Christmas
was approaching with the summer sun, glaring down with an intensity of an oven.
Sunglasses on, shorts and t-shirt with matching jandels (flip flops) “don’t
forget the sun lotion,” he muttered to himself gazing through the open doors
out over the calm ocean waves, a gentle breeze soothing him. Water bottle in hand he looked down at
Charlie who was bouncing around like she’d never been to the beach before. Smiling gently he took her hand leading her
onto the deck the verandah keeping them in the shade.
“Please dada beach,” she
pleaded beseechingly her short curly blonde hair flying about her face as she
jumped up and down in excitement.
“Go on Glyn,” I said
with a bemused smile. “Charlie needs to use her energy,” I laughed.
“All right, I’m going,”
scooping Charlie into his arms charging down to the beach whooping loudly,
making other families turn smiling at their antics. Charlie screamed in delight as she held on
tightly shrieking as Glyn charged over the hot sands and into the ocean waves
letting droplets of cold water soak them both.
Turning back to our cabin Glyn and Charlie waved to me laughing with the
greatest of enjoyment. It’s so beautiful
to see.
This will be our first
Christmas in New Zealand, it seems so weird after years of cold and snow, not
that Charlie will remember much since she’s only three. We migrated here six months ago, Glyn having
being offered a fantastic job opportunity we just couldn’t turn down. We live in Rotorua on the North Island, lots
of lakes and beaches not too far away; it’s like a different world, a slower
pace of life if you like. Stunning scenery surrounded us, so lush and green,
the flowers so vibrant in colour and fragrance. My favourite is the Pohutukawa Tree which is known as the New Zealand
Christmas Tree. Tall with gorgeous red
flowers covering them, they are beautiful, so much more colourful than
home. Mind this is home now, slowly
getting used to being here. I for one miss my family back in the depth of
Cumbria; though I don’t miss the freezing cold winters or snow.
Watching Glyn and
Charlie enjoying the waves before settling down to build a huge sandcastle I
smiled enthralled with their enjoyment wishing I could stop this moment in time
capturing them on camera. Maybe Christmas would bring me a camera. Turning from the window I began to make a
picnic, looking forward to joining them. I made ham and cheese sandwiches, apples and kiwi fruit were already in
the cooler, along with more water and lime juice for my adorable Charlie. Picking up my sunnies, chilly bin (that’s
what they call them here) and the sun lotion Glyn left behind I walked on to
the deck locking the door behind me. Leaning on the rail I watched the gulls
flying noisily overhead hovering on the gentle breeze. Lots of families were on
the beach sunbathing, swimming and surfing, kids running around as if there was
no tomorrow. Finding Glyn I stared in
wonder at the sandcastle they were building, glancing up smiling Glyn
waved. Grabbing the blanket and cooler
(damn I mean chilly bin) I sauntered towards them grinning. This was the best way to enjoy family time.
“Mama,” shrieked Charlie
dashing towards me across the black sands, “look what we built,” she laughed
delightedly running around me until I was quite dizzy.
“Charlie love, slow
down,” I said smiling. “Take the blanket
to you dada,” I appealed to her.
“Blankie to dada,”
tearing the blanket out from my hands she was soon running back to Glyn leaping
at his chest bowling him over backwards. I could hear the oomph as his breath
wheezed out of his chest. Quickening my
pace at the sudden silence I looked down at them hands on hips as my laughter
bubbled up. Grinning widely Glyn dumped
Charlie on the sand picking up the blanket spreading it out for us all to sit
on.
“Food,” Glyn said
smiling happily.
“Yes, Glyn you’re spoilt
rotten,” I laughed giving him a quick kiss.
“Kiss,” squealed
Charlie.
Sitting down on the
blanket Charlie tumbled into my arms sand and all, her hair was matted with it,
her pink and blue swimsuit full of sand as if she’d deliberately shovelled it
inside.
“Go wash in the sea with
dada Charlie, then kiss,” I laughed as her mouth turned down. “Mama no wants a sandy kiss,” I said pressing
my finger on her nose making her giggle.
She was never unhappy for long.
“Wash dada,” she said
jumping on Glyn again, “wanna kiss mama,” she appealed.
“Your wish is my command
oh Princess Charlie,” he replied picking her up racing down the beach into the
waves. I could hear Charlie screeching as they tumbled through the cold waves
again. They were soon back, wet and
breathless shaking water all over me, now it was my turn to squeal much to the
delight of other families close by.
Taking a towel I threw one at Glyn while wrapping another around Charlie
who was snuggling on my knee.
“Food mama,” she said
looking up with her sparking deep blue eyes, her blonde curls drying in the sun
starting to spring out around her head.
“Kiss first,” I said
raising my eyebrows at her. I loved my
mummy kisses, tucking her arms about my neck puckering her lips she kissed me
gently.
“There now mama, food
please,” she demanded.
Opening the chilly bin
(it’s going to take me ages to get used to the different names of things) I
took out the sandwiches and juice knowing neither would last long with these
two gannets.
Silently we munched away
watching other children play.
Looking to the horizon
you could see White Island a plume of smoke rising into the air, it was strange
to think we were sitting so close to an active volcano, it had made me shudder
the first time we came to Omanu beach.
On the far left was the Mount as the locals called it, it was a lovely
place. I was looking forward to climbing to the top sometime this summer. On the right the bay curved away towards
Maketu another lovely beach, very different from Omanu though. It was stony with rock pools, tiddlers, crabs
and seaweed in abundance. It was nice to
be able to collect shells from the beach. I was hoping Charlie would walk with me for a
while with her bucket to see what we could find.
We each had a bottle of
juice or water and drank thirstily, we’d learnt quickly not to let ourselves
get dehydrated; the sun here was very different from England, hotter and more
intense. Glyn settled back on the
blanket closing his eyes. I took the sun
lotion spraying it on Charlie’s arms, legs and neck before spraying it on Glyn
with a giggle.
“Carol,” he yelped so I
sprayed more.
“Can’t have you burning
Glyn,” I giggled.
“Wait until I get my own
back woman,” he muttered closing his eyes again rolling onto his back. Charlie grabbed the sun lotion spraying her
dad on the stomach making him yelp again glaring towards me until he heard Charlie
giggle delightedly. “Ragamuffin,” he mumbled deciding to ignore us both.
“Walk with mama, collect
shells Charlie?”
“Yes please mama,” she
said excitedly picking up her bright green bucket.
“Hold hands now,” I
reminded her.
Her small smooth soft
hand slipped into mine as we walked toward the Mount looking around for
seashells of various colours, shapes and sizes.
These moments always made me wish for my camera which I had lost in
transit. Charlie tugged me along
squealing every time she found a shell she liked. Our collection grew as we walked. After walking for ten minutes we stopped
looking back deciding we should return wading through the waves keeping out of
the way of the baby jellyfish. Splashing and laughing. Soon Charlie was dragging her feet so I
hauled her up into my arms where she quickly fell asleep snuggled into my
shoulder. Arriving back at the
sandcastle and Glyn I jabbed him with my toe, moaning he opened his eyes.
“Going back to the house
Glyn, she’s tired out.”
“Ok love, will be back a
bit later,” he smiled.
“Don’t stay out to long,
remember your last sunburn.”
“You worry too much
Carol, I’ll be fine,”
Sighing I left him to
bring back our things. Up over the sand
dunes was hard going carrying a toddler, nearly breathless I arrived on the
verandah sitting on the swing to catch my breath. I must have nodded off; it was Charlie’s
whimper which woke me. Thumb in her
mouth she settled again. Rising off the
swing with Charlie in my arms I noticed the door was open, glancing back at the
beach Glyn was nowhere to be seen.
Walking inside I found him slouching on the couch watching rugby on TV a
beer in his hand.
“Typical,” I snorted
walking past him to Charlie’s room.
“Nice sleep sweetheart,”
he said, “you both looked so cute.”
“As always,” I tossed
over my shoulder..
“Get her to bed, be nice
to have some us time,” he said tenderly, ruining it with a loud belch. Giggling I continued down the hall laying
Charlie gently on her bed kissing her brow, wandering back to the lounge I was
soon snuggled into Glyn on the couch.
“What are we going to do
for Christmas Glyn,” I asked.
“Depends on if you want
to try something new or not Carol, we can BBQ and spend the day at the blue
lake or have a proper hot roast like in England.”
“Doubt I want to slave
over a hot stove on Christmas Day in this heat,” I grouched.
“Didn’t think so,” he
laughed kissing me.
“Do we have all the
presents organised, are we putting up decorations when we get home?”
“Of course we are silly,
we have to show Charlie a good time. We need to visit Santa as well, there’s a
good one at Harvey Norman’s from what I’ve heard. I’d love a photo to send back
to our parents.”
“Great idea, it will go
great with the calendar she did at playgroup.”
“Glyn,” I asked shyly,
“Do you think….” I trailed off.
“What Carol?”
“Do you think we could
try for another baby?”
“Really, wow this is
sudden,” he grinned.
“Well what do you
think?”
“I honestly don’t
know. Charlie’s a bit of a handful isn’t
she, I wouldn’t want you to get over tired,” he said seriously.
“Maybe a baby would help
calm her down, someone to help look after?”
“Possible I suppose. If
you’re really serious then I don’t see why not love, I’ve always wanted a
houseful anyway,” he grinned.
“Just remember you’ll
have your fair share of things to do Glyn,” I laughed contentedly.”
“Thought we were talking
about Christmas at the blue lake?” he questioned.
“Oh yeah, sort of lost
track then,” I smirked.
“So we start our own new
traditions, but what are those traditions going to be in this sweltering heat.”
“It ain’t that hot yet
Carol.”
“Feel like I’m melting,
how the heck can you celebrate in this heat?”
“It’s called shade and
air conditioning.”
“There won’t be any air
conditioning at the lake.”
“Maybe we’ll get a nice
gentle breeze?” Glyn suggested.
“If there isn’t any
breeze you can BBQ on the deck at home.”
“Yes Carol,” he sighed.
“What’s for dinner?”
“You hungry already?” he
replied.
“Nope, just wondering
since it’s your turn to cook,” I giggled.
“Charming,” he
exclaimed. “How about some steak with pasta salad and a glass of crisp white
wine,” he suggested.
“Looking forward to it
already,” I muttered kissing him.
We missed the thud of
little feet on the floor continuing to kiss until a little voice piped up.
“Me kiss too,” breaking
apart there in front of us was Charlie with her blankie and thumb in mouth
regarding us seriously.
“Come here poppet,” said
Glyn picking her up nestling her between us we both kissed a cheek each.
“Have a good sleep Charlie?”
I questioned.
“Yes fanks,” she said
drowsily.
“Bath time sweetheart,
then you can have some dinner.”
“Ok mama,” she said
lifting her arms to me. Bringing her onto my lap I stood up turning to Glyn.
“You have about thirty minutes to get dinner ready,” we marched off towards the
bathroom chatting quietly. I could feel Glyn’s eyes on my backside which made
me grin as we shut the door to have some girly time.
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