October 27

     Waiting for notifications of admissions to Thames Hospital from the Emergency Department.  Started the day with coffee soaked in hot water without additives.  Perfect complement to Vogel's multi-grain toast with coarse peanut butter and award winning orange marmalade.  Cheryl packed extra calories into her yogurt, then had an extra serving.  She seeks a new standard of achievement today by 'tramping' 7 hours with backpack guided by tramping friends.  In her sight bodes one of New Zealand's 'Great Walks'.  Liz Ulenburg arrives Thursday.  The two ladies of the Great Outdoors fly to Queenstown.  Located on the south island of New Zealand,  Queenstown holds the reputation ofthe country's outdoor adventure land.  Significant mountain geography captivate world travelers.  Well maintained hiking (tramping) trials allow access to much of the splendor.  The destination is the 'Routeburn Track' and the companion 'Greenstone'.  After a 4 day walk on the trial, a couple days soaking and spa recovery await them in Queenstown.
   
      After the marmalade toast, the patients on the medical ward received attention.  With the assistance and direction of one of the House Officers, Rachel Johnston, rounds finished by noon.  An elderly Maori gentleman admitted last night occupied a bed in a 4 man room.  He complained of left arm weakness and pain.  During the examination a notable discrepancy in leg size led to another story.  Now 83 years old, he had existed with a significantly deformed right leg since age 2.  At that time (1932) he presented with a paralysis of the leg, which, in retrospect,was polio.  It was decided by the physicians that a surgical approach was indicated and performed.  The judgment to do so is not currently understood.  The surgery took place without the boy's parents being present nor having knowledge of the procedure.  Days later, the Maori father arrived to find his son strapped in an immobilization device and surgeons contemplating an amputation.  The father cut away the straps, grabbed his young son and fled out of the hospital defying the protestations of the medical staff.  Up in the New Zealand bush, a concoction of herbal salves began.  Crutches engineered.  18 months later the young boy literally limped himself eventually into manhood.  Today he expresses no remorse.

     Tom and Cheryl have occupied the house now 10 days.  Roomy and clean, the floor pattern is unique.  Opinions regarding its comforts vary,  but as with all domiciles, the house requires some attention.  At night the house seems to come alive with sounds.  Sounds emanate from places yet to be identified.  The wind off the Firth of Thames adds to the cacophony of whistling and clanging.  Large multiple windows contribute to the large thermal fluctuations of the fluctuating Thames Spring climate. The Blonde Woman cannot find enough clothes in the morning nor evening to stay warm.  Fortunately she rarely stops moving until retiring for the day.
     Descriptors of the house may require an entire chapter.  Bits at a time will be discussed and may be more tolerable to read.  Anyway, the couple have arrived.  They have a home without glow worms on the ceiling, a car, a job, and an expanding circle of friends.  The cache of stories expand.

      Yesterday, a road trip to Auckland had them back in the Toyota hatchback.  The 'Tall Ships' had sailed into the harbor the previous day and moored in the downtown piers.  An opportunity to gaze into maritime history could not be neglected.  Bright skies, warm temperatures,and a good collection of New Zealanders were found.  Cheryl, once again, found a fascinating story belonging to a Canadian woman married to the captain and co-owner of the 'Picton Castle'.  A barque sailing vessel, the Picton Castle is 180 feet in length with 3 masts and multiple sails.  It has sailed the world several times and hails from Nova Scotia, spends most of its time in the southern hemisphere.  After chatting with the captain's wife for a considerable time, an invitation was fortunately not extended to sail away.