I went into work on Tuesday (I had Monday off to recover from our epic roadtrip to see Fleetwood Mac in New Plymouth; the concert was awesome but jeez, I’m getting too old for that sh**t…) and my manager called me into his office to let me know there had been a change of heart: if we wanted, we were allowed to take time off between Christmas and New Years.
Instantly I put my name down for next Tuesday but then I thought, sod it, why not take off Christmas Eve too?
That Wednesday evening, with the wonderfully delicious thought of six whole days off work, I lolled on the couch, sipping a chilled glass of wine with the french doors flung open and watched the sun gilding the hills beyond. Any stresses I been chewing and mulling and dwelling over rose up and drifted far, far away.
Then I saw this and I sat up and cried out in delight.
Approximately two kilometres away, high on a hilltop, a big Norfolk Pine was festooned in a giant string of coloured lights. Lovely! And so thoughtful too!
Christmas spirit, rural style.

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas Day. Ours was full of glorious sunshine, laughter, presents galore, bubbles in champange glasses and far too much fabulous food – and yes, the men-chefs did very well, very well indeed!