Hello, I'll try to catch up a little today. We went down country on Thursday last to visit a friend in Rotorua and meet his family. Rotorua is famous for its fishing (rainbow trout all 3-8 lbs) and its thermal activity. It had changed dramatically since we had been here last. It is so much for the tourist dollar that it surprised us. The sulphur smell from the hot pools was just the same. My favorite place had not changed or become commercial either. There is a beautiful little Anglican/Maori church that was started as the first permanent Christian church in this area in 1835. The present church was built from 1910-1918. It has Maori ( the native people) carvings throughout it and is so beautiful. It is right on the shore of Lake Rotorua and ... read more

Sorry, I have been having so much trouble trying to get this out. We have been here almost a week and everything is quite wonderful and exciting. We had a good albeit rather long trip on the plane. The day we arrived was cool and cloudy, but not uncomfortable until the sun went down. Our friends, John & Betty Rose, met us and then, Kenneth Ranger and his family came and picked us up to go to Piha Beach where a lot of the church people we knew were having a reunion. It was marvelous to go back to the old campgrounds, old friends and go down to the beach where we spent many summer days. On Sunday and Monday, the Roses took us around Auckland - almost nothing is the same. John & Jim went ... read more