Guests Galore

Today was a day filled with random visitors. The first visitor has been following me around, whining and is now sleeping in my bed, I believe. Her name is Sheba. She's a westie terrier (just like the family dog, Mac) who we happen to be dogsitting for the next 3 months. She's whimpery, spoiled, and runs around whining until you pet her. She barks until she gets attention. She's nothing like Mac at ALL! I've never heard Mac even utter a peep, and I was starting to love it (compared to my own dog, who seems to have a veritable barking addiction). Oh look, here's the little queen now. She came downstairs to sit by me and stare at me until I at least look at her and say hello.

Okay enough about the dog. I was sitting in my room most of the afternoon, watching several episodes of Will and Grace on my laptop when I realized it would be about time for tea (dinner, if you've forgotten, or if I've forgotten to mention that) so I went into the house. There was a strange young man sitting at the table while Fiona prepared her special lasagne. She introduced me and promptly said to him "I forget your name already" ...

I paused uncomfortably, slightly confused as to why there would be a stranger to even Fiona sitting at her dinner table. John wasn't even around so I was slightly alarmed at the idea that Fiona was letting strange men into the house and sit at her dinner table.

He introduced himself to me as "Tim" and mentioned that "his Jackie" was in the shower. I was also slightly confused about this as I had not been aware of any mention of this "Jackie" person, either.

Then Fiona explained briefly that Tim and Jackie are on their honeymoon. Tim continued that they've been depending on the kindness of pastors to let them take showers from time to time.

So I pieced it together and figured out that they must be on a countrywide church shower tour.

...Or that their honeymoon is actually consisting of travelling in a little VW van (if I recall correctly) and seeing the country together in the rugged sort of hippy way. Very cute, if you ask me. So they were offered to stay for tea and for the night, as we do have a spare bed (I'd offer mine to them but apparently it's sleeping two tonight...grr Sheba). They also offered to take them up to the "Ramparts" which is a bit of a hill overlooking all of Te Anau and much of the local countryside. So I went with them and took some sweet pictures.

And I promise I will post them when I actually get my own laptop hooked up to the internet. I've got quite a few pictures now, after Vanessa took over my camera last night for the Godzone BBQ (Godzone is the name of the local youth/young adults program). And I also got some wonderful pictures of Fiona's grandchildren - or Vanessa's niece and nephews if you will. To make it a little less complicated, Fiona's other daughter's name is Katrina (Fiona also has another daughter that I haven't met yet) and she has 3 boys and a girl. And they're the most adorable kids ever. I'll be sure to put some pics of them up too.

Anyways, back to the evening with the newlyweds. Tim informed me that he had a guitar and a DJEMBE in the van - and since the Steffens had never heard of a djembe before I was delighted to sit and jam with Tim for a bit after we got back from our little jaunt around town. It was wonderful to have a good acoustic back in my hands and a djembe between my knees (not both at the same time, of course. Now THAT would be a talent!).

Then we sat and talked a bit and I offered to take Sheba to bed with me so she wouldn't keep the whole house up. I've mastered the art of ignoring annoying dogs barking in the middle of the night (ask my parents- my brother and I have both become quite talented in this area and it drives em nuts!) so I figured it would be my duty to dogsit at night. I have a feeling Sheba will have a full 3 month reservation in my bed each night. Whatta suck!

Well this is a borderline novel at this point so I should get me some shuteye before heading into the Prezzy (Presbyterian) church for the first time tomorrow morning. I'm getting cold anyways. But not tired, sadly. I was much more tired before I had to hunt around the entire backyard looking for Sheba in the near-dark trying to get her into my house...grrr.

I'm sure I'll grow to love her. That is the story of unexpected visitors!

THE END!