Christmas Day

With Eliza away, the boys older, and being on the road it didn't feel lots like Christmas. 
We all had the task for procuring presents for each other on the first few days on the road. There were socks, a fabric wrapping and imagination, op shops and gift shops to help fill them up. All in all the giving and receiving went who with all parties happy.

Then we made LEGO ornaments, one each. But with one box reference and one instruction booklet, so David went off script and we all tried to be inventive with the making. We all got there in the end. 
I had set an alarm the night before for 10:30am as a bit of a joke, but it did need to go off to make sure we all got dressed and ready and out the door by 11am. A petrol stop in Twizel, and then into Aoraki National Park for the final time.

Today was a rainy day and the mountain's face was hidden for the whole day.

We made good time, but the village was packed despite the weather and most things being shut. We had booked in a dinner at the Hermitage - a Christmas extravaganza of a feast. Jonty was determined to eat his fill, Logan aimed to make up for the protein loss he had suffered lately, David wanted to try everything and Jane got annoyed with confusing signage and shared utensils. We all got a good feed and left feeling satisfied. The staff were lovely and didn't take advantage of us, nor try to upsell anything, which was nice.

After lunch we were all ready to go home, get out of the rain and relax.

No one wanted to eat, but I made the cookies I had been thinking about making since we arrived in Timaru.

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