It sure rolls around quickly, doesn't it?
Although dashing through the snow (in a three horse open sleigh as the Emperor is here) would be a rather fun thing to do, our Christmas is not a snowy one but a a summertime one away among the vines in Central Otago. It is just a short stay - three nights away from all the fuss in a peaceful lodge.
We came down yesterday and visited some of our favourite haunts in this part of the world - Wanaka, Cromwell (where we joined a couple of friends for lunch at the Stoker Room), bought some cherries from a roadside stall, checked into the lodge, took in a wine tasting before dinner in Arrowtown, then back to the lodge for a few more glasses of wine under the evening sky. The forecast of a cool day with rain showers was proved utterly wrong with brilliant sunshine and stiflingly.
Today we woke to this view from our front window...
The weather forecast is for rain today, but there is no sign of it yet, so let's hope the forecasters have got it wring again.
Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas, Mark!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jonathan, Merry Christmas to you and your family too.
DeleteThe Season's Greetings to you and yours, Tony
ReplyDeleteThank you Tony. All the best to you too.
DeleteHave a good one Mark....I rather envy you the ability to "get away from it all" over the last few Christmases!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith, Merry Christmas to you and your family too. Sure is nice to get away, although last year didn't work out that well in the end!
DeleteMerry Christmas Mark. I knew you would be managing a getaway somewhere, the only question was where? Great choice. I thoroughly enjoyed our brief catch-up during the year and will look forward to the next one.
ReplyDeleteAnd to you Lawrence. We "ummed and ahhed" about getting away since this isn't the cheapest place, but after the year we have had we figured we had earned it - and last night was the best sleep in ages. It was fantastic catching up and yes we will have to do it again. Off for a bit if a drive this morning then a Thai lunch and afternoon in the lodge with fresh Otago cherries, some Pinot, a charcuterie and a special pot of fois gras.
DeleteMerry Xmas to you and yours Mark! I do envy you being able to escape the chaos of Xmas, that is just so over the top here now, with shops beginning to sell stuff for the day in August:(! Well not long now for us until it's all over...
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve. Merry Christmas to you too. It's halfway through here now. We went into the town for lunch and it is really busy. Whereas in the cities almost everything is shut, this is a tourist town and all the restaurants and bars are pumping. Quite nice to spend the afternoon and evening at the lodge in quiet on the porch of our villa with a couple of bottles and a few treats.
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