christmas is coming!

Hi everyone,

Christmas is indeed almost upon us and the children are getting very excited. I have been helping at Joe's school with his class and keeping the children's attention is getting harder and harder for the teacher. Term finishes on Thursday until the beginning of February! Santa parades, sausage sizzles, days out, Carol singing in the cathedral (Joe) and generally having fun has kept us all busy - not to mention the shopping! (So I won't!).

There is some evidence of Christmas decorations (and some houses completely over the top) but it is pretty late before it gets dark and so get to see the lights. I must admit to being decoration-free at the moment but may get all the Father Christmas figurines out soon. Bah humbug!!! Some of the higher mountains still have snow but we rely on seeing it, together with robins, on the Christmas cards we receive. Thank you everyone for your cards and messages. I apologise in advance for those cards from me to you that arrive late. I blame the postal service!!

I went on a 2-day trip into the high country last week. Long days on a coach but stunning scenery - very stark and beautiful. The photos were taken on the trip. We were on a 4-wheel drive coach and driving over gravel roads the whole way. The private roads are only open for a few weeks a year and go through an area that most Kiwis have never seen. Molesworth Station is the largest farm in the country - 500,000 acres - and is Crown land, run by a govt. department. In the past there were about 120,000 sheep run on the property but now only 10,000 head of cattle. But don't worry; NZ still has 40 million sheep - give or take a few - so no shortage of lamb chops!

Sarah and I went to a concert last night of Christmas music from around the world, given by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra together with 2 school choirs. There was plenty of audience participation singing the old favourites and we enjoyed ourselves. I have a U3A party tomorrow and lunch with the walking group on Wednesday. I have already had xmas lunch with the WI (twice) so am spared from the cooking a fair bit - can't be bad! Not so good for the waistline but it is almost New Year and time for resolutions!

Ash and India's Grandpa and Grandma have arrived here for a visit so welcome to them and to the friends of Malc and Annie and Sarah and Matt who arrive shortly for a few days. I reckon that's it for this time. A very happy Christmas and my very best wishes for 2009 to you all.

Lots of love Carol xx