Tae Kwon Do Gradings and Xmas Breakup

Saturday was action packed for the kids. Em started her day off eating breakfast on the way to the Judo hall, for Dance practice. That done, it was home for a quick change and back to the Judo hall this time with lunch in hand for our end of year gradings. Dyl's day started with gradings but he had to leave as early as possible for a mates full on ARMY party. Both the kids were going for their greenbelts, an appropriate colour at Christmas time we thought. 3 1/2 hrs later and all was done and dusted the kids put in a great effort and all they could do now was wait for Tuesday's training to find out the results??

Basics up and down the hall.

Dylan giving his all to hurt dad during the bag session.

Em showing off her flying front kick with Mercy.

Some family combination work.

Yvanne in full flight.

Lyndon giving the boards a tickle.

The Monday was a public holiday to celebrate King George Tupo I birthday. So we had our breakup down at Ha'atafu beach resort. Em missed out as she was at a wearable arts birthday party (a separate entry on it's own) so we all loaded into a few utes/trucks Tongan style from the Judo hall and headed across the Island. We virtually took over the place, a few minutes to set up the BBQ and everyone was off. We did it all, beach volleyball, beach cricket, Frisbee, basketball, swimming, soccer to name a few. It's a very energetic young group (bar Lyndon) of people who are constantly on the go. The only time we stopped was to have a quick bite for lunch.

The view from our BBQ. Lyndon was out surfing the reef behind, only a couple of hours earlier.

Looking the other direction. This beach is the pick due to all the shade.

Some action on the Basket ball court.

Dyl looks like he's lining Yvanne up.

When the pro's took over the volleyball Dyl and a few others decided to start up the french cricket in the shade.

Some of the guys and girls cooling off at low tide.

YEP... Tuesday came and they both passed so they reckon uncle Ryan better watch out now.

It's Christmas time in the Quirke House

December has rolled around so fast this year and that also means we have nearly been here for 12 months already. How time flies when you are having fun. We'd decided early, possibly before we even arrived that we would spend our first Christmas in Tonga so Jodie had packed some decorations and our tree of some 14 odd years. With Christmas Carols blaring out of the surround sound, we made sure everyone in our village knew what we we're up to. The kids had a ball ripping everything out of the packing box and then decorating the tree. Georgia even joined in the fun. With the experience from Annie's tree decorating, the kids had it complete in what seemed like minutes.

From this! With no breakages thank God because there ain't much quality decorations in Tonga.

And a little bit of that!

For extra height - boxes of Gold, 4X Gold were utilised (but in disguise) under the red box.

Then you end up with THIS!!!!!

Em has broken away from tradition and even bought her own little tree for her room from the local Chinese shop.

Wet Tuesday

Last Tuesday we had our first big wet for the season. We woke to the sound of rain and it didn't let up but by the time I returned home it was already filling our lane way then by early arvo the rain slowed and this was the result. Now that we have the pool table under the house we thought the kids may stay out of the rain. Oh how we were wrong.

Our little lane way beside the house was actually flowing.

The main road out the front we had a few breakdowns along this section.

Em and Toot's using Lyndon's new couples swing. This was the start of the wet play.

They then moved to the pool to cool off.

But the call of the puddle monster was too great. Georgia with some form.

Dyl practicing sliding into home.

Somewhere in all this is our little princess. Belly flop style.

NO snow so water angles was the order of the day. Tobby supervising of coarse in his back yard.

The three amigos. Smiles all round. After this a rooster got into Sam's yard so the kids chased him around in the water for a while too. With no luck, as they are sneaky buggers here because if they get caught they turn up next as dinner.

Lukas's Baptism

The Quirke's hit yet another tongan church service this time it was a catholic church "The Basilica" for the Baptism of Nada and Mortan's youngest "Lukas Sione" yep a Tongan name and a Tongan Baptism to offically welcome the little fella. As this was a majoritly palangi doo we opted to turn up in western attire but to our surprise they were all dressed up in traditional Tongan. Which we had never seen them in before, Nada was more concerned she would look like a marsh mellow in her outfit.

Felix, Inas, Mortan, Nada and Lukas at the entrance to the church.

The entire tribe surrounded by the newly appointed god parents.

Lyndon thought the bowl look suspiciously like a kava bowl.

After the ceremony the priest invited the parents to place the children on the alter.

The Friday night service is dedicated to Baptism's, two other kids were also Baptised this night.

Our group in the centre of the church after the service.

Jodie finally go her hands on Lukas, at the dinner held in a restaurant below the church.

Mortan proving he can swing a Tongan fan just as well as he can dress as a Mexican.

Lukas in his oh so funky hat, possibly a French influence hay Nada?

When in Tonga no function is complete without a Tongan dance.

The Kids Final Class Concerts

Over the last two weeks the kids have both performed their final class assembly concerts. Such a change from the beginning of the year when they stood back and didn't quiet understand. Now they are all over it like a fat kid on a smartie. They both love preparing props for the shows. Dyl even danced by himself (modern) and participated in all sections of his show, while Emily was her usual outgoing self - reminding people of their lines and pushing them all around the stage. She even pulled out the recorder (s) for a quick rendition of "Eye of the Tiger!" They both had a NZ theme this time around with Dyl doing the Haka and Em with her pois.

Em in full swing.

The girls performing the traditional dance.

Pois and Lyndon can't remember how many times he had to tie them back on during the week.

The whole class after the skit section.

Dyl half way through his Haka.

The cool dudes Dylan and Ualala.

No air guitar to be seen just wind instruments.

Odds and Ends from November

These are a mix of shots and little stories and events from November that haven't been big enough to make a lone entry. So here goes.

ELECTIONS

25th Nov saw Tonga have it's first election. Advertising was interesting from fliers, groups of people standing on the side of the road in candidates shirts and banners which in some cases covered entire buildings. We tried our best to get a photo of a local bus as they covered every window, yep including the entire front window in some circumstances. Just a slot for the driver to see through. As voting isn't compulsory they still haven't elected the new prime minister yet but some candidates got as few as 26 votes, that's not even an entire Tongan families vote.

One of the main buildings in town. Best of all after the elections if the posters aren't removed the candidates are fined. Similar to NZ rules.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Due to all the rain last weekend the girls came up with some interesting ideas. One was to assist Annie and John to put up their Christmas tree which included a sausage sizzle and drinks for dinner.

Everyone got in on the action. Lucky Annie had such a big tree which they brought from Cambodia.

Good work girls and the final product.

GOLF PRACTICE

The boys have been getting into the golf this month but they seem to lose more and more balls every game from wayward shots so they came up with an interesting idea. A driving range to improve the swing. But as there are no driving ranges they decided to set up a personal driving range, with foam practice balls in the compound. Quiet a few off the balls ended up in the school grounds behind the shed, lucky the local kids liked throwing them back over.

Lyndon's form. Yep, video footage and stills where used to assist our technique.

Sam having a bash.

Even Dyl got into the game.

Only time will tell if it assisted or was it just another excuse for the boys to drink beers in the compound.

DIS"SATISFACTION"

Sadly this could be it for Satisfaction. We took the boat out of the water this week to lock her up in the shed. Ever the professional sailors Sam and Lyndon still found the enthusiasm to give it the usual clean and gerny before she went away but no need for a fuel top up this time.