Catamaran sail

Because I’ve been a long-term temp I was invited to my department’s Christmas party. Yes, we do call it a Christmas party here, there’s no PC stuff in New Zealand when it comes to that holiday.

It’s very odd to have a Christmas party this time of year. No, I don’t mean on November 15—because that is a bit early in the season for a party, no?—but I mean in SUMMER. The sun is shining all the way through to 9pm, we walk around in shorts and skirts, and the beach-goers are growing strong by the weekend.

Tinsel and Christmas trees are all over the shop windows and floors. Commercials are showing the festive spirit too. All while we slip, slop, slap and wrap … wrap up to head out on our road bikes or to sit on the sand and soak up the warm beach atmosphere.

Something’s really odd about this and who knows how much time it will take to NOT feel odd. Christmas without cold, snowy days?? Don and I aren’t in the Christmas spirit at all, how could we be, we are dying to sink our feet into that ocean water and head for a swim, something we could only do on a warm vacation before we moved to New Zealand.

So needless to say, I wasn’t too much into celebrating for the department Christmas party. Good news is we didn’t really celebrate the holiday anyway, we just ate and drank and talked while on a sturdy catamaran and sailed our little harbour. I’d love to show you the photos of the sailing club out for their weekly training race, or the sunlit hills and houses of Nelson, or the views of Abel Tasman taken from sitting in the front netting of the catamaran. But I forgot my camera. D’oh!! Good news is, they hire out for 2-hour rides most nights, so you can join us when you visit. No sea sickness!