The Whales have arrived!

This week, amongst a few other activities we were lucky enough to see the arrival of the whales here in our own back yard, Tongatapu. We caught this first sighting in Piha passage after a handy tip off from Tony and Eva on their way across from Eua Island. We spent about 1/2 hr with this whale before heading back in. Jodie had 10 minutes notice to get the kids down to the boat, what an experience too.

Like a big hand waving hello.

He also put on an aerial show right in front of us. Mark and Linda were also on board and what a great memory to take away, Linda was beside herself.


Jodie with hopefully her first of the season close encounter, the kids were our spotters on the roof of the boat. They also suggested after the jumps that we move a little further away.

The new kids on the block, Cooper and Jade. The kids are having a ball together they even conned the locals Toot's and Em into a night swim, in winter? This was during our Compound welcoming for the Esler's on Wednesday night.

Friday lunchtime the Box hill Band came to the Base to put on a show for the TDS.

They caught them in the middle of guard training for the Kings Birthday, bit of a contrast M16 and flutes.

Friday night saw the official farewell from the TDS for Mark and Linda which also included the welcoming of the Esler's. Mark and the Brigadier share a port in memory of his time in Tonga.

Mark and Linda at the head table.

The new DCP crew, (Major Mal Bishop, Mark (departing next week), Sam, LCDR Ben Esler and me.

2 of the Fab Five Depart

This weekend we had a little send off for two of the Girls as they are departing Tonga for a while. We've been promising for ages to have them all around to see our Elvis wedding renewals. Jodie has nearly finished sorting the USofA photos so we should be posting them soon but they will be back in the June section of the Blog, if you are looking for them.

Em and Dad's handy work!

Just a tight little squeeze around the table. Lucky we are all so friendly hey.
A little dinner party at our place is nothing short of atleast 25 people, most of them kids, lucky for us we managed our dinner in peace - adults only, the kids were off playing already.

Em took advantage of the clear sky's and showed the other kids all the craters in the moon.

The boys played WWF in the jumping castle.

Our little princess's found a new game. Spin until you spew! Very charming.

We moved up stairs this time to watch the show.

Tears of laughter and hoorays - we hope? But Viva Las Vagas was a hit after this.

The Fab Five.

Emily doing the official handover of her thong which she carried all through America just for Sal and his beloved thong tree. This one had been up and down the "Walk of Fame".

Vaini Pasikala and Kids Aquathons

Just after Lyndon mentioned there has been a lack of Pasikala rides we received an email for a 10 Km ride out at Vaini, Jodie decided to opt out - one because it meant being up before the ungodly hour of 9am on a weekend and secondly because a Tongan 10 Km ride is never 10Km. And how right she was, 18.5 km later the kids were complaining about their sore butts but it was a good ride through a few villages and ended up at the village boss' house for a feast. Just what you need after a morning ride but greatly appreciated. The reasoning for the feast is that the local bike group organised bikes for the villager's from Aust and this was one of the lucky villages, it was more like spot the palangi.

Em was all keen at the very start, not so after the first 10 km.


Dylan did his usual tailgating the police out the front. Notice that not all the bikes match the riders. Dylan was taken out by a little fella on a mountain bike which was too big for him , not to mention he probably hadn't ridden a bike before.

Prayer's in the front yard before the feast and after finally finishing the ride.

There were very few complaints from the kids other than there was only coconuts to drink.

There was no way we were riding the 15km home so we loaded up the cars.

Sal's dad (Mosese Snr) has a very special car it runs on water some times??

Looks like Sal got the best of the take aways! What else would you expect to see in the back seat, not kids as they were in the tray.

The kids have truly taken up the kids Aquathons now. They have a quick swim lesson and change over training before competing in the race each Saturday. The aim is to get the local kids at the wharf to also join in. Amazingly they do join in but with no shoes and usually swim in their clothes but hey the love it. They do a 500m run, then 50 m swim and then a 1km run.

Hold the rock wall, now kick and don't cut yourself on the coral!!

The hotly contested starting line up.

Dylan crossing the line as part of a team with Tomasi (1st) good work boys.

The next week they both competed individually. Em at her snappy change over.

"The tank is empty, Dad!"

Dyl cracking a blistering pace at the front.

Dylan has also conned his mate Ualala into joining in. Some how they still find the energy to swim off the wharf (for fun) once it is all over.

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.