G'day OzCobs,

Hey, what a lot of softsoap! Protection - indeed? When did a Kiwi ever need mumble.. mumble.. didn't we give you Joe Bjorke P..? I'd take up the challenge if it wasn't for a severe case of abject poverty (terminal, I fear). Anyway, I wouldn't survive the 3-hr air-trip. Take me back to the good old days of TEAL and the flying boats, when a guy could sit back with a comfortable pipe - AND our rotten Govt just added another 10% to the tax on me baccy.... Snivel, winge, moan..

Seriously (Wat?) - if you run across any (aged) ex-pat Kiwis, who remember "Sam", from the Auck/Wgtn/Chch folkscene of the 60s & 70s, say G'day, and have a spot with 'em for me please.

BTW - if you don't get any cheek for a while, don't relax, thinking I've done a runner. "Percy 'Puter's" up for major surgery in the next couple or three days. We'll try doing the op' here, but may have to call in the "Flyin' Doc" and send him to the mainland - could be a couple of weeks. Incidentally, one of your 1st Flying Dr's nurses was a lass Lillian(?) Smith - a mate's aunt, from here on Stewart Island... So there ya' go

Have a bonzer bush-bash buddies - Sam