That’s why I was eventually driven to buying a wreck at an auction, spurred on by you!!!!!

It was God’s luck that a few days later, on getting out of bed and glancing through the window, in a state of great despair, I saw a couple of travellers with a For Sale sign on their car heading off to the auction, and I was able to rush out and secure it for a nominal sum.

Luck comes into it and it may be you’ll have better luck out of Auckland. Take it as it comes.

Granny sent me a press cutting of some tavellers in NZ who hired a car for three weeks. Around £10 a day, I think. It might be cheaper than three people getting the bus.

Enjoy Nusa. Keep your phone topped up, Jul. Concerning Simon and Garfunkel; Mama was practically weaned on them; I beieve I have their Greatest Hits CD, inherited from Grandpa, somewhere in my extensive collection, which I hereby pass on to you.

I played tennis yesterday for the first time since the winter months, against the James College champion. Conditions were poor; a freakish wind and crappy ball bounce; so, naturally, I prevailed, with my superior ‘luck’. Having defeated Liv at crud the preceeding day, only, according to him, on account of the number of dubious ‘chance’ shots I enjoyed, we had a brief discussion about the way luck works.

I claimed it all evened out in the end; and that everyone eventually got their fair share of both good and bad breaks. He said nay, that was not the way it worked, and proceeded to explain why. He’s probably right; but I couldn’t understand his explanation; so there we left it.

This morning, I woke up feeling as though I had been snapped in twain. My hip bones are on fire and the universal joint in my lower back has seized up. I clearly overdid it yesterday, because after the tennis, I played Jacques at crud, and came close to collapsing from the strain.

Evening primrose:

Flabby, out of condition has-been, wearing questionable swimming briefs:

Liv:

At Climping:

So that’s where they went!

No matter. I can fashion new stilts. On the other hand, looking at the shattered carcass of the Durham Double, I may just use it to make another gate, and place an order with Argos. They deliver for free, and will take it away again for free, if we don’t like it, within 16 days!

Talking of funds, you’d better keep an eye on yours to see if they will last you out. I’ve got no access to your accounts anymore and remember it takes 5 days to replenish.

Apparently:

Nusa Lembongan is situated 12 miles south east of Bali. It is one hour traveling time by boat from Benoa Harbour. This pear shaped island is around 4km long and 2km wide. It is surrounded by a beautiful fringing reef, which hosts a myriad of marine life, The waters are renowned for their abundance of life and great surf breaks. The reef has been declared a marine park by the Indonesian authorities. Not only does the reef support its own Eco-system, but it supports most of the villagers on the island as well. The local people farm seaweed. This seaweed is cultivated, harvested then exported all over the world for use in cosmetics, food stabilizers and medicines. Other sources of income include traditional wooden boat building, farming peanuts, sweet potato, and fishing.Village life is very slow and enchanting. Very few cars and motorbikes are seen on the roads. The people are steeped in tradition, and one could imagine Bali being like this island, thirty years ago.

Although the island is small there are many things to do. Fishing, diving, surfing, mangrove exploring, discovering natural fresh water springs, underground cave house exploring, cycling around the island. A visit to the bat caves on a nearby island, or a picnic at dream beach. Try catching mud cabs in the mangrove area at the back of the island. There is something for every one at Nusa Lembongan.

www.jordanstallard.com/bali2001/lembongan.htm

I’ve lost all the passwords, so I can’t hack into anyone’s account anymore. On the rent front, perhaps I should be charging you a tenner a week, for keeping your room vacant, rather than letting it out to one of the many headed!

None of my emails seem to be going out at the moment. This is what I just sent:

Hi Círot,

Speaking with Granny a few days ago she mentioned a shirt youíd sent her from Bali proving very agreeable to wear in this insanely hot weather weíve been having.

Your parcel just arrived. Liv plucked out the DVDs and started dancing around yodelling about them but I snitched them from him before Mama could see and tucked them away. What am I supposed to do with them?

The coffee ñ jeepers, Iíve never seen so much coffee at one time! At our normal rate of consumption, thatís a years supply. Iíll try a small cup tomorrow, as a mid week special exemption. Cheers. Cambodian, I presume?

Mamaís unsure if the skirts are for her to wear or what. They certainly allow for much expansion in the tum region!

Nowt happening here, except itís still crazily hot and we go to Climping to swim as regularly as we used to truck down to St Pol when at Neil and Sallyís ñ ie, every day, if not twice a day. The lawn is still green, though, because in between sweltering periods, it rains quite hard. All in all, apart from the asthma, a great summer.

Mireille rang to invite us to the inaurgeration of their swimming pool! I imagine there would be some stupid ritual associated with this, like having to strip naked, crow like a cockerel and dive in backwards while consuming ridiculous quantities of vile alcohol. Anyway, we didnít go, though we might later on. We might go to Seychelles, too, or Mama might, with Mireille and Francoise.

L&M have a new place. If Mama understood rightly, itís a bungalow in South London with a spare bedroom which they may let out. Anyway, J&M are coming over soon for a few days to visit so we may go up to London to see them.

I hope you find NZ fun. Donít be in too much of a hurry to buy the first car you see; although, of course, the first car you see may be just the one.

You could always but bikes, instead. Thatís the really inexpensive way to get around.

See you,

Díod

The thing about the Argos bunk is it’s only a normal double that’s 6’3″ long. Liv tested a few beds out at the bed bunker and that size doesn’t allow you to stretch out properly. A 6’6″ King size definitely permits a more comfortable lie, the more so the taller you are. As it happens, the DD is 6’6″ long. So, take your pick … all I would say is that by the time I’ve finished the reconstruction, in craftsmanship terms, you would hardly be able to tell the difference.

All I can say about your bed, Tan, is that I have found it exceedingly comfortable during these hot and sweaty nights to slide upstairs and into it to cool off somewhat after a torrid time in the downstairs pit, which becomes somewhat rank after I have sweated into it for several hours. I do hope the goat reek doesn’t linger!