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29th 30th Dec 1st
1969 Hawaii: Details in Peace Corps Journal.
1971

Heasley and I and a bunch from my form class went to Nukulevu Island on Simon's boat for class picnic. Picked up a second group from Natovi. Went swimming and joined in the wrestling games in the water. Roasted casava which was great to eat (soak in the sea before cooking). Challenged Sailasa to a spear throwing contest and he won easily. walked back from Natovi with a group of boys.
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1972 Ian ran up to the house to say that a telegram was coming through for me. Gail and I went down to the school and we found out that I have a job at Rosehill College in New Zealand. Gail very happy and she made a special meal. Bob came by and said he is trying to get onto a freighter to the States. He is going to buy our fridge.
1974 Sanders for a Barvarian beer in the afternoon. Back in evening for tacos and a Selak white burgandy.
1975 Had my first raw oyster at Hoffsis' friend's. Went off in search of the Woodville Monument. Maps and roads not properly marked so we did a lot of driving before we found it. Walked through the pine forest to Rhodes graveyard. Found the road but not the bridge. Found a monument of sorts and asked hunters for help. They commenced to tell us about their granddaddies fighting in "the" war. We began to wish we didn't have northern accents. An elderly lady from Georgia showed us a natural bridge, where the water just "roils right up". Had a look-see at a dead rattler in the back of pickup truck and the fellow offered us mullet and hushpuppies. Over to Southern's Junior Museum (swamp shacks with animals to see). Went through the school house and looked over Morat House (George Washington's niece). Walked along a nature trail with its black bears being fed apples by people. Back in Tallahassee we saw boiled peanuts being sold by a street vendor. Asked Jim to stop so I could get a photo and he went and bought a bag. In the evening it was slides, pinochle and Jeopardy with a little Christian Brothers Cabernet.

Photos

1976 Listened to Mrs Dent go on about Gail having to work and her telephone broadcasting in the middle of the night. Apparently Gail got an earful in the morning while waiting for her ride.
1978 Th - Picked up a Valica rental car and brought mom to Waitomo glow worm caves. Rough road along Highway 30 to Taupo. Stayed in a cabin on the lake shore at Loafer's Paradise. Te and I slept in the tent.
1980 Su - Poppin' Fresh Pies for supper. Bavarian Mint and Raspberry pies.
1985 Sa - Jarts with David. The Barbarian in Howick (basement in Spanish decor) for St. Mary's do (meal and dancing) with Bensons (Mary 16), Kushla(1) and Gary, Welch's(3+14), Jack (left army and devloping software for builders) and Janette(11) McKnight, Jack and Joy(10) Smith, Gary(13) & Margaret and Vanessa who had lived in Samoa. We left around 11PM when things became rowdy.
1 thru 16
1986 Su - Checked out (receipt). Left Whitianga at 10AM. Timed our arrival at Hot Water Beach and dug a hole to lie in. Gail had to go back up to be with the dogs and even then Cabbie made so much noise that people complained. Tairua a big nothing, but we stopped to tramp to Turner's Lookout - steep track which Gail found tough. Track going down was hard to follow.
1991 Garage sale: People coming at 7:30AM. Sold the canoe for $150. Made $114 for the small stuff. Every Indian who came looked at the pressure cooker. Sold it for $20. Aldies stopped in with snacks for lunch.
1994 B-Block Opening after school. Caught up with Peter Goldsmith (on board) now with Counties Sports after 4 years at North Shore. Showed Roy and Jan Papesch around.
1996 Sa - 11 cars parked on our lawns and drive and we were off via bus to Miranda Hot Springs with Kelvin Road staff. Long soak in the hot pool and then a barbecue.
2000 Th - Doug over with photos of Nelson bike tour. We played a CD 60's music quiz.
2007 Gail and I went to Whites because Matthew was over from OZ. Met Tracy's Leon. After the meal we played Trivial Pursuit until Susi spilt her wine over the the board and floor. My Saint Clair '06 Pinot Noir was excellent. After Jackie's orange and poppy seed cake with gingerbread ice cream we got up a another game (luckily, Susi went to bed).
2011 W - When Ian got back from his bike ride into Tauranga we went to visit Colleen and then it was a stroll through Yatton Park with its old and large trees (saw a massive cottonwood and several others which were biggest in NZ or world). Had Chinese for supper and then a final night of Dominion.
2012 F - Russell arrived in the afternoon. He called Houghton in the hospital and we all talked to her. I got skunked twice in 3-way cribbage. He treated us to a meal at Mount Mellick Irish Bar. Real atmosphere inside and a server who kept running back and forth to our table. I had a great fish of the day with an excellent Mount Difficulty Roaring Meg 2011 pinot noir. Played Alhmabra.
2013 Sa - Smithers over again for fish n chips with an average McWilliams 2012 chardonnay. Boys and I played Alhambra, moving them into the 5th level. Thomas won again. Gail, David and Annette played Plethora with Gail.
2018 F - First visit to Houghton's place in Otumoetai. Very neat and tidy, very Ann.
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