ianrobbo

Picton - Great Place, wonderful people + Plenty wine :-)

crap coffee

I still appreciate the Welly public library/ Clarks cafe. Coffee is one of the best in nz. and love their christmans cakes.. I just arrived in Welly 2 weeks ago... made me cry.

Beer coffee foods everything tastes fantastic .

fuchs01

Going Bed....why, what, where , how...not decided, who can plan that far
In advance

Pom_Chch

I love the beer out here! I've tried so many different ones since arriving. I'm particularly partial to a Pilsner nowadays - Emersons or a Rogue Hop go down way too easily

JPA

With zero availability on the Cook Strait ferries (thanks to that pesky propeller) we will not be camping on the South Island. So plan B, camping somewhere north.

Persephone

I will be in the UK having a few drinkies with my Dad and anyone else who happens to turn up
Mr S won't be there this year so we can't try and get him to do the first footing again. He thought us 'poms' were playing a joke on the unsuspecting NZer by trying to get him to leave the house at 11.55pm and only come back in after midnight. My Dad did it instead. It was only when various people came knocking later on that he realised it was actually for real

I feel a nasty hangover coming on already...

fuchs01

I cant binge anymore, I cant eat my kids left overs at festives times I cant finish my wifes curries, when we go to a restaurant, I cant order that extra parratha, or naan,
I cant watch sport alone and enjoy a good beer and pie.I cant finish off a bottle of congnac, I cant enjoy being able to take my drink, like before, I cant enjoy getting
Up in the middle of the night, and finishing, the last morsel of pork pie, sausage roll,
Mince pie, with pickeled onion, with a gulp of the last dregs of punch......
Happy new year.... bahhh Humbug...oh god whats left in life, whats going to happen to me...now I find a xmas cracker wise ass note...
" Life is like a book , and if you can read this, your epilogue is still not been written"
Ahh coffee , yogurts, and muesli ..what a future !!!

snaps

I haven't heard the term 'first footing' for quite some time.
Here is a short piece from the web which may any answers on what it is.

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‘First Footing’ is a long held tradition that is said to ensure that good fortune will be brought into the house on Christmas morning, or more usually on New Year’s Eve. One tradition says that a dark man , who should be an uninvited stranger should enter the house after midnight. He, the ‘First Footer’, should enter the house carrying a piece of coal, a slice of bread, a pinch of salt and an evergreen. Try and avoid a strange woman, or someone with red hair, or someone with cross-eyes or flat feet entering the house for the first time on Christmas morning or New Year’s Eve as traditionally it is said that disaster will strike and misfortune will stay throughout the year! If you are in the mood for cleaning on New Year’s Day it is said to be disastrous to do this before midday or you will sweep out your quota of good luck for the year.

Take something out of the house on Christmas morning before something is brought in to encourage prosperity and health throughout the next year.
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Persephone

Never heard of the need for it to be an uninvited stranger, it's always been the first one over the threshold in the new year. Should be male, dark haired and carrying a lump of coal, no need to bring all that other stuff! Though those sort of traditions tend to vary a lot by locale...
Everyone who turned up asked about the first footing, MrS was starting to feel a little foolish for not believing us

Do like the one on not cleaning on New Year's Day, it's a good excuse [not that I've ever known anyone clean that particular day anyway]

kiwigeordie

That lets the missus out on all counts (hope she doesn't read this)

Pete

RobDon

Working.

samboka1975

having my baby hopefully

oceane01

Good luck

oceane01

Probably still trying to make decision

Choccie

Good luck with the baby - I had one of those 21 years ago this New Years Day!