For Boxing day we all headed to Southend for brunch, having not eaten enough on Xmas day, followed by a walk along the sea front. What started as a wet day turned into a mild windy day (reminded me of home!) and it saw loads of people come out to walk off their Xmas dinners. And dogs too! I have never seen so many dogs in one place. It was a great atmosphere with kids trying out their new Xmas toys, families together, and dogs playing happily. We had fun running the gauntlet when the waves crashed over the sea wall...we all got doused! Later we went and caught up with more extended family, ate more Xmas food, exchanged more gifts and reminisced about previous times in England. We finished our day with a drive around Biilericacy, looking at the Xmas lights. There were some fabulous displays with animals making scenes, super colourful houses, and large decorated trees. A highlight was seeing a fox coming out of the woods on our way back to Stock... Gemma had seen one before, but it was a first for Daniel so he was beside himself. The kids have started comparing similarities and differences between England and NZ...they've noticed the lack of garages, and the joined together houses, the deciduous trees and the traffic lights. They love the countryside and have both said they'd be happy living here. They are eager to explore some more: locally in the woods and at their cousins school, and a bit further afield in castles and other historical places. I think we can accomodate that! From Daniel: today I got the awesomest present... A James Bond Spectre Aston Martin! It plays James Bond music and lights up, it even has brake lights! I am going to try and get the other ones to make a collection and get the DBS for Andrea to match her real one. It's the best toy I never expected to get! From Gemma: I was given a surprise gift today too, it is a transfer colouring book of magical creatures...you rub the transfers on to the picture a bit like tattoos. It's really unusual and captures my imagination. Lucky me!