Christmas Day at our place - in pictures

Christmas Day dawned beautiful and sunny and the clan came to our place for a traditional roast Christmas dinner. After sitting out under the gazebo and umbrella for youngest grandchild to give out presents (a family tradition) we went inside to eat and then outside again to enjoy the company and play with the new toys.



the dinner table finally set





some of the clan socialising



what can I find in here?




where did that go?




cheers



more socialising...




while the boys play cricket




preparing the desserts...




...only cold ones this year





deserted table ...











Merry Christmas to one and all

Only a week to go and it will be Christmas Eve. I can't wait.

The Christmas Eve service this year is at 9pm and the Christmas Day one is at 9am,

so  that is easy to remember.

Then it's all on at our place.

The family will all gather here for Christmas Dinner,

a traditional roast meal this year as that is what my GKB has requested

 and what my little mother prefers.

Our Christmas tree is finally up and decorated - I thought

 for while we wouldn't get it up,

life has been so busy.

We had the youth group breakup

and barbecue last night,

cold weather but the kids got out

 and played mini golf while they waited for the

  food and they were happy.

Above is a picture of the tree in the church that

was officially decorated  by the youth but in

reality was done by the leaders with

 one or 2 of the kids helping.

 We think it turned out pretty good.



These two pictures are of the

Christmas tree the Sunday School

kiddies decorated, and the crib

underneath that one of the older ladies

 in the church made for them.

They had a lot of fun doing this,

 did I tell you we have mainly boys in

our Sunday School.

Only 2 (brave) girls.

Tomorrow they put on their tableau during 

 the morning service

and have their breakup and prize giving.

It's going to be a lot of fun, 

we haven't had a real practice yet. 

Both the trees were decorated with love

 and to share with the community.

The Christmas tree in the foyer at my work place.

A lovely way to be greeted as you come in the door

 and the residents like to sit out there and see it too.

I thought it was very pretty.

A final word -  a reminder of the reason for the season.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3: 16 &17

I wish you all a merry and blessed

Christmas and a very prosperous 2012



Christmas doings

What a busy time of year, I'm finding it hard to fit

 in everything I need to do. I haven't even got my

Christmas tree or any decorations out yet, let alone put anything up. But...

I have got the parcels for Japan all wrapped and in the post and so number one son and his lovely wife  should get them some time this week.

My youngest grandson came with me to post them, he was having time off from school because he hadn't been well and there was a BIG bus trip coming up and he wanted to be well enough for that - of course. He's five.

After we had been to the post office we went for a drink at a 'grown ups' cafe, as opposed to McDonald's or similar. After he picked what he wanted to eat and drink I let him find us a table while I paid up.

He sat very nicely and half way through he said to me very earnestly

"you know Granma, I haven't done this before".

I thought it was a precious moment.

Yesterday we went in to the city to watch the Santa parade, youngest grandson and his sister were on a couple of floats. Their brother was too shy to take part.

The Lego float has Daniel in it, he is the Lego man in the red.

The one below that is a back view of his older sister - trust us to be on the wrong side of the street to see either of them properly, but it was a fun time.

We took my little mother in with us as well and afterwards she told us that was the first Santa Parade she had ever been in to see. Oh dear, I hadn't realised that.

Tonight I shall try to get some Christmas cards done.

Jonah and the Whale

I went out for a walk today, the first time for a few weeks.

I won't get too fit this way.

I also have 'the bike' back in the house

but so far it has been relegated

to the spare bedroom.

Definitely not the best use of it.

This morning I was also one of the escorts when

 we took the Sunday School out to do a photo shoot

of the story of Jonah and the Whale.

 It was mainly boys aged between 4 and 12,

with one brave girl.

Very energetic.

We went to several different parts of the city,

 including the beach,

where I managed to end up with sand filled sneakers.

But I guess that is what happens when

the sand keeps disappearing from under your feet

while you're trying to get up the bank.

We had a lot of fun and ended up at a playground 

 where we rounded off the morning with a picnic -

of (chocolate) fish, crisps (chips) and popcorn.

After all that, you would think I would just want to

 sit and relax but it was so good to get a nice

enough day to get out I walked about twice

the distance I normally do.

 I had some photo's to put up too

 but for some reason tonight  they won't load.

Never mind, another time maybe.

Goodnight all, have a lovely week : D)

Peguins and Oamaru stone

Last weekend I went to Oamaru for the South Island conference for New Zealand Aglow.

It was held in the newly refurbished Opera House, which is in the picture below. It is a beautiful old Victorian building built from the lovely white Oamaru stone.

A lovely venue where we were really well looked after.

As it was not a live in conference my GKB decided to come with us - us being my mother and me. We stayed in motels and he did his thing while we were 'conferencing'.

On our first night we had been promised an 'Adventure' so after the formalities were over we were all asked to put our hats and coats and scarves on and given instructions on how to get to the Little Blue Penguin colony. And those who had cars were asked to give a lift to some one who needed one - preferably some one they didn't know.

A great way of meeting people :)

No photo's allowed unfortunately so the closest thing we have is the one above,

the penguin is carved in Oamaru stone,

me with my little mother in the background, taken the day we departed.

Sunday was quite a nice day so my GKB spent the morning wandering around the town,

went to the market and had a look at the historic precinct.

           There were several sculptures in the middle of town as well, which are hard to describe really,

but are weirdly, or should I say darkly, attractive!! 

                    Steampunk - I don't know what it is supposed to represent but I have put up a couple of   photo's for you. Man stuff I guess.

And one more photo taken that morning of lovely St Luke's Church, just because I like it.

 Have a good weekend folks.

All Blacks win Webb Ellis trophy

All the games and the hype is over and our little country is getting back to normal.

The Rugby World Cup is now part of our history and we are the

2011 World Champions.

Go the

All Blacks

I have to admit though that my GKB and I spent a great part of the start of the tournament in sunny Queensland where we relaxed and soaked up some sun with not much else to do but indulge ourselves.

We took advantage of the cheap air fares and had some great times with some of the Aussie branches of the family. Great catching up with them all.

BUT...We did watch the matches that were shown in Australia - I even watched some of them right through which is certainly saying something, I'm not really a footy fan.

When we got home it was quarter final time, so of course I couldn't help but get caught up in all the hype - the whole country was -  including the thousands of overseas visitors! It's amazing how parochial and patriotic you can become over sport when it looks like your team has a chance of getting to the top. 

It was all very good natured though and hardly a cross word said :D)

And unfortunately it is the nature of the beast for someone to go home disappointed :(

So, CONGRATULATIONS the AB's, well done, good games and a well fought, nail biting final.

France 7

New Zealand  8

We are the champions, we are the champions, of the world ...

Christmas is a-comin'

I hate to say it but Christmas is fast approaching. It is just around the corner now, I can't believe we are half way through October already.

My GKB and I were in town today, we decided we would go into the Warehouse for a coffee and something to eat and the Christmas decorations and Christmas goodies were all being put out on display.

So pretty. The tinsel and the lights and everything else always make me feel very nostalgic, like a big kid and I couldn't help but stop and admire and handle a lot of the pretty baubles.

Christmas cards, wrapping paper, nativity sets, silly Santa's, tree lights, tinsel trees, glass balls, reindeer, tinsel, curling ribbon, advent calendars.

Chocolate santa's, candy canes, and hampers along with silly seasonal mugs and that was just the beginning of it all.
I can't wait to go back in a week or two and have another poke around, there must be something I need want.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

After a while I  thought perhaps I should go and find my GKB who, for some strange reason, had wandered down to the outdoor living section of the store.

Oh, and I was very good, I didn't buy a thing.