Saturday 26 April - the week that has been

Garden Gnomes from New York Hostel

Teresa and David with Lobster friend in Maine.

Kangamangas in Manchester

David accepting a club banner in Woodstock.

Max eating the Customs Puppy Doll.

Hi there sports fans

Wow what another busy week we have had on our GSE adventures.  Our days are full of meeting people, learning, eating, eating, eating, shopping, Rotary Meetings, Vocational visits and driving in the Juggernaut van that by the time I get home, it takes all of my energy to climb into bed to get some sleep and to get some of my energy back for the next day.

A big thank you to David, for continuing the blog during this extra busy week for us.

Again I will do a synopsis of the week that has been :

• All of our Rotary Club meetings went well, with many questions being asked and people interested in our stories and in Australia.
• Watch out Nicole Kidman - the GSE team will be on TV soon.  Derry village Television and a cable TV show have interviewed us.  We have a copy of the Derry village show and will be getting a copy of the Cable TV show.
• On my vocational visit to Manchester airport, I met with 2 officers of the equivalent department to Customs.  It was interesting that the majority of the issues we encounter on both sides of the world are very similar.  They were however surprised to hear that we confiscate so many electric fly swatters in Australia every week.
• A big thank you to everyone who has made this week another special, busy and enjoyable week.  There have been so many people involved from driving the bus, feeding us, arranging tours and vocational visits, linking it with businesses so we could have a tour, having a chat with us at meetings, asking heaps of good questions and a big congrats to everyone who has tried Vegemite this week.  
• Working at IMEC with the volunteers to package and distribute medical supplies throughout the world was a humbling experience.  Seeing the effort that the volunteers put in to repacking, cleaning and sorting a wide range of equipment was amazing but to see the photos and to hear the stories of what a difference this equipment then makes to many peoples lives in other parts of the world was incredible.  I was luck to have spent an afternoon with the volunteers who make a difference to so many people.  Thank you for letting us share this time with you.
• Just a correction about the games at the Pot luck dinner, David won Pool, Teresa won darts and table tennis :]
• Another day in Boston with some of the members of the Raymond Rotary club - it was a bit of a tight fit in the van but we got there and back save and sound (thanks Steve).  I managed to get my Mortons steak knives and as I had travelled so far to get them, they gave me a free lunch.  I pottered around Quincy Markets for a couple of hours buying important and needed items such as a maple syrup cookbook and a door mat!  I was lucky enough to meet up with Jo-Ann, a Canadian friend who was in Boston for a conference.
• Today just outside of Woodstock, I was able to have a go at some glass blowing - I made a flower, a Xmas decoration and a paper weight - I pickup my masterpieces tomorrow.

Gnome Update

David received a text message from ???? telling him to consider if Boston may have been taken by Vermont.  Who has Boston, this is still unclear.

All of Cookies Angles hope that Boston finds his way back to David soon, so that David can smile again.

Hope everyone is fine at home and in Fiji.

Bye for now

Teresa