Monday Boxing Day

Boxing Day Sales - 20-70% off - Cathy is missing - no correlation. Except she did return with a new cycling outfit. So we jumped on the bikes and headed for Tahunanui beach. It's a 7km ride around Rocks Rd which has only just reopened after some major hill slip during the latest floods.

We passed some lovely cafes (booking into the Boat Shed Cafe for tomorrow's dinner). David found another coffee gelato, whilst Cathy bought a passionfruit gelato from the local shop before we headed home. At dinner, Trina's awesome dinner was a real hit. What could beat whitebait fritters, salmon, prawns followed by a berry meringue mess? Watching "Piki Mai" on Youtube.

Sunday Christmas Day - Nelson NZ

Cathy woke up early (little girls get very excited). After a quick breakfast, the Jones family raced off to church in the Nelson Cathedral.

The service was enjoyed by all for it's timely reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

The boys raised the umbrella (in case of further Nelson rain, or possibly sunshine).

Then it was the cracking of Toi Toi champagne and the opening of presents.

Everyone ate too much of the yummy Christmas Dinner - chicken, ham, roast vegies and plum pudding with custard. Noone felt like much for dinner Christmas night.

Saturday Christmas Eve

David went out for a bike ride to Richmond (something about coffee ice cream), whilst the Girl's went shopping at the Nelson market looking for Christmas Day goodies. Everybody returned home exhausted and needing a pre Christmas snooze. The highlight of the evening was Carol's on the steps of the Cathedral. There was a great community feeling as we lit each others candles. Mary, Graeme and Cathy were particularly vocal with their singing whilst the rest mimed along.

Friday 23rd December

David and Trina went off to work, so we borrowed their car and headed off on a Grand Tour. First stop was Mapua and a walk amongst the seaside shops. We were particularly taken with Forest Fusion Functional Art.

We had a coffee and savoury scones before moving onto Kaiteriteri. The place was abuzz with the Christmas holidayers swimming, kayaking and/or catching the ferry to Able Tasman National Park. We had lunch overlooking all this activity. Cathy and Mary went for a paddle in the warm shallows. On the way back to Nelson, we dropped by to see David "Fresh Choice Supermarket's Wine Guru" hard at work. That evening, we fired up the BBQ for steak and salad. Toi Toi wines completed another wonderful meal.

Thursday 22nd December

Early morning wake up to drive the car to Tullamarine airport so we could get through customs and immigration and sit in the Qantas Club. Our much hoped for upgrade did not appear (the plane was full) but the trip was 3h30m only. Lucky, as our window seat had no window!!!
Mary and Graeme met us at Wellington airport and guided us through the transfer to our Nelson flight. We arrived in Nelson on time to be met by Trina. After a few issues getting into our rented accommodation (David should read his emails!!) we had a delicious chicken casserole and caught up on NZ news.