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hey, this is Carol!

I love these people. They are super nice. This house is huge. #2 bedrooms I think. My room is 31 and Bill's must be 32. I asked about bugs and Shane told me they have BIG beetles with pinchers and they sting too.. They come in the windows at night. I guess you know that I shut my window. I love to leave my window open at night too. They have no screens on the windows. The windows open from the bottom out.

Dale and Shane have 3 dogs. Two are mastiffg mixes and are sweetiers. They are known far and wide as being bad watch dogs so bad people stay away. The other is a black ankle biter.

They have 3' nd 4' eels in the creeks here. Guess who isn't getting close to the creek. Shane said the maoris smoke them and are very good. Not close to my mouth. Although I must keep an open mind and try new things.

When they picked us up at the airport and we got to the car I started to laugh. Hadn't thought about it but the steering wheel is on the passenger side. Also drive on the left. Kind of scary at first.

Totally wiped out after the flight. We watched a mother with 3 kids at the L.A. airport. Kids were wild. We said hope they aren't on our plane. Our seats were row 74. Next to the last row. Guess who was behind us? Four year old boy and twin 2 year old girls. All 3 were autistic. I got about 1 hour sleep. Towards morning they woke up and used the back of our seats for a trampoline. Never so glad to see the back side of anyone.

At the moment it is pouring rain. Earlier the wind was blowing hard.

We are having bolognese meat sauce and spaghetti pasta with a green salad and herb and garlic focaccia(bread) for tea (dinner). Last night we had fillet, avocado with lemon and pepper, green salad and focaccia bread with Crema de Balsamico vinegar. Yummy!

Then it was off to bed. Beat to a pulp.

The Things We Do

We haven't really done anything unusual, but I certainly have enjoyed myself. Shane and I just got back from a trip into Auckland to visit the American Express Company. Shane was frustrated to accomplish nothing, but I enjoyed myself gawking at the buildings, people, cars, etc. It is overcast and blustery, but the air is so fresh compared to the US. Normally, the first thing I do in the morning is use my anti-allergy nasal spray so I can see and my nose doesn't run and I don't sneeze all day. I didn't bother to use it this morning...no need. They do indeed live rurally, but it is such lovely country the getting to a place is half the enjoyment.

An interesting tidbit. Yesterday we went to a grocery store and Shane said that tomorrow we would go to Woolworth's today. I asked him what in the world would we get at Woolworth's? To me, Woolworth's was a place that you went for costume jewlry, off brand clothing and cheap stuff. Not here, it is an upscale grocery.

Another thing, I want one of their "loos!" They have a pushbutton flushers instead of the handles we have. There are two buttons, one is a half-flush and another is for a full-flush...which one you use depends on why you need to flush it. I want one!

We are supposed to go out to a party tonight. I will take my dictaphone with me to record my impressions.

Anyway, I'm off to yak at Dale, see you tomorrow or later today.