the Festive Season 2021 style.

 It was time to get over the fact that we couldn't go to Newcastle for Christmas, and settle for a week in Ohiwa.

Unfortunately we had been half living in the caravan while the kitchen was refurbished, so a lot of things got tossed in at the last minute - including some clothes that struggled to take into account my large seroma. It didn't take us long to set up on T12, and we really enjoyed this site, which has one side which is a bit of a slope - so no neighbours on this side.

Next day Lyn and Heather arrived, and they had a nice spacious unit V19 up the valley. Right, lets get stuck into that champagne.

Apart from Christmas Day we went for a swim each day - one day in the pool before the hoards of visitors with children arrived. The water in the ocean was very pleasantly warm, sometimes with a bit of an undertow.

Drowned rat, back from the sea.

Wednesday, Duncan and I went to do the last shop before Christmas in Opotiki, and then we returned later in the day for a very satisfactory meal at Crossroads - Heather and Duncan had a feast of the local mussels.

We were able to have another rest day on Thursday as Heather and Lyn were cooking our tea.

The afternoon nap - obligatory!

I did a bit of Christmas day cooking prep on Friday, and we had to don or wrist bands to say we were allowed in camp.

Christmas day, and its  a beautiful day!

Heather and Lyn arrive about 10, but the Haszards had their night disturbed by a fire alarm at 1.30, so it is nearly 11.30 by the time they join us. We have mainly gone for fun presents this year - possibly the most unusual being half a bottle of whisky which Heather scored for a very reasonable price after the Ministry of Education Whiskey tasting  sold off half drunk bottles.

Since the Italian Flag is red, white and green, I thought it would combine nicely with Christmas day Long Italian Lunch.

Millie wasn't sure about the rabbit tail headband I gave her.

Heather and Millie

Jill chilling

The hat brigade - Lyn and Alex

Panna Cotta and raspberries with Asti for dessert.

We began lunch with a choice of two salads and garlic bread, followed by Pasta primavera (spring vegetables) and steak perfectly cooked on the BBQ by Duncan.

The Unusual Christmas Quiz was between courses, and the Surrealist Christmas Word game had a couple of really good entries, but the Round up the Reindeer game created a bit of negativity. No one wanted to play.

Alas, the carefully garnered reindeer antlers remained unused.

The reindeer were very sad - but they put on a brave face.

So a winning team was never decided , but as a bonus, I kept all the mask clips which sit on the bridge of your nose and keep your glasses from fogging up. (3D plastic printed, I think Alex).

Next day, it was all action as we packed up and headed home from Ohiwa. 

So that's the festive season for 2021.