M_and_M

My husband and the ex pats here am had a Christmas dinner in July. I was in England at my mothers funeral so I missed it.

Christmas will be sad for me, so I plan to pass over it quickly.

scrubbedexpat094

Never too early for alcohol Britsinnz. The sun is always over the yardarm somewhere in the world

I actually enjoy Christmas in NZ, though I do miss some aspects of the UK Christmas like decent shops.

I enjoy that it is a more relaxed affair in NZ. We have adapted our Christmas to suit NZ conditions .

So we have a 'proper' Christmas meal on Christmas eve evening. Open pressies on Christmas morning. Head to the beach at Shakespear Regional Park at around 1pm & join a whole group of friends there. We share food....turkey, sausages, salads, Christmas cake & desserts. Have a paddle or a swim in the sea. All-in-all it's a very happy day. We usually leave at around 7pm, head home & enjoy a glass of bubbles in the spa.

I understand those that find it tough & that it just doesn't seem 'right'. I struggle with homesickness from time-to-time but for me Christmas isn't one of them. So I'm lucky in that respect.
We do a mid-winter Christmas with friends too so that helps.

Given the news that my OH came home with last night, this could be our last Christmas in NZ & so I feel ever so slightly discombobulated today.

britsinnz

It just 'feels' weird, a bit like this.

warrend

I'm from Yorkshire and used to a very boozy, festive, fun, cold, traditional Christmas. This is my first Christmas in NZ, and I'm spending it with my wife's extended family - of which every single member is teetotal and very formal. It's going to be, erm, different!

pippalonghorn

I agree that it's never too early for alcohol! I hope your news was not too upsetting. Your Xmas sounds really good.

Snap Shot

Really sorry to hear this. Hope you are ok.

scrubbedexpat094

Thank you Pip. We did get rained off last year which was a real bummer but we all went to a friend's house instead. I shall offer to do the honours if we are rained off again.

You are more than welcome to join us if you like.

We won't know the results of the news for a few months yet but it just unsettled me somewhat.

scrubbedexpat094

Less discombobulated now thanks

I do feel we are lucky to live in Pommyparaoa. I love having so many beaches on our doorstep. You should've let me know you were in the area.

For someone who doesn't adapt well to change, I'm quite proud of how I've adapted to Christmas in NZ. I suppose that knowing what comes after Christmas in the UK for me is a battle against Seasonal Affective Disorder helps here. I don't miss that at all .

We go pretty much all out for Mid-winter Christmas. All the traditional stuff, music, turkey & all the trimmings, Christmas pud, Christmas tree & decorations up. Crackers, party poppers & alcohol. We even did Secret Santa this year! So that helps make it feel really festive. It helps that there are lots of us, mainly Brits but Kiwis as well.

We are very lucky really but it has taken a while to feel this way.

pippalonghorn

Oh thankyou for the invitation it is really kind of you but we are having a quiet one at home. I met a family a few months ago who are originally from Bristol, England, and we are going to meet them on the afternoon for a couple of hours. Thankyou anyway.

Snap Shot

OK, next time I will. We will visit Auckland next year to visit the outlaws at various points during the year.

SIL lives in Silverdale.

I'd rather go to the Pommy Paroa peninsular where there are nice beaches, if we've got a couple of hours to kill. We're over Queen Street, Auckland. If I walk from Britomart to the Library one more time I will have a funny turn. Brings back unhappy memories of February 2011. Anyway, nuff said.

Lb welly

This is my last Xmas in the UK. I love it. Not sure how I will adapt to a NZ one. Only ever had 2 summer xmases and don't remember thinking Great! Only that a turkey roast dinner and wrapping up to go outside feels right! I will have to start a new chapter of memories!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

scrubbedexpat094

Pip, so happy that you have plans made. Enjoy your meet up

Snap Shot...most excellent. Newmarket's a better place to go for shops, though it's never going to beat the UK . What I do love the city for is the excellent eateries such as Vivace's, Elliot Stables, Kermadec etc.

Let me know when you're next Ooop North

Merry Christmas to you & yours

Snap Shot

Went to Newmarket when we were in Auckland in October. My husband wasn't very impressed with the ski shop there as he was ignored by the staff so he took his business elsewhere. Newmarket had a make over in about 1981 and now looks dated again.

bearskin

Went over to newmarket for the first time in years a couple of weekends ago. Very impressed - went into lots of smaller independent shops, not just some huge homogenous mall with the usual suspects. I only went to see George in the coffee shop, but ended up with a few treasures. The IKEA shop was bigger and better than I'd expected, and the East European foodie store a delight.

j19fmm

There's an IKEA in Newmarket????