• A small girl in denim overalls dawdles into the laundromat. Her hippy-looking mother follows hauling a large bag of laundry.

The pair take turns tossing garments into the large steel machine.

Mum pulls out a book and takes a seat at the dilapidated blue bench seat.

The girl runs over to the bookshelf at the rear of the narrow building. The free book exchange is filled multiple copies of the holy bible and a few.

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thames

MARK TAYLOR/FAIRFAX NZ The laundrette in Thames has had a makeover.

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