Summer in December - doesn't seem right!

I can't believe Christmas is fast approaching and the weather here is swinging wildly from roasting hot to sultry storms then cold and lashing rain! Although summer officially started on 1st December down here it is still very spring like weather.
I just hope it settles down before we go camping for 3 weeks next week!

As at home the Christmas party season is in full swing down here but most seem to feature BBQ's!
Shona has had quite a few ladies who lunch type Christmas do's and Malcolm spent his works do at the Tauranga races last Friday, much beer and betting and not very many wins! The races were followed by a fun evening and meal in Tauranga.

 

Malcolm has also been managing a few rounds of golf including a corporate event where each hole was sponsored by a local business, including the 7th which was sponsored by the local funeral directors, where cold drinks and strawberries were served from a chilled coffin on the green side!

 

 

We are still in awe of the kiwi hospitality, we have been invited to such a range of amazing experiences, including the previous weekend sailing in Auckland Harbour on a beautiful 45 foot yacht with Hilary and Ed. Hilary is the sister of one of Malcolm's oldest friends Simon.

We sailed to 2 islands the first of which is a bird sanctuary where we were almost mobbed there were so many native birds - just superb, then we visited another island where Governor Grey had a house - all very colonial and grand , including peacocks, one of which took a shine to Ed!

 

 

 The sailing was spectacular