Secret Santa visit on a secret location with a Secret present

Hmmmm we had this BBQ planned and we decided that a secret Santa  should visit.  Seems Santa has been, but we are not sure if he has delivered - or indeed collected.  Worrisome is the fact that there is no bag on his shoulders!!
I must have some words with one of his chief elf's about the legal ramifications of breaking and entering!!

Anyhow we agreed to meet at Sir G.H.'s place for the meal.  This time he managed to inform his lady of the expected visitors and all was well.

 You can't mess with a bears food - and if you do so, you do this at your own peril.  Suffice to say we had a fun time and managed to cook everything to  near perfection.  Traditionally this means sausages overcooked (near black) and the fresh meat semi rare.  We did improve on that!!  This was helped by a Johnny-come-lately who paid his penance with some fresh mushrooms - which we we duly fried  up with some butter and garlic - oh yumm!!

The Garlic Bread - Home made!!  yummy and tasty and crusty and - in short supply!!  :0    It went like hotcakes!!
Hmmm must get the recipe from the chef!!
Maybe even put it on my garlic bread critique blog ? ? ?
Now there is a thought!!

 Yes, the Secret Santa managed to get the goodies into his bag and dropped it of at our secret location!! I must say, he did well given that only the members of the sss-society know this secret location.
The way this works is that everyone who agrees to participate gets a present (for a pre-agreed maximum sum of $$'s - say $5 each) and wraps this up and puts it into the sack! Then later when everything is said and done and ready, you get given a "potluck"  present.

Not sure about this - seems a certain member of our sss is after my job as chief spoon/stirrer/ladle.  Or was it a hint for some more gardening work???  Anyhow - it was all very nice and relaxing.  We even managed to get our "held in captive" (courtesy of her majesties hospitality) member woken up via a secret cellphone convo and wished her collectively a Merry Christmas!!
Smilie - we hope to see you sometime again!!
Today two of our members are of to the jamboree - weather forecast for next day is ok - then rain for 2 days - oh what fun!! 

New Zealand Christmas Tree - Pohutukawa

I have lived here now for more then 25 years and have never seen a pohutukawa - our very own New Zealand Christmas Tree.  It is by all accounts a special and unique tree.  It is pretty much a coastal tree and likes it's warmer if temperate climate - and is prolific around the Coromandel Peninsular. It has a relative short flowering season - but you can just about rely on the fact that it will be in full bloom by Christmas - whence its stigma as New Zealand's Christmas tree.  Beats a conifer anytime.  Anyhow - there is this Bay in the Coromandel that had its tree in full bloom and Captain Cook on his first visit (i think ) spotted it at Christmas and saw the flowers and gave it this nick name.  Glad he did.  Incidentally THAT tree is still there today some 300 years later - so it has a long life time!  Actually it grows best in poor soil - and some people are regarding them as a bit of a weed - as the root system is very invasive - in search of water!!
So having never seen this - (living in colder Christchurch) we decided to treat ourselves to a weekend away - full well knowing that we take a risk weather wise and blooming wise.  Turns out the flowering process is about 3-4 weeks late this year.  When we where up there we just started seeing the beginning of this. however there was enough to give you the idea what it must look like in full bloom - just M a g n i f i c e n t ! !
Naturally - one had to take pictures and thanks to digital camera I could be somewhat freer with choice of scenery offered - so I snapped happily away.  A coastal 30 min trip took about 2 hours to complete - every turn we had to stop and get snapping. Anyhow below are some of the better pics to see what I mean
Enjoy

Pohutukawa trees in Thames public park

Pohutukawa half way through flowering - love the golden points

Took many shots to get this bee hovering and pollinating

My favourite pic - taken in the town of Coromandel - I name this "New Zealand's star of David". It took ages to get the sunlight shine through the leaves as they kept moving about in the wind!!

Remote campsite at Port Jackson

Magnificent species and almost in full bloom

Typical Pohutukawa flowers

Typical coastal trees on the long winding road around the Coromandel Peninsula. You will see many of them like this

Hmmm - our luncheon spot - totally remote - shingle drive (30 km plus) and no one in sight - 25 degrees - sunshine - flowering Pohutukawa trees - Mamabear present - picnic lunch - strawberries and a bottle of bubbly - ahhhhh what more do you want on a short term holiday ^^

Post lunch - enjoying the sun and water and peacefulness and remoteness

ooops forgot to add = there was this white wedding on the beach and the sand was white - it looked like a fun party.

Then in this bay we stopped for while and we saw a pod of dolphins - who where very friendly and play-full - and not afraid of people - see pic below - they come up real close . . . .

local dolphin checking out the local girls