Clare writes:
This is our last stop before heading back to John's in Hamilton and flying out to S. America.
Last night was the last of my 'Dead Good Down Under' gigs - at the Nectar Lounge in Thames - and really enjoyable. I'd been a bit knackered but everyone was so welcoming that i kept it all together and had a great time to boot! There was a really good open floor before my set - which always makes me feel a bit embarrassed to be hailed as the 'visiting international poet' and we stayed really late - our lovely hostess produced a bottle of bubbly for my birthday and we had a good chat and laugh... so for a change it waas US staggering back to the hostel late and a bit the worse for wear!
Thanks to me shamelessly touting my birthday on Facebook, there were loads of nice messages from friends far and wide on my page - which was really nice. I've been a bit weary and down for the last few days but have cheered up no end now!!
Thames is rather nice - an old gold-mining town and gateway to the Coromandel Peninsular. We had a drive round this part of the peninsular today, though we'd forgotten to check tide times so we didn't get a chance to dig our own spa on hot water beach (don't ask!). Anyway - due to a strange combination of accident, misreading and will we have ended up in a proper motel with all our own facilities for the next couple of nights - good job too as we have to condense a car full of stuff back down to 2 manageable backpacks for the next stage... wish us luck!