Ok, I admit it. I am the mad woman who you saw abandon  her shopping trolley the minute "Snoopy's Christmas" began to play.Well, not quite true, but the intention is there! I tend to leave any shop which is playing loud Christmas songs over and over- do they really think this will make us spend more money? I find it really distracting. Bah Humbug!
I try to buy gifts during the year when I see something special that one of my family will love . I also tend to give them the present straight away because I'd like them to start enjoying it! Which still leaves the Christmas list. This year I've made a determined effort to abandon rampant consumerism and make most of my gifts. It's been fun gathering ideas, searching out special fabrics , making lots of mess , baking, making home made Christmas cards. No one is getting yet another pair of sox from me.
But do you know what the very best gift is?Giving someone who you love your undivided attention for ten minutes.  Everybody needs to feel loved - whether it's your family, a friend who's going through a bad patch, or a neighbour who's on their own. So how about it? Stop maxing out your credit card and give somebody else a taste of the real Christmas spirit.
Whatever you do or don't believe , Happy Christmas from Korimako , and I hope that 2015 is a safe and happy year for you and your family- thanks for listening  throughout 2014  :)

It's coming up to that time of year again.  Many of us in New Zealand have been lucky enough to spend summer holidays at the beach. Sometimes in a tent or caravan, sometimes in a bach belonging to family or friends. Meeting up with cousins, old friends .... bare feet on hot sand, jumping over waves , borrowing sunhats, eating icecreams .On wet days playing card games or battling over Monopoly. Eating potluck meals. These are precious memories to sustain you through the rest of the year.
I'm just finishing a commission for friends , of their grandparents at the family bach . This little house has been a summer haven for many people , children, grandchildren  and possibly great grandchildren.They have all joined
 together to commission me to paint this for their Nan's birthday - sadly her husband and Newfoundland dog are no longer around for these family holidays- it's been a challenge for me to imagine how they may have spent time together there . I hope I've captured the relaxed feeling of  a summer morning with them setting off to take the dog for a walk....