[Dawn]

Good to hear about the sunscreen Paul, thanks for that. Our oldest daughter is rather fair.

I agree with what you say about comparison. Natty has reiterated the same thing - he didn't truly get to grips with NZ life until he stopped doing the converting everything into pounds thing and comparing salaries, conditions, lifestyle, people, cultures etc with the UK. If you make the decision to go then you make the decision to accept it for what it is, to adapt to a different way of life. If you want to up and take your UK life to NZ and expect it to be the same then you'll be disappointed

I've never been called a do-gooder before. I don't think it was meant as a compliment! All I try to do is live my life honestly so that I can sleep at night. As a family we understand that we have a part to play albeit very small. I believe that life is a gift and that we should do something positive with it, try to leave the world a tiny bit of a better place for having been here. I read a saying once, it was probably Buddhist, 'We do not inherit the world from our ancestors but borrow it from our children'. I like that. It preaches responsibility, purpose and direction. And no, I'm not a religious fanatic either before anybody comes up with another label for me. ?;)

I remember Stevie once suggesting I was a cannibis smoking, sandal wearing, free thinking hippie - he was quite a way off the mark too, but at least he meant it kindly! :) I think :-?

Welshgirl, McVities chocolate digestives would have it clinched it for me but if Vee's doing home-made.......? E-mail me a map and leave room on your drive for a campervan. :)