I haven't been to Australia, nor New Zealand yet.

So, I wrote Lyn McConchie, and was setting up a dinner meeting, when I remembered that I'd have to carry the books with me all across two countries before I saw Lyn.

With the Roger E-bay auctions, I've got a 'half-o-ton' of books to bring to Australia, and don't know if I'll also be bringing the books that Lyn McConchie wrote.

So the next time I wrote Lyn, I also sent off some book labels, and requested that she choose from them and sign a couple.

Lyn took some time out from feeding the chickens, pig and cats to write (and sign). She runs a working farm which raises sheep of the brown, black and 'colored' varieties. When she wrote, she had a barn full of uncarded wool, a screaming pig (to be ham and bacon before WorldCon), and two cats which were keeping her entertained by chaising mice (which had moved into the warm house from the cold WINTER weather).

The closest that my tour will get to Lyn's farm is probably at 3000 feet, as we fly over. This is OK, because my group of friends jointly agreed NOT to visit any sheep farms. [Sheep are sheep. Not very bright, and often dirty and buggy.] We are trying to find a night or lunch to meet for conversation over a meal. I cannot wait to start translating from my American English (with New York City accent) into New Zealand and Australian English.