Holidays and other happenings

So Keff has pointed out that I haven't updated my blog in ages. Here ya go then Lala... just for you.

Christmas, as predicted, was totally awesome.

Before I left, I started an infusion of Werthers Originals in vodka, for consumption on New Years Eve. When I lived in Wellington, the owner of Mercury bar, Grant, used to infuse his own vodka with jersey caramels and make a cocktail called an apple pie. This involved caramel vodka, cloudy apple juice and a cinnamon and sugar rim. It was absolutely the most divine drink I had ever tasted, so I thought I'd have a crack at it myself.

I found myself some cheap flights over to NZ. They weren't direct, but they were ever so cheap, so I flew Sydney - Auckland - Wellington on the 20th and Wellington - Auckland - Brisbane - Sydney on the 28th. Good thing I like planes.. I got to take off three times on the way back!

I stayed with Sarah the first night in Wellington, and took advantage of the chance to catch up with my friends Angela and Dennis (some of you will remember Dennis, my indian flatmate from Stanley Street Berhampore - top bloke). Roger drove us all up to Pohangina in the morning, and we had Mum and Dad to ourselves for a couple of days.

The farm impresses me more every time I see it. Now there are nineteen sheep, two pigs, heaps of chickens and two cats. I'm not that keen on the pigs - they're kinda scary and they squeal and smell and stuff. I did get to huggle a lamb. I could have huggled the lambs more, but they stayed well away from me after the first day. I think I enjoyed the experience a lot more than the lamb did.
The grapevine is going nuts, as is the passionfruit vine. I suggested to Mum that perhaps she could try some vodka infusing of her own, but she didn't seem that keen. I think a walnut infusion would be rather tasty, as would a passionfruit. It'd be interesting to try wine from their grapes also...

The rest of the family arrived over the next couple of days - first the Dorrians and Grandma, then the Harrisons and the other Bells. I went on a pilgrimage to the Santa Cave with Mum and Dad, my aunt Karen and cousins Tim and Sophie, and Grandma. I'd managed to avoid it for 28 years, but they reckon it may soon be gone, so I figured I’d better sort it out while I still could.

The Santa Cave is a relic of a bygone era. Tucked away in the basement of the Farmers department store in Palmerston North, it’s full of ancient clockwork Christmas scenes – elves building things, reindeer learning how to find the Manawatu, that sort of thing. It’s kind of a shrine to Christmas past I guess. Karen reckoned it hadn’t changed a bit since they used to go as children.
I really enjoyed it, it had an innocence that seems to be missing amongst the Bratz dolls generation.
Sophie, Tim and I had a photo with Santa (I’m pretty sure I was the oldest kid to have a Santa photo), we did a spot of last-minute shopping, and waddled back off home.

Christmas day was fantastic. There was an absolutely huge pile of presents under the Christmas tree, which Dad had harvested himself from the paddock next to the orchard two days earlier. Santa made an appearance after breakfast to hand out the gifts. He has an uncanny resemblance to uncle Mike, only a bit fatter and with the beard… how strange! Loot highlights include a fabulous brown leather satchel/handbag from Sarah, and an awesome laptop backpack (which I really needed) from Mum and Dad, and a great wee recipe book with gorgeous 50s teatime things to bake from the Harrisons. They really are great at presents, those Harrisons – always have been. I also fell in love with two of Rachel’s gifts; a book called ‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus’, and another one with cute little crochet and fabric toys to make – including a crochet ‘scream’ face and little Seargent Pepper turtles. I must acquire these books for myself at some point very soon!

Mum and Dad put on a roast lamb on a spit. Dad had prepared Charlie the lamb a few days earlier (so as to get the actual killing out of the way before the sensitive vegetarian types arrived). Charlie was complemented with a couple of chickens inside his ribcage and the biggest sprigs of rosemary I have ever seen. Mum’s rosemary bush must have taken a hell of a hit. According to the carnivores, Charlie was maaaaaaagical and delicious. I enjoyed the lovely salads and a glass or two of bubbles.

Two of the Aged Aunts came up for Boxing Day, so it was Family ++. Mum amazes me with her ability to feed hordes and hordes of people, including vegetarians, celiacs, people who hate onions and people who are just plain picky. The fare included heaps of her homemade preserves and vegetables picked straight from the garden, and fresh eggs courtesy of the chookhouse.

On the 27th, we all piled into town, and had a ride on the miniature railway in the Esplanade in Palmerston North. This is especially cool, because Dad drives the train some weekends. He took us around the track; all sixteen of us in a row (Mum stayed back to take photos, I think she might be bored of the train), and then we had a lovely lunch at the café in the Esplanade. The waitress was particularly entertaining, and she even thanked us after the meal for being ‘such a fun table!’. Clearly we are very cool people.

I almost escaped without there being fuss about the new ink (the bluebird on my right shoulder) – but I was foiled at the very last minute after lunch. I’d been carefully wearing t-shirts as opposed to singlets, and covering my shoulders… but at the end even Grandma came over to peer down the back of my shirt to see my bluebird. The disapproval was minor, and I am still very impressed with the artwork and colour of it.

I think the best thing about the Chrimbo Experience was the fact that my cousins are old enough to be real people. I am the eldest of the bunch by quite a big margin, and I’m really not very good at children, but once they become old enough to have ideas and personalities of their own, they’re a lot more fun! I was particularly impressed by how cool Tim is now. I’ve known for a while that Rachel and Andrew are very cool individuals (and talented to boot, so musical!), but Tim is turning out a lot like me. This may or may not be a good thing – I imagine his parents are desperately hoping he’s better behaved than I was – but he’s a very interesting kid.

So after all the family bizzo was over and done with, I ate the hell out of a Hell Pizza, bought some bagels and various delicious kiwi treats and sodded off home. I owe massive props to Mum and Dad for putting us all up and providing for everyone, and also to Sarah and Roger for accommodation, good company and airport shuttle service. I have the best family. 

On the way back, I managed to have my bank account hit by scammers – they stole my entire paycheck, which put me out for rent and left me destitute! It’s all sorted now, the bank has put the money back in my account this morning, so it’s like a double payday today. Fortunately, I’d invested in some duty free before I found out I was destitute, so I was well prepared for New Years! I was also very well looked after by a new geezer on the scene, Jim, who cooked me dinners and made sure I didn’t starve; bless his heart.

New Years Eve was a blast. We had a party at Sean and Nic’s apartment. Their complex has a pool, and it was a perfect afternoon for it; not a cloud in the sky and so warm! We messed around for a few hours making pyramids and having piggyback wars, and then hung out in the garden. The Werthers Original vodka was a massive hit (HA! SEE!?), and I do believe I’ll do another one, along with a strawberry infusion and maybe a cucumber one.

I did manage to fracture my big toe though, due to some irregular topography and bare feet, having just come out of the pool. I didn’t think it was broken and I didn’t want to make a fuss, so I didn’t bother having it x-rayed until Wednesday this week… but it turns out there’s a big old crack down the middle of my toe bone, which explains why it still hurts. Whoops. I’m going back to the GP today with my x-ray film to see what’s to be done about it.

Following the New Years festivities, I caught the L90 bus out to Avalon for a wedding, which was a beautiful day. Congratulations Keff and Lyndy you gorgeous people!

So that’s about up to date. Don’t say I never do nuffin’ for ya! As usual, requests, admonitions, adulation and gift certificates may be sent to me at emma.s.bell at gmail dot com.