Sue in New Zealand

The temperature is gradually rising, the roses are over their first flush of summer, the waters of the open-air swimming pool and the beach beckon. And Christmas awaits.

Around thirty years ago, I enjoyed several hot Christmases in Singapore; in that country there were no seasons; anything and everything happened with a similar backdrop. Here it feels strange to have waited for summer for more than twelve months and then to find snowmen, Santa Claus, holly and fir trees in competition with beachwear and barbeques. I suspect that the festive season will offer much that stems from European traditions lovingly retained and passed on by immigrant families, and much that is uniquely Kiwi in style. And no doubt consumerism, desire and indulgence will take their usual parts.

Whatever your faith or way of being, whatever you are facing in your life at this time, be it either joyful or sad, I wish you inner peace, contentment and a sense of the essence and spirit of this festival.

I try throughout the year, and where possible at birthdays, to remember and keep in touch with family and friends who are such a rich and important backdrop to my personal life. If you should not hear from me personally at Christmas, please trust that you are ‘for life and not just for Christmas’, and that I shall be in touch before too long.

Meanwhile life has assumed for us some sort of rhythm. I sense that my sabbatical is coming to a close; some yoga teaching will resume in the New Year. Daughter Lucy, son-in-law Jeff, and grandchildren Isobel and Spike have arrived to live in the islands, so I am a more active Mum and Grandma again. And a trip to England is scheduled for late May and into August, with Rupert returning in late June. We are not committed to staying here permanently, but shall certainly be consolidating the experience for a while longer.