□
[□]
□?
There was no problem but she wanted more freedom to find her own way , and despite distinctly anxious parents that 's exactly what happened . Anna made her own plans to visit friends ( as your children grow , you sometimes just do n't want to know exactly what they're doing ) . Kirsten insisted on expanding our small-town minds by taking us to watch - - no , experience - - it . She sat her exams and we now know that she did well , obtaining university entrance with no trouble at all . Gladys relentlessly continued her forced marches . A big event in Calgary was our family visit to Scott . Sit in them and you feel like a small child - - your feet do n't touch the ground - - or , alternatively , something in the Lord of the Rings . A metaphor for our year ? It was a great experience , a great ending to our six months traveling work-holiday ( one of us was working , the other holidaying ; guess which ) , and a great alternative way to celebrate Christmas than sitting at home sans kids , a twosome with a turkey . ) Suffice it to say that David triumphed in an outstanding win that day , and again and again and again in an unbroken record on following days , so that the America 's Cup remains proudly in New Zealand , its new home . By now you've long given up trying to keep your fingers clean , your banana leaf is running with juices from the food , your legs are cramped , your bottom aches from the hard floor , and the kids have given up trying to stifle their laughter . She has three private recorder pupils , once a week , and her teaching looks like it 's still on the increase . We felt very special , having a production just for us on our first night 's camping . The issue was BSE : we were symbolic pawns in a Montana-Alberta trade war involving unsubstantiated US claims of tainted beef exports which brought southern Alberta 's farming economy to its knees . Alberta continues to woo back its native sons in the area of high technology , and though Ian is not native ( nor , thankfully , " high " ) he apparently counts as such . Back home we polished off a bottle of Chardonnay in the Okoroire hot pool ( number four , of course ) , took her sailing , she went off to Whakatane with a girlfriend from school . To be more accurate , Ian ( the friend ) and son sailed while Ian ( your hero ) lay groaning on his bunk , suffering from a curious stomach ailment . Yes , he said , we can swim , I know how to use flares , I even know where the island is and have anchored my yacht there . We've sailed right alongside a replica of Captain Cook 's Endeavour : we were close-hauled and hard-pressed to keep up , which was disturbing until we noticed that , despite appearances , its square sails were aback and it was steaming along under a powerful , though anachronistic , engine . Before we awoke next day , Anna went for an early morning walk ( my how things have changed ! You eat with the right hand only , the left hand being reserved for administering to the other end of your body .