It would be worth a 3km trek to sink weary limbs into hot sulphur. We paid $80 for a plush cabin for a week, which was such a good deal we overstayed ridiculously. I think it’s worth checking their prices and getting out of town centres a bit. It’s off season, so maybe cheaper.

There are also public spa pools at Mount Manganui, as I recall.

Mama says take Nat Mur (homeopathic) for the twiching eye. Possibly a salt deficiency.
I say stop drinking coffee (if you’ve started) and get more sleep.

He thinks you may be either allergic to Doxy or exposure to the sun is making you allergic to something else because of Doxy. He suggested taking Maleran instead. I’ll contact someone and see if it would be okay to switch. I suggest staying out of malarial places from now on, to minimise risk. In other words, no Lombok!

RM just called in with his father to discuss the veg patch.

You could text Jul, if you could get your phone charged. I’m sure it’s not the batteries. The wires in the charger may have come unstuck. You could test for continuity if you had a continuity tester! He’s in Thames at the moment, mulling over his options, I believe.

I’ve checked Doxy online. I checked it when you were in hospital, but obviously didn’t go deep enough. The more I look, the more it sounds like you’re allergic to it. The problem is, as it says here:

“To prevent malaria, the antibiotic doxycycline is taken 1 to 2 days prior to travel to an area where malaria is present, daily while in the area, and daily for 4 weeks after departure from the area.”

Well, you’ve more or less left the area now, but you’re supposed to keep taking it for four weeks! Not much good if what follows is what you had (have):

“Doxycycline Side Effects and Warnings
Do not take doxycycline if you are going to be exposed to strong sunlight, such as on the beach. Doxycycline increases the sensitivity of the skin to the sun’s rays. If you must take doxycycline, because no other treatment is available, be sure to protect yourself from the sun.The following travelers should NOT take doxycycline; persons allergic to doxycycline or other tetracyclines.

Doxycycline increases sensitivity to sunlight. Notify your doctor if you develop breathing difficulties, skin rash, hives or sore throat while taking this medication.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking doxycycline and seek emergency medical attention:
∑ an allergic reaction (swelling of your lips, face, or tongue, difficulty breathing);
a life-threatening allergic reaction (symptoms are trouble breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; hives)

In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, dizziness or trouble breathing.”

More of the same, ad nauseum.

So, what to do, assuming that you are allergic to Doxy, but that you were bitten by some malarial pest up North, and should keep taking something for four weeks? Or, maybe, you can say with some certainty that you were not bitten during the last four weeks?

I’ll pop into the pharmacy and ask the bloke.

When in Malta, check out the ‘sledge’ tracks in the rocky hills. Most mystifying …

Granny rang to say thanks for the t shirt which fits a treat and the silk scarf from Laos. She is full of admiration for your postcard writing prowess and would like to write to you but has no address.

I took the Rough Guide to NZ out of the library and it says under ‘cars’ be sure whatever you buy has its warrenty of fitness certificate, valid for up to six months. This needs renewing every six months so you don’t want only a couple of weeks validity left. Also, check it’s been registered recently. Registration costs $110 every six months. You can get an AA vehicle inspection for $100 or so, if you’re worried you might be buying a lemon; but for $750, it’s hardly worth it. The Rough Guide says 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!
Well, that’s as maybe.
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 demonstrate where to put it under the vehicle to jack it up (specially strengthened places). Also, find the spare tyre and give it a prod to see if it’s not flat.
Ah, the joys of car purchase!

A NZ rule Annika might not be familiar with (apart from driving on the left) 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 gets to go first.