Hello

Greetings from down under. The kids start school next week - this is how school works in New Aealand - the new school year starts in the new year. Carrie found a giant doll at a garage sale for two dollars - her head lights up and a horrible sound emanates ffrom elsewhere. Her right ear just fell into her head! She has a pink dress and blonde hair. I thought you might be interested in some grocery costs, keeping in mind that a kilo is about 2.2 pounds and that currently the nz dollar = about 80 cents usa. 1.5 liter coke = $1.49, kleenex double 4 rolls = 4.69, 1.5 kg sugar = 1.85, chicken drumsticks = 5.49 a kilo avocados = 69 cents each, pork loin = 12.99 a kilo, fresh snapper filets = 19.95 a kilo, wattie's frozen peas = 1.99 a kilo, glad wrap dispenser = 7.69 for 100 meters. We have Domino's and Pizza Hut, and an Australian/New Zealand brand called Hell's that offers, among others, gluttony, greed and sloth varieties. Dinner at local restaurants typically runs 20 - 30 dollars for a Mains, 15 - 20 for appetizers. Breakfasts run 14 - 20. Gasoline is around $ 1.70 a liter. The weather has been warmer than average and the Hamilton City council has placed a ban on sprinkling lawns - the driest January since 1906. Carrie has planted a variety of herbs and it is ok to water them by hose but can't do unattneded sprinkling. We are looking forward to a visit from one of Carrie's cousins. I am meeting with a local ENT to talk about my working with his dizzy patients - will send a report after the meeting. I was laid low for a few days with a powerful virus that kept me in bed for two days - now am getting over a foot fungus that I brought home from a Quaker summer gathering where I foolishly wore the same socks several days in a row in dry and damp - eeewww, shame on me. I will be walking Emily to school most days so will get some exercise. I hope all who read this are well and have been able to manage with the harsh weather in the midwest. We did finally, recently, sell our Woodlawn house. If any of you Potwinites read this please make the new owner welcome and thanks. And many thanks to all who have e-mailed me at manford_barber@hotmail.com to keep me up to date on their goings on!