This island is absolutely beautiful, even with overcast skies and light drizzle. The rolling hills and lush green paddocks are so wonderfully rustic. But today is not the day to write of these things. Today there are much more important things to discuss. Today we discuss Lepradisco.

Last night, everyone headed off to the sauna. I had been introduced to this phenomena the previous evening (it was different). For various reasons, I excused myself from the evenings activities, deciding instead to have a discussion about New Zealand politics and boating disasters of yore.

It was feeling rather like almost time for bed (one or two red beverages had been consumed) when our Finnish host burst through the door yelling something incoherent about ‘Lepradisco’. Intrigued, I followed, how could one politely refuse?

Turns out, Lepradisco is a small semi-subterranean room complete with sound equipment, some couches and a disco ball. And a lot of people dancing to some pretty varied music. At one point there was even a waltz!!

The Parabank team (of which we were missing two key members, Simon and Louise) posed for photos, in between heavy Finnish music and waltzes. Apparently this was an appropriate pose.

The evening lasted much longer than expected, there were a surprising number of people who could sing Offspring, Nine Inch Nails and Ace of Base lyrics (this says something not only about the taste of the people but possibly also our age).

And as they decided to wrap the evening up, there was a call to put the last song on, so I obliged and introduced them to a classic Australian evening ending ditty, Khe Sang.

How can you not end the evening with some Cold Chisel? It had the desired effect, everyone wandered off except for some diehard soccer fans who decided the evening should end with some apparently rascist loud singing in German whilst watching a game in which it was hoped Argentina would lose. I think. I’m sure I’m not too far away from hearing about the result. Once I get out of bed…