I'm not sure what we have planned for today, but I have now completed three books, so we'd better find something to do - only two left!

We eventually decided that we should go to a lake and throw the kayaks in there. This started off as a joint bike-kayak idea, so that all except one of us could be doing something but I think we just forg0t the bikes. It has been another hot day and we were lucky to find a table underneath the trees to have our picnic. The picnic consisted of all the nice stuff left over from yesterday - redressed for lunch today. (Tea tonight is pizza - Jamie is just preparing it).

This was Betony's first 'go' at kayaking and Jamie was good enough to take her and to coach her (for far too long for Sharon's liking). Betz went out a young inexperienced girl ands came back full of kayaking confidence. The water was very warm too.

Today's events are something we can rarely do at home because the weather is never good enough. We've seen the potential in Australia and saw it in action today - families, going out to the park for the day to relax together - as a family. There were open air barbeques, picnic tables and a beach etc with lots of space for kids to run about (and lots more space to hide from them).

[see side bar >>>]

Cleaning the dog was a major operation, which took much time and many buckets of water but then we were faced with disposal of the body. There was much blood and gore - which Sharon seemed todelight in - and in the end we decided that the fairest way (on us and on the neighbours) would be to chuck the skunk in the river. Jamie and I were elected as coffin bearers and marched off into the (almost 10.30pm) night to carry out the disposal. We decided that if we were seen and stopped by 'the law' we would admit to being two normal everyday guys wanting to do the bucket thing (we had the skunk in a bucket!) by the river. Thinking that this would be the weirdest thing on their beat that night made us laugh out loud.

Until . . .

We had done the deed and were returning thinking just how weird we had been (dumping the skunk - nothing worse!) when along behind us came a semi-naked FAT man (with a huge hairy back) riding a bike several sizes too small for him and carrying two dinning room chairs on his handle bars! Remember the time and how dark it must have been! What sort of neighbourhood is this?