An Irish Christmas can't match this ...

While Christmas is a time for people to get together with family, some folk in the Western Bay found themselves a long way from home yesterday.
Irish backpacker David Andrews was celebrating his first Kiwi Christmas among the sun and surf at Tay St beach and was impressed with the difference with the Northern Hemisphere Christmas climate.
"I can't get over this summer Christmas thing," he said as he leapt into the ocean clutching his surfboard.
"It's really strange - I'm used to being cold on Christmas - but here I am wearing shorts and am on the beach."
He said those back home in Ireland wanting to surf on Christmas Day could probably do so on the west coast of the country but would need to be slightly mad to handle the freezing conditions.
"There's a bit of snow back home at the moment but otherwise it's cold, wet and miserable over there."
Mr Andrews said he and five of his fellow countrymen, who share a flat in Mount Maunganui, were having a top Christmas and started the day with phone calls to loved ones back home followed closely with celebratory ales.
"We then all went to church and when we got back opened our presents up - and had more beer."
Mr Andrews said he and his mates arrived in New Zealand about four months ago on one-year working visas and quickly discovered the Western Bay.
"This place is great, the people are just so friendly and it is such a beautiful area," Mr Andrews said.
Fellow backpacker Barry Cregan was equally impressed with the warmer than usual festive season.
It doesn't seem like Christmas, he beamed surfboard in hand. Back home it is freezing and you'd be spending the day indoors.
The lads said they were planning on spending the rest of the day lazing in the warmth.
Meanwhile, around 150 people, young and old, gathered at the Papamoa Community Sports Centre yesterday to partake of a scrumptious charity Christmas lunch.
Co-organiser Jeff Leigh said the day was about doing something for those who were less fortunate or who found themselves alone at Christmas.
And after plates were topped with roast and all the trimmings and grace was said, the packed hall resounded with laughter and the clink of cutlery as everyone dug in.
Barbara Green, 79, of Papamoa, was one of those who tucked into Christmas dinner.
"Isn't this fabulous," she said.
Mrs Green said her family were overseas and she fancied a bit of company for Christmas.
"If I wasn't here I'd be at home listening to a talking book", she said.
Sitting with Mrs Green were Rachael Harper, 79, and Earla Dickson, 83, who said they were having a great time.
"I'd be moping in my room listening to the radio today if I wasn't here," Mrs Harper said. "It's marvellous".
The project was three months in the making with five local churches and 50 volunteers helping to make the day happen.
Co-organiser Trish Ives said 25kg of potatoes, 15kg of kumara, 12 chickens, two big hams, five joints of beef, a lamb, fish and a pig were on the menu along with bowls of salad, vegetables and a giant jug of gravy.