Merry Christmas everybody!

Santa must have decided that, on balance, the kids were nice. So they both woke up to a stocking he'd left at next to the fire. At a rather pleasant 8.30 am the pair of them joined us in bed to open their presents from The Big Man.

Then for breakfast, bacon and potato wedges cooked on the barbie along with fried eggs.

Then onto the pile of presents from friends, family and each other. We received some fantastic presents, and we're really touched by some of the thought and effort that went into our gifts. Thank you.

Then, what any first southern hemishpere Christmas Day should include, a trip to the beach. We took kites that were given to the kids by my friend Dave at their leaving party in Moulsoe. We'd not had the opportunity to try them out before, and it was a bit blowy, so proved perfect for kite flying.

Alex's kite is a bi-plane, and was so well balanced that once airborne I had it hooked on my toe and it flew by itself. A perfect kite for a young boy eager to fly a kite but without the patience to learn the skills properly......and for his Dad!

Shannon's butterfly was a trickier kite to handle. Maybe it was a bit too windy, and this kite suited a calmer air? It would fly for a bit then cartwheel and hit the ground. With a bit of practice Shannon and Vanessa got it flying well later in the afternoon.

Ah, there it is!

Thanks Dave.

Diesel enjoyed his run at the beach too, especially as it was more difficult to keep an eye on him and fly a kite so he got into mischief. He looks all innocent here though!

Very windy, the kids have to hang onto the lifeguard station.

Then back home, for the festive fare of jerk chicken, bbq ribs and king prawns on the barbie. Merry Christmas, yo ho ho!