Happy Christmas / Happy new year!!

I hope everyone's having a good time over the break and there hasn't been too much stressful Christmas shopping!!

I've arrived safely in NZ about a week ago now, and have been just loving the time with Mum and Dad - home is such a good place to be. Also helps that it's summer and we have about double the daylight hours of Britain! :) (I'll have my gloat now thank you...)The flight wasn't too bad - despite a transit in Tokyo of about 8 hours. It was great to be travelling with Nathan, and I saw lots of films even if I didn't get that much sleep. Recommend Virgin for the total of 4 meal choices! And little fold-up tables. Air NZ has it for the friendly staff and leg room though.

From the airport Nath and I more-or-less went to our respective families and stayed there a bit. I mucked around at home for a few days and got used to being back, and managed to catch up with a lot of friends at the pub on Friday night. Then on Sat morning drove down to Wanganui (where Granny and Grandpa plus other family live)... it's a lovely drive. New Zealand really is a lovely place. There's something about it.

I love Christmas, it's the best. It's so nice to get all the family together, and we've got these little traditions. We stayed at Guzara (grandparents house) for 4 nights or so - and much enjoyed the pool, which was heated to 30degrees! Like getting into a bath! Christmas dinner was for 17 this year, and it was a successful Christmas in that we managed to stuff ourselves with food for 2days running. Hmm... talking of running, maybe that's a good idea!!

Planning to spend a couple of days bumming around, then off to the Coromandle probably to have New Year's at the beach, and then sailing with mum and dad for a few nights.

Ah, it's good to be on holiday...

Christmas Photos

Granny and Grandpa and Mum

Dad:
Mum and Granny with Christmas tree:
Christmas dinner - inside the marquee

Christmas parties

Scenic Bath:

Following Alex and Chris's party, we had: Rich's going away party on Friday (leaving England and going back to Zimbabwe and Sth Africa for Uni):

Rich's dance moves:

Nick and Mim

Me and the two mims

Then there was a pudding and wine party on Monday.

Bristol office work do on Tuesday - dress up as a hero or villain - I went as a kiwi, Sarah as Steve Irwin and her friend a pirate.

Cardiff office work do on Wednesday: Traditional Welsh dinner at Cardiff Castle! (Very exciting, a party in a castle!)

Drinks to say goodbye with friends in pub (The Raven)

And here's a nice view from the plane...

Not long...

Not long now til we come home ... Only 2 more weeks! I'm so looking forward to the trip. I do really love New Zealand, and while I haven't been homesick, I'm pretty excited about coming back for a visit.

It's getting well Christmas-y here already, just into December - the lights are up in town and people are rushing about trying frantically to get Christmas shopping done. I joined them on Saturday - it was PACKED in Bath. They have the Bath Christmas markets too, which a lot of people come to see I think.

It's going to be a busy time before we leave... what with belonging to two offices (so 2 office parties), and a combination of social engagements, I'm going to be going to 6 parties in 7 days over the weekend and into next week!! (Should be a productive week at work???). Wish me luck...

Actually we had the first Christmas party last weekend, at Alex and Chris (who lead our home group)'s house - it was amazing. Alex outdid herself with a huge array of yummy foods in their flash new kitchen, and there was some dancing afterwards. Lots of fun :)

Mmm pudding...

Our lovely hosts Alex (on right):

And Chris (on left):

And here's a nice one of me and Sarah:

Night out (friends photos)

Last weekend we went out in Bath...

Ben, me, Nath, Rich

Mim, Katy, Pete

Rich & me