So how did Christmas go?
Well, it seems we still failed utterly to do the “kiwi thing” and spend up large in an orgy of last minute consumerism and boxing day sales. Instead we chilled out at home, sat on the deck, swam in the pool, ate good food and watched a few movies. We would have gone to the beach except that since yesterday the weather took a turn for the worse and its rather crap.
Apparently. Despite everyone having no money, and there being a recession on and all– Kiwi’s spent a record amount this year in the shops – a whopping $10,000,000 more than last year. And then topped it off with another record spend up of over $100,000,000 on boxing day.
We on the other hand seem to have spent a record low .
I have worked out though – its not the summer Christmas itself I can’t cope with – it’s actually rather nice to be able to have a swim in the pool before dinner (after getting all the food ready), to be able to sit out in the sun and be warm. And its lovely to head to the beach in the days after Christmas – which has to be more fun than queuing up to spend money in the Warehouse surely? It really is just the run up to the day that I can’t get the hang of. Once we get to Christmas Eve – and I’m making chocolates, making trifle and getting the stuffing ready – I’m fully on board and in the mood for Christmas. And as soon as the wine starts mulling (can do without it – but in deference to summer we drink it chilled) – then I’m away!
One of the really cool things about Christmas here as an expat is that you do have this wonderful opportunity to make new family traditions. While many of us do keep a lot of our old traditions – I just have to have turkey for dinner – we get to make up new ones (pre-dinner swim, boxing day at the beach, hand making chocolates).
It may not be Christmas the same way it used to be, but there’s still family involved, and that’s all that matters for us.
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2 Comments on So how did Christmas go?
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Hubby on
Mon, 28th Dec 2009 10:44 pm
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Hubby on
Mon, 28th Dec 2009 10:48 pm
I wonder sometimes how much we get wrapped up in all the prep for Xmas, and the ‘things we must do’ in order to have ‘the perfect’ Xmas – including a snow dance around 5pm Xmas eve, after everyone has got home from work and the last minute shopping, so that it’ll be snow covered outside in the morning.
The southern Xmas seems so more laid back – don’t worry too much about buying new lights, or putting lots up – since it’s still light at 9pm anyhow.
Will it be a white Xmas? I should bloody well hope not, otherwise Climate change has a lot to answer for.
Cook enough food to feed a family for five days for Xmas lunch? Who is going to be up to swimming in the sea after that? Just relax, have a late meal, get some sun and enjoy.
Then there’s the whole Kiwi ‘take a month off thing’.
I recall some UK Xmas’s when holiday was just Xmas & Boxing day, back to work for three days, then NY off, before going straight back to work for a ‘fast start’ to the new year. Since many companies are still working, there’s things to be done, and the end of year financial books don’t close until 31st December.
Where as NZ, everyone has stopped by 23rd December, – cos, seriously, who does any business Xmas eve when it’s sunny, warm, the bars are open and you’ve got a few errands to run in your shorts & T-shirt?
And anyway, it’ll take til the end of January for everyone to return to work, so no serious decisions or progress is going to be made until February.
Bring on the Kiwi Xmas. I think the Northern hemisphere has much to learn.
Apols for the long comment.. This is why I don’t normally blog.
Short is not my name.
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