School is out!

Like many other gleeful people, I’ve finished work for the year and have a two week break before cranking into 2014.

Last year Mike and I went down to our beloved South Island. Plans this time are fairly low key. For starters, after an absence of I think two years, I’m heading north to see my family for Christmas (and in real time, I’m here). Mike will fly up a few days later and we’ll make our way back down the island, with stops in the Tongariro National Park and with friends for New Years Eve.

The NZ summer at this time of year is often a bit dubious and the current forecast is a case in point. It was a bit dodgy the other evening when Mike and I had our traditional pre-Christmas picnic around the Miramar peninsula coast – held on the 24th when possible; this time it was Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve-Eve.

Looks calm-ish?

The location is determined by the weather. This year the strong northerly sent us to Breaker Bay, where in warmer conditions it is a favourite location for naturists. We scanned the beach for telltale flashes of beige but if there were any eking out the last of the sun, they were well hidden.

The only other beach inhabitants were a few people fishing and a mob of hungry seagulls who scurried our way after being abandoned by a group of departing fishermen. They fared little better with us.

The cloud cover later ruined any chance for sunset skies

We stopped off at a couple of other bays on the way home.

One of the boat sheds damaged in the June storm

We followed that up the next day with lunch at a waterfront cafe, taking the opportunity to walk the 45mins or so from home.

One year I’d love to swap all this for a white Christmas. Whatever colour yours is, I hope it is happy.