For A Laugh

More from Neru & Gary's. This one New Zealanders will understand .... Gary calls this "The Basin Reserve"! LOL
And this photo of Hunter may explain why there are never any birds in Neru's birdbath!!

Some Christmas Photos

If I was a good girl and if I was clever, I would work out a fancy schmancy way of putting up these photos ... but today I am neither good nor clever. Just a woman that has to go back to work tomorrow and with still a weeks worth of chores to do in 24 hours!!

Despite the work thing hanging over me it has been a really good Christmas. As usual I forgot to take any photos on Christmas Day although He Who Shall Not Be Named might say that is a good thing. With not a bit of tinsel in sight and a cooked breakfast instead of Christmas Dinner it was hardly glamorous but it was nice. We made a concerted effort to make sure that not one chocolate had the chance to go stale and the couch got a lot of attention. I know I said I wanted to watch crap tv all day but I didn't think SKY TV would take me so seriously. Either the dish or the little boxy thing are giving out and the only channels we could get all day were showing stuff like the Chelsea Flower Show or ... oh that's right, that's all we could get!

The highlights of course were time spent with friends. The Christmas Eve Cocktail Party at Gina & Ambrose's

the Boxing Day BBQ at Leonie & Les's
and the Happy the Day After Dinner at Neru & Gary's. Who could wish for more?

A KIWI JINGLE BELLS

I went with Kath & the kids the other night to look at the Christmas lights around here - three little munchkins sitting in the back seat of the car in their jamies with blankies & pillows. We couldn't leave until about 9.30pm though - with daylight saving it takes forever to get dark enough to enjoy them all. They really are such good kids and as we drove around Ben, Xanthe & Siobhan sang me their favourite carol from school. (Let me know if you need a translation!! LOL)

A Kiwi Jingle Bells

Dashing to the bay, in a Kombi campervan
Christmas at the beach, the family's master plan,
Dad is at the wheel, and mum is by his side
We kids are squabbling in the back as we go for a ride.

Chorus
Oh, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, jingle all the way
Christmas in New Zealand on a sunny summer day
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to have a kiwi holiday!

We stop off at the shop, to load the chilly bin
Hokey-pokey ice cream, soon dribbles down my chin
We jump into the van, heading for the shore
Dad fiddles with the radio, to hear the cricket score.

Chorus

Soon we're at the beach, our rellies shout "G'day"
We swap our Christmas pressies, a boogie board - hooray
We change into our togs, and to the sea we run
What a joy to splash & swim, summer's so much fun!

Chorus

The grown-ups call us in, they've laid us out a spread
Lunch is fish'n'chips, and cheerios in bread
L & P to drink, pavlova, pud & pie
Anzac bikkies, choccy fish, it's cracker kiwi kai!

Chorus

The kids are keen to play, but the dads all want a nap
The sunscreen starts to fly, as mums go slip-slop-slap
We race out to the sand, to play a game of touch
But all the cuzzies are too slow, because they ate too much.

Chorus

The barbeque heats up, the sun begins to sink
Our tea's as good as gold, we've scoffed it in a wink
It's nearly time for bed, we've had an awesome day
Celebrating Christmas time, the real New Zealand way!

Chorus

Differences

"Long black

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A long black is a style of coffee, most commonly found in New Zealand and Australia, but now becoming available in the UK, predominantly in London. It is made by pulling a double-shot of espresso over hot water (usually the water is also heated by the espresso machine). A long black is similar to an Americano, which is made by adding hot water to espresso shots, but it retains the crema and is less voluminous, therefore more strongly flavoured.

A long black is considered by the emerging palettes to be a true espresso experience rather than what the major coffee chains have produced up to date, specifically the Americano. The order in which a long black is made (water first, espresso second) is important; reversing the steps will destroy the crema from the espresso shots."

Coffee. How can a cup of coffee be different? It comes from beans. There's water involved. It comes in a cup. Try asking for a Long Black in Canada & the US and you find out (if you don't get your face slapped first).

At Blenz in Vancouver, as I was trying to explain what I wanted for about the third time (Kiwi English apparently doesn't translate well and involves a lot of miming) a young woman came from out the back of the shop and announced:

"You a Kiwi? You wanna Long Black?"

"You're an Aussie? And yes, a Long Black"

"Nah, they don't know how. Try the Americano but it doesn't really do it"

Never a truer word said! I mean it's not awful. It's just not a Long Black. More especially, it's not a Long Black from Cesars made by John, barista extraordinaire.

For literally years I've been heading over the road every work day to Cesars, if not for lunch then at the very least for a Long Black to go. So predictable that often by the time I get to the counter John already has it made and has sometimes even decided where I'll sit and who I'll share a table with. I'd asked John if he would come with me on the trip fearing I would be lost without my morning "fix" and while he appeared amused at the suggestion he felt his wife & children may not be so keen on the idea.

Naturally my first stop on the way to work the first day back was to see John. Here he is and here is a cup of gold.

Thank You Pat!!

That bloody squirrel!! I spent two months stalking the little ... critter. By the time I'd grabbed my camera, got close enough & focussed it had run across the road or scurried up the tree into the foliage never to be seen again. Now I have my own and he ain't going nowhere!! He can sit on that log and play with his nuts all day as far as I'm concerned ... yeah, it's a tough life for Mr Squirrel.

He is of course as close as I've got to decorating for Christmas. I'm sure I saw a box of decorations somewhere but of course now the house has been overtaken by car parts and boy mess. Even if I knew where the box was there's no room to put anything unless of course you fancy hanging tinsel on the clutch in the corner ....

Instead I rely on the Pohutukawa blossoming everywhere around us. This one at the cafe in Whitford this morning. Aren't we lucky having our very own Christmas Tree!