you know what's funny? that i already like this blog. i wonder how long that will remain true. but for the meantime, i will post when i am near a computer! tomorrow robin and i move to our first farm! it is owned by a couple named gilly and greg. already i am very fond of them. mostly, due to our email correspondence with gilly. i'll copy and paste emails that will make you understand why.

“Hi Maggise and Robyn that sounds like yu would fit into our lifestyle and times, We are happy to have you come and stay and have a lovely spot just out of Waitakere, we have my 84 year old living next door and my 62 year old Mum and 81 year old Uncle don't be fooled however both my mother and uncle are fitter than many 25 year olds and love to work in the garen and with the horses. My husband Greg is an Aluminium boat designer and builder and I am a chef at the local restaurant, We have 16 acres here in the Waitaks where we have lived for 26 years in October our children have all grown up here and as such we now have thre spare bedrooms. Greg has a son Yani who is 30 and lives in a small cottage on the land our eldest daughter Holly is a Dr and lives about 10 minutes away she is 25, Becky our next daughter is at Aucklands medical school and her big huge 5th year exams coming up she is 22 like you guys and loves being outside although of course she is studying very hard, she lives with her boyfriend just p the road as well and our youngest Emily is 19 and away at the University of Dunedin studying and trying to get into med school as well.
We have two dogs, two cats, 7 horses that live here and lots of naughty chickens, we have big gardens that we are just planting but not yet harvesting to much as we have just turned them all over ready for planting.
If this sounds like you please call us when you are ready and in Auckland 8109076”

naughty chickens? yes, i suppose that chickens can be a bit naughty. what with the pecking and hatching and being made into sandwiches and such.

“Hi Maggie and Robin,
We look forward to meeting you and wold like to welcome you whenever you wish to arrive we are actually only 20 minu8tes by car from the very centre of the city so if you wish to come a little earlier you will be able to organise yourselves from here if you wish. We have a woofer car available and a nice quiet space to explore from.
We currently have two new woofers from Virginia who are young graduates travelling as well. Our french couple leave todat after three weeks playing in the garden and with the animals.
Any way welcome to our beautiful country and have a lovely lovely day. If you wish to call our number is 098109076 the train does come today but does not work on a Sunday we are the last stop on the Auckland West line Waitakere Township...
Kind Regards”

AND FINALLY THE BEST ONE OF ALL!! THE EMAIL THAT MADE ME LOVE THIS FAMILY ALREADY:

“Thursday sounds wonderful and perhaps Greg can give you a hand on car buying. We look forward to meeting you as well. Do you want to share a room or would you like two separate rooms I'm not sure wether you are two girls travelling together or a couple I know I feel silly asking its just that Robin can be both a male or female name in NZ. NAUGHTY CHICKENS AND DOGS! As for the ponies!"

what is nice here is that gilly wants to know:
a) if robin is a boy or girl
and
b) if we are lesbians.

sorry, gilly, just regular friends. and then! she gets so silly at the end of the email, you can hear her being nervous and excited about everything! you see why i like her already, yes? and why i think we will be just fine friends.

love,
maggie