9 January: Monday. Another cool, blustery day, but the weather didn't bother us. We spent a delightful day with Howard and Jackie Williamson at their home. Morning tea morphed into lunch then afternoon tea. These friends, in their eighties, are full of vitality. The conversations ranged from family to politics to personal histories and then some. Jackie is still painting, and they have just published a book titled Hold Your Horses. It is a biography of J...

2 January: Monday. We awoke to a howling gale this morning. The weatherman promises unsettled weather for the next few days. Lots of reading in our immediate future. 3 January: Tuesday: The wind has subsided into a steady rain and lots of clouds and fog. This morning I baked Anzac biscuits. Now I am reading The Adventure of Kavalier and Clay. Buzz is reading something by Bryce Courtnay. Incy is happily curled up in her corner. 4 January: Wednesday: The rain has...

2 January: Monday. We awoke to a howling gale this morning. The weatherman promises unsettled weather for the next few days. Lots of reading in our immediate future.3 January: Tuesday: The wind has subsided into a steady rain and lots of clouds and fog. This morning I baked Anzac biscuits. Now I am reading The Adventure of Kavalier and Clay.  Buzz is reading something by Bryce Courtnay. Incy is happily curled up in her corner.4 January: Wednesday: The rain h...

26 December: Monday. Today is Boxing Day. It's name comes from an old English tradition of opening the church charity boxes and distributing the contents to the poor on the day after Christmas. Another round of "see you next time", and we started south to Ohope Beach where we'll stay with Cathy and Max Black for a few days. There is a new toll road, but we opted for the old way which isn't much longer. Once it leaves TePuke, the road goes along the ocean most of ...

26 December: Monday. Today is Boxing Day. It's name comes from an old English tradition of opening the church charity boxes and distributing the contents to the poor on the day after Christmas. Another round of "see you next time", and we started south to Ohope Beach where we'll stay with Cathy and Max Black for a few days. There is a new toll road, but we opted for the old way which isn't much longer. Once it leaves TePuke, the road goes along t...