Christmas started early on Meander

Christmas on a 36' yacht has it's challenges :

* gifts - purchasing, storage (before & after) & the element of surprise
* decorations
* food - purchasing, storage & preparation

The children willingly supplied us with lists of potential gifts they'd gladly receive but have relatively little appreciation for the budget or space available to cope with their wishes. 

Last year we gave them all tablets (to use for schooling, blogging, playing and keeping in touch with friends). While the tablets have been great for some things (e-books & music) they have driven us crazy too (minecraft anyone?). We are still working on appropriate levels of use, ranging from all apps not reading/writing/music related blocked to free range & everything in between. 

This year we knew lots of cheap little things would have brought their own issues. We have a few small toys on board and they often lead to contention between the children (it's my turn) and adults (I asked you to put those toys away). 

We'd been enjoying the Pittwater and Cowan Creek so decided to go all out and get the kids a big boat toy! They're very own inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) to share! 

We had been discussing their merits for a bit and looking at other people using SUPs with envy when we found one on sale at Whitworths. After much discussion of pros and cons we took the plunge, as it were, and bought one.

Then we had to carry it back to Meander!

Due to a birthday party we been invited to by another boat family we had to wait to give it a whirl until the following day. Never have I seen the kids so happy to leave a birthday party! No offense intended Lyndy, they had a great time!!

It seems like it was a success if constant use from 6:30am - 6:30pm is any indication. 

The kids and Giles are loving it and seem to be working out how to use it easily.

If it all gets too hard, request a tow

I am finding it slightly more challenging. Day 1 - I sat on the board and paddled, day 2 - I paddled on my knees, day 3 - saw me stand! Hesitant, scared and just  little bit proud!

If you'd like to see Arthur show you the basics click here!

Somehow we knew they wouldn't settle for a giant expensive fun boat toy to share and we'd need to come up with a few little somethings to keep the magic of Christmas alive... and not feed into their belief that living on a board deminishes their lives somehow.

We arrived at the Spit Marina in Sydney on Christmas Eve, after stocking up on food and other goodies in Gosford and Manly in the days prior. Presents were wrapped & placed under the tree. In the absence of our stockings the living aboard equivilent, straw hats, were hung over bunks and a carrot, mince pie and beer were left out for Santa and the reindeer.

Christmas day started at 5:30am with the rustle of chocolate wrappers as Arthur investigated his booty... After about an hour we realised if the children got any more sugared up we'd be in trouble so we leapt out of bed and prepared our first breakfast (croissants, pain au chocolate, coffee, juice) and started opening presents.

This didn't take long, as the girls averaged 2 gifts each. Somehow the boys ended up with about 5 a piece. Something the girls may rectify at a later date.

Giles' note on the kids' gift to me...a new sports bra!

Asleep during the first chapter!

We took our new t-ball set to the local park and gave it a go. What a great game to play together, although when the kids started dropping from their sugar highs it got a little fraught. Back to Meander for our second breakfast (berries, mango, cereal, and more coffee).

Living in the Southern Hemisphere at Christmas time is tricky. Who wants to eat a huge turkey with all the trimmings on a hot sunny day? Living aboard gave us the perfect opportunity to have a true-blue dinky-die fair-dinkum Aussie Christmas, or at least a New Zealander's version of what that might be.

We packed the dingy with plenty of food, drink, togs/bathers, and sunscreen which Giles and Arthur motored to Clontarf Reserve while the girls and I walked the 2+ km through native bush to meet them.

Evelyn & Katherine on our walk to the reserve

Then the fun began....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly we were not the only ones with the same idea. The reserve was full of families having fun on Christmas Day. It felt like our little family of 5 was part of something bigger. Everyone was in a happy mood, the BBQ was delicious, the sun was shining, the sea was cool, the freshwater showers and water bottle refill stations all worked beautifully... a wonderful time was had by all!

We eventually returned to Meander around 8 pm to put the finishing touches to our store bought pavlova. Sadly the kiwifruit hadn't rippened in time so it was more of an Aussie experience with berries and passionfruit, but it was still a yummy end to a great day.

Wonder how we'll be celebrating next year??

If you're wondering about how we celebrated Evelyn's 9th birthday... We didn't ... But, we will be on the 29th...She did indeed officially turn 9 and enjoyed a little time with me all by herself on the walk home.

Evelyn enjoying some Mum time on her birthday