Friday 2 January 2009

Parties, beaches, pipi and visitors

Happy New Year. A little belated, but heart-felt all the same.

So, another New Year's Eve another New Year's Eve party. Our fifth in a row and the tradition seems to be catching on in New Zealand. Most of our guests even turned up without eating first too. I think we had about 35 over this time so well up on the 10 or so we had for our first Nuzziland one. It seemed to all go well, I think. Enough people that karaoke wasn't compulsory, good enough weather to use the garden too, and enoough food for everyone, despite Jo's panics all afternoon prior to the party. Four chickens, a roast pork loin (with tremendous crackling might I add), some of Auntie Doreen's stuffing, a big dish of bobotie, and plenty of bread and salad seemed to satisfy everyone. I do love the way that people who swear they'll never sing in public weaken by the end of the evening though. It never ceases to amaze me.

Next week it's time for YLC again. Quite a few of the strand group leaders come over from Australia and often they need a place to stay while they're here. On New Year's Day a couple, Andrew & Jess, arrived. The conference starts on Monday but they arrived a little early so need a place to stay. We've got our spare room of course, so were happy to be able to open our home to them for a few days when we were asked. They're currently cooking us dinner and it smells pretty good, I have to say. It's always nice to meet Christian brothers and sisters you've not met before. Just having that one big important thing in common breaks down so many barriers. You might have nothing else in common but there is always a starting point with Christian family.

Today Joanne and I decided to have a day out. The weather for the past week has been lovely, right since Boxing Day, so we thought we'd head to the beach. Someone Jo works with recommended Tumbledown Bay, over on the south side of Banks Peninsula so we thought we'd give it a go, not knowing anywhere better. It was a lovely place. A long shallow beach protected by hills with clear water. We had a bit of a picnic, sat reading our books, went for a paddle and also 'caught' some pipi. I won't eat them of course but Jo loves seafood and catching them took her back to her childhood summers on the beaches.