JANUARY - This is the vacation month in New Zealand when everyone heads for the beach and we joined in by going surfing at Karioitahi, boating/rafting at Maraetai and yachting with Breezes to Auckland and back. Just to keep in touch with our Minnesotan roots we also spent a week camping with the Sanders in Kaeranga Valley. It is something of a tradition only this year David was old enough to put in some serious tramping with the men. We limbered up with Mike Sanders by doing what is called Billy Goat Falls trait then the following two days David and I assaulted Table Mountain spending the night in a hut at Moss Creek. Wore me out, but I DID IT. Gail, kids and friends spent three days at Awhitu Park enjoying sun and sea.

FEBRUARY - Kids back in school but we still hit the beaches on weekends. David got his first pair of eyeglasses.

MARCH - Gait gets display type coffee table hand-made by Mike Sanders and puts our Fiji shells into it.  Rush off to Rotorua to see the thermal area one last time before it dries up completely. Rain ruins first two days, but we get out to see what amounts to half the activity of ten years ago. Disappointing, but overseas visitors who may have not seen better seem to be impressed judging by the number of photos being taken. Had our first go at a luge ride small flat cart down a hill. Renee joins school netball team. David buys a drum set.

APRIL - Buy a video camera. Promoted to supervisor. Begin running after six year layoff. David sets school record for long jump, those long legs of his paying off. He is now taller than Gail and gaining on me. Go to Lion Safari Park. See lions being fed outside our car, zip down the half mile long scream machine several times, I assist a magician with a trick in the circus show, we play a round of putt-putt and Ne rides a camel to end the day. Unpack paperbacks and books two years after arriving in the country; maybe we will stay awhile. I foil a burglar's attempt to break through back door.

MAY - Coupe in Fiji comes as big shock as it affects many friends in many ways.

JUNE - David spends night at a Maori marae with classmates.

JULY - Begin interviewing to staff the Info Centre I am finally going to have. Take David out to fancy restaurant for his 13th birthday and let him order from the adult menu. He puts away more than me and I now have competition for leftovers.  Renee's standard of netball play in crucial centre position written up in local paper.

AUGUST - Create realistic robot costume for Renee to wear at school book week character parade. Friend from Fiji-days, now in Vanuatu, dropped in for a one day visit. David begins first job as a newspaper delivery boy. Renee given a special badge for netball excellence.

SEPT - Help Indian friends settle into house they bought. Neighbors in front sold and moved to Australia - we bought their two person canoe/kayak. Much action this month making arrangements for friends from Fiji to move to NZ. At last minute a second coupe seems to have stopped all plans. Plumbing goes awry, so several visits from plumbers.

OCTOBER - White family makes it from Fiji and all seven of them stay with us for two weeks until Ian is issued a work permit so he can began job at Mill working for me as my education officer. Part of the deal includes a furnished house in Waiuku. So it was pretty hectic around here for two weeks, but also a lot of fun having younger children about (and into everything). We now see them regularly on weekends as they come to Papakura for shopping and garage sales, usually followed by a game of bridge. And now we have enough people on hand to play volleyball properly.