School Holiday Entertainment

Due to the start of the holidays being wet, the kids opened up some of the old board games in between running around in the rain. You have to love rainy days when it is still hot, in winter. The kids have been having a few play dates both at our house and out at others. One big event was the RACKET (Really Awesome Competitors Kicking Everyone's Tails) Club tennis tournament. Hannah organised the event at the NZ courts which also included nibbles and drinks for both adults and kids. Later in the week, the weather came good and with a picture perfect day the mums took the monkeys over to PANGI for the day.

The ultimate Up words challenge.

Rochelle dropped in for a minute but a few coffees and haircuts later it was home time.

The RACKET squad and Nito the coach.

I'm not sure if the professionals have this kind food before a game but the kids loved the Cupcakes anyway.

The mum's 'Bubbles and Balls' team, they said it was the heat that got to them later in the day??

What else after a hectic day of tennis than to load up the truck and head into town for a late dinner, mainly because no parents could be bothered cooking.

Over at Pangi, Big Mumma was pulling out all the stops for the girls - check out the brand new wine holder, previously it was an old plastic bucket.

Jodie hiding under the coconut tree with the ultimate luxury - a magazine, nice shot Em.

Em and Mu our little water babies.

The old drift wood jetty has been reborn as a floating diving pontoon.

Just in case the kids thought they had the best day, another perfect day came along so we headed back out with some friends on Sunday. Three boat loads and 35 people later it was a magical day. What else do you expect the boys to do but stand in knee deep water, drink beers and spin war stories.

Don't worry the girls didn't have it too hard either, just ask Karen, Linda and Jenny.

A busy July begins!

It seems this July will be even more social than last year with the usual Kings celebrations and the departure of the MSA and some of the Fab 5 girls. The kids finally finished another school term and Emily even picked up a certificate for constantly showing the virtues of the past term. Lyndon has been busy down at the base, as a few of his electricians have finally returned from Afghanistan, advancement courses in Australia and Sam is still away. We started July off with an unusually late down pouring of rain but great to top up the water tanks and the kids loved playing out in the mud.

Em with her class certificate.

Mele and Passi wiring up the Dive store, in true Tongan style (no rush as we have no divers).

Linda Burling ( the departing boss' wife and our neighbour) had a final TWISC lunch at Pot Luck, Hosted by Margaret Bath.

We even managed to find someone willing to let us crash their house at 1130 at night to watch the QLDer's get up in the state of origin, thanks to the Five Fine's.

Mark receiving a presento from the RSM (Phillipe) at a small Navy only farewell function at the Base.

The boss winged it for his speech and still managed to make it shorter than the Tongan ones.

Mark showing off his war club to the Brigadier and Linda.

In Tonga, a way you can tell you've been appreciated is whether or not you have a pig at your feast, Mark got two pigs! They were needed too, as four hours sitting around a kava bowl drinking both beer and kava made Lyndon a little hungry. Not to mention a little numb around the face.

While Lyndon was at the MSA's function, Jodie had her own TWISC function which she had organised, a SUNSET Cruise on 'Deep Blue Cruises'. Our cunning plan was to meet up at the fishing club after we had finished.

It was the perfect night, not a breath of wind and smooth as a babies bum!

Some of the girls out on the front deck as the cruised up and down the city lights.

The left over crowd from the cruise at the fishing club but they couldn't wait for Lyndon to take this shot, he did arrive just a little late.

Rachael's Farewell at Chateau de Quirke

Jodie threw a dinner party to farewell Rachael (minus Ellie Rose and Tommee Tippee who are already home in Oz) and some of her AFP and NZP mates. It all started so innocently but as usual, plans went a little astray as the neighbours were having a do too. So we decided after we had all fed our guests that we should meet up under our house for a few after dinner drinks, a game of pool and a special guest appearance to farewell Rachael in style!

Jodie in fine form with enough food to feed a Tongan army.

After dinner Jodie (with Elvis super sipper in hand) was showing off her spoils from Graceland to Paul who is also Elvis mad. Yep her own Jailhouse rock pool cue.

This led to a snappy showing of the Quirke wedding vow renewal by Elvis in Vegas.

AND.... then Elvis hit the floor, jump suit and all. Rachael and Jodie loved it.

Rachael quickly became Elvis's newest fan! Apparently the red G-string was not hers.

Elvis with his back up dancers!

Elvis even brought some of his own latex.

Carl just couldn't help himself, possible a twin split at birth???

Yes the mask made the rounds and so did the cue!

Jodie can never get enough of "The King" see he lives on in the "KING"dom of Tonga. "Oh Elvis I love you... was all she could say"

Possibly the guitar gives it away Carl. Ah-uh.

After a 4 am finish what better way to recover than a sleep in till 10am, a debrief in bed then staying in your PJ's for the entire day.

Back in the Swing of Things

We're truely back in the swing of it now with the kids in their last weeks of school and the sad part of Island life continues with more farewell functions for friends. This time around we have begun the functions to see off Lyndon's Boss, Mark and Linda who leave mid next month. The parties start early as Island time doesn't seem to kick in when you are packing up all your goodies you have gathered over the period of your posting (so we are told). Also the kids have finished this terms exams (a week early we might add) they have been busy practicing their plays for the end of week concerts and playing games. Much to Jodies disgust.

After a lovely dinner it was time for the worlds shortest Tongan speech, "thanks for everything Boss!"

We organised a kava bowl from us boys engraved with all the Patrol boat names, Base name and their Tassie farm name (SWEETWATER) around the rim and all our names on the 4 legs. Sadly Sam and family missed out as they are overseas and we needed to present it to them early as it weighed a tonne and they needed to get it in their container with all the other artifacts, as Mark says.

The girls had to jump in for a group shot too. Linda cooked a magnificent roast, then it was time to finish off all the left over spirits.

Week two at the Aquathon - The girls brought their A game and had a ball.

It was a double header this week as Tomasi and Dyl also teamed up. The Quirke's and the Fineangonofo's double trouble.

13 kids the first week and 27 in total this week.

Dylan powered home in the run, Tomasi did the swim.

The swimming leg included rock hopping, Em did the swim and Mu did the runs.

This weeks concert was by Em's class 6 with Mrs Loisi

Emily played the Queen in her group skit, very appropriate for our little island princess.

Next she had a go at being a science teacher. Salt in water - now this is a non reversable change.

Finally the girls did a dance which they learnt at dance classes and taught the other girls.

Before Sam and family departed for the States, the Burlings (Mark and Linda) put on a compound farewell BBQ for everyone in the compound. The house sitter, gardener, security guard, Kalistiani and us. It was a great spread and a nice way for all the oldies to say goodbye.

Siua our permanent night guard.

Sia- Mark and Linda's part time house sitter over the years.

Timoti and Family our new gardner as of 2011.

And our stalwart Tiani and Moti with Jr and JrJr (AKA Masealino).

Home Sweet Home

Don't panic the USA holiday entries are coming but due to the fact Jodie has some 6000 plus photos to sort through before we can even begin to make a selection for the BLOG, it is proving quite the task considering her hectic schedule back in TONGA. After our recovery time in FIJI it made for an easy adjustment back to normality for most of us. Lyndon was back to work the very next day and the kids had one more day off to finish any homework remaining from holidays.

Maria did a great job tidying up before we returned and Jodie was just happy to see a full kitchen again after 6 weeks of hotel rooms.

The second night home and after drinks and a debreif about the holiday at Mal and Karens place(our new neighbours) it was time for Jodie to head out with some of the girls for the Mr TONGA comp at the Billfish Bar. It was a long night for Jodie and an even longer following day.

The weekend brought the usual events for the kids with a new twist - Emily and Mu decided to compete in the kids Aquathon.

The starting line up at the ramp was a little crowded but every one had a ball.


While the girls were out Aquathoning, the boys headed out in the rough weather for the Local Junior fishing comp. After a rocky start and Tomasi lossing his breakfast, we hid behind a reef. Lyndon made Dylan throw his fish back (this one included) as they were too small but when it came to prizes we forgot it was TONGA and this fish would have taken out second prize, Dylan is yet to let Lyndon forget this too.


We all started to loose our hooks with 80 lb leaders so we changed Mal's rod to a wire trace and this monster puffer fish came unwillingly to the top.

After Tennis that night we caught up with the "Fab 5" at Dom and Hannah's place for dinner and what else do you do on a winters night? Roast marshmellows of course! Who said it needs to be cold in winter?

We even managed to teach the night guards the way of roasting marshmellows.

This was Leilani first ever attempt too. The picture says it all - a tad close to the flame for the first time around which ended in the flamming marshmellow.