They got us - We already have chickens why not chicks?

After months of trying the kids finally had an arguement that mum couldn't win. Why can't we have baby chickens? We already have big chickens in the yard?? Next thing (like it wasn't already sorted!) Dyl's mate had two ready to go.

How else do you deliver baby chicks but in a beer carton.

Introducing Bubbles and Speedy.

Dad had an afternoons notice to whip up a new chook home. Version two has a heat lamp in it too.

Dylan was on morning patrol, main aim is not to let mum stand in any chook poo or they are out.

Cute little buggers but they never stop cherping, cherping, cherping.

Sadly Bubbles wasn't the best from the start and only survived a few nights. Em was attempting to feed her fresh worms from the garden. Speedy would gobble them all down if they where left out. Thankfully the kids are all over the circle of life theory after 2 years in Tonga. Bubbles is now resting peacefully in the garden by the water tank with the other 3 chickens that have sadly passed during our time here in Tonga.

(News flash: Lyndon is now as we speak burying Srawberry in said chicken grave yard as she too passed away last night 29/6/12)

OOL Mid term Awards/Talent night.

OOL high school held a Mid term talent quest and awards night at the Bahi hall. First up was the students acts everything from crew dancers, individual performances to magic acts. Once that was over it was time for the academic prize giving followed by a snack and then dancing the night away. 

This dance crew perform all over Tonga and are very impressive and hard to capture in a single shot. Dyl likes the more modern dance/hip hop.

Em's friend Fasi performed a few card tricks and balancing shows.

Em with some of her Form 1 mates. Alice (next to her) has just returned from NZ where she lives 6mths in each country.

Dylan assisted Fasi with some card tricks. Hoody and all.

Em was very excited when she picked up an award for the Best Junior in Social Science.

Then for Best Junior in Science, Computers, English.

Final award for the night Best Student for the whole Junior School (Form 1,2 and 3) Emily Quirke. Now she didn't get that from her father. $60 in prizes, she was wrapped.

The teachers saved their dance show till last, what a cracka the kids loved it."All the Singles Ladies" by Beyonce, with a little help from some Form 5 boys.

Em's was so proud of her achievements the first thing she did when she got home was laid them all out and took a photo. The only question now is will it last until the end of the year???

Odd activities from June.

It's been a busy month "As usual"  we hear you saying but with Jodie away at the start for the Oceanic Swimming games in Nuomea (with the Tongan swim team and Rochelle) followed by a heap of school events, visiting ships, fishing comp, gradings and general excitment, we have had a ball and put a few pic's below for you to enjoy.

Sal and Lyndon gathered the troops to welcome Jodie and Rochelle home after a successful swim comp. We weren't sure if they would spot us so we took a few banners along.

One GOLD and one BRONZE way to go Tonga and they used Jodie's Tongan flag to raise up the flag pole at the medal ceremonies.

Dyl showing off his school work on the primary school meet the teachers night.

June had a fishing comp which had already been delayed due to bad weather and due to BLAH BLAH out for repairs Mal came to our rescue. The weather wasn't any better but Dyl still managed to sleep up the front and Lyndon had to drain the water off him occassionally.

Nothing caught after a forenoon out in the slop so we headed to the Navy base were Dyl hooked this monster which ended up winning him the Jr section and after weighing him it even swam away. Now that is catch and release.

Lyndon was cooking up the usual Sunday morning breakfast storm when Timoti, our gardner rocked up with one of Pebbles brothers (the 100+kg pig from next door) for our lunch. What a surprise and very humbling as it is a huge expense and a special gift for a Tongan to present you with a puawaka. 

Emily painted Jade a Tongan Raindrop in purple for her Birthday present.

After hooking his winning monster on a lure last week Dyl is now taking his rod down to the fishing club for afternoon entertainment. 

The girls gathered mid week at our house to welcome home Karen after a period back in OZ.

Grading time again they come around so often nowa days.

Dylan went for his Brown tip and even had to do some single adult board breaking.

Em was out of action this grading as Pebbles gave her a bite about 5min before we were due to leave. She did join in later and Dylan was also successful. Now after so many years together they have split up.

Finally the weather had cleared up? Well so you would think from this shot but actually we couldn't make it past Pangi due to the wind and swells so we hid in the lea of the island.

Emily and Alex collecting star fish and BLAH BLAH back in action after some hull repairs.

What else should you do on a Sunday but laze on the beach with your mum.

This is a late entry from last months Shifting Sands Art exhibition. After hours of work the kids had finished their master peice.

Em and the crew with a very brightly coloured rain tank lid. This is now proudly on display at the new childrens ward in the hospital.

HMNZS TE KAHA and CANTERBURY also drop in.

Now if it doesn't rain it pours. As soon as DARWIN had left the wharf HMNZS TE KAHA pulled in along side for her visit. They too had some community engagements and sports against the TDS, similar results I think as it is hard to beat the locals on home soil. They also held a Cocktail party but this one was for the new King and Queen as guests of honour.

The usual entry point for the ANZAC's and they may have seen DARWIN's gangway and thought this was safer?

The cocktail party had live entertainment but due to the number of guests they got to play out on the wharf.

No tupanu for Lyndon tonight with the King around it was all uniforms.

The crew has a cultural group who performed for the King and Queen (both seated).

It was a great show and conducted in both English, Moari and Tongan.

A Kiwi show isn't complete without a HAKA. No wardroom after this one we actually snuck off into town for a beautiful dinner out with some friends before picking the monkies up.

The following week HMNZS CANTERBURY dropped in over night, no functions but Dylan was impressed by her size. 131m long and such a small crew. Lyndon actually snatched a few electronics technicians to give him a hand on a Patrol boat defect.

HMAS DARWIN drops in for a visit.

Our first Major vessel to visit this year was HMAS DARWIN on her way through to RIMPAC exercises in Hawaii. She stopped over for a few days R&R while in town they partook in some local community engagements (i.e. painted a few local government schools), played sports against the TDS, entertained royalty, held a cocktail party for us locals and supported the local bars ( and markets).

HMAS DARWIN coming alongside with Pangimotu Island in the back ground.

OH&S at it's best all non-tongans look away.

The TDS and RAN working alongside one another at a GPS school.

The school kids would have loved it as they got the day off to keep out of the road. A few hung around and ended up playing footy with the Ozzy girls.

Our lowest tides of the year. The new and the traditional, Tapa soaking in the foreground and a modern warship in the back.

The White ensign flying high. The weather wasn't the best for the stop over it was a tad windy.

The RAN band donated some instruments to the TDS.

Ceremonial sunset and it was all over.

Or was it?? They invited a few of us local riff raff back to the Wardroom.

They had a pretty flash setup and we informed them that it was probably better than any of the local bars and possibly cheaper too.

On the last day the King visited the vessel for a Captain's luncheon. Dylan and I snuck on just after for a look around.