Celebrate with jo
When it comes to having an attitude of celebration, Jo Seagar is really walking the talk. Midway through our interview at an Auckland club, a waiter pops a bottle of champagne for other guests, even though it’s only 11am, and Jo interrupts her train of thought to let out a cheerful “Woohoo!” at the very distinctive sound. Sitting with our far more sedate coffees (for now), we are talking about Christmas but, more importantly, the reason for the season. Faith, family and any opportunity to “get out the good cups”, as Jo puts it.
“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.”
There will be the traditional Seagar family breakfast of raspberries with icing sugar and cream – truly decadent at a time, Jo says, when raspberries are “about $1 each”. And there will be carols and a nativity scene and a church service, where Jo will often do a reading. The Christian principles are important to them, she says, and they also include something she’s very keen on: giving thanks. “We don’t do a ‘wave your hands to the Lord’ sort of grace, but we
