Whanau

Mark, Kris and Emma have arrived to New Zealand. They brought with them a bag with stuff from home. Reena and Kris put together many special things that we do not have here. Sherrif Lemon pie filling, Victoria Secrets Underwear, Maple Syrup, Kraft Dinner, Nike Running shoes, Betty Crocker cake mixes, clothes for the kids and so much more. Thanks ladies!
The "other" Richards family have been seeing some of our favourite sights while we finished up working before our holdiays. The Youngs, Stacey and Robert are friends or ours here that are sheep farmers. Mark, Kris and Emma spent a morning lambing with Robert. They have also been to other friends, the Gardyne's who have a farm not too far from us as well. They made it to the ocean seeing part of the Catlins, which was one of our favourite sights.
I have booked the Gore High Mini Bus to transport all seven of us around this weekend. We are heading out early tomorrow morning to see Alexandra and Queenstown. Pictures will follow. It is really nice having guests again.

The knee surgery went well, I guess. I had a spinal and was awake for the procedure and watched the whole thing on the TV beside me. Dr. Leuker is an American working in Invercargill. He filled my knee with water and many bits of cartilage came out. He knew that there was damage in there. Originally he thought the meniscus was torn and was prepared to trim and remove, however the meniscus was not too bad. He was surprised to find a long line gauged out of the cartilage directly in the top bone of the knee where all the weight gets put. He had no explanation of how this could happen. Also the backside of my knee cap looks like a cheese grater has been scraping it. These unexplainable injuries are irreparable and "I will have to live with years of swelling, arthritis..then eventually a knee replacement." To that I say... DAMN IT! Aging is shitty!

Until next time,
Samantha