Thursday 25th December- Christmas Day in Taipa Bay

Thank heavens the sun has returned and so the walk along the beach was really nice and warm and we stopped to look at the amount of boats that had gone fishing. There were tents in the back of a motel and also a home made motor home, the place was getting crowded.

We had the water of the Spa tested in Kerikeri on Monday and we had been advised what chemicals to add and when to add them so we followed the instructions and had the opportunity to use the spar pool later in the day.

There was joint preparation of the dinner with the official table laying routine and also preparing the many vegetables required. Robin and Lorraine arrived around four pm and by 4.45 pm as the sun shone down we all went in the spa with a glass of white wine apart from Lorraine who had to drive. The police are very hot at drinking and driving over Christmas time and so it is wise to be careful.

Prior to dinner we opened our presents, we had purchased some goodies at the two dollar store. For Robin we got a London Bobbies hat (in view of his ‘The Bill’ TV connections) and for Lorraine a Tiara and magic wand while Noel and Jennifer had sequined “Bunny ears”.

The starter crudities were accompanied with some Oyster Bay wine whilst sitting on the balcony watching the fishing boats come and go and the kids swimming in the sea. Our leg of pork was excellent and Lorraine had brought a nice strawberry and raspberry Pavlova and also some Christmas pudding ice cream and both were excellent.

Cheese followed though we were all rather full by then and then suddenly it was about 1130 and time of Robin and Lorraine to go home.

In order to relax a little before going to bed we switched on the TV. A ‘Fish called Wanda’ was part the way though and so we watched that and also called our daughter Joanne to wish her a merry Christmas.

A most enjoyable day indeed and let’s hope there are no hangovers in the morning.