How to keep your lover

I just had a call from a favorite friend. She and her significant other (they are both near 60 and have been sharing much of their lives for past four years) took a five week holiday on Great Barrier Island here in New Zealand. John owns a small, rustic cabin on a very isolated piece of land there – no electricity, no neighbors but beautiful forest, bush and birds and beaches close by. Mary took Bull Canyon along to read. "Sure glad I had it with me. John and I had a bit of a spat brewing and I decided to use the rules of engagement you and Larry used for solving problems early in your relationship. (from the chapter called Defining Fair) It really worked. We have adopted those rules and will keep them in mind from now on."

Thanks Mary, it's nice to know my writing has done more than just make some people laugh.

Meanwhile, summer here has been a wash out. Five times the normal rainfall, very windy. Many outdoor concerts washed out. It should have meant more time for me to get writing the sequel to this book, but instead I find myself restless,  wishing for nice weather to get out sailing, swimming, picnicking with friends. But this too shall pass and in two weeks we head to Australia to be guests at a big Wooden Boat Festival in a place called Geelong. I am looking forward to three weeks exploring that area. we lived in Sydney, Australia for 7 months but never got to Southern Australia.