Boo, some nostalgia, and recent visits

Hello from a rainy (most days some precip) and pretty cool NZ. Our thoughts and prayers are being sent out to Bill and his family in their recent struggles with a poor hand fate has dealt them. Lots of support from their friends should help them get through this hard time. We are fine. We had a lovely visit with Sue and her mom, here for a week. Toward the end of their stay a nice guy has been coming over and is building a replacement fence for the old, beat up, cracked and gnarly painted one that was there along the east side of our property, plus adding fencing at either end to provide yet another enclosed space in which Charlie the wonder dog might amble at her highnesses convenience. We did take her to a two day stay south of Taupo, and also took there our out-of-town guests, seeking snow but alas, alack none was found within driving range of our vehicles (though had we had chains or a four wheel drive vehicle we could have gone higher in elevation and found some, for Emily had plans to make a snow angel, throw a snow basll at Joseph, etc.). Previous to that jaunt I had a nice trip to Auckland riding a bus up and another back, on the Naked Bus line, though to my disappointment (sp?) there was no nudity anywhere (or perhaps to my shame for wrong thoughts?). The maratime museum was splendid, with many fine models. Also went to a natural history museum with a variety of exhibits, some creaky, some not. Walked a lot, too. Per recommendation of a podiatrist had bought some Asic gel running shoes, designed to reduce my tendency to pronate my arthritic feet, and they do make a (positive) difference. Stayed in Mt. Eden, with no sign of Adam or Eve, at a Quaker owned rest house, could take the train or a bus there from downtown, free for old geezers like me, after nine a.m. Ferry free, too. But it only goes in the water. Huh. Imagine that. The workshop there has inspired me to try and contact other mortals to see what I can do re possibly testing kids or adults for auditory processing disorder; the Listening Program sounded (har, har) pretty good for the right type of disorder. There are other rehab progrms for auditory processing difficulties. Google those three words in that order all on one line for more info re that topic. I'm sorry, did not mean google "those three words" - google (while you giggle?) auditory processing disorder, and you will learn more. Carrie and friends attended fielddays yesterday, a serious get together of almost everything related to mostly rural NZ life, hopefully she will blog that experience. I am trying to get pictures on Face Book. More later. Here is hoping all our readers are well and in good spirits. Manford