Christmas Day arrives. The weather is perfect - no wind, not a cloud in the sky and warm without being uncomfortable. Hawke's Bay weather at its best. Christmas Day means different things to different people but for me it is about family and holidays - taking time out. I'm ready for a holiday. It has been a big year and I need to recharge my batteries. A head cold and end-of-year deadlines make me look forward to my two weeks off.
Christmas Day starts off with breakfast with my brother Jonty, his wife Maria and their two boys Hunter and Kobe. Presents are swapped - breakfast of croissants and good coffee. But no time to linger for me today because I want to be at Te Aranga Marae by 10am to help Jim and his team prepare for our Te Aranga Marae Christmas lunch. The donated bouncy castle is being put up as I arrive and things are under way. People drift in and out during the morning to say hi- to sing or to roll up their sleeves and offer a hand. My mate Tim Hutchins calls by and gives us a couple of Christmas hampers he and volunteers have put together to deliver to families in Flaxmere. He tells us his garage was full with gifts and food that people have generously donated. He is overwhelmed, as we are. The whare kai (dining room) looks amazing. The team of volunteers preparing lunch have also made beautiful table decorations. There is a Christmas tree and boxes of gifts.
Midway we are asked to down kitchen tools and break for a cup of tea. I sit next to Gwen from Havelock North who has arrived to help out in the kitchen. She shares with me that it was quite difficult finding somewhere where she could offer her voluntary help for a Christmas community event. The preparation and cooking of food for this number of people is quite a bit of work I have to say. I am impressed with the Auckland City Mission being able to prepare 2500 meals.
We are gifted with the most amazing singing from the Fenua Laoi group from the Solomon Islands. The food is blessed and we line up for our share. Cooked ham, turkey, beef, potatoes roast and new potatoes boiled, pumpkin, gravy, peas. Desert - Christmas pudding, pavlova, fresh fruit salad and ice cream. There are lots of children having a great time. At some stage there is a small scuffle with a group of children outside that Henare has to sort out. Presents are given out and it's time to clean up. There is much food left over that will be distributed.
Later on that afternoon (while eating perfectly cooked crayfish) I discuss the event with my cousin Kate and her husband Bruce at their lovely house in Omaranui road. We discuss why some families that were invited did not attend. Maybe they felt uncomfortable about coming, did they have transport? My cousin Ren and his wife Sally were apparently helping out with a Christmas event at Starship hospital.