Christmas in Christchurch

Summer Christmas in Christchurch…3 days of carols, candles, barbecues, family and laughter – what a magical time!

Christmas eve – in the afternoon, we visited Otahuna on the outskirts of Christchurch. Eric had advised the owners, 2 Haverford grads who have developed this luxury lodge on the South Island. They have restored the inn to its 19^th century glory and it was a treat to visit the gardens, orchards and lodge.

Carols on Victoria Square followed a relaxed dinner with Brian, a dear friend. The Salvation Army accompanied city choruses who led carol singing along the banks of the Avon River. At 11:00, we walked to St. Michael’s Anglican Church where Eric had sung as a chorister. St. Michael’s celebrates the highest pageantry of the Anglican Church - processions of candles, incense, and banners. The Mass began at 11:30 pm. The pews were quite full and the music glorious. However, all came to a halt – by the Crèche of the Baby Jesus – when the fire alarms went off at full blast and parishioners hurried to exit. It might have been candle and incense ‘overload’.

We huddled outside, Sam led the parishioners in a rousing verses of ‘Good King Wenceslas”, and the fire brigades began to circle at full siren. The ‘interruption did not break the Christmas spirit. At the ‘all clear’, some sloped home, and many returned to the service that ‘picked up’ right where it left off.

Christmas morning was hot and sunny – time for the ‘hardy’ to take the Christmas swim in New Brigthon. Dave and Courtney waded tentatively and Erics and Sam plunged into the Pacific. It was easy to keep my role as ‘photographer’

At noon, Eric’s family gathered at his niece’s home for a splendid barbecue. Somehow, there’s nothing like grilled sausages, chops, and wonderful salads for a Southern Hemisphere ‘barbie’. Desserts, however, were definitely ‘Northern’. – Christmas cakes, puddings, and flummeries. There was time for petonk on the lawn, children on trampolines, and easy catch ups.

Never out of room for family and wonderful NZ cooking, we shared the evening with Eric's oldest niece. Whitebait, fish, roasted vegetables and brandy snaps provide round after round of temptations - and stories and laughter were abundant.

Sam and Lauren head to Queenstown this morning…we look forward to seeing them soon in Dunedin. Happiest New Years to you all.