A Kiwi Christmas

Kia Ora! As the Kiwi Consort and I arrived in NZ (pronounced En-Zed) in early December, the drive up to Christmas was already underway. Overhead holiday decor spanned Tay Street and Dee Street, major arteries in centre city Invercargill. Holiday music echoed through the store aisles, super sales were announced weekly: "Open to Midnight! Prices slashed!" The Southland Hospice garners a fair number of donations over the holiday  season. H&J Department Store features a Christmas Remembrance Tree; hospice volunteers collect donations as shoppers hang cards commemorating a deceased loved one on the tree. Many agencies are seeking donations in store entries. Last year I sat in the cold, windy entry of The Warehouse store as a volunteer for the hospice. Southland folk are generous and strongly support their hospice. In 2008, we turned up for the annual Christmas parade, watching from the outdoor tables at the Global Byte Cafe nursing our coffees against the chill. The bands were Scots pipers and the floats imaginative. We missed this grand occasion this year. But we didn't miss any meals! Christmas Eve we had appetizers and wine at the home of Dr. Kim (who works with the Kiwi Consort (KC) at the hospice) and her partner, Shirley, where we met Kim's parents and her office staff. When it finally got dark, about 10 PM or so, we drove to a street known for the lighted decorations on the houses. What a trip back in time for me. As a kid, my family was always in   the Duluth MN area for Christmas. Our family tradition on Christmas Eve was to drive from Clover Valley into Duluth to pay visits to the city cousins and look at the Christmas lights. Church was not part of that tradition of yore. But the KC and I went to the 11PM candlelight and carol service at First Church in Invercargill, no other identification is needed for this area settled predominantly by Scottish Presbyterians. Carla, a nurse colleague from the hospice invited us to attend as Sean, her 11-year old son with a pure, clear soprano voice sang two solos. The last, Silent Night, from the balcony sent us on our way into the silent night at 12:15 AM. We spent Christmas Day at the home of Brian and Ann (sister to Kate Macintosh) with the raucous Macintosh clan, 18 strong this day, with children, grandchildren, in-laws, and guests. It took three tables to seat all the folk and two plus tables to hold all the food. The major traditional food for Christmas? Boiled white new potatoes from the spring gardens. There was ham, chicken, multiples of vegetables and salads. The chocolate fountain required a separate overflow table. We started with crackers (see photo) at each place. Pulled apart with a partner, they popped rewarding the winner (like a turkey wishbone) with a cheezy toy. In addition to food aplenty, there were toasts as in "This will be a standing toast; recharge your glasses!" We refilled the wine glasses, stood and clinked all glasses at our table in response to the toast. Then each table came up with a joke. Finally, we earned our way to the fully loaded dessert table including two versions of the iconic Pavlova. A chocolate fountain was accommodated on yet another table. Waiting, waiting, waiting ....                   Food lined up on porch - waiting                                                                                                                                                     Tables are inviting The center of attention or the day was the Ranfurly Shield, recently won by the Southland Stags rugby team. More about that at another time, but suffice it to say we all had our pictures taken with team captain Jamie Macintosh and the shield. Jamie, who is quite the local hero, was immensely proud of the prize, justifiably a bit full of himself, cheerfully posed with each group and autographed programs about the prize for neighbors. The Macintosh clan with Ranfurly Shield   The final scene is what happens after every major family feast. As we left, the Kiwi men all went to a nearby park to play cricket and the women collapsed in the parlour.                                                                                Cheers, Kiwi Traveler