New Zealand schoolchildren have ensured the tiny contingent of Defence Force personnel in Solomon Islands don't feel forgotten on Christmas Day.
The unit, of eight soldiers, is part of the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) and is much reduced from the 50 first deployed in 2003.
RAMSI deputy commander Michael Chivers said his office was decked out with cards sent by children from throughout the country.
"The guys here have taken time to reply to each and every one of those, so hopefully the kids, when they get back to school next year, will have something from the Defence guys here."
Major Chivers says the soldiers are observing Christmas Day very traditionally at their base in the Solomons capital, Honiara.
The Kapiti Coast father of three said this was his first Christmas away from his family - he had always been able to take them with him before, even while on deployment to the Middle East.
Te Kaha
Fourteen defence personnel are spending Christmas Day on the frigate HMNZS Te Kaha.
The vessel - one half of the navy's combat force - has just sailed back into local waters after exercises with ships from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom.
The duty officer on Te Kaha over Christmas, Lieutenant Tim Ericsson, says the ship is the designated search and rescue vessel for the Christmas period so a skeleton crew needs to be on standby 24 hours.
He says the crew will have time to relax watching a movie or reading and the highlight of the day will definitely be Christmas lunch, whipped up by the navy chef.
