We had this on Christmas Day....sunshine and loads of it, clear blue skies...it was a nice hot day. The perfect excuse (if you needed one that is) for setting up the backyard for a dinner party.
We also had this on Christmas Day, fresh oven baked Ciabatta (by my own hand no less!!), buttered hot and eaten with ham and wholegrain mustard, superb washed down with bubbly, or muscat, or red wine (or all three for the gluttons amongst us)
The end result? If that was the day we celebrate Christmas (and by the way, Happy Birthday Jesus) then wake me for Easter - I reckon that'll be a doosey!!

No way out

Yup, this is a real thing. It's Christmas. There's no way out.
Also, I had a very tearful phone call from my ex. Yes, THAT ex who has taken up with my "friend". His mother had a brain bleed (can't spell the real word) and not expected to live. So he rings me. Me???
Anyway, for right or wrong, I went t'hospickle...his sister is a good mate ok...he was there. His other sister was there too. It was like old times, me and the sisters...
His mum died last night, haven't had a call AT ALL from my "friend". Its all too weird for me. It was suggested that I do a reading at t'funeral. I won't though and will probably only stand quietly at the back and slip away before the after-match function. I'm off to have a vino. Its times like this that I wish I had more "naughty" habits!!!

You know something about this time of year is soooo phoney! People seem to conveniently forget how hard they worked at pissing me off during the year and it's all "Happy Christmas, mate" yeah right....however, in the spirit of things I have found a song that fits those people. All I have to do now is work out how to actually put the video on my blog as opposed to leaving the link. Feel free to forward your pearls of wisdom (or for those "crotchety knitwits" ones out there...your 'purls' of wisdom....)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvNO0BfBecc

Christmas Tag - thanks, Steve

Ok, have been tagged for a Christmas thingy whatsit. I'm not too good at this yet, so bear with me if you dare. Or go to sleep, whichever you think will be the most rewarding!

When people say Christmas you immediately think..."
Great, when is it this year?

Favourite Christmas memory?
I have two really, when I was little our family used to recreate the Nativity scene in our fireplace. I still have the doll that we used to dress up as Mary. Then, when were living on the Chatham Islands one year Mum and Dad had bought me a guitar. They figured that I would guess what it was if they wrapped it and left it under the tree so instead they left me an envelope which was the start of a treasure hunt. I finally found the guitar under the couch after having been all round the place on my hunt. It was great fun. We did a similar thing for our girls when they were little except we made it a hunt for pirate treasure (the "treasure" was actual costume jewellery that we had got in an auction) - it was great!

Fave Christmas carol/song?
Aw, has to be Snoopy's Christmas and The Fairy Tale of New York oh and lets not forget Elvis' Blue Christmas.

Fave Christmas movie?
Um...the Muppets Christmas Caper (I think thats its name)

Favourite Christmas character?
I like the idea of Black Peter from the Dutch traditions, yes he's a rat bag but hey....ok I'll be serious. Tiny Tim cos I'm with <>Steve on that one.

Favourite Christmas ornament/object?
One dish of brandy cream, two kids asleep, three glasses of champers...four adults doing dishes, five hours of sunshine, six bags of...no, wait wrong song. I love the little moving figurines in shop windows...

Plans for this Christmas?
I have got a month off work and the sun has started doing its thing here (sorry you lot up north), we had 33 degrees in the shade at our house yesterday so we will be filling our pool now that we've repainted it and will have full on family time, I'll read a few books and do some writing, keep the little house elves happy...its asll going to be great!

Is Christmas my favourite holiday?
Yep cos its the longest and usually the best weather, sun sand beaches rivers...sigh! Bring it on, Santa this good gal is ready!!!

Just thought maybe people in the Northern Hemisphere may like to see a glimpse of blue sky, took this today at our local Art Centre. It was such a hot sunny day we took the kids there for ice cream, real Italian Gelato...they always pick strawberry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu9dfdYCZhM
I love this song.

The ol' clock tower has been renovated, but I personally love this photo I took at the weekend...all very dark and mysterious (exactly how I am not allowed my men!apparently. My husband says...)....
This taken inside the Church where my two dear friends Tim and Ramon took their vows. It was a beautiful service,even tho' our 10 year old fell asleep during it! (Well admittedly she had been at a sleep over the night before, only getting to sleep at 2.30am...and then claiming she had been at a "wake-over").us "grownups" loved it, very touching, romantic and just great to see two people in love making a committment. C'est la vie! I have to say, that they guys had two services to accomadate their many and varying friends. The initial ceremony took place at a marae in Taupo, with the other blessing service here in Christchurch.
This is the wonderful old Church where the whole sh'bang took place(can you say that regarding a Church?, I have to say (and no doubt will be careful of lightening strikes from here on in) the Vicar was rather cute. He could have been taller, but he was very savvy and rather dashing...even his wife was very nice. As the song goes, "All my life's a cricle..." - the Church is right next door to where my old Aunty (well ok Dad's aunty) lived through out her life. I used to watch the church-goers as a child, wondering if they knew something I didn't. I like to think they watched me back, thinking the same.

I am feeling decidely curmudgeonly. Blame old age if you must, or lack of breeding and manners but here's the thing. We had a houseguest this weekend to assist me adding another year on my life (and taking a few years off my liver in the process). We had a wild time and topped it off with a brekky treat of whitebait. Now I've said this before (on somebodies blog, forget whose) but the only way to have this stuff is with beaten egg, dash of salt and a squidge of pepper...made into a fritter/pattie whatever school you went to...and then served with a lemon slice (or vinegar if you must). BUT LOOK WHAT HE DID! (cue absolutely incredulous gasps and fainting sounds) - tomato sauce. On the whitebait. What was he thinking? First of all, ok so he lives in Australia - the nation of ettiquette (snigger) but he's American (comments??) so we could argue he doesn't know any better. Nope, sorry that is no excuse becuase I had explained the tradition. It would be like getting Britney Spears to dress the Church choir. I'm currently plotting my revenge.
Tune in next time for an account of the civil union wedding I attended, which was a much more civilised affair I can assure you!!

..to me!

Went to the Crosby Stills Nash concert the other night. Honestly had a FANTASTIC time. David Crosby was in such fine voice, very strong and steady. Nash was just SUPER SEXY in black and bare feet, jumping about and oozing sex appeal...Stephen Stills great on the guitar...such a shame to go home alone...I can multi task..a foursome would not have been beyond my capabilities!! But, there ya go. Hm. Maybe next time.

Yay,Christmas coming up, hoorah,. Whoopy. Etc.

The Christmas Spirit

Twas Christmas Eve
And we all sat round
Nothing was stirring
There was no sound
Then without warning
Came a crash and a strain
Of Ho!Ho!Ho! – oh, not again!
We rushed to the chimney
Yes…here came the soot
Wee Jimmy pushed past
For a lot closer look
“Get back here, Jimmy”
Ma croaked, fists tight
She was ready for battle
On this Christmas night
Years of cleaning carpets
Of soot, food and grime
Had taken their toll
“He’s mine…all mine”
With bit more puffing
And a great hearty cheer
We saw black boots then
Jimmy shieked “Ma, he’s here!”
Ma had the poker
At the ready in her hand
“I’ll show him who’s here.”
And a blow she did land
Ma gave a shout
And it was of pure joy
Santa fell from the chimney
And onto wee Jimmy boy.
There was soot on the carpet
And blood up the wall
- Santa had copped it
- Once and for all!
By Amanda Stephens 2007 ©