Thursday 27 December 2012

A Christmas Summary

At 1900hrs on Boxing Day the temperature in the shade on my deck was 28℃ (82℉) and, unusually for Hawkes Bay, it was quite humid.   I had every door and window open and there was a slight breeze but thank heaven that by the time it got dark and now that it's near time to hit the hay the aircon is working overtime.

It's been a quiet and very enjoyable Christmas. First breakfast and opening the stockings and presents. Then I came back to The Cottage whilst The Family went for a walk and then we spent the afternoon in the pool.  Dinner and Monopoly (Edinburgh version).  My particular days have not been helped by the fact that I developed a cold on Christmas Eve, snuffled my way through Christmas Day and blew my nose all the way through three large boxes of tissues today.  However I've discovered that if you have a thick head the best thing is a hot afternoon in the pool.  That was Christmas Day afternoon and was the best I felt for the three days.

The simplest presents can be the most interesting
and the most annoying
Doesn't everyone wear Mi Piaci pumps for breakfast (and drink Bucks Fizz).
Playing Piggy in the Middle: and I was expected to catch it that high! It even overshot Catriona by a mile
It took me a bit by surprise when I realised from this photo what a two-tone body I have.


I always know if I've got a cold (which, I'm pleased to say, is a rare occurrence) because I don't usually drink whisky but when I want a whisky mac (whisky and green ginger wine) I know that I have a cold.  I've got through quite a lot the last three evenings!  

Now for bed.
 

20 comments:

  1. Imagine Christmas day without sleet and gales. Just not the same at all....You lucky devil.

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    1. No sleet, no gales, just sun and heat Adrian. I long for snow and floods (yeah right).

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  2. Sorry you got a cold for Christmas... Judging from the pool pictures it does not seem we need to shower too much worry and pity on you though :) I hope you'll feel better soon - and before you run out of tissues!

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    1. Oddly I felt better when I was in the pool than the rest of the three days. Just a little gentle sympathy for the rest of the time will do though Monica. I'm a man I can take it - the sympathy that is!

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  3. I don't like whisky, but a whisky mac sounds like something I could manage :-)
    Hope you get well soon! Celebrating Christmas at 28 Celsius is so different from anything I have ever experienced. Do you know what Mi piaci means?

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    1. Si. Esta Italiano para je t'amour. Bet he can't work that lot out when he wakens.

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    2. I've just had 8 hours solid Adrian so I'm bright as a button. Actually the way I understand Italians use mi piace in general conversation about things I usually translate it in my mind as 'I like' although I appreciate that it can mean 'I love' (and the latter is probably more appropriate for those shoes!). If I were saying 'I love you' I think I would say 'Ti amo'. However my Italian does not rise much above basics so I am open to correction. Right that's me exhausted my little grey cells for the day.

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    3. As for the whisky mac Meike I'm sure it's worth a try if you ever do get a cold again.

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  4. GB, you are playing piggy with a cold in the middle, and that is a completely different game. The ball always goes over the head of the piggy by far.
    At least you are not letting the cold bug get you down...good for you! Hope you feel better real soon.
    Seems as if everyone had a great day, and many new memories were created.
    We have a Stones Ginger Wine here, but I have never tried a green ginger wine...sounds interesting.

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    1. I must remember that when playing it again. It was a Good Day thanks Virginia despite the cold. The green ginger wine I have is Stones although we also have Crabbies in the UK: each has its adherents although, to be honest, I don't mind which I use.

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  5. Strikingly two toned - but a lovely Xmas for you, whisky mac and all.
    It was hot down here too - a lovely relaxing day with the family was just what I needed :) In the end I got to do ti for two days!
    Bliss
    x

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  6. Happy Boxing Day! Your warm and sunny Christmas sounds wonderful. Ours has been soggy -- but the Christmas trees are definitely green!

    Hope your cold moves on soon and bugs someone else. In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine and don't forget the sunscreen! xoxo

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    1. Hi Carol. Thanks although I'm now well into Thursday afternoon! It was a very quiet Boxing Day for me and I enjoyed it nonetheless. Today is cooler and it's drizzled all day: the dying remnants of the tropical cyclone. More sun tomorrow! I was Skypeing my friend of over half a century in Ontario yesterday just before their Christmas Dinner and they had just a tiny bit of snow. The ironic thing here is that the first thing I do in the morning after my shower (which washed off the previous day's sunscreen) is to lather on more sunscreen because I am in the open air most days.

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    2. Good, good, glad to hear about the sunscreen. We want you to stay healthy so we can read lots more of your interesting posts. Have a happy new year! xoxo

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    3. That's a lovely thought Carol, thanks.

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  7. Far from quiet but very enjoyable in Taranaki. An amazing storm Christmas Eve, thunder and lightning striking a tree in the paddock next door (after 31 deg during the day). Hot Christmas Day then everyone happy to see rain on 26th. Hope your cold has gone now. And Happy New Year!

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    1. I can't imagine your family having a quiet celebration of any joyful occasion. I saw the thunderstorms on the News: spectacular. Plenty of vitamin C an whisky macs and my cold fled (or I just didn't care any more).

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