Christmas on the farm

Trip Start Nov 06, 2003

Trip End Jan 24, 2004

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Flag of New Zealand Tauwhare, New Zealand
Friday, December 26, 2003

After greeting Christmas Day on our arrival last night, we almost see it out at the dinner table. A vast feast of roast beef and ham, fresh beans and asparagus, new potatoes and garden greens, then the Christmas pudding and bowls full to the brim with strawberries and raspberries, topped with fresh cream. Yum. Christmas at the cusp of summer definitely has its benefits.

The gift opening lingers far into the day, broken up by brunch down the hill at Bridget's brother Tom's delightfully converted sheep shearing building. Emma plays at the old pump organ while Bridget crashes her son Jules' new helicopter into the deck, scattering fuselage and rotors over the garden. Then back up to the farm house for a nap, followed by presents and phone calls home and a delicious Christmas cake.

We try to feed some horses, but get chased by Lambie, a huge half-blind sheep with a butting habit. We wade through a paddock of curious but cowardly jersey cows only to have our carrot and apple offerings rejected. I lose one of Lucy's new lovely wool-filled booties somewhere between the house and the maize fields - it turns up in a muddy corner of the field, perfectly pristine.

Everyone (except me) splashes in the pool during one of the sunny breaks, then more rests and the 3-hour dinner before bed. A most memorable Christmas, indeed.

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