My family always teases me about how cross I get over Christmas decorations. Not the fact that they arrive too early in shops or that they’re often tacky and terrible. That bit doesn’t bother me. No, it’s the Northern Hemisphere’s influence on everything that really gets my goat. Finally the sun is shining down on us, and we start spray-painting snowflakes on our windows and slaving over a hot stove. (For the record, I’m perfectly partial to roast turkey and brandy-soaked pudding, but strictly during July.)
Yes, we are slowly starting to put our stamp on things. Alongside frosty scenes from faraway climes, there are also cards featuring Santa sitting on the beach, pohutukawa trees in full bloom. At home, I’m making a stand with a small pair of sparkly…
