Morning Everyone,

It's about 9am on a Thrusday morning. got up at the ususal 6 and looked out the window for a bit. Made tea and caught a ride with Sam and Mark to pull out Mark's truck which has decided that life just isn't worth living anymore. So right now I'm sitting at the staff table listening to the kitchen staff get ready for the day. Max the chocolate lab is laying half in half out of the door waiting for Paul to come back and take him out for a mission. Looks like rain today. When it rains you can watch the Hopkins valley over the lake white out and creep over the lake until it finally reaches us.

Today shoule be a pretty quiet day. We had a Saga tour in which is a lot of older people so no crazy messes. Tomorrow however should be a different story. Contiki and Connections these are our younger tours...and the toga parties.

On Monday got to go out of the Valley for the first time in about two months. Went up with Liko and Trish and their two babies Max and Madeline down to Oamaru. It was really strange being around so many people and cars again. Still think I prefer remote areas for living. Out old housekeepers, Tonik and Terezka, used to say "This place, good for life." Couldn't agree with them more. It's a bit ironic that they just took off without a word... Jana and Mirko, a couple from Germany have moved in and are staying for a few months. The Grottage still remains pretty quiet, everyone has been pretty busy so we just go home after dinner and sleep or read.

Scotty is singing now "Why does it always rain on me?" The mixer is drowning him out until Brad joins in and the day is about to start.

With Love

Jazmine