Bill's Pen Friend Found !

Dear Jen: we have located Bill’s pen friend. He lives on a farm in the Karangahake Gorge. You may not know but the two have been sending ‘txt’ messages for some time – on your account, Bill has figured out your password. Took the grandchildren to this same ‘Bullswool Farm’ where rabbits, deer, ponies, calves, a kunikuni pig, puppies and geeselets abound.

“Poppa I want one”.
Pictured is Mag with a plastic feeder and although presently sharing it with Bill’s pen friend this feeder has been excellent in preventing Mag dripping her Magnums down her front.
We hope you agree an alpaca would add lustre and surprise to The Grove. Your bed has been relocated - don’t mention it we’re pleased to help – moved to the balcony to accommodate our new guest. I am teaching Bill to warble Starry Starry Night on his ukulele.

Rain. First rain for some time. No morning walk for Robby Duncan and Minnie who have been in and out of the house moaning. Dripping and whining. I ride bikes, bake bread, learn French, I don’t do rain. We welcome the rain. Endless, delightful hot days, we swim in the Kauaeranga River. Gardens are parched. Local dairy farms drying up

~ oops a wet Minnie just now has leapt onto my back, clawed her way over to my lap – the webcam has caught the brat.
Still raining. Shuddup Dunkles!

Many guests and family have called in. Laughter, red wine, more laughter, dishes, dishes and the twice yearly visit to The Barry Brickell Railway. Last visit was Kathy from London. Hence the picture of the garden sculpture.

And you’ll remember the Coromandel view. The (your) Book Group are the first to have a daytime visit by Thames Noise Control who beat their path past chainsaws and motor mowers to moderate the Book Group's guffawing and hilarity. My Florentines are an improvement on last year's and this year, on our back deck table (the old garage door) only one set of dentures clamped around a particularly tacky but fine florentine.

So it’s good wishes from Thames, fare thee well
And farewell from me.
And Mag, and Robby Duncan and Minnie.