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25th	26th	27th
1971	Got my 1-A draft status [ed. - meaning that I could be drafted and sent to Viet Nam] and I was very disturbed and mostly worried. Called Peace Corps and Chuck said they could probably fix up a 2-A. Lunch at Whites' and brought a jigsaw puzzle back home and spent rest of day on it. Gurmit Singh came and it was the first one he had seen.
1973	Jerkovich's at 4PM. Truck arrived at school with our stuff, so we drove over and couldn't find it. Driver had dumped the crates at a garage next to the school. Bob McLachlan helped us move them into the metalwork shop using the school tractor. Back to J's for a visit and meal with them and friends who were leaving for England. When we got home, McDougalls were back from the South Island. Atmores called from Howick.	Eric
1976	Bill Knight showed me where the cops had raced across the school grounds. Cartons all over the quad. Catherine, Kay, Sue and I spent morning getting the 3rd form option stuff together. Sanders stopped by with our Family Benefit check [ed. - gov paid you $12/week for each child] and a mat.
1980	Sa - Fellow called at 7AM about the ladder, so I cleaned paint off of it. Big garage sale - a few at 8AM but big rush was between 9AM and 10am. Sold washing machine for $250. Gayle M's sister, Helen, bought the hair drier and we were chatting when Mrs Dent came over with her usual complaint. We just ignored her. Sold a book case to Mary Anne's father and we had a good chat about doctors' rates, USA... Sold mower to Colin Mahoney for $250, and he will let me use it until we leave. He just moved in around corner on Albert St. Sold push mower for $9. Big load of graden tools to a lady. A couple came at 9PM and bought the fridge for $160 and will let us use it until March 14. We sold almost everything just my desk and stereo gear left. Took double bed base apart and moved the kids onto mattresses. We were watching a clown show and eating popcorn when David got some stuck in his throat. I tried pounding his back. Finally forced him to gag bringing up the ice cream he had eaten earlier.
1985	Sa - Drove to Byron, Mn and Steve and Becky's. They had friends' kids, Brandy and Anne, to play with David and Ne. Kids made shishkabobs that Steve cooked on an outdoor grill (in the cold and snow). Becky has a pig collection. After the meal (with a good Chevriot Dulac sav blanc) we played 500 with a good Jaques Bonet champagne.
1986	Su - Unloaded trailer. Moved dressor and all my clothes into bedroom. Removed large chinese lantern from den and put in a new light. Kids made friends with the boys in front (Mat and Ben Lees) playing cricket, riding bikes, sharing pets. Szabo girls came over with scones they had helped make. Harvesting - plums, cape goosberries, yellow beans, carrots. Doug came at 4:30PM. David met him in the driveway and said: "You're early - hors duerves aren't until 6:30PM". So Doug backed out. Doug coming to a head with his family over Paul. So he likes coming over to hang out. Went to park with kids to play with whiffle ball. Back home for dessert. David and Doug played electronic games.
1987	Out on Breeze's trimaran. Left for Auckland at 10:30AM, unfortunately we never got there. Made Mission Bay by 1:30PM and turned back, so we missed the Anniversary Day Regetta which began at 11AM! David had a couple turns at the tiller. Chris fell over board while reversing the jib. He caught the rail and I managed to grab him and pull him in. Back at 4PM went to a secluded beach near Duders so Ne could try fishing and Gail and David swam.
1988	Did a video of the house/yard. Had to replace Ne's window pane (see 24th). Bette was worried when she saw our car being driven off while we were away camping. So she came over and discovered a red van. Gail had forgotten to tell Bette that Whites would be using the car to pick up Granny.
1991	Whites, who had been picking strawberries, stopped in. I was pruning the holly by the mailbox when a lady who was standing at the South School bus stop asked me how to get to Glenbrook. She had no money and looked like she had already walked a fair bit. Sanders came and they gave us Christmas gifts. Small china Goofy for me. Much fun playing Balderdash while sipping an appley Muller Thurgau and a Lincoln '90 Pinot Noir Blanc.
1992	Surfing in choppy waves while it rained. Played Formula 1 at Whites and I won after being in last place for 8 laps. Several hours on porch drinking grog with Roma's friends (girl, man and Sakiusa), Nina and Neli. Looked at slides.
1993	Boys and I stopped at Thames Pak n Save so I could buy $20 worth of Golden Country Corned Beef for the Whites. Saw Dr Mills (suspenders) at Takanini Care and he says torn cartilege in my left knee so I am on waiting list for an operation at Middlemore. He also told me that the pain in right knee is "washer woman's knee" and nothing can be done about it.
2000	Whangamata for surfing. Conditions were good so Senad and Titania stayed in a long time. We walked around town. Back to camp and we had stew for supper. Played Chinese checkers and UNO. Couple dogs visited us - Jack Russell named Pebbles and Missy the Lab. Heavy rain during the night.
2002	Ian and Susi picked us up - I shut car door onto Gail's fingers, so our departure was delayed while we made her ice them. Checked out Botany Downs. Long drive to see a shopping center, but it is unique in NZ with its outdoor center court. Lunch (McFlurrys for dessert) and wandered the stores. I got a beanie baby bee at Surprises (for Helen). Steph cooked supper and bought a bottle of Queen Adelaide 2001 chardonnay to go with it. Whites over for the Portuguese Grand Prix - Susi won. Black Caps beat OZ AGAIN! Astle's 95 makes him NZ's highest one-day scorer.
2003	So much to do.... Removed the pool pump which has a crack and water has caused major rust over the past year. Gail was helped by kids to remove her belongings from Sandspit School. I ran pool spotlight cable through a hose (sun destroying the cable) only to find it wouldn't work - ended up removing the whole thing from post. Joined others at Steve and Sally's house that they are renting just two doors down from us, across the road. 30 years ago Steve lived next door to us in Fiji. Petanque on the large front lawn. Neli and Mario joined us at meal time, with Saunokonokos coming a bit later. So David had his hands full with Kelcie, Christian, Sam and Rebecca. Saki told Ian he'd shout him lunch if he could tell him the jockey for Sunline so I snuck home and looked it up on the web. Back in time for dessert. Had a Montana '01 Semillon that was on the acid side.
2005	Papakura to be detoured all over before I finally parked by New World and walked to PAG. A guy had doused himself with petrol at the Shell station and whole CBD had been evacuated.
2007	Drove to Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island. Long drive to Murray Mouth for a nice view, but the island itself is pretty barren. Had a look around Goolwa while trying to find road to Currency Creek Winery, where we sampled and bought a rosé and Black Swamp Cab Sav before walking around the actual Black Swamp Walk. Checked out the Port Elliott Mitre 10 and bought a plant to give Rosie when we went to Annsells' for a very entertaining time over a meal accompanied by a BS C-S and an '04 LeConfield Shiraz.	Mouth Galahs Swamp
2009	Irene, back from Denver with asthma, called. Middlemore to get Gail. Stopped at BK to get lunch. Takanini Emergency Clinic (its Auckland Anniversary day) to get her antibotic pills. Papakura to welcome back Emery who arrived from England this morning. Home at 2:30PM.
2010	T - Up at 8:30AM so Gail could get me to Middlemore where Bodie X-rayed my knees. Emery's where I did computer things for an hour. Card, letter and calendar from Jane F.
2012	Th - Up early and was able to see Christopher being arrested on TV (video). Left at 10AM and we got to Tuckey's at 1PM. PSA is nil, so he said that I am clear and no need for him to see me again. Papakura where I had a half an hour with Steve. Friend of his from MN visiting and gave him a Vikings shirt which Steve donned at Auckland airport and a fellow came over and said: "Go Green Bay"! Paul and Irene's where we joined the family to celebrate Hilda's 88th. Enjoyed an excellent Sileni '10 Syrah. Little Jessie was so funny.
2015	M - Max's at noon where Clayton (holding 8 month wee chihauhau) joined us to playtest Martin's "Gods" (he made major changes since Thursday) and one based on moving goods around hexagons to build. Then we played Max's spider/fly game and Martin tore it apart.
2016	T - Ian (looking like Ian Hendry with his weight loss) arrived and we played Exploding Kittens. Crashed and missed supper. Played Catan and found out a thing or two that we were doing wrong. Ian brought out his whiskies: Nikka a Japanese effort, Hellyers from Tazmania and Balvenie. But I liked his brandy best of all. My right eye now has even worse floaters and film.
2018	F - We went to Papamoa where auctioneer, Wayne Oliver, presented two offers for 3B. $440,000 and $446,050. We rejected both.
2020	Su - Game of Burgundy and then watched Hamilton Sevens. NZ men's (highlights) and women's won.
2022	W - Day 160 of Delta/Omicron lockdown (1164 cases). Calendar, letter and card from Jane (posted on 10th Dec). Gym and pool(10 lengths).
2023	Th - Spent afternoon clearing the shed and removing stuff from fence. Pruned back more fruit trees, removed strawberry cover, weeded and dug up blackberry vine. 75 minute walk to Concord. Istanbul after hamburgers.
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