Tag Archives: white wine

Summer 2012

Barometer

Look where it is pointing

We know it is summer.  Our calendars tell us so but the weather is anything but summery.  But wait – we have had four good days in a row.  Sunshine, mild (not hot) temperatures, no rain and no wind.  So yes it is summer.

I read the following on www.newzealand.com:

Summer in New Zealand means sizzling barbecues and salads, sauvignon blanc, swimming at the beach, and long lazy days at the bach or crib – Kiwi for a holiday home.

Well that is certainly what we expect but unfortunately this year it hasn’t materialised.  The site goes on to say:

From December to February, New Zealand is alive with the sound of crickets, and not just the insect variety. As soon as the weather warms up, Kiwis vacate the cities and head to baches, campgrounds and holiday resorts up and down the country.

Christmas is a time for relaxed al fresco dining, and the weeks leading up to it and those following are celebrated in Kiwi style.  I wrote about this in an earlier blog.

Wine and cheese

Image Dreamstime free

So you can expect to see an influx of Kiwis/New Zealanders in the northern hemisphere during your summer,  After all we have most certainly missed out here.

And just because I liked her and love her books –

If life is a bowl of cherries what am I doing in the pits.
Erma Bombeck.

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Drinking White Wine In The Sun

I really like Christmas
It’s sentimental, I know, but I just really like it…
I’m looking forward to Christmas
Though I’m not expecting a visit from Jesus….

I’m not expecting big presents
The old combination of socks, jocks and chocolate is just fine by me

Cos I’ll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
I’ll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun.
From “White Wine In The sun” by Tim Minchin.

This is my favourite Christmas song this year.  It was written and is performed by Tim Minchin an Australian comedian, songwriter and poet.  Most of you will probably not have heard of this guy but I understand he is really big in the UK.  If you haven’t heard this song click here.

I don’t like much of his material but share this song with you.  It makes sense to those of us who celebrate Christmas in the summer on the other side of the world.

I think it must have been written when his second child was born and they were coming back to Australia for Christmas because the song goes on..

And you, my baby girl
My jetlagged infant daughter
You’ll be handed round the room
Like a puppy at a primary school
And you won’t understand
But you will learn someday
That wherever you are and whatever you face
These are the people who’ll make you feel safe in this world
My sweet blue-eyed girl

And if, my baby girl
When you’re twenty-one or thirty-one
And Christmas comes around
And you find yourself nine thousand miles from home
You’ll know what ever comes
Your brother and sisters and me and your Mum
Will be waiting for you in the sun
Whenever you come
Your brothers and sisters, your aunts and your uncles
Your grandparents, cousins and me and your mum
We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
Drinking white wine in the sun
Darling, when Christmas comes
We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
Drinking white wine in the sun
Waiting for you in the sun
Waiting for you…
Waiting…

I first heard it played at a wedding Christmas 2009 at Old St Pauls church where I used to be the Wedding Coordinator.  I loved it immediately but couldn’t find out who the artist was or where to purchase a copy.  Yesterday while driving in the car, I heard it played.  It had been nominated as the day’s “Best Song Ever Written” on National Radio. So my lead up to Christmas is now complete and I share this song with you.

I hope you enjoy it.