This must be what I read; so I was under estimating. Although, personally, I wouldn’t know one from the other, I fondly assumed all stars must have planets. That would mean many more planets than stars, never mind grains of sand …

More stars ‘than grains of sand’
By David Derbyshire, Science Correspondent
(Filed: 23/07/2003)

There are 10 times more stars in the night sky than grains of sand in the world’s deserts and beaches, scientists say.

Astronomers have worked out that there are 70 thousand million million million – or seven followed by 22 zeros – stars visible from the Earth through telescopes. The total is said to be the most accurate estimate yet of the number of stars.

Dr Simon Driver, who led the study at the Australian National University, said: “Even for a professional astronomer used to dealing in monster numbers, this is mind boggling.”

Granny sent me a newspaper cutting about some travellers who were currently in NZ and finding their £20 a day budget severely stretched. They had estimated £6000 for 5 months (including spells in USA and Mexico, too).

They talked about sandboarding in Opononi. Did you do that, Jul?

We’re considering excluding Minion from the house. Liv claims he is allergic to her.

Ahem, on the bed front, there’s been a new development. Liv’s got a new one, and you’re getting Liv’s old one!!!!!

The high level Argos bunk I was going to get you is rather insubstantial; so I plan on resurrecting the original stilts and pinioning the ‘Durham Double’ to your wall.

Yesterday evening at Climping was positively tropical. Sea of glass, water like warm milk, tiny fish darting everywhere, glowing sun in the blue sky. We cycled there and back, without the ‘boxman’ (he’s always popping out of his ‘box’, offering opinionated comments, not allowing anyone else to have the last word) who elected to check his emails instead.

A new habit I’ve acquired during this sultry weather is buying a 400gr block of chocolate at the Trading Post, leaving it in the sun for half an hour, snipping off the corner of the packaging, squeezing the molton insides into a cup, and eating it with a teaspoon while supping my after luncheon coffee.

Granny mentioned a top you sent her from Bali which she is wearing during the exceptionally hot weather and finds most comfortable. She remembers James Oliver (and Rory).

Apparently, according to a report I read recently, there are as many planets ‘in space’ as there are grains of sand on earth. Consider that next time you’re lolling on the beach.

Hi Geoff,

First and foremost, don’t go within a million miles of a car auction place, with Tan around! I did, and bought a heap of junk just to stop her insane twitching. Mind you, she was half her current age then.

I’m not sure if you’ve got the Rough Guide to NZ but when I took it out of the library it said under ‘cars’ be sure whatever you buy has its warranty of fitness certificate, valid for up to six months. This needs renewing every six months so you obviously don’t want to buy something with only a couple of weeks validity left. Also, check it’s been registered recently. Registration costs $110 every six months. It said you can get an AA vehicle inspection for $100 or so; and that reasonable cars start at $1500 …!

Also, if you’re buying privately, they suggest calling Autocheck debt check on 0800 658 934 to make sure the seller doesn’t owe money as you the buyer will become liable to it!

Finally, they mention having a fitness check done by the AA.

Well, that’s the Rough Guide.

Personally, I’d suggest checking the tyres to make sure they have some decent tread on them – ie, not shiny and bald – and asking the seller to show you where the jack is and where the specially strengthened places are for jacking the car up. Also, find the spare tyre and give it a prod to see if it’s not flat (and bald).

Apart from checking the oil, water, and brake fluid, etc, there’s not a lot you can do unless you take it for a test run and see if it changes gear okay and the brakes don’t pull. Also, not too much exhaust smoke (burning oil). You might cast a glance at the radiator for obvious leaks …

Buying a car off a traveller who’s leaving NZ (hopefully within a few hours, and therefore desperate) would probably be best because the price should be low and – presumably – the car’s done okay for them.

For insurance, we just took out the basic state insurance company third party policy.

Good luck. Trust your instincts and you should be okay.

Ah, the joys of car purchase!

A NZ rule you might not be familiar with although it sounds like the French priorite de droit is you’re expected to give way to traffic crossing or coming from your right. So, for example, if you’re pootling along and about to turn left into another road and a car coming towards you wants to turn right into the same road, he rather than you apparently gets to go first.

I came across an article detailing where to get clay, wheels, glazes, kilns, etc. A career move shouldn’t set you back too much! Barbara was round the other day, commenting favourably on some of your pots.