Happy Easter everyone

It's been a sunny warm Easter here. I fortunately had the day off from work, but unfortunately spent the day alone. Do dogs count as a companion? The locals have four days off to hit the beaches up before fall. I have a feeling they are always walking around in sandals and surfing. I can't imagine it cold here. I spent the afternoon walking around downtown Tauranga. There has been a Jazz fest going on all week around the city. There were lots of foreigners in big hats and white people with no rhythm. This added to the people watching pleasure and the photos. It put me in a good mood being around happy families and music. I walked down the water front and visited a place they call the shed. Local artists rent tables and sell their art there. I like to browse around and chat up the sellers. After town I did my favorite hike in the hills again. I climbed a steep part to sit under a tree and found a treasure hunt a grade school left. There was a little drawing etched on leather . I had nothing to leave in exchange so I wrote in the log book and left a drawing of a thistle. I searched for the other 3 on the walk but no luck.
Hope everyone enjoys their holiday because mine is coming to an end now. I love being a day ahead! Thanks for the phone calls . Matt just called from the top of a hill on the island. A bunch of them climbed up to use their cell phones. He will be home on Wednesday. He says the diving is the best and he's having a good time. Love Lauren

Happy Saint Patricks !

G'Day to ya. Just wanted to get a message up to all my shiny Irish people I know. I don't know if there will be much of a celebration here. There are far more English and Scots about than Irish. Matt will be gone to an island off the coast with his class for ten days, including Easter. This will be the longest we have been apart. It will get me ready for his month long trip to the Cook Islands. I'm looking to other Islands I want to visit before going to Hawaii.
It is getting cooler but everyone still surfs and walks barefoot. We are getting ready for winter. We bought a big comforter and a propane heater for the house. All our best to everyone. Love Lauren , Matthew and Jude