Goodbye 2011

That was one fast year! What will 2012 hold?

Petone Library

The pic is of the mural in Petone Library, which I visited for the first time yesterday. My details are all updated and I'm a borrower once more. I'm already well into one of the books - six in total from the biographies section, which looks well-stocked and very promising for future visits. Roll on the rain.

Holiday Movie #1

Very, very good.

A Late Starter ...

... but as it was only planted a month or two ago that is to be expected in its first year here. Regardless, Millie and I are very proud of the blooms appearing on our special tree. And the spectacular weather continues.

Christmas on the Beach

A perfect start to a lovely day. I can't remember a Christmas with better weather, and over so many consecutive days. How lucky we are!

Merry Christmas

Glorious

By some miracle, I was awake early and walking on the beach before seven this morning. Not a breath of wind and clear blue skies. Watched an Interislander ferry enter the heads and glide slowly its dock, while the Eastbourne ferry seemed to race across the harbour by comparison. This summer I am aiming to make it to Sommes Island on just such a morning. Christmas Eve Eve - and the pohutukawa trees in Petone continue to delight. This particular one is right by my house. So sad to hear that, while we have had such a perfect day here, Christchurch has been rocked yet again.

Holiday Plans

I think the sign for my street sums up perfectly my plans for the break. A home-based, relaxing time enjoying being where I am. Last Christmas holidays were consumed by selling, buying and moving. This year the pace will be considerably slower.

Christmas Traditions

If you have ever been a Stokes Valley resident then it really isn't Christmas until waving Santa appears above the gate of a main road house. And it simply wouldn't be right not to wave back every time you pass. It was nice to have at least one opportunity this year to complete this festive tradition.

Beautiful Day

And a good run of weather ahead. Morning tea with an old friend and then a run back to good old Stokes Valley to deliver gifts. I love being on holiday!

Out and About

A busy first day of the holidays that necessitated setting the alarm for an early start. Joined the commuter rush into Wellington. It makes me really appreciate not having to do that every day, but not a bother when not rushing to a workplace. Had my first visit to the re-vamped Wellington Hospital - all very pleasant as hospitals go. Karori and the central city also visited, and in Brooklyn visited a new (to me) cafe that boasts of roasting its own coffee beans, which indeed could be observed from my table. It's now early evening, the sun is shining and I am going to stroll into the Hutt for a little light shopping and socialising. Life is good.

There's a fine line ...

... between festive and just plain creepy. Bed, Bath and Beyond have crossed that line and then some. He's almost life size and starts singing as you walk in the door. I'm not sure why they are worried we might want to touch him.

Day One

Life now turns to lazy lie-ins, eating and shopping. Stretching ahead, six glorious weeks at the beach - and I don't have to pack!

The Reason for the Season

Post Out

The time has come to sit and write out the Christmas cards - this evening it is to be all completed. Every year I wish I had saved the address list with the post codes, but as usual I will need to look up each one online and probably still not bother to write them down for next year.

The Domestic Arts

Dessert for tomorrow evening, when a small gathering will take place in Petone. A satisfying project completed.

Deck the Halls

Although this photo is us decking the dining room. But we do have tinsel and reindeer in the hall!

Smelling Sweet

The replacement garden for the nasty box hedging is coming along nicely. There was a confusing array of lavender plants to choose from so I am pleased that the ones I chose have turned out to have such nice bright and chubby flower heads. The pittosporum hedging plants are doing very well and have nearly doubled in size since they were planted. The back garden is the project this weekend.

Candy Cane Mice

Today we decorated our class Christmas tree with candy cane mice - very cute. Next week is going to be very busy with Christmas fun - including our class nativity item, dress rehearsal on Monday and the show on Tuesday.

It's That Time of Year Again

Nothing better than a Christmas song, but Bob's jingle is always particularly addictive. So, here we go for Christmas 2011!

At The Dowse

Saw two great exhibitions today. The Scott Eady 100 Bikes Project - strangely mesmerising to see all the brightly coloured bikes. Bedazzled is a collection of Royal NZ Ballet Costumes, designed by Kristian Fredrikson. There are costumes from a number of ballets, including Cinderella and Peter Pan. But the costumes that particularly appealed to me were the white and black swans from Swan Lake. I can't say I have much interest in ballet, but since seeing The Black Swan at the movies I have gained a slight appreciation for the art, and a working knowledge of the story of Swan Lake. Ballet lover or not, the costumes are well worth a visit.

The Local Watering Hole

No matter what time of day one passes, there is always a gathering of the health conscious busily filling their containers with pure, untreated Petone artesian water. I really must start doing the same. That might be a 2012 resolution ...

Outings

A very exciting weekend for my little car. It can sometimes sit at home, in the garage, for weeks on end. Yesterday it not only had an outing to the supermarket, but also a visit to a petrol station - it's first refuel since July. Carbon footprint-wise we are feeling rather virtuous. Today it has an exciting run all the way to Seatoun.

Earthquake!

As luck would have it, I was out walking on the beach when this evening's earthquake struck - 5.7 and 40km from here. I didn't feel a thing, but friends I called in on said it was a frightening one. When I got home, Millie's only concern was food bowl and tummy related.

Busy

Christmas craft day today at school. Lots of fun. Very busy, very tired. Roll on the weekend.

Summer

Officially day one of the new season, and a cracking good one at that. The pohutukawa trees would appear to be spot on with their prediction and apparently the cabbage trees are also pointing to a stunning summer. Holidays starting to look within grasp, but not on track with Christmas shopping and cards.