“I’m a big celebrator – it’s been part of my family DNA forever,” she says. “The idea of ‘join me’ or ‘I’ve made this for you’ – those are lovely words in our language, aren’t they? That idea of hospitality. It’s a very Kiwi thing, as well. We’re always looking around to make sure no one is missing out.”
So she’s not one to keep those good cups in the cupboard, waiting for a rainy day? “No, no, no, God, it’s rained enough,” she laughs. “In Canterbury, a lot of them got smashed waiting for that rainy day. And I think there’s a great sense of joy in the little things.”
Full festive week
This year Jo and her husband of 33 years Ross will be in Taupo for Christmas at her brother’s holiday house with a “bit of a collection” of family members. Some, including their son Guy, are arriving from overseas. They like the idea of a festive week, taking the pressure off the 25th being the make or break day of the year. “You see all these families with young kids rushing to one grandmother and then onto the next one… why not do that over the week instead? It’s one of the best tips for coping with the stress.”
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
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This story is from the December 2019 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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