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1970	First letter in Fiji: Details in Peace Corps Journal.
1972	When David got home he took us on the subway to downtown Boston, where we followed the Freedom Trail seeing historic buildings, a graveyard and a museum. We drove out to Carlisle going past Louisa May Alcott's, Emerson's and Walden Pond. Woody showed around the 1731 house, "Golden Glow". Seven fireplaces, cellar, smoke room, workshop, attic. Barn across the road with David's Model Ts. Supper with his father then slides.
1973	Town with Chas and bought fruit. Tried calling Paul and ended up writing to him. Fish n chips for supper. Gail slept most of the day and needed a heater on (finding NZ cold after Fiji). Chas told us about his wartime experiences.
1974	Took coastal road from Dunedin to Timaru stopping at Omamaru for breakfast at "Bamboo Fish Supply and Food Store". Got the rental back at noon (500 miles for the trip). Walked around Timaru. Bought carnations for the Heasleys only to miss them. So we went on to Christchurch. Tried ten pin bowling at St. Asaph Bowling Centre and the pins were attached to wires! Leftover alley from WWII for American soldiers on R&R. The balls were 30 years old too, all chipped up. 60¢ per line and I got 76 to Gail's 91. Murph had been busy fencing his garden while we were gone. Peter came over with Susan.
1975	Into Papakura where Ian bought ball bearings. 11:15AM bus to Auckland. Bought a classical organ album for Ian at Marbeck's in the arcade, then worked our way up and down Queen Street. Ian went off to Onehunga to looks at plugs (ed. - or "plays"; can't tell]. We sat in Albert Park for an hour. Then bought a Maori war club. Met Ian at Hungry Horse (he was only 30 minutes late) for a meal before taking train to Papakura. Ian bought a pair of shorts at Trevor Lewis Menswear. Served by Barry Roberts who gave us a lift home.
1977	Biked to school and got all the mail since school ended and found Goofy basketball socks and a great homemade card from Janet Hooper. Took shots for 30 minutes. Ne does her first steps (with help). Price of bread, chocolate and cars up today.
1978	T - Went with mom and Lia to One Tree Hill, Parnell Rose Gardens. Bought Te a wooden train set at shops there. Then we had lunch at Mission bay. Kids went into the water. Dropped mom off downtown Auckland and I went to see Duthie Mills who says my earaches are due to my nose structure. He gave a spray that smells like Handy Andy (pine). Dropped Lia off and then went to pick up a rental Falcon station wagon. First time I have driven in NZ and find it confusing with all the devices on opposite sides.
1979	W - KV - Walked along the Kauaeranga river. Made a grill from some steel rods that I found. The kids love to go out along the rock dam. There must have been a student from Rosehill, because someone called out "Malecek". Got the kids into bed early and settled into a SYC moselle with our supper. (video)
1980	Th - KV: Thunderstorms. Thought it would be a good day to do a tour of a gold mine, but we hiked with Sanders up to the power pole lookout. On the steep muddy descent I had to tie Ne to a length of rope and then let her down one length at a time. We got caught in a heavy downpour and Mike had to help me with Ne who was very shook up. Got back drenched. Mike and I rebuilt the fireplace and made a cover for it. We went to get sand for it and when we returned we found that the women had moved the table out of the shelter and into the open, and we had to get it back under as another downpour hit. Gail had put a hole into the center of the cover, so the water would drain. That meant it dripped right onto one of the seats. So there they were in our shelter in a thunderstorm, Mike having to continually having to push up the roof. Finally he just stood there and held it. I thought it was stupid since we had a nice dry big tent, so I went there. Found water getting in, so I had to put everything up in the cots and dig a trench across the entry. When it let up we rebuilt the bivouac. Played cards with the kids in the tent. Rained steadily for remainder of day. Gail and I slept in the small tent.	at lookout
1987	Went to Stebbing's. Lynn bubbling over and put on a big splash. Good meal then Graeme showed me the yard and his cars. Building a Lambraghini from scratch and rebuilding a 1920's car.
1988	Su - Heritage Park. Boring adventure island (paradise duck), but interesting butterfly room (video). We rafted across to get back for a paddle in a waka (video. Liked the aviary birds and geckos. Rushed over to see the Maori stage show depicting Maori folklore. The acting and singing were superb. Noticed that the actors were also the workers around the place; e.g. waka crew. Had lunch in gazebo and watched the last few minutes of a very entertaining farm show. Then there was a Maori concert that was equally good and very moving. Just enough time to have a game of golf with each hole being somewhere in NZ. Brochure 1 Brochure 2
1992	Gave the kids their "rainy weather" packs and told them to stay in the tents. Bridge in the adults only tent. I slept for three hours while the others went for a swim. Boys cooked their supper in the rain. Bridge in the evening until nightfall.	Michael
1995	Ian bought KN7087 (with cash) and brought it to Makesh in Pukekohe to have it painted. I followed him there and let him drive the Charade back. Ian and I walked to the shop. Gail, Ian and I played Time game outdoors. In for slides. Took photos of all three cars that we have owned since returning in 1985 being together.
1996	W - We went to Wentworth Valley and walked to the Falls where we had lunch. Ian dropped his camera lens cover into the stream and Matthew went in to retrieve it. At the falls, Ian went into the pond for a swim. On the way down we went dropped down a steep hill to reach a lagoon where the Whites went for a swim. (more photos) Got to Whangamata at 4:30PM and surfed for an hour. Takeaways on the way back to Broken Hills. Into the river for a swim. Played Cluedo and scanned the stars and saw several satellites whiz by.
1997	F - Doug surfing at 6:30AM. We all went at 2PM. Heaps of good rides on the strong waves. I stayed on to be with Doug who stayed in the water until 6PM. After supper Doug left and Ian, Susi and Jackie arrived. Boys got a fire going and we made sausages for the starving Whites. Sat around outside sipping a '94 Wolf Blass Classic dry red. Susi caught a small eel, but the larger ones kept breaking her line.
2001	Filled van and containers (96¢/l) at Glenbrook BP before the next price rise hits. Attendant asked about my name and informed me that he had been to Czech Republic and his friend had run naked across a bridge in Prague with temp at -6°.
2002	Opoutere. Worn out from the physical activity of yesterday. More of the same today - mowing (driveway), pruning wattles and weeding around fruit trees with the good old cane knife. Filled a few more bags with sand. Read while listening to Black Caps beat Australia for the second straight one dayer thanks once again to Chris Harris.
2003	We walked into town and took the gondola to the top and the Skyline complex. I left our tickets in it so Gail jumped the cord and grabbed them before the doors closed. From there we did the Ben Lomond trail only getting as far as the saddle. Saw a few different birds - one in the trees of the lower level and then some sort of finch and a rifleman (yes it is a bird). It was two hours going up and about an hour to get back down. She's a hard slog, mate; but well worth it for the views. After supper we went for a walk through the Queenstown Gardens. Very beautiful - big trees and lovely flowers. We saw (and heard) a wood pigeon in the more remote area. Walked into town along the lake coast track.
2012	T - Sent "recipes" (Pronto Pup and pheasant) to Leah for Matt's 30th book. Made a "pleasant day at the mount" photo for Kathy and Mike.
2013	Th - Did a section of the Waikareao Estuary walk with Ian. Had an excellent Red Tussock '09 Pinot Noir with supper. Then we got up a game of Scattergories before Dominion.
2020	F - Had the bike for a year and was on it for 10.6 hours.
2021	Su - Cold has me down, so I watched an America's challengers race. Dean Barker capsized the American Magic boat on the last turn with a big lead over Luna Rosa.
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