We get letters, but they aren't our letters.  Apparently there's chronic domain name confusion resulting in a group of computer consultants from England and former British colonies including us in their correspondence. Most of the missives are dry as toast, but this one provides insight into consultant life down under (Names have been removed):

From: "j- G-" j-@hotmail.com

To: E--@ato.gov.au, K--@msn.com, Jl-@sportsco.com.au, M-@fengi.com, H-@dribart.com, S-@hotmail.com

Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2002 12:41:15 +0000

Hi to you all,

Winter has hit early over here, drizzling rain and cool wind today in Auckland and the same expected for a few days. I'll be back in Wellington Sunday night where it is cooler again, temp expected in the high teens so I'm glad I've got my warm clothes with me. Spent today on Waihiki Island, a small Island 15km off Auckland, it is really quaint. There are little townships every few mile, it took around 35 minutes by mini bus to get from the jetty to the bottom tip, on the way back stopped off at a couple of the small towns and checked out the shops, great shopping girls. Plenty of cute tops, they are big on the Hawaiian gear and understandably, the little towns have their own super beaches. Unfortunately not warm enough for a swim, let alone tan weather, but plenty of kids were running in and out of it.

Been really busy since I've arrived, a colleague C- and I left Wellington on Tuesday afternoon for Auckland and we've been fortunate enough to stay the weekend. Had a drama with C- on the first night up here, we had to share a room, he apparently sleeps starkers at home and thought he'd do the same. I went to try and get another room, no luck, was chasing up another motel and he came downstairs in his VB Boxers. Quite amusing looking back but at the time I was bushed. We've had seperate rooms since which suits us both fine. Thinking of sharing a place together with another girl from Oz who starts work in Wellington on Monday, we'll need to set some ground rules from the start if it's to go ahead.

The big news up here today is they found a 32 yr old mans body in the boot of a car in Lynfield, just out of Auckland. A 23yr old man, 24 yr old woman, and, wait for it, a 14 yr old girl have been charged with the murder and will appear in court Monday. It's a shame there's so much racial trouble over here, the maori's were given so much with the treaty of waitangi, Australia will do well not to enter into any more land rights agreements. It could end up being a mirror image of what's happening here. There are some companies who only employ maori workers, others only employ you if you belong to a particular tribe, or as they call it here, heritage family.

I received an e-mail from work tonight, will spend the next fortnight in Wellington, so that will give me time to empty out the suitcases and settle in. The work is very demanding, long hours so far but I'll need to get used to it. It's interesting though and the days go fairly quickly, there's still a lot to learn but I know a lot more now than I did a week a go so if it keeps happening at that rate I'll be happy.

The nightlife seems to start a lot earlier over here. It's nearly dark by 5.30 at night so they may go by the moon. Speaking of the moon, there are posters everywhere up here advertising a full moon rage party on the 27th of this month. All being well I'll be down south, who knows what a full moon will do to the ferals.

M-, Thanks for your e-mails, tell R- to pull his finger out won't you.

H-, How are you sweetie, glad to hear all is well, your young bloke will be running around by time I get back. Give him a big hug for me.

S-, Keep up the good work, you'll get there. Let's know your exam results when they come through.

E-, Thanks for your advice and for being my soundboard. You are a treasure.

K-, Big hug to you and your man, should I make up a spare bed for you both?

Jl-, I'm wearing the jersey you gave me tonight, but alas, I was told downstairs Melbourne Storm beat the Eels today. At least no one will want to take it from me this week.

I hope you are all well, I'm feeling good, time to rug up with a good book now, I was going to go out on the town but C- hasn't come back to get me. I am sure it's best I don't know what he's up to. I've called P-, he's not out on the town either, he was watching The Bill. K-, He said he'll give you a call tomorrow and give a hand with the screenings if you need it. He said the weather was going to be fine so I hope those of you in Vic enjoy it.

Cheers for now,
J-