The Festive Season is upon us......

...and for us here in New Zealand this means SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!!

The last week of work was manic, I was so busy that for the first week of my holidays I plan to do very little. Catch up with friends, catch up on some sleep, and catch up on some reading. Sounds good doesn't it.  Anyway the build up pre Christmas was a little like this.

With my living tree decorated I threw together

a Christmas front entrance display!

I took my good friend Leonie (who is back in NZ for a few weeks) to see the Trees @ the Meteor which is a annual event that I enjoy going to. Nothing Traditional here, all recycling at it's very best. We then went out for coffee and cake and a little bit of Christmas shopping.  Such a nice way to spend with my oldest friend, as in since we were babies, I shit you not, that long!!

 Our weather was warm enough for more frocks, sandals and sunglasses.

The Sweat Peas have continued to bloom and little Miss Autumn made a nest among the fragrance.

It would seem that my Hydrangea is on Growth Hormones as this year it is HUGE!!

I got goodies from Goody!!
YUMMMMY!!
Thanks again darling Jenifer!!

I rescued a Preying Mantis from a Spider Web.
You're welcome.

We had some welcome rain that my garden eagerly drank.

The Sun returned.

And the flowers bathed in the sunshine.

A Tomato Faerie left some plants on our door step.

Both fruit and nuts are growing well in the garden. 

I finally found my Wings.
Just waiting for my Halo to arrive now.

TOF had a birthday two days before Christmas so the Spare and I took him out to Ten Pin Bowling.  Turns out TOF and I are absolute crap at this game now.  But the view down the mighty Waikato River was outstanding.

With my tripod and remote we attempted a family photo, after a dozen or so shots we settled on this being the best.  Some were too funny, but I was told not to show and tell.  

Christmas morning after a hearty breakfast and the exchanging of gifts the lads and I took the dogs for a run on the beach out at Raglan.  TOF was creating delights in the kitchen for lunch.

Plenty of Surfers were enjoying a Christmas day surf at Manu Bay.

Because it was only about 9:30am we pretty much had the beach to ourselves.

The dogs had a ball running in and out of the ocean which I might add was lovely, not cold like I expected it to be.  It was so nice to get that coastal air into my city lungs.

Needless to say there were some tired,

wet and smelly pooches in the car

on the drive back home.

We had a late lunch with TOFs sister and family which was beautiful but we will all be living off left overs forever.  That part I hate, too much food!!  But I love my SILs (sister in law) garden, she like me loves gardening so we retreated to the garden to get out of the dishes!!!

Her puppy Ginny has doubled in size and loves me.

My SIL even had Festive loo paper!!

Today, Boxing Day has been spent sleeping and snacking on leftovers, watching cricket on the TV and drinking tea. Yeah we live the high life around here.

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Where ever you are and how ever you celebrated or didn't celebrate Christmas, I hope you and your family and friends had a lovely day enjoying things you like to do.  All I know is the casual approach to this time of year works for me, I do not like fuss and stress.  And I never listen to people that tell me not to show and tell.