Creeping Rocksnot...

No, its not a reflection of my mood. I don't think...I just like the sound of it. There is this algae, which has a formal name of Didysomething, but which is called "rocksnot" by the poetically minded; it has unfortunately invaded creeks in the South Island, and has recently been in the papers when dead Didywhatever was found in some rivers up here in the North Island. Dead Rocksnot is spread by fisherman, and particularly those who are fishing during whitebait season, another appetizing water-product that looks kind of like worms and is a delicacy when made into fritters. We haven't tried it yet...

I keep meaning to write about the phone book. Business names. In the US, those cute clever names are confined mostly to hairdressers. But I was looking up midwives (most maternity care here is delivered by midwives) and found "Babies 'n' Bellies," "Babies-R-Us," "New Additions," "The Midwife Shoppe," and "Mums and Tums." Then there's RatTray's Catering. I'm not sure there was really a second "t," but there seemed to be. There was something else, but I forget right now...Friday afternoon.

We are missing you all, but enjoying the advent of spring. Manford came over for lunch today and we walked around the pond (hence the rocksnot association. We didn't see any rocksnot, just garden variety algae), and enjoyed the sun. Tomorrow if the weather holds, we will go to Raglan, about an hour west of here, where there is the longest left-hand break in the world (that means something to surfers) and see if we can get Joseph inspired to do something besides video games. I think he could be a life guard, don't you?

Emily had her first cricket lesson yesterday. She was afraid she would be the only girl, but she wasn't, and she had a good time. We will try to get pictures in the next week or two.

I am keeping an eye out for a turkey for Thanksgiving. They had a few frozen turkeys in the grocery store for the first time, advertised for Christmas; they cost like $60 for a smallis one. We are planning to invite one of my American colleagues and her family (Kia, aka Elmo), but will probably have it on Sunday the 25 because she and I will both be at a conference all day Friday and Saturday. Even Joseph seems to have a hankering for turkey.

Time to go home!

Carrie