The New Pioneer.

This morning was overcast and it was about 2.30pm before the sun finally burst through the cloud inversion. There is still a warmth to it when it appears. This is about 5.15pm on the webcam.

We went out for dinner tonight - a very rare occasion. It was a fund raising night for Meg's Kahu Youth Group. Amigos Restaurant let them take it over, providing a Boss and 2 cooks. The girls did the waitressing and invited their families to come and eat. Half the money goes to the Youth group and an empty restaurant was filled. Most of the girls had their first taste of waitressing and the owner told us that she would be pleased for Meg to go back for a job when she is 16. She complimented her on her ability to keep busy and see what was needing done without being asked. Product of a household where she needs to do it herself if she wants it done! Good girl.

I was reading about some of the early pioneer women today. In letters home to her brother, a young English woman wrote in 1885, about the kind of nature required to survive out here. "..those that are VERY strong, and that can live and thrive on those things that are cheap." and don't bother coming out, all you who have "..sympathetic, imaginative, poetic and refined tastes, also those with affectionate and appreciative natures." (The Adventures of Pioneer Women in New Zealand from their letters and diaries as selected by Sarah Ell). I had to have a wee laugh to myself as I wondered how much had really changed in 124 years.

I am grateful for the library again as I truly come to appreciate the wealth of information that is there, the free half hour on the internet for research purposes, the friendly and polite staff and the large area of up-to-date magazines that you can borrow for a week at a time. And it is lovely and warm. I am learning to 'thrive on those things that are cheap.' (I'm hoping I wont have to dispense with ALL of those other undesirable attributes.)