24th to the 29th Dec

Well the weather really stank. Our 2nd day there was the best. Clear sunny skies, we went down to the beach and the kids swam. We all had an icecream and got burnt. But, that was the end of the lovely weather. Our other sister Bev arrived with two of her children and various grandchildren on the 20th Dec and it started raining and that was it. There were 28 of us for xmas and we were pretty much stuck inside for the day. My two sisters and I put on a singing, dancing item for the family, who quite frankly looked pissed about the TV being turned off. We made them suffer through it anyway. We lipsinced to 'We are Family, I've got all my sisters with me'. They should be thankful we didn't actually try and sing it!!
Anyway after lots to eat we went for a walk down to the beach cliff where mum always loved to walk to and sat staring out to sea.
While we were there I got to revisit so many places of my youth. Steve, Hollie and I also went down and visited mum and dad's grave site.
On boxing day, Steve, Hollie, Phillip and the Momfug went to New Plymouth and did some shopping at the sales. The next day Bev and her family left and we sat and watched the awful storm outside. Suddenly around 3pm it all blew over, the skies cleared and so we jumped in the van and headed back to New Plymouth. The kids all went to a movie, including Hollie who actually sat with all the kids and from what I hear played up more than they did. Judy, Steve and I went and visited Phillip who was with Tineka and her Mum and Step-dad who were up from Wellington visitng family. We then went and had a cappuncino, picked up the kids, had dinner at MacDonalds then went to Pukekura Park to see the lights at night through the gardens. I believe this would be one of the most beautiful parks in the world. We got home around 11pm. Was such a nice day.