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Published: November 14th 2005
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Hello again,
On Sunday afternoon, we went about 20 km (12 miles) to Matamata to see where they filmed part of "The Lord of the Rings". We didn't realize that they used so many locations on the North and South Island. However, since the Seays wanted us to bring a Hobbit back and this was Hobbiton, we decided to investigate. They did use a farm outside of Matamata to make the Hobbit's homes and have left the movie set as a tourist attraction. However, the tickets for a 2.5 hours tour was $50.00 each and we decided to get the Seays a souvenir instead. We couldn't believe how many people(especially Japanese tourists) were going on the tour. That farmer will never raise sheep again for a living! On the way back, we stopped by Waiwera Falls for a picture. We could have hiked to the top in an hour or so, but decided we might get Chrissy up there and not be able to get her down.
Yesterday, we had our first incident with Kenneth's car, but it turned out fine. We ran over something that cut a tire and had to replace it. Thank goodness, a tyre place was just
across the road and they had the right size to replace it. Usually it's just a small puncture on the tyre and they can repair it. It worked out well, since I have been looking for old Biblical scenes without much joy and we went into an antique shop and found an old children's Bible story book that is quite wonderful. We got to our friend's a little late, but he waited lunch for us, so it turned out fine. Our friend, Cliff Robinson, and his two children are doing great and have a wonderful place in a little bay on the Coromandel Coast with about 35 homes tucked into it. He has to go about ten miles into Thames to take the children to workshop each day,but doesn't seem to mind. He bought the place about 5 years ago and it was the house with a very steep back yard that was just native bush. He has done so much to clear it and plant so many different trees that he is able to get from a man that brings trees in from South America and after they have been quarantined for a time, he gives them to people
in different areas of NZ to see how they will grow. Cliff's all seem to be thriving. Some were only 3 years old and already were 10 to 15 feet high. He has terraced the steep parts and has bananas and all sorts of tropical fruit trees. Down by the house, he keeps chooks (chickens) for eggs and has a kitchen garden for his veges. It was very exciting to see him doing so well. He is going to Wellington next week and will become in charge of the society for the intellectually handicapped for all of NZ. Then, he and the children will be off for 9 weeks in Singapore, Dubai, Kenya and Tanzania. He has taken the children on one big trip a year for about 20years and they have been almost everywhere. They ride the buses in the countries
and stay at hostels. I have to go. Our itinerary today is a big circle over the Kaimai Range (right next to us) and on to Tauranga by the ocean, then north to Kati Kati and Waihi which both have great beaches. At Waihi, there is still a working gold mine and we hope to see it too. We can't believe we are having such a great time. It is wonderful.
Shirley
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