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1961	High = 46°F. School - English speeches on tired blood, window, and cups. Helped Mr Breth and Bill put up a basket, but it came down after a few shots.
1970	Fiji: Details in Peace Corps Journal.
1972	After supper David drove us around the college campuses in Boston. Went to his office and met students from all over the world.
1973	Had breakfast in motel ($1.50). Chas Murphy picked us up and brought us to McDougall's where we stayed until we found a flat. He brought us over to Rosehill College for my first look at a place which would feature a lot in my life. Met David Woodward (not the PCV). Back at Elliot Street we looked at slides and watched television.		Woody
1974	Drove to Dunedin stopping to buy a box of apricots, loganberries and bosenberries. Had to stop to get Gail out of the car in time to heave (morning sickness). Brunch at Milton. Dropped off our stuff at Heasley's renovated basement. Drove to Otago Peninsula. Stopped at Glenfalloch Woodland and then made a tour of Larnach Castle. Drove to his sister's dump (chickens in house), a real hippy commune. Went to a museum where we looked at the Pacific and parapellygic displays. Huntsman Steakhouse on George St where we had steaks. Slept under Murray's house on the dirt and even though it was January it went down to freezing!		castle ex castle GFalloch
1975	David to Plunkett - weighs 16 lbs 14 oz. Town with Ian for cash and book stores. Picked up a carton of beer and taxied home. Bridge with Audrey Dickson.
1976	Rudy Bakker came on his lunch break at Post Office. Gail went to town to buy a sewing machine. Anna Trombik (has her driver's license), Frances and Lyndsey Dickson came. Mike came with his truck and we went to Breeze's to get my crate, tea chest and boxes from their garage. They weren't home and I was surprized that a neighbor didn't call the police.		Frances
1977	Tairua with Sanders and Aldersons. We decamped and hit a few nearby pottery shops (one with lovely fountains and ponds).
1979	T - Stopped at SYC to get Totara Gold, got to Kauaeranga Valley near Thames on the Coromandel Pennisula and waited 2 hours for the Sanders at Whangaretakai Camp. Set up three tents. Kids found a path that led to a fern hut, recently built. Had the wine with supper, having used the stream to keep it chilled.
1980	W - Kauaeranga Valley: Rained most of the day. Tent had water in it. Mike and I built a shelter using plastic sheets around the cook/eat area. Bacon and eggs for breakfast. Kids went swimming with Gail in the river. I slept the afternoon away. Storm came in with strong winds. I found a small beach just beyond our tents and we spent time there skimming rocks. I went for a run up to Boom's Landing and back. Someone moved into the area we had last year - lots of lively people (photo). David slept with me in the small tent - my bedding was wet.
1986	Th - Many trips to Janice Ward, the Managing Director's secretary, as her machine now on fritz. Got a bit depressed with everything going wrong. So many calls and queries - everyone (1000 of the 2500 employees anyway) wants a computer and I just can't help. Tired of letting people down. Made a Playboy cover special for 29 King Edward.
1988	Up early to go to Otara Market with Ian, Susi and Tom. Got tangelos, hot peas and doughnuts. Found a South Pacific cookbook and shells for T&K. Bought sandalwood and a big snapper. Susi cleaned the snapper for supper. Walked around Rosehill.
1992	Ranger told the boys to put the tree branches back (needed for seedling cover). Whites bought firewood for the lovo and Gail and I went up the hill to get branches as per ranger's okay. Steve dug a hole next to the fireplace and cooked chicken, beef and veggies Fiji-style (video). While it ws cooking we went for a walk through Boom's to the river and came out by Wainaro (video). Ian slipped in the river and bashed his left leg. Had the meal - the frozen dalo not so good (video). Girls (Jackie) had their fire over by the boys camp.
1995	Bought 1992 Daihatsu Charade. We had already told the guy that we had $12,000. He said the car would probably be priced at $16,000. So I said that I'd give him $14,000 cash. He went away and came back with $14,500. I gave him a song and about cash flow with kids uni fees due etc.... so I said could we talk financing where I would give them $12,000 now and the balance in three months. i.e. I was willing to pay $14,500. So off to see the loan manager. We discussed all sorts of things. Bottom line was they would charge me $200 just to get the loan, plus interest. I went back to sales guy and said looks like I can't buy as they want $200 more just to buy a little time. He went away and came back and said he would give me the car for $14,300, so I could buy the loan. So I went back to the loan guy and after driving him crazy going over numbers I said I'll break one of my term deposits which would cost me less than $200 to do. He said fine. I found the sales manager and told him I would pay him the $14,300 in cash. I had him and he knew it. So he agreed. We both go back to the money guy and the tell him to write up the deal. When he sees that the price is $14,300 he goes red and runs out the door to find the salesman. Comes back and reluctantly writes it up. .
1996	T - We started up the Tihi Trig trail only to find it overgrown. Gail, Ian, Renee and Jackie turned back to do the racecourse trail. While I took the lead with secateurs to cut for half-an-hour. We got totally drenched. Back at camp everyone went for a float in the river. Supper, Pictionary (using the van as the paper), frisbees, checkers and dominoes.
1997	Th - Opo - Doug, David and Matthew arrived. After setting up Doug in the second caravan and the boys in the barn we went for a stroll around the property, had lunch and then hit the beach for great surfing. Powerful waves and warm water. Walked up the beach (its about 5Km long) before heading back for coffee and to hear about Aldies' trip to South Island. Doug and I walked to the bird sanctuary and then back along the beach. After supper we played RnR Trivial Pursuit, while listening to the Punk CD. Gail was stung by a bee on her foot.		Doug couldn't wait for night
1998	F - We left David behind and went to Awhitu around 5PM. Aldies were there with Clair and Robert. Ian, Jackie and Mini-Whites. After supper we played parlour games until 10PM when Steve's ex-uni-roomies arrived with Matthew. They made a lamb curry which we ate around midnight. Played Compatibility with Ian (not ICW) and Adrienne as my partners.
2001	At 8PM when we went over to Ian's to play "Mad Gab" and iMAgiNiff... with all the Whites and Craig who is off to explore NZ tomorrow. Tonight's cocktail was cranberry juice laced with Blackberry Nip (Redwood Cellars).		Craig
2003	Rode on the SS Earnslaw, after watching several tons of coal being loaded. Pleasant, smooth ride on the fore deck to Walter Peak farm. We struck up a conversation with a Korean couple who had lived in Dallas (go Cowboys) for 15 years. Had lunch on beach, then hit one of the many Gail was called by Jeannie and Elizabeth from Strathallan - seems that Merian had it wrong and that she will be teaching year 3, not 2. Had a meal at Sombrero's, then checked out shops, including Gallery of Fine Art.
2005	Made up a chain letter birthday greeting and sent it to Wally. Michel brought his two daughters over and Steph went with them to the Glenbrook train. Russell stopped in for a visit and the Whites came en masse to get into the pool.
2007	Bought a pair of $90 Innsbrook slacks (made in Fiji) at Sunset Menswear.
2009	One year after doing first reel-to-reel I have completed converting 50 so far. Russell and I went to Wendy's where we ran into Owen and Noeline and their friends Tony (kept calling his chili "curry") and Heather (she thought I had an English accent). Good, fun people who love to eat. Mike's for TP. A friend of Russell's swapped sandals and took mine but he claims he didn't.
2012	M - Colleen's to meet Bruce's family and have a meal on the new picnic table. Christened it with Avon Brae '08 Shiraz. We were invaded by kittens from next door.		Dane
2013	W - Ian and Janice over for the first time and when Ian arrived we played NZ Pop Culture TP for a couple hours. Sampled the very expensive 14 year old Balvenie.
2016	Sa - When I got up at 1:10PM Russell and James were gone and Nick and Christine were here.
2024	T - Up at 11:30AM. email to Wilson (Beatles fan in Dunedin). Bayfair. email from Newsy. email and photo from Debbie. Pruned and had a chat with Bev. High BP for the first time (she's 85) and tingling swollen feet. Gym and pool (9). At 10:30PM Rex came to walk in the pool. Said he does every night, but I am usally out of their by 10:15PM.
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