This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
From: Sharron Came Sent: Friday 10 August 2007 To: Harry Smith Subject: Mt Taranaki
“! hope you are bringing cards Harry, the forecast is a shocker!"
“I will have my cards. However, in exchange for a suitable monetary payment from the club I would be willing to withdraw from the trip, thus ensuring perfect weather for the weekend”.
“Too late now Harry”.
“Actually, it's looking so awful I personally think we ought to think about cancelling the trip. I've got better things to do with my weekend than sit in the rain”.
“We did think about it but everything is booked and we won't get our money back and forecasts have been wrong before”. “Oh god, just what I like. Going away for the weekend where you know with absolute certainty before you even set off that it is going to be completely wet and miserable the whole time. I think I'll just throw myself out the window now and end it all...”
“It's worse than that you'll be stuck in a lodge full of people holding you personally responsible for the weather! I can’t guarantee your safety”.
“Well, in that case I think I won't turn up. I'll change my name, change my address, shave off my beard, and go into hiding. I haven't paid anybody any money yet so I have nothing to lose. Maybe I'll go and live in an abandoned old car on the outskirts of Marton like Lord Lucan...”
“That would be a bit of a waste. Those fresh tramping boots of yours have barely been worn’.
“But they won't get any wear this weekend anyway”.
“Unless you're planning on sleeping in the van you'll need them to get to the lodge. I hope they are waterproof’.
“When you are walking in a Taranaki downpour, nothing is waterproof, not even Jacque Cousteau’s bathysphere. But that does raise an interesting question — do I bring my plastics? Though given the weather it is of course completely academic”.
“Maybe something, made of rubber, they may have some bargain gumboots at Cash Converters’.
“Heavy rain, snow falls, gale-force nor-westerlies — I’m looking forward to this weekend so much’.
“Yep, you are going to get a hard time from your fellow lodge mates. Hope you borrowed a helmet from the club’.
“It’s not too late to cancel the trip”.
“Don't be soft Harry! If Ed Hillary can sit around in Scott’s shack at the South Pole in his 80's drinking plonk I'm sure we can stroll up to Mt Taranaki and sit in a nice lodge and play cards’.
“I don't doubt we can stroll up the lower part of Mt Egmont and sit in a nice lodge and play cards. It’s just I don't’ see the point...” /
“It's part of Life’s Rich Tapestry”.
ARERERRERRRERERERR ER RRR RRRERERERRERERERE RR RRERRERRER ERR EE REREREREREE EERE RERERRERRRR AREER AREER REED
From: Sharron Came Sent: Tuesday 14 August 2007 To: Harry Smith Subject: Mt Taranaki
Dear Harry
Pleasant drive to the Taranaki district in spacious front passenger seat of a flash van Fish n Chips in Bulls Stroll through rainforest to nice lodge Refreshing sleep in warm lodge One day of chess and cards Stroll through rainforest to flash van Return to Wellington Total cost = $91 Additional experiences = free
Also I haven't forgotten I owe you $3.50
Sharron
From: Harry Smith Sent: Tuesday 14 August 2007 To: Sharron Came Subject: Mt Taranaki
Re your invoice
Pleasant drive to the Taranaki district in spacious front passenger seat of a flash van Agreed — I enjoy driving along deserted highways in the dark.
Fish n Chips in Bulls Average quality fish and chips — but I paid for them so they are not part of the goods and services under consideration.
Stroll through rainforest to nice lodge Exhausting grovel up steep waterlogged track in the dark in heavy downpours.
Refreshing sleep in warm lodge Lying awake listening to the rainstorms and thunder and lightning.
One day of chess and cards Good, except it showed I’m seriously out of practice.
Stroll through rainforest to flash van Grovel down steep waterlogged track in showers
Return to Wellington Daylight so lacking the air of mystery of the outward journey, but a relief to be returning from washed out weekend.
Total cost $91 Outrageous!
Additional experiences = free I'm struggling to think of any. Also I haven't forgotten I owe you $3.50 Actually I’d completely forgotten, so it's a good thing you reminded me! Overall, I feel the goods and services provided did not live up to the description of the product, so I fee! I may have a case for a full refund under the Fair Trading Act. However I did sign the contract so I will bring along the invoiced amount on Wednesday. - Harry.