A Social Week

This week the weather hasn't been the friendliest so our usual boating activities were reduced, but not stopped. During the week, after Jodie's FaFa day we had a meet the new Neighbours dinner at Cottage Breeze with some of the other compound families and the Tiny's. We took advantage of the dinner out and arrived early for some us time, together. we felt a little sorry for the other diners with all of us making a noise on one table and a seperate kids table set up inside for our sanity. The meals were fantastic and they had changed the menu which is a bit of a novelty in Tonga. Usually it is 'Why change it if it works'.

Cheers everyone.

Thursday was the usual Hash walk with a little more excitement with Emily being bailed up by a dog. The girls were out by them selves, 20 odd metre's ahead when it all happened. Luckily other Hashers came to the rescue but neither of them were hurt, Em was scratched but no broken skin and just a little spooked. Lyndon talked to the owner very sorry but that was it. By the end of the Hash she was off on her own again. Will have to see what this week brings?

Em all smiles and braids (She started the trend just ask her!)

Friday night we caught up with a group of friends at the fishing club but Annie brought her own Bubbles which was just the start of a great night, dancing at the bar (unseen at this place) then it was out to dinner, much later on. The girls asked to see the wine list ..... the reply was we only have one bottle of wine left. SOLD and they didn't even ask what it was. The next morning we had booked the boat for the day. Lyndon awoke to clear sky's and gathered up the family and some of the Fine 5 (Rochelle and kids) and we headed out but the Gods were just teasing us we made Malinoa Is a little lumpy but the kids had a ball flopping around the boat but Jodie was not so impressed. We anchored up and hit the water for just over and hour had a snappy lunch and headed back. The ride home was considerably slower with the winds really starting to blow so everyone went to sleep, bar Lyndon.

Annie and Jodie starting with Bubbles at sunset.

Jodie not doing so well after last night.

Shark bait, Frizz bomb, Yoda and Muscle mum. (all Hash names)

This coral was full of little blue fish but Lyndon could never get close enough before they all hid away.

Father daughter time. Mum and Dyl stayed in the boat.

Soupy's friends must be good swimmers to make it all the way from Pohnpei.

The visibility wasn't the best with no sunshine.

Brain Coral

The girls having a nap! Lyndon trawled home with no luck though.

Captain Dylan will have a boat licence in no time at this rate.




Sunday saw Lyndon head to church for a special service at the Army Camp, Taliai. The service was for the boys heading to Afghanistan and was mainly in Tongan. Good practise for Lyndon to see what he could pick up. The singing was amazing as usual and all the families and friends were there too. Seating was at a premium with extras set up outside for the overflow. This event started in military time not Tongan time as most events do. So after Lyndon topped his truck up with fuel he was actually on time but too late for a seat.

Lyndon's view from his seat outside.

Twisted Sisters at FaFa Island

A group of women in Tonga reguarly get together to socialise and we are called TWISC - Tongan Women's International Social Club (aka Twisted Sisters, as named by our husbands). During October we had a day trip out to Fa Fa Island for a little relaxation and to raise some more money for breast cancer awareness month. We all had a beautiful lunch, lovely wine and a generally lovely day. On the island filming a "back to my roots" story was Sione, from the USA who was a contestant on the US Biggest Loser Program, having lost over 60kg. He is from Arizona and his dad is Tongan although Sione had never actually been here, until now. He joined our little group for a chat and to draw our raffle prizes, he even threw in some money for the fund raising - bless him. We raised $145 that day.

Ladies who lunch on tropical islands

The view from the restaurant

Rochelle, Jennifer and Jodie

Lunch time

Sione presenting Rochelle with her raffle prize

Sione and Jodie

Sunny Sunday

Sunday rolled round and after the heavens opened we thought we were in for a wet one. Then Lunch came and so did the sun so a quick ring round and we loaded up the truck and headed to Keleti beach. The kids need to do some serious secret beach exploration so they told us and as soon as we hit the beach they were off!

Jodie setting every one up in what little shade we could find.

Dylan headed off his way, across the rocks! He's a little billy goat.

Em took the higher softer road with Dad. Still needed to be a billy goat though.

We finally settled on the perfect swimming hole!

What else do you do in your own pool?

Dyl attempting to catch mud skippers on the rocks, with no luck though and with no major injuries either.

The girls hanging out at the main swim beach.

The day was too nice and was escaping us far to quickly so we decided to stay and have dinner at the resort at the top of the cliff face over looking the sunset.

Picture perfect - Sunset dinner with the Q tribe and our rock pools in the back ground.

The view minus us.

For those Navy people - Sunset report: sunset was (sadly) obscured Sir!

Dylan hooking into his .............. fish and chips. What else.

Friends Return

This week has been a quiet one, we had friends return from a long stay over in NZ but Nada also returned with a new family member - Little Lucas (possibly the wrong spelling as they are French/Swiss). Lyndon picked them up from the airport but Jodie got them back into Is life with a trip out to Pangimotu during the week. Em couldn't wait to hold the little one and she makes a great baby sitter too. She tried to ask but we cut her off at the past and said she just has Dyl to look after for the rest of her life!

Em finally got her hands on the Bub.

Hanna and Nada having drinks at Pangi for the girls day.

Lucas with a Tongan mobile (Coconut leaf)

Friday night we headed out for Dinner at Jen &Johns minus John as he was off with the Tongan Rugby team who sadly lost to the USA and Canada. Dylan was at a party and was dropped off Tongan style a ute load of screaming kids coming up the road.

The Ocean of light crew.

The veggie garden is going great guns and we now have sprouts shooting up and our lettuce although a little manky/scrawny is also making progress. Jodie has placed her version of a scare crow in the patch.

Hopefully the Pink Flamingo will scare the birds and bugs off.

Some of our chooks. I can't tell them apart yet but the kids know them all by sight.

Breast Cancer Ladies Day Luncheon

A big month of activities here in Tonga for Breast Cancer Awareness month with the highlight being the Annual Ladies Breast Cancer Luncheon. With 50 ladies all celebrating the "Calypso" theme, it was pink flamingos and pink pina colada's all round. We had a beautiful meal, lots of raffles prizes to be won and plenty of money raised for a good cause. Just so you know - we are not doing it too tough over here as this was our menu for the day; Smoked Salmon Crostini, Diablo Prawns, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Baked Ham with Caribbean Glaze, Caribbean Salad, Rice with Black Beans, Calypso fruit salad with Raspberry Sauce, Pineapple Sorbet and plenty of pink champagne!!!!!

A beautifully pink decorated marquee added to the ambience of the day

Jodie showing off as usual

Pina Colada's and pink champagne were the order of the day

Pink, Pink, Pink, a Sea of Pink, not even a touch of last seasons salmon - just PINK!

The "bra bags" created by some members of the Tongan Women's International Social Club (TWISC)

Some lovely options to choose from for the up coming Melbourne Cup???

The major auction prize "Boobe" a hand made doll, sold for $300 pa'anga (about $160 AUD) and was hotly contested by Zettie and Althea

Best costume winners along with HRH (in black) and Hon. Fatafehi, the President of the Tongan Breast Cancer Society

Jennifer taking the Calypso theme just a little too far????

Jodie won this flamingo in the raffle and now she proudly sits in the vegie garden.

Northern Sea Mounts Adventure

The weather was down this week, enough to allow Lyndon, Sam and Aaron a chance to head out for a fish. The plan for the day was a high speed (25knts) race up north ,about 38miles to try our luck trawling around two very fishy looking sea mounts. This was to be our first dedicated monster hunting trip. No wives, no kids and definitely NO banana's! Once we approached the edge of the Nuku Alofa reef though, 30m to 800m deep in less than 300m of water we couldn't help but drop the skirts in. Being breast cancer month we put out two pink ones. It was only minutes and off screamed one of the big rods.

Sam was first up and pulled in a ripper of a dolphin fish (Mahi Mahi) smiles all round was this going to be the day? We pulled the lines in after that short trawl and took advantage of the calm seas and headed north for 1.5 hrs. On approach to the sea mounts we dropped lures again and again the pink thing was inhailed. Aaron was on this time.

Aaron with his Mahi Mahi.

Sadly the seas began to pick up a little so we trawled around the sea mounts for a while picking up several tuna including two smaller Yellow fin. No monsters for Lyndon though and then it was time to trawl back along some other drop off's. By this time we were onto the pink lure theory and had changed all to pink (ish). We also put two and two together and realised whenever Aaron was throwing up we hooked up. So as he headed to the side we put our gimbles on, then another of the big rods went off. Finally....... with Lyndon off the wheel it was time for my fish.

21kgs of Wahoo later and some sore arms I was all smiles!

The fun continued with a few more Mahi Mahi being pulled inboard.

With the esky full we decided to pull in lines and make the trip home a little more comfortable with the following sea.

The spoils of a great day! Not bad when you can't close the esky.

The boys and some of the catch. Is this a one off????

The fun part of the day over it was cleaning, the boat, the fish, the tray of my truck and then myself.

What a day! Finally

(Now Dyl has decided trawling isn't so bad.)