Whale watching during the Fishing Comp.

I'll just start off with another magical day in TONGA. Dyl, Lincoln and Lyndon headed out for the Nuku'alofa monthly fishing comp on Sat morning. As we were setting up for a trawl we spotted some whales off in the distance and everyone aboard was excited. As the day continued we caught less fish, OK none. So we headed north to do some bottom bashing when a pod of whales made contact with us and we spent the next hour with them. There were about eight of them in total following us around swimming under the boat and breaching.

This was the hardest shot of the day as Dyl wanted to watch the whales not have his photo taken with them.

They came in for a wave.

Tail slapping was a big hit.

A big one continued to show off the entire time.

They even swam under the boat. Dyl was telling me to look over his side and I was like don't worry buddy he's over this side too. One whales tail fin was as wide as Satisfaction is long, 7.2m.

You could nearly touch this one then I pulled the camera away because we didn't want it getting wet.

A mother and calf from earlier in the day.

After catching a feed of reef fish we headed back for the weigh in at 1600 and on the way back in we came across a life ring which turned out to be off the Princess Ashika, which sunk approx 12mths before with 72 people aboard. Lyndon spent the next morning handing it over to the police investigation team and giving statements.

To end the day off though we returned with our catch to the fishing club for a debrief (beers) and to tell our tall tails. But as it turned out though we were the only ones to land a fish soooo..... Dyl won the Jr comp with his Emperor and we won with our coral trout and Emperor. No monsters though but they were a great chew for dinner.

Very social first week back.

We finally returned home and the kids spent most of the Sunday finishing off their homework from the previous 3 weeks. Their choice and they were warned by us meanies! But a rest day was needed too. It was straight back into the social events with a cocktail function on a visiting French boat. Lyndon schemed his way out and took the kids to training but Jodie wasn't missing out on French bubbles so she went along with the Boss. Later that week Jodie had a girls lunch to say goodbye to our friend Rosie as they are due out of country soon. Then Friday night we had a ceremonial sunset at the Navy base for the visiting two Chinese warships. It was a great night also with the boats as a back drop, marching band and guard and a Chinese interpreter who was all over it. We were also meant to have a function on their boat but at the last minute the non Tongan's didn't make the cut?? Oh well there's always next time. That Sunday we cruised around the Island had lunch out at a resort and hit the beach for some sun and R&R after all of the cold weather it was a very nice change.

Did I forget to mention Dyl and Em shaved dad's beard off? Lots of fun was had and Jodie got her baby boy back.

Jodie and the Boss before the bubbles were served on the French boat.

Some of the girls at Rosie's (in purple at the front) farewell lunch.

The Chinese boats in the background of the band During the ceremonial sunset.

Ceremonial Sunset with the TDS Guard and band. The Chinese admiral was taking the salute in front.

The TDS girls performing the traditional dances and the Chinese boys making donations, the Tongan way. We stick money on the dancer's as they have coconut oil (or baby oil) all over them.

Siane (Jane) Lyndon's computer girl.

A baby fruit bat that had been dropped at Vukaloa resort were we had lunch on Sunday.

Dylan built a shelter down at the beach but ran out of time to put a roof on it. Nice frame work though. Em had one on the build too but further into the bushes.

The Quirke Oz Holiday - Canberra and Bris-Vegas

After our week of skiing it was back to reality of life in the big smoke. We returned to Canberra to spend some time with the Gordon's and to see the sights in Canberra. We took the kids to Quest-a-con (a kids hands on science exhibition), The National zoo and aquarium and The National War Memorial where we saw Dad's old boat HMAS Brisbane. We also managed to point out Parliament House to the kids. We went out to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary with Cath & James Dew (our old navy neighbours from Darwin) and Belinda & Ian. A good time was had by all - dinner and drinks at a local bar and not a kid to be seen, we felt like kids again , yes all of us.

Happy 11th Anniversary drinks until 3am.

Lucais, Em, Thomas and Dyl playing the one DS - now that is sharing.

The view of Parliament house from the steps of the War Memorial

Dad with his old boat high and dry also in a museum - what does that say about his age?

The Quirke's and Dew's at the National Zoo. Who's a naughty monkey kids?

The big cat displays were awesome.

A little bit of Cougar viewing hey girls.

The kids playing at Quest-A-Con.

Ian showing the Gordon boys about Tsunami's and imagine that, Em and Dyl no were to be seen.

Once we had finished up in Canberra it was off to Brisbane for our last visit before flying out. This time around we caught up with Great Grandma and took her out for lunch. But it wasn't all fun this time round either as the kids had to finish off their vaccinations and also visit the dentist before returning home. Let's just say it needed a little bribery! The kids loved catching buses all around town with grandma while she took her baby girl (Jodie) for some retail therapy. We also stocked up with 20kgs of fresh meat to take home. Our luggage for the return flight was a fine juggling act we even had to load up every ones carry on to the absolute max (maybe even over). Lets just say the kids are now stronger after lugging their bags through all the airports and no whinging was done, although we couldn't bring back everything we wanted too so some gear was left behind at grandma's.

Four generations of girls. Em was initially stumped and thought everyone was a Quirke?

Em's check up was all good even after swallowing a tooth earlier that week. See all mum's screaming about cleaning their teeth has paid off.

Next was Dyl again all good but we were wondering if they could fit anything else in as Emily is normally the big mouth.

Bribery for the Dr and dentist visits came in the form of bowling and Jodie won her first family game.

On our last night out we hit the Theatre and saw Mamma Mia, even the kids were singing along although they thought they missed some bits from the DVD.

Quirke Visit to Oz - Thredbo Skiing

The Quirke ski trip started off with a bus ride from Canberra to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains. We knew we were there when the kids spotted the snow cap mountains and Dyl summed it up "Wholly Molly!". Our accommodation was but a 10 m stagger to the nearest chair lift, ski boots are soooo cumfy this was coincidently the same distance from our bar to the chair lift. Mum had really done her home work on the accomodation. The rest of the first day was all over the place getting gear and ski passes sorted but we awoke to snow on the first morning and 2 degree weather. The kids were enrolled in the Cruiser club were they skied from 0900 to 1500 for five days straight. Mum and Dad started off with ski lessons at Friday flat. A few spills for mum and the kids but in all it was a great day until............... mum's mind said go this way off the chair lift but her legs went the other way and her knee went in a whole new direction. To her credit she made it down on her own with no ski patrol assistance.

The only entire family shot in the snow.

Dropping the kids off to their first class.

Mums first class - I am snow ploughing, bum out, check.

Nope Not the actual stack but just another uncomfortable rest.

Sooo...... the next day was spent at the Dr's with Jodie's knee and one strained medial crucial ligament later it was off for reimbursements. The kids and Dad continued to ski for the next five days and mum visited, the shops, the physio and of course the Bars. We had two perfect days and on one of them mum made it half way up the hill for lunch and beers while the rest of us did laps on that chair lift. Checking on mum to make sure the sun or altitude weren't getting to her. She told us she fell over in the snow to make snow angels? Likely story!

"The Knee" and strapping.

Dad checking on Mum at Merits - Half way up the mountain and half way through the beer.

The powder at the top.

Every arvo after the kids finished classes they'd nick off to the top of the hill with Dad for the last few runs / family races. Although snow ball fights and snow man building was also high on the agenda along with wildlife spotting. We actually saw a wombat and a few very fast rabbits (snow bunnies). One day we even got caught on the hill when they turned on the snow makers, different and very wet. Other activities when we weren't on the slopes were the sauna and heated pool, dinners out, a fireworks display and flare run down the slopes by the instructors, O's & X's by the fire place and of course a few bars. We also meet another family who's son, Jake was great mates with Dylan from ski school it turned out they were also once from Kedron (Jodie's old home ground).

The three monkies on the start of the Blue runs at a balmy -2 degrees.

O's & X's by the fire.

Jodie at our hotel bar. We'd do lunch at new places every day.

What else do you do after a day of freezing your butt off?

Mum playing in the fresh snow dump on our last day.

5 days of classes and the kids ended up at level 5 - with poles (weapons I thought) and parallel turns. The helmets were a good choice by mum!

Our best snow man but even more fun was destroying him and rolling him down the mountain.

And the strange things you see or don't see at high speeds!

The creek crossing outside our hotel ' The River Inn'

The Q tribe waiting for the bus back to the tropical weather.

The kids have already got us booked in for another snow adventure in the next few years but this time snow boarding is the go. Bring it on!

Quirke Tribe return to Oz - Quirke family catch up!

After the fiftieth celebrations we used the next few days to catch up with the rest of the Quirke boys and their lovely families, thanks for the great meals. Jodie also used the chance to hit the shops and after Tonga even the local IGA seemed to have a huge selection. In some ways to many choices Jodie said who would have ever thought? The kids had a ball playing with all the cousins. They also did a walk with Nan "With the ducks" (Ali Q) to raise funds for her cancer retreat at Bloomfield. Such a good cause! Also Mum and Dad were still recovering that morning from Chris's party. W e also utilised our new toy (a SLR camera) for a photo shoot with Abigail and Amanda. After what seemed a hectic week we were ready to head to Canberra on our next step in chilling down before hitting the snow.

Introducing Abigail and Amanda Quirke.

Dylan lining up the target at uncle Mat's.

What else would you expect Quirke girls (Em and Lily) to do together. Shopping I think not, says Dad.

Mat and his third child also the contraption of torcher for Lyndon's arm.

Jodie in training for the slopes. (Question is how many did she complete?)

Nan and the kids having a snack after their big walk.