amy and friends for: 
Five on Friday

Diana

Oh, their bags are packed...

...and they're well on the way. 

In fact they must almost be back in Christchurch 

to catch the flight back to Sydney tomorrow.

Then they will separate and head back to 

their homes in different parts of the country.

Yes, my youngest sister and her family have been and gone - 

doesn't time go quickly when you don't want it to?

We had a great visit, they stayed with my little mother 

so she was always invited to join them on their excursions.

Sometimes she went with them and sometimes not

coffee in the back yard

The day we all went into the Warehouse she decided

 to join us. We had a good day out and enjoyed lunch

 at Kelly's Cafe while we were there. On the way home

 I suggested we call in to my youngest daughter's home 

so the wee fellow could play with the kids for a while. 

I can do it...I think

He is only four and had been so good. 

So the boys played and we all relaxed

and had a catchup over coffee until it was

 time to head home for tea. It is so nice not to

 have deadlines or timetables to be adhering to.

sisters, cousins, aunties and grandmas

Sis and her daughter took turns at the cooking and I think 

little Mother cooked one day when she stayed home.

As on this day when we had a family gathering at the park.

As it's school holidays we decided to have lunch at the park - 

pizzas and playtime I called it. $5.00 pizzas didn't set us

 back too much and we all took some home afterwards. 

A nice easy day out for kids and adults alike.

climbing...

And of course there was lots of playing. 

The only fly in the ointment, so to speak, 

was a bee sting. And that happened as we 

were leaving. Maybe next time the child 

will keep his shoes on when he's told to :)

...and even more climbing

A couple of nights ago we went out for dinner

 with my brother and his partner and his two sons. 

We don't see a lot of them so it was good to have

 a catchup with them as well. The meals were very big, 

well worth what we paid, and I ate far too much.

 I should have stopped at the main but I didn't.

 I had dessert! It was big, decadent and too much,

 but I ate it anyway. All in all a lovely night out.

That's me on the right with my GKB beside me, then my brother and his partner,
his sons at the end and coming back up the table, little Mother,
 my great nephew, his mother and my sister across from me.

I went for a long walk the next day, with the odd bit

 of gentle jogging thrown in for good measure.

Looking back I see we gathered a lot over food, I think 

that is a good way to socialise, over the common meal.

I shall miss them for a while but look forward

 to seeing my other sister in a few weeks time - when we

 shall have a very different sort of holiday with her.

joining Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

and Stephanie at:

roses of inspiration

That's it for this week

or for a few days anyway.

Keep well until next time,

Diana