So today, I set off to go to the hairdressers and the money machine. Discovered I had left my purse in my other bag, went back to the bedsit and started again. Hair is shorter but otherwise much the same. $!

As there is a cruise ship in town – a small one, according to the hairdresser, only 2500 people. Next week they’ve got one coming with 4800. 😱😱 – there was a craft fair and the second hand bookshop was open $! One of my ancient shirts has given up the ghost as well $!

Then I got on the ferry to go to Russell, the town opposite $! This was apparently the first settler capital of New Zealand and was known as a hell hole because all the sailors went there after months at sea. It is now a rather pretty post-colonial town – all verandas and Victorian twiddly bits. In wood. Had lunch in the Duke of Marlborough (oldest pub in the country apparently)$!, had an ice cream $! And finally got a tattoo $! And when I went in the corner store next door to buy the recommended anti infection cream $! , the woman at the till said ‘don’t tell me you got a tattoo?’ With the emphasis on the you. Then I got back and went to the supermarket $!

All in all quite a satisfying day. Of course the tattooists were wondering why I was so screwed up about something so tiny, and it does look as if it has been scribbled on in biro but it’s the principle that matters eh?