Friday

Yes, it is Friday here already, and we had the memorial service here today. It was held at the university chapel, where Hamilton Friends meet, and was very nice, except for being very hot...I guess we are usually there in the morning, and not in the heat of summer. Anyway, there were about 80 people there, which is more than expected, especially given that half of New Zealand is at the beach right now (possibly more than half). We had a mix of Quakers from Hamilton, a few from Auckland, and two families who where hanging around after Summer Gathering--and also neighbors, the kids' friends, colleagues, students, members of the brain tumor support group. Kiwis are shy, though, and not many spoke in the Meeting; one played "Amazing Grace" on the flute, which was lovely. One Auckland Friend is from Kansas, and she brought sunflowers. The kids had good support from their friends (as did I) and the powerpoint slideshow worked fine, thanks to technical support from the psychology department. As well as my friend Kyle, who figured out how to make the music files work (I don't usually have background music in my lectures...).

I will attach a picture of the Rimu casket with Manford's ashes. Most of them; we have some to bring to Kansas, along with all the necessary legal documenation to make sure we are not smuggling cocaine...

We are looking forward to the Kansas memorial, with people who have known Manford so well and so long. It is confirmed for 2:00 on Sunday, January 16th at the Governor's Row House. We will be arriving in Kansas on Friday evening, and staying about ten days, and then off to Harry Potterland in Orlando. Almost all arrangements made...

Now we are replete with Kiwi comfort food, which is unfortunately not necessarily compatible with my stomach...sausage rolls, bacon and egg pies. lots of them. and then there are asparagus rolls, which are overcooked pieces of asparagus wrapped in a buttered slice of white bread...we have some nice apple cucumbers from our garden, though, and pineapple and various fruit that were cut in inedible ways by the caterers and so were left over...we also have some large flat kind of cake I have not identified, but might be good. But mainly, we have about 20 servings of bacon and egg pie, which only Emily really likes...maybe she will be a Kiwi after all. She also likes meat pies (mince and cheese). Not fish and chips, though.