The Royal Wedding 29 Apr 2011

For the upcoming Royal wedding, the girls at TWISC decided to have a Mad Hatters Tea Party to celebrate the royal wedding. Jodie dressed as Kate and Lyndon went as William. The girls put on a great function at the "Pot Luck" hospitality training resturant. The Mad hatters theme was for those with little respect of royalty, most ladies wore chose to wear a hat. With Jodie as the bride it was only fitting that the remainder of the Fab 5 came as brides maids with Sal and Rochelle coming as international guests.

Jodie in all her glory. The entire outfit was from the marketi, (except the gloves which were her original wedding gloves) the veil was a curtain and the boots - well they just finished it all off. Boring old Lyndon just wore his Mess undress uniform.


"Kate" was all smiles - as every bride is on her wedding day. Just look at this lovely taffiter and lace number.

What kind of Royal wedding is it without uniformed personnel.

The bride and groom with the international guests. One day Sal will possibly buy Rochelle something other than a sheet but when you look this good who needs to spend up big hey Sal?

Games included Naughts and Crosses.

Bouncing a pingpong ball into the china tea pot.

Some of our Royal tea pot decorations.

The Royals at the head of the table, our cheeks hurt just as much as our real day. That is from smiling so much. Guess we need the practice for Vegas anyway.

Althea played Mother of the bride, and a guest bought along Wills and Kate face puppets.

Jodie releasing her inner ping pong! With no luck we might add.

Just a small selection of desert the girls whipped up for the event

The wedding cake by Rochelle.

Everyone ready for...............

Of course cutting of the cake.

Lyndon had a little message to send to his Jodie.

By the end of the night Sal had yet another new nickname "Muffasa" with his best "In the Navy" pose.

What else would you expect us to do after one function was done? Yep make a Royal enterance into our friends new nightclub "Reload". We even made the local paper with this one. Papparizzi - we can never escape them.

Due to the time difference the actual royal wedding only commenced as we arrived at Reload so we had to stay and take it all in. King George Tupo V was actually at the wedding too, the real one that is, not our fake one.

Just so you can see the similarities in the dresses.

The first of many Kisses and Happily Ever after's!

VOEA SAVEA Handover Ceremony

After a slow trip back from Australia and a short period alongside it was time for the official handover of VOEA SAVEA. The boys worked around the clock to get the boat all ship shape for the ceremony, the Australian High Commissioner Mr Thomas Routh was our rep handing over to the TDS Brigadier Uta Atu. It was a quick afternoon ceremony with it only becoming officially on earlier that morning.

The AHC during his speech.

VOEA SAVEA crew fallen in at the start of the ceremony.

It was all smiles with us as we had finally completed all three Life Extension Program's after three years on the go.

The XO (Lt Fonokalafi) at the front of the guard.

Dignitaries including the new prime minister and other nations High Commissioners.

The official signing over of the vessel.

The CO (Lt Lakai) giving his emotional speech after a trying LEP and 2 months of delays.

The boys finally get the order to March on the guard.

Dress ship (ceremonial flags flying from forecastle to stern) as the crew cheer VOEA SAVEA back into commission.

The ceremonial life ring which was a labour of love for the crew, as they refurbished one of the original rings.

Lyndon's room he slept here on this couch for the 2 week trip home, looks a little tidier now.

After the ceremony we had a chance to show off our spoils to the girls and Mal.

The AHC, Tongan Prime minister and the TDS Brigadier.

The boys waiting for Kava O'clock.

This would be one of the only times Lyndon will enter the engine room in whites. It was freshly cleaned and painted just for the handover.

If you recall the steering gear photos from previous entries she is looking considerably emptier this time around.

DCP TONGA all smiles (Minus Sam they shot off to Eua for the weekend)

All three boats back in the Touliki Base basin (VOEA NEIAFU 201, VOEA PANGAI 202 and VOEA SAVEA 203).

ANZAC Arvo in the Defence Compound

Celebrations for ANZAC day continued in the compound (Lyndon, Sal and Dyl did shoot out for a few hour between to finish off the fishing comp too!) ! It was a bit of an open house affair with the usual Ozzy and Kiwi culprits - BBQ, Pool antics, cricket and beers flowing freely. Not to mention a heap of kids running a muck all afternoon. We were very professional when it came to the cricket anyone could have been confused we were playing for sheep stations. All adjudicated by Paul. We had a few surprise drop ins too.

Mr Tommee Tippi returned to our shores for a short period to spend some time with his family and US.

The jumping castle was both a hit with the little ones and older later on also it added a little extra to the fielding during the cricket. Paul mowing the pitch.

Removal of drunk Tongans and vehicles from the pitch.

The girls where very helpful and stayed right out of it until it was time to play.

Sam did the official measurements.

Paul then swept it for the spinners.

Once the wheelie bins were in place it was all go for the next 4 hours of continues cricket.

No one missed their turn at the crease and luckily Jodie didn't take any of the kids heads off during her big swings.

Dylan showing off some of his Indian fast ball action.

Em having her bash at it.

Mal showed some real Ozzy form but never made the over the fence and out! That glory was all Sam's. But he had to go fetch too.

Multiple swim breaks were required to ensure no one was dehydrated. We all rotated through this favoured fielding position.

Lyndon gave his home made Ozzy shirt (from our New Years Eve party ) a second outing.

The girls gave Ellie Rose a lift after being away for so long.

We had to pull up stumps a little early though so we could mae the prize giving at the Fishing club, Dyl couldn't miss his first big TIGFA win, ANZAC day or Not!!!!