The kids were greatful that school finished a week early this year so the formalities were over and done with quite quickly. Emilys' graduation was held at the Bahi Centre and the guest of honour was a member of the royal family that had ties with the school. Dylans school had a small ceremony on the last day. While both kids had their ups and downs at this school, they both agreed they will miss their friends and the little amount of work they did.
Emily bowing to the Princess before she gave the closing prayer.
Emily with her friends Alice and Whilin
Dylans class lining up to receive their certificates, Dylan is second from the end, far right.
With the kids finally on holidays the job at hand was packing up the house. Of course they didn't want to help because there was playing to do, but every now and again they would stop to help by letting us know what we could and couldn't throw or give away. In the end, we left with more than we arrived with (thanks to all my handicraft and marketi purchases and our farewell gifts) but we did manage to also give away box loads of toys, clothes and house hold items.
Emily's art from the last term, definately one thing she didn't want to throw away.
Late one Friday arvo the DCP staff put on an impromptu farewell for Lyndon as his boss would be away when we actually left Tonga. We gathered up at the pool for a few quiet ales, some nibbles and a quick chat about the 3 years that was.
Here we are with wally the whale, Lyndons presento from the DCP staff. He now rests at our front door greeting all of our visitors.
The month of December also saw us become adoptive parents to the Wilkos dogs who were waiting to be shipped back to OZ. Jenny and Paul had already left to go to Fiji and were stuck for baby sitters, so of course, the kids put their hands up for the job.
Emily trying to wash the bucket but Presley just had to get some water action of his own. He loved getting sprayed by the hose.
This is Jersey, who got away with anything due to those puppy dog eyes.
Just hangin out with Kev and I am not sure who the other lady is.Oops.
Some of the athletes providing the entertainment for the evening.
Lyndon, Nane and Steve.
Me with Finau (A.K.A. DJ Hot Girl) from our local radio station. She is also Digicels Emcee girl. She has an amazing voice and sung 2 songs on the night.
Another dinner party this time for a slide show of our Hawaii holidays. Craig and Marion were particulary interested in the Pacific Avaition Museum with the old DC3 plane as they have one of their own. Mal and Karen just came to reminise as they had been in Hawaii not so long ago.
Waiting for dinner, Craig, Mal, Karen, me and Marion.
The compound fale was getting a make over during the month, a bigger, better version with plumbing, and just as we were leaving - what a bummer! Sione and his boys were doing a great job, and just as well, because when Dylan came home from school every afternoon he went down to check out their progress and handiwork. Sione christened him the site supervisor and did not go home of an afternoon until Dylan gave him the thumbs up.
Getting there slowly.
Most Sundays we were either at Pangiamoto Island for the day or over at the 5 Fines house for umu. The Tongan version of the Sunday roast was greatly treasured in this house as Moses Lahi (big Mo) loved his puaka. We would often get there early (although not up as early as Sal and Fahu, they started at 5am to get the umu going) so the kids could have a good play around, and the boys would be outback turning the puaka (which took just long enough to drink a carton of beer) and Rochelle and I usually hung in the kitchen supervising both lots. Many happy memories of those days especially now since Mo passed away in February.
The kids hanging out with Fahu who came in for a quick rest.
Mosese Lahi ( Sal's dad) having a rest before lunch. He had been sick for quite awhile but was home from the hospital on this occassion. This day was the last day we had umu with the 5 Fines before leaving Tonga.
Just a small amount of pig food. These butternut pumpkins were deemed not export worthy so Sal bought a ute tray load full home from the farm for the pigs.
On the last hash before the Christmas break, Lyndon finally became the 4th member of our family to reach the 100 Hash milestone. Having spent some time out of Tonga due to work committments meant that he did not do as many of the rest of us and it was going to be a tight one squeezing in the 100th before we left.
Lyndon receiving his 100th run t-shirt from our hash master and neighbour Mal Bishop whose hash name is "The Cardinal". We had our final hash BBQ for the year in the newly built fale and enjoyed a few quiet ales to toast the upcoming festive season.
