Good morning from New Zealand, May 31, 9am

 

We can’t believe we have been here five days already but the good news is that we have 86 still to go.  We are enjoying ourselves so so much.  To be able to hug and hold the grandkids is very, very special. 

 

As most of you know it is late fall here and is quite cold, somewhere between 45 and 55 degrees each day.   The good news is each day here is a day away from the blistering heat of Arizona.  Lots of rain last night but just partly cloudy today.  We plan to walk to town a little later to check out the library where we have already received our library cards, go to a bicycle store to see the cost of renting some electric bikes, and what will probably become a daily ritual stop at the Patagonia Ice Cream store for a delicious ice cream cone.   You’ll all like to know that eating in New Zealand is unique given there are NO calories in any of the food, especially the ice cream, bread, butter, candy, pasta, muffins, scones, etc.  A true miracle!  I’m a little concerned about losing too much weight but we all need to make sacrifices.  

 

I finally worked up the nerve yesterday to drive Dan’s car.   It definitely takes concentration to drive on the left side of the roads, especially the roundabouts.  I told Dan if he allowed us to drive his car Joan and I would make it a team effort shouting out directions to each other to stay in the correct lane.  Although we only went to the grocery store we did quite well.  A little nerve racking but I’m sure it will get easier as we get more miles (kilometers) under our belt.  The problem is that you can’t even make one mistake.  No texting while driving and not even the radio on.  Total concentration.  Also while walking you MUST look right when crossing the street.  Wanaka is a small town so there really isn’t a lot of traffic.  In London for example you could easily get killed while here probably just severely injured! 

 

One last note for this writing:  as you readers know in the US we are one day ahead of you time wise and thus know the results of the stock market for the day.  Please don’t ask me to tell you the results of the day before the opening of the markets.  That’s called inside trading and I don’t want to be found guilty of that.  Yes, I will take advantage of it and probably quintuple my holdings but it is legal for those of us who have relatives in NZ.  The only exception to the rule is made for politicians in the States.

Gene