Sunshine Girls.

Meg came home with all her mates and the friendliest and most organised process of selection began. No grabbing or yelling and the only rule seemed to be that you had to wear everything you selected.

Finn came home with 4 friends. When they saw all the girls, they headed out to the park to play baseball. Spook and I went out for a coffee - it seemed the safest option.

We had a lovely coffee and blether with Grant and his wife Karen. Spook felt very comfortable, despite not having met them before, and so must Grant have, as he offered Spook his sleepout, which is a step above his current option, (room in shed) with kitchen and long drop (toilet that is a hole in the ground with a long way to the bottom). They live on a sunny farmstead out of town. All being well, Spook wont need to take them up on their offer, but it is typical Southlander warmth to get the offer. Grant went to school with Hugh McPhee's partner Donna. It doesn't take long to establish some kind of connection (he hasn't seen her for a few years so doesn't know Hugh) as they reckon that whilst we are only 6 degrees from a connection with everyone we meet in the world, it is only 2 degrees in New Zealand because of the population. We have noticed this to be fairly accurate. No event was thought up, but they will get together again.

Finn went to his school disco and the gang seemed to increase to about 6.

Mary and I went to see Sunshine Cleaning. A very enjoyable movie, and Mary and I both giggled when they were spraying and wiping blood from the shower and complaining that it wouldn't come off and we both knew a product that would surely do the job!! Just goes to show you can come up with a good story about anything. I will really miss Mary.

grateful for:

taking Meg away from NZ before she is 15, at which point she would be able to get her learners licence and would go imediately to the nearest wide point on the road and start performing 'donuts'. Please see markings on the road photo, which are a common sight.