Our Air B and B (simply put, a service where people that aren't using their home for a short period - for holidays and similar things - make a bit of extra cash by letting people stay at their home for a fee) was more than adequate! It was a singular, huge room offering a kitchen, bedroom and living room with a bathroom down a narrow corridor by the door. It was all very clean and tidy and it was a delight being able to get dressed and look for things without being on all fours in a van.

As company in the flat we had the owners cat, Chloe. She is without doubt the ugliest cat on the planet. She had an under bite, a puff of frizzy grey hair and ginormous eyes. She is also one of those cats that has been pampered too much, so looks at you the way a country boffin would look at someone buying milk that wasn't organic. Looking at her food, she definitely ate better than us, it was all tinned tuna and salmon! There was even a brush left out incase we felt the urge to brush her!

In all honesty, the home owner Ursula (tell me that doesn't make you think of the ugly octopus woman in 'The Little Mermaid'!) was extremely helpful and lovely. She had left some chocolates and a bottle of champagne for us as well as collected a parcel from Chelsea's mum.

Which leads to my next point. The huge parcel sat invitingly on the kitchen counter that was addressed to us. Chelsea made us tidy, make a cup of tea and unpack before we could open it... but when we did we did it like ten year olds! There was paper flying everywhere as we saw the mass of confectionary and Christmas decorations that were inside! It was all wildly delicious and hugely appreciated! There was even a sack of presents for each of us. Mine held a snazzy adidas t shirt that looks the bee's knees!

With presents unwrapped and excitement still coarsing through our veins we did what I'd been looking forward to for ages: a Christmas Day at the beach!

Practically running to the beach in my Santa's hat and reindeer sunglasses I set up our deck chairs in an optimal spot and sat down, content with the sun on my face and a mince pie in each hand! It was very surreal, spending a Christmas in the sun and swimming in the sea. There wasn't a whiff of Christmas to be seen anywhere, just people walking their dogs or playing frisbee, identical to any other day here.

Finally, down to our last mince pie and with empty tea flasks we headed back to the apartment. We had planned to cook a Christmas roast together but Chelsea decided that I was only competent enough to peel vegetables as otherwise I was 'in her way'. Sensing a classic, oestrogen-fuelled Christmas dinner eruption (something that had the echo of tradition in my mum's kitchen), I settled myself down in front of the TV and watched 'The Sound of Music' whilst Chelsea pottered away behind me - that beautiful Von Trap family, persecuted they were!

Chelsea succeeded in making a stupendous Christmas dinner, complete with roast potatoes and cheesy leeks! We gorged ourselves senseless as we watched a total of four films back to back. It really was a great Christmas even if we did both miss our families more than we expected.

Boxing Day basically consisted of Chelsea making me clean things and re-packing the car. Before we rolled South in the direction of Coromandel Penisula, and the crystal clear waters of Hahei and Cathedral Cove.