Christmas Day

After a lot of heavy overnight rain we woke to a very misty, wet and humid morning not at all what we wanted!!

We all got up and showered but as it was not beach weather there was no rush for breakfast.

I was on the computer in the office waiting for the shower and noticed, by the smell, that our neighbour had lit his bonfire again and I couldn't believe it as smoke was pouring over to us, what an idiot.

We had our breakfast - scrambled eggs with salmon - and the fire was still burning. I thought I would call the council and expected an answer phone and thought I would just report it but a lady answered and I told her what was happening. Knowing we live in Hairini and there are a fair number of Maori here she asked me if it was a hungi (a pit dug in the ground, hot stones placed inside and then layers of meat, veg and fish placed in the pit and covered and left to cook) and I said no it was just rubbish. she took my detail and told me nobody was around today but she would add it to the computer details which I thought was OK.

We then started to open our presents and the phone rang and it was the council man asking for more details. He said he would call the people and hopefully sort it on the phone and we got back to our presents. I was thrilled with the wedding album Kirsty and James had sent over for us. It is really lovely and made me cry looking at all the photos again was lovely. I was also thrilled with my new iPad mini from Jon which Heather is setting up for me. It has a lovely green cover and is engraved on the back saying it belongs to Norma!

I looked out of the window and could see men in high vis jackets in our neighbours garden putting out the fire so they did actually come out, very impressive. The put the fire out and we have had no more smoke. No doubt the silly man will now have to pay a fine. It would have been cheaper to take it all to the tip and pay for it in the first place. I felt bad reporting it but it really does smell terrible and all the clothes I had drying in the garage will need to be washed again!!!

We decided we would go out for a drive to the Mount and see what was around. There was a cruise ship in but goodness knows how they were keeping themselves busy as nothing was open apart from Thai, Chinese and Indian restaurants. We drove into Tauranga and it was the same so we came home.

We had a buffet lunch with lots of picking things and then watched some TV. Heather had a sleep in the afternoon and the weather continued to be showery but very warm and humid.

Jon cooked the lamb on the bbq and we managed to do it between showers. We had soup to start and then meringue with chocolate and strawberries for pudding.

Bertie is playing up and Jon has had to take some pills to calm him down. We watched some TV and it is now raining again. Heather has sorted my ipad out so I am all high tech now with so many electronic gadgets.

Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow but if not at least the shops are open again.

As Christmas Days go not too bad, too much food and drink but it wouldn't be Christmas if not!!


WEATHER
Wet and overcast for most of the day 22-26 degrees.