Australia Day Week

Hi all great to hear you are enjoying our Blog!! A slow week was had due to the tail end weather of a recent cyclone, however the highlight being of course Australia Day! We spread ourselves thin starting at the High Commissioner's house for breaky out on the lawn then back to the compound for a swim and ANZAC bickkies and Lamingtons (thanks Jodie) and a game of cricket in the common area of the compound. Then it was off to the Westpac Bank compound to join the Tongan AFL teams for a BBQ!

Our first few shots didn't make the cut last week as we didn't have them downloaded! The first is from where mum and the kids snorkelled out and around a ship wreak just of our local Is! The next is becoming Jodie's fav place to catch up with the crew and I'm loving it too especially as it is the local fishing club!! More a social club than fishing but they do have monthly comp's!!

Captain Dylan's last drive (actually a ship wreck off Pangaimotu)

After our hectic Sundays at Pangai, all roads lead to the Fishing Club

(Also happens to be one of the only places open on a Sunday)

Australia Day breakfast was served out on the lawn at the Australian High Commissioner's Pad

Cricket in the compund 4 Ozzy Day - like the classic ozzy stumps with a 4 x gold beer on top and double pluggers?

Our big outing this weekend was going out to celebrate Sam's birthday where we went down to a local resort to watch a local cultural show, fire dancing, pulaka umu (roast pig) and all! Dylan spent the whole show on the front steps so nothing was getting past him including the MC! We had a quiet weekend tinkering around the compound which also included a BBQ in the Fale to celebrate Sam's actual birthday till the wee hours!

Dylan the Guest Judge at a local Cultural show (Liku'alofa Resort)

(Being chatted up by the MC)

A short video of the Tongan fire dancers if you are interested

Beach week in Tonga

Jodie relaxing off the back of our compound boat "Satisfaction"

We have found a nice little beach with lots of shade next to a backpacker resort at OTUHAKA Beach, so this week we made 3 journey's there. Only a 20 min drive from home and plenty of things to keep the kids busy. A little local boy, Richard (his English name) comes around and collects the 2 Panga ($) per person to swim at the beach that is if he isn't too busy swimming himself!

A few of the local Expat kids in the shade at OTUHAKA Beach, our new "playgroup" meeting place.

Friday arvo saw Lyndon and Sam out in the boat learning the tricks and given a tour around the harbour to famil themselves before getting the tick in the box! Then Saturday night they went out again this time Dyl tagged along for some night navigation (which was pretty much nothing in the way of markers) as you can see below he even had a drive which he is still smiling about! A spot of bottom bashing was done inside the harbour! No monsters but we shall continue to wet a line. Dyl even gave a shark and one of his reef fish to the dutywatch when we returned.

That's Captain DYLAN from now on!!!!!

Stay tuned for more house photos but these will have to do for now, the kids have set their rooms up as they wanted but Jodie is still moving things around until they find that "perfect" spot, although with a few blank walls she is keen to buy some local artwork to hang, along with finding some baskets and wood carvings - all the local art work is excellent. Tina comes 2 days per week for cleaning but Dylan has her playing games with him most of the time. The compound gardener spends 1 day per week in our yard and the rest of the week at the other houses in the compound, but Dylan follows him around everywhere chatting and wondering what he is up to all the time.

Introducing Jodie's saviour Tina the house girl!

Dylan's best mate at present LeHi, the compound gardener!

Dyl's Toys

Our Tongan Monkey's (and Georgia) swinging off our mango tree

Emily's Toy shelf (just like home)

Back to work for the Handover!

This week has been very heck tick! Handover began Monday for the boys and one of the three patrol boats "VOEA NEIAFU" was due to sail to a northern Is on Tuesday arvo so they had a fare-welling for the old guys and a welcome for us. Short notice but just a quiet gathering, we turned up and they had the Kava bowl out, families present and a banquet laid out, pig and all. We both had our first taste of Tongan Kava, possibly not the last either!!!! We sat around the bowl and they sang songs. Absolutely mind blowing, seems like everyone here can hold a note "bar me!!" We left early that night and left the outgoing guys to catch up with their friends.

The next few days had our heads spinning, learning the ropes, meeting contractors and actually taking over some small tasks. Will need to pick up a few more words but it will all come with time.

Wed night Jodie and I had dinner at the Australian High Commissioners house, another beautiful dinner although they were a little surprised to find out about my chicken allergy.

Friday was officially the last day and that night we had the official function to say goodbye to old friends and welcome to us new palangi! We all wore the tradition Tupenu. There were many official guests from Nobles of the realm, High Commissioners, The brigadier of the Tongan Defence Services (TDS - The Boss) and many others. Another great spread, banquet style and the kids and mum got to try their first of many traditional Tongan meals!

The Australian Boys in our Tupenu's with VOEA SEVEA in Background.

(L-R, Major Simpson-Jo, WO - Dilinger-Tony, ME, CPO Jallands-Adrian, CMDR Burling-Mark, CPO Brooker-Sam, CPO Taylor-Danny)

Mum and Dyl line up for their first try of traditional Tongan pig! (Yummy!)

Our 2nd weekend consisted of a caving expedition led by a local who was all over it. It took about 30min to climb down into the caves, bats and all then a 15m swim which ended up at a pool which was just magical!

Entrance to the caves but looking out to sea over a village cemetery.

The family shot in the last pool!


Once we'd finished climbing out the kids went for a snorkel out in front to clean the mud off!

Our First Week In Tonga

The unpacking Team move us in!

Our sea container arrived in true Tongan time, before our unaccompanied luggage which of course had all the handy pieces in it. Including Lyndon's uniforms! It took a few local boys just over an hour to unload the container and move it up stairs. We thought the TV had gone missing because one bloke picked up the box like a slab of beer and put it on his shoulder and off he went. We are all settled now and slowly moving things around to make it feel like a Quirke house should.

On our first free day Danny the old Tech advisor, took us on and Island tour. The above photo is of the Quirke and Brooker tribes at the top of the Is. The first of many tours we look forward to showing you all one day!! Lunch was at Vakaloa Beach Resort next to the surf resort so we had live action in the breakers and the kids snorkelling below us in the lagoon as we partook in a wee bevie, true Is style!! The following day we took our compound boat out "Satisfaction" over to Pangaimotu. (five minute boat ride out into the harbour) The kids were off in a shot and both ended up with snorkelling legs "burnt on the back" they chased nemo all over the ocean. Lunch consisting of two burgers and fish and chips took two hours to deliver and we had to remind them about the one they forgot. Something we will no doubt have to get used to!?!

Emily and her best friend Georgia swimming at Pangaimotu.

Malo from Tonga

The Quirke's leaving 7 Marvin for our adventure!

Hello All
Just a quick one to say we got here safe and sound on Tuesday night. The kids did a great job with all day travelling - there is definately something to be said about business class - especially for me with Charles Heidseick champers at 9am and the whole duration of the flight (don't wory I only had 2 from Brissy to Auckland and 2 from Auckland to Tonga).
No dramas except Qantas forgot to transfere Lyndon straight throught on the second leg so we nearly had to leave without him - all worked out in the end.
Tonga is part what you see in the brochure and part not but the people lovely, I have already had my first coffee outing, we had a welcome dinner in the compound to meet the other 2 families here, Lyndon is already at the TonganMens Club for a nite on the piss tonight and our first offical function is Wednesday night with a meet and greet dinner at the Australian Embassy. Dylan even went to vacation care today with the little girl next door and had a great day. Last night we even went on a Hash Harrier walk for 1hr - a bit hard after 2 weeks living it up in a hotel for xmas and new year.

Anyway all our stuff arrived in the sea container yesterday and I have spent all day unpacking so I am exhausted - only one broken glass which was great, kids are happy all of their stuff is here to play with even though the compound has a huge playground and pool.
We are settling in well and will update after the busy weekend ahead

I having a feeling this is going to be a great 3 years so start saving your pennies if you want to visit especially as July is the peak season with whale watching

cheers,

Love from the Quirkes

One more sleep

The farewell dinner in Brissy!

In Brisbane now catching up with all of Lyndons brothers (Chris dropped us off at the airport this morning), both mothers and Em's godmother Gen and Dylan's godfather Grant so will be a sad night saying goodbye to everyone.

Kids are busy with DS games and playing with cousins, and our first look at 2 new babys Amanda and Ryan's Gaile and Gen's Charlotte - oh you forget how little newborns are.

We had a great New Year with dinner on the marina with Jim, Anna, Scott, Nic and all associated kids then off on Jims boat for the 9pm fireworks and back to Scotts room for the midnight ones - what a cracker.

9 pm fireworks from Jim's Boat. (fisheries in front our hotel behind!)

The midnight fireworks from Soupies balconey(our pool in the middle!)

Oh well back to the guests and last farewells - thanks for all your good wishes and talk to you soon

Love Jodes

Three sleeps left

The Quirkes have hit the technological era with a blog - yeh. Sorry if it looks dodgy as I really don't know what I am doing nor do we have any photos to attach just yet.

Stay tuned and once we get to Tonga I will endeavour to update weekly so you can tune in if you are interested. We are all well and ready to fly out Tuesday morning after a night of final catch ups in Brissy with family and friends.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and we will miss you all

Love Jodie Lyndon Emily and Dylan