Just a quick note to emphasise that, unless you’re in New Zealand, orders placed now are unlikely to arrive in time for Christmas. That does mean I’m no longer packing envelopes all day, so expect more regular updates here from now on :D

I’ve decided not to take a shipping break this year, so I’ll be sending out orders every day that the post offices are open through the Christmas and New Year period.

How are your holiday preparations going? I’m almost done with my Christmas shopping, so now I’m concentrating on what I’ll be cooking for the big day. This year I’m on salad and dessert duty, which are probably the most appealing jobs in this heat; I don’t envy those doing the roasting!

It always seems a little odd that we still have a big festive meal in the middle of a summer’s day, but there’s no children in our families anymore (in Auckland, at least, though it will be a different story next year!) and none of us are very keen on decorating for the season or other extended festivities, so all our celebrations are really centered around the food.

Reading blogs at this time of year makes me a little envious, as I’d love to experience a wintry Northern Hemisphere Christmas. JSR and I both have family in Canada and I hope we can make arrangements to travel there one year – that would definitely be a change!