It's officially Christmas

When I was living in Aus Christmas meant a long drive to Sydney from Albury and then Melbourne, usually listening to the cricket on the radio. So this past weekend has put me well into a festive frame of mind.

I went up to Waima, a 9 hour drive away in the way far north for a family hui. It was a long way but absolutely worth it. Part of the time was spent doing this...

comparing notes and working on our combined family trees, lots of talking and the inevitable fabulous and massive meals.

On the way back we stopped to visit Tane Mahuta, a massive kauri tree named after the god of the forest. It is almost 14 meters around the trunk which gives you some idea of it's age. We also saw hundreds of cabbage trees in full bloom - the sign of a hot summer ahead.