Last Sunday we decided to go and see if we could find the inland Lake Lonoto'o which is meant to be full of goldfish. The Government has stopped the locals taking the fish out of the lake for pets so according to the Lonely Planet this lake is meant to be brimming.
Anyway, once before we partly drove down the road to the so called "carpark" and found it to be very rocky and bumpy. So on Sunday we loaded the mountain bikes on the back of the car, figuring this would be the best way to tackle this road. After navigating rocks and fending of snarling and snapping dogs we got to the so called "carpark" which was little more than a boggy, muddy puddle complete with 1 white horse tied to a tree! Adam, in his wisdom, kept on riding and so managed to get through the mud puddle in 1 piece. I on the other hand stopped to contemplate the best plan of attack then found it very difficult to get up and running again so fell off twice, you guessed it, into the muddy puddle! After this I packed the riding in and decided to push.
Before long we decided riding was not going to be an option any more as you will see by the photos I have put up on Flickr. We therefore chained the bikes up to a tree and headed off on foot.
This has to be known as a "Samoan Bush Walk" which, luckily for us, someone had actually cleared with a slasher recently otherwise we would have had no idea where the path was. We read in the Lonely Planet that many trampers have got lost walking around in circles trying to find the lake! So we pushed on through the overgrowth, over rocks and tree roots, through yet more slippery mud, up and down 2 hills all the while picking what I thought were little inch worm caterpillars off us - but we have since found out they were mini LEECHES!!!!!!! No harm done though thankfully.
After 1 1/2 hours of walking we were starting to feel a bit knackered and were just thinking about turning around when we reached the top of a hill, with dilapidated communications tower, and thought we could see through the bushes rippling. Not being too sure whether our eyes were playing tricks on us we had to go on just that little bit further to find out and lucky we did as we had finally made it to the lake!!
What a peaceful spot. The lake was covered in misty clouds when we arrived which fast cleared and the sun shone down. We were pretty hungry by this stage so first job was to eat a bit of lunch then it was time to go in for a swim and see all the fish we had heard about. We had our masks and snorkels with us and also the underwater camera. Not that they were much use! The lake is actually a crater lake and is full of quite murky browny/green water. I spotted a fish or 2 at the edge on my way in but could not see 1 foot in front of me to see any more. There was a nibbling sensation on our toes which Adam reakons were shrimps. Personally I didn't stay in long enough to really find out!!
Great excursion though. We didn't hang around too long as wanted to make a good start back before the end of the day and the sun setting. On the way back however we did manage to gather some Teuila for the vase that had been slashed down and also one growing roots so that is now planted at home. It was interesting trying to get these back on our bikes as the photos will show.
And that was last weekends adventure. I think that might be the one and only visit I ever pay to that lake!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The sparks fly
We were having a library meeting yesterday morning when all of a sudden sparking (like fireworks) and popping noises started coming out of the power pole just out the window. Far out this is a dangerous place!!! That is the first time I've seen that happen. No power went off and no one came running so maybe it's normal? This is Samoa ........
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Valentines Black Sox
Happy Valentines day all!
Unexpectedly pancakes were on the menu for breakfast on this day which was very nice. Mind you there wasn't much time before Touch Rugby trials to enjoy them so we postponed until luch (which also gave us a chance to raid the lemon tree at USP!)
Touch trials went well. I answered an ad in the paper and turned up to find a club supporting womens sports. There was an organiser, a coach and an assistant coach so things were looking up. This club also supports women's 7's, union and shortly league so we were divided up into the "rugby" girls and the "other" girls!! I was quite happy to be an "other" as I am certainly not interested in tackling or being tackled!!
Ended up playing a few games. It was overcast and even rained during the morning but this did not stop me from getting sun burned. Note to self: wear sun block and a hat in all weathers! They seemed to notice that I had played before and even though my skills need some serious work I am ever hopeful of getting into a reasonable team that will be fun.
After Touch I went to the car only to find the driver absent! After scratching my head for a few moments I figured he would probably be over at the Softball diamond watching some of the Pacific Cup Softball matches. Sure enough that is where I found him. Tanifa Samoa were playing Japan to decide who would play the NZ Black Sox in the final in the afternoon.
We headed home for the pancakes but decided to go back to the diamond to watch the final. Armed with NZ flag to pin over the balcony we arrived just in time for the national anthems and to see the Haka. The game was very exciting with some big hits, strike outs, home runs, fumbles and good catches. The Black Sox ended up beating Japan 6-4 and the game finished just in time for us to head home and get ready for our Valentines dinner out.
Roko's restaurant is lovely. This is the first time we had been there but it has outside balconies that jut out over the valley and look down on native flora. The tables were decorated with red and the Valentines menu was ready to go. After ordering a fresh strawberry margarita and daiquiri, for $10 each, we were served starters of tempura prawns, seafood brushetta, sashimi and sushi. Adam was in his element with all the sea food. Mains were 1/2 lobster each, calamari rings, prawns, masimasi and salmon served with salad and a baked potato. Very yummy. For me though dessert was the main affair and what I had been waiting for. Chocolate cheesecake with strawberries and icecream. Unfortunately a serious lack of strawberries, only 1 each, but as I got to eat both of them I was happy.
A thoroughly wonderful day.
Unexpectedly pancakes were on the menu for breakfast on this day which was very nice. Mind you there wasn't much time before Touch Rugby trials to enjoy them so we postponed until luch (which also gave us a chance to raid the lemon tree at USP!)
Touch trials went well. I answered an ad in the paper and turned up to find a club supporting womens sports. There was an organiser, a coach and an assistant coach so things were looking up. This club also supports women's 7's, union and shortly league so we were divided up into the "rugby" girls and the "other" girls!! I was quite happy to be an "other" as I am certainly not interested in tackling or being tackled!!
Ended up playing a few games. It was overcast and even rained during the morning but this did not stop me from getting sun burned. Note to self: wear sun block and a hat in all weathers! They seemed to notice that I had played before and even though my skills need some serious work I am ever hopeful of getting into a reasonable team that will be fun.
After Touch I went to the car only to find the driver absent! After scratching my head for a few moments I figured he would probably be over at the Softball diamond watching some of the Pacific Cup Softball matches. Sure enough that is where I found him. Tanifa Samoa were playing Japan to decide who would play the NZ Black Sox in the final in the afternoon.
We headed home for the pancakes but decided to go back to the diamond to watch the final. Armed with NZ flag to pin over the balcony we arrived just in time for the national anthems and to see the Haka. The game was very exciting with some big hits, strike outs, home runs, fumbles and good catches. The Black Sox ended up beating Japan 6-4 and the game finished just in time for us to head home and get ready for our Valentines dinner out.
Roko's restaurant is lovely. This is the first time we had been there but it has outside balconies that jut out over the valley and look down on native flora. The tables were decorated with red and the Valentines menu was ready to go. After ordering a fresh strawberry margarita and daiquiri, for $10 each, we were served starters of tempura prawns, seafood brushetta, sashimi and sushi. Adam was in his element with all the sea food. Mains were 1/2 lobster each, calamari rings, prawns, masimasi and salmon served with salad and a baked potato. Very yummy. For me though dessert was the main affair and what I had been waiting for. Chocolate cheesecake with strawberries and icecream. Unfortunately a serious lack of strawberries, only 1 each, but as I got to eat both of them I was happy.
A thoroughly wonderful day.
Samoan Quilt
Adam has reminded me that I have not yet told you about my quilting experiences?! Now that my first ever quilt has been delivered as a Christmas present I can tell you all about it.
I was very surprised to find, when I visited the local Bookshop - Wesleys, that they had a book on beginner quilts for sale at a very reasonable cheap price so I snapped that up and decided to make a Samoan quilt for Olivia (a new addition to the world!)
My first experience was of trying to buy small quantities of Samoan fabric. I went to CCK where I had found they sold fabric and proceeded to mind my own business trying to match and blend colours. Several times I had to beat off the sales assistants who kept trying to take my rolls of fabric to the counter before I had finished getting the colour scheme right! I then tried to explain what I was doing with so many fabrics but I'm not sure they got the picture. They had never heard of a quilt and I think decided I was nuts to only want 20" off each roll of fabric so that I could cut it up and sew it back together again! Once my main colours had been selected the next problem was explaining that I needed a backing colour to match. Another 6 options later and I finally had the fabric ready to go so I let them carry my rolls to the counter.....
There was a pregnant girl at the counter who proceeded to lift the heavy rolls of fabric herself (I was the customer so was not allowed to assist) and measure my miniscule amounts required. Between our language difficulties and my conversions between cm and inches we got there! I eventually had my fabric and my piece of paper with quantities and costs written on it so I could take it to the till to pay.
Anyway having heard about my endeavours my friend here decided that she too would like to make her first quilt along side me. So began many Friday nights after work of cutting, sewing, chatting and drinking! Adam very kindly kept us supplied with nice dinners and otherwise kept out of the way of fabric strewn all around the lounge!
Of course there were a number of mishaps, quite a lot of unpicking of mistakes (Adam became a dab hand at this) and many lessons to be learnt (mainly - read the instructions first!!) but we got there and with the help of batting kindly brought over by Latika and Hedley we both got our first quilts made and were very pleased with the final results. I will be uploading photos of our progress to Flickr soon (I just need to get them off the computer at home).
Now I'm on to project number 2 which is so far going smoothly particularly due to the rotary cutter I bought when I was at home during Christmas. What a breeze it is doing all the cutting and ending up with straight lines! More info on this project later....
I was very surprised to find, when I visited the local Bookshop - Wesleys, that they had a book on beginner quilts for sale at a very reasonable cheap price so I snapped that up and decided to make a Samoan quilt for Olivia (a new addition to the world!)
My first experience was of trying to buy small quantities of Samoan fabric. I went to CCK where I had found they sold fabric and proceeded to mind my own business trying to match and blend colours. Several times I had to beat off the sales assistants who kept trying to take my rolls of fabric to the counter before I had finished getting the colour scheme right! I then tried to explain what I was doing with so many fabrics but I'm not sure they got the picture. They had never heard of a quilt and I think decided I was nuts to only want 20" off each roll of fabric so that I could cut it up and sew it back together again! Once my main colours had been selected the next problem was explaining that I needed a backing colour to match. Another 6 options later and I finally had the fabric ready to go so I let them carry my rolls to the counter.....
There was a pregnant girl at the counter who proceeded to lift the heavy rolls of fabric herself (I was the customer so was not allowed to assist) and measure my miniscule amounts required. Between our language difficulties and my conversions between cm and inches we got there! I eventually had my fabric and my piece of paper with quantities and costs written on it so I could take it to the till to pay.
Anyway having heard about my endeavours my friend here decided that she too would like to make her first quilt along side me. So began many Friday nights after work of cutting, sewing, chatting and drinking! Adam very kindly kept us supplied with nice dinners and otherwise kept out of the way of fabric strewn all around the lounge!
Of course there were a number of mishaps, quite a lot of unpicking of mistakes (Adam became a dab hand at this) and many lessons to be learnt (mainly - read the instructions first!!) but we got there and with the help of batting kindly brought over by Latika and Hedley we both got our first quilts made and were very pleased with the final results. I will be uploading photos of our progress to Flickr soon (I just need to get them off the computer at home).
Now I'm on to project number 2 which is so far going smoothly particularly due to the rotary cutter I bought when I was at home during Christmas. What a breeze it is doing all the cutting and ending up with straight lines! More info on this project later....
Friday, February 13, 2009
Valentines Fever
It's Friday the 13th today and tomorrow is Valentines Day. Oh boy the place has gone mad! Even more so than at Christmas. There is a race being held by the radio station tomorrow morning but I couldn't convince Adam to enter with me. Apparently you have to run around and collect things from different places. Sounds a bit like orienteering. In true Samoan fashion though if you don't fancy running around yourself you can bring one of your kids with you to do the leg work!
As for me well I'll be saying "Happy Valentines Dear - Bye"!! as I head off to Touch Rugby trials - well to find out what it's all about and if I'm good enough that is (they are very serious about Touch in this country).
I have however booked us a nice dinner for tomorrow night at Roko's restaurant. They were advertising a special Valentines Dinner with chocolate cheesecake and STRAWBERRIES and icecream (sorry can't tell you what the main is I'm only going for the dessert!) so I was sold.
Can't imagine there will be any roses (anyway according to the ad on the TV these are boring!) and the chocolate melts (same ad on TV also says fattening) so I'm not expecting anything but you never know I may be pleasantly surprised!! Hope you guys have a great one.
As for me well I'll be saying "Happy Valentines Dear - Bye"!! as I head off to Touch Rugby trials - well to find out what it's all about and if I'm good enough that is (they are very serious about Touch in this country).
I have however booked us a nice dinner for tomorrow night at Roko's restaurant. They were advertising a special Valentines Dinner with chocolate cheesecake and STRAWBERRIES and icecream (sorry can't tell you what the main is I'm only going for the dessert!) so I was sold.
Can't imagine there will be any roses (anyway according to the ad on the TV these are boring!) and the chocolate melts (same ad on TV also says fattening) so I'm not expecting anything but you never know I may be pleasantly surprised!! Hope you guys have a great one.
Maninoa Magic
Talofa all
Well last weekend we felt seriously in need of a weekend away at a beach, after all you can't live on a tropical island and just have an ordinary weekend now can you? Anyway Saturday lunch time we decided to throw our snorkelling gear and the chilly bin in the car and head over the other side of the island to a recommended spot....
What a little gem Maninoa Surf Resort is! Nestled in between 2 of the biggest resorts on Upolo (Coconuts and Sinalei) were about 7-8 open beach fales. It was pretty busy here. Luckily we managed to get a fale for the night. We were surrounded by Australian "hot bod" surfie types (well it added to the scenery for some ;-)) who did not a lot until it was deemed the surf was up and then they all piled into a small boat with out board motor and headed out to the break.
Meanwhile after exploring the nearby resorts (to suss out a nice spot for dinner) we decided to get snorkelling. It was a bit "bobby" out there on the water with a bit of swell and currents that were washing us down stream but nevertheless the snorkelling was great with lots of lovely fish and coral to look at.
Shortly after our retreat from the ocean the heavens decided to open and it bucketed down but that did not deter us as it was warm rain and very refreshing. Our fale had it's own verandah so we sat there with our Jack and a book and watched the surfies come back from their trip out.
The next day we had breakfast at the fales along with all the surfie dudes. Adam said it was like feeding time at the zoo and he wasn't far wrong. Breakfast consisted of toast, tea and coffee, spaghetti, sausages and cut up orange. Well it would have done if we managed to get in before it all went! Woomph and it disappeared in about 2 seconds flat. Luckily for us polite ones there was more on the way!
After letting our breakfast settle (another chapter of Harry Potter later) we eyed up the big black clouds rolling in over the hill tops behind us but decided not to let that deter us from going snorkelling again. This day was even better than the previous. We found a deep trench where the boats go in and out and on either side was fabulous fish and coral. It reminded me of the drop off! I had a great time with my new underwater camera taking photos and videos so watch out for them on Flickr and YouTube. Before long though I heard an almighy boom and thought there was something wrong with my head but it turned out to be thunder rolling over above. It started to rain big splotchy drops so it was about time for us to get out.
We sat on our verandah again and this time I rinsed the salt water off under the rain which was very warm. We packed up and headed home but it was a lovely mini break and I was pleased to have got away from the housework at home!
Well last weekend we felt seriously in need of a weekend away at a beach, after all you can't live on a tropical island and just have an ordinary weekend now can you? Anyway Saturday lunch time we decided to throw our snorkelling gear and the chilly bin in the car and head over the other side of the island to a recommended spot....
What a little gem Maninoa Surf Resort is! Nestled in between 2 of the biggest resorts on Upolo (Coconuts and Sinalei) were about 7-8 open beach fales. It was pretty busy here. Luckily we managed to get a fale for the night. We were surrounded by Australian "hot bod" surfie types (well it added to the scenery for some ;-)) who did not a lot until it was deemed the surf was up and then they all piled into a small boat with out board motor and headed out to the break.
Meanwhile after exploring the nearby resorts (to suss out a nice spot for dinner) we decided to get snorkelling. It was a bit "bobby" out there on the water with a bit of swell and currents that were washing us down stream but nevertheless the snorkelling was great with lots of lovely fish and coral to look at.
Shortly after our retreat from the ocean the heavens decided to open and it bucketed down but that did not deter us as it was warm rain and very refreshing. Our fale had it's own verandah so we sat there with our Jack and a book and watched the surfies come back from their trip out.
The next day we had breakfast at the fales along with all the surfie dudes. Adam said it was like feeding time at the zoo and he wasn't far wrong. Breakfast consisted of toast, tea and coffee, spaghetti, sausages and cut up orange. Well it would have done if we managed to get in before it all went! Woomph and it disappeared in about 2 seconds flat. Luckily for us polite ones there was more on the way!
After letting our breakfast settle (another chapter of Harry Potter later) we eyed up the big black clouds rolling in over the hill tops behind us but decided not to let that deter us from going snorkelling again. This day was even better than the previous. We found a deep trench where the boats go in and out and on either side was fabulous fish and coral. It reminded me of the drop off! I had a great time with my new underwater camera taking photos and videos so watch out for them on Flickr and YouTube. Before long though I heard an almighy boom and thought there was something wrong with my head but it turned out to be thunder rolling over above. It started to rain big splotchy drops so it was about time for us to get out.
We sat on our verandah again and this time I rinsed the salt water off under the rain which was very warm. We packed up and headed home but it was a lovely mini break and I was pleased to have got away from the housework at home!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Library Update
Things have been happening around this place! Even in my absence one of my famous "lists" ensured that things still happened! We have finally finished weeding the journal collection and it now looks and feels a whole lot better. I do not feel bad at all for discarding a few tons of printed material dating from 1929-1979!! We created so much space that I have been able to convert some of it into a Journal display area and also re-organise our Reference Collection. Tables and chairs have been moved into the area to provide group study space. People are noticing a lot of changes have been happening - I just hope they prove to be for the best!
In addition to this I have unpacked the 40 boxes of books donated by NZ libraries and divided them up. All the fiction is now out on our shelves and our staff and students are enjoying having some new titles to read. I donated the adult Non-Fiction to the public library and now have the Children's picture books, fiction and non-fiction left to gift to a worthy school.
I tried my hardest to find a couple of couches for the newspaper reading area in the library but to no avail so now that I have my budget for 2009 I have been out and purchased us a couple. They had only been out of the plastic and put in place 10 minutes before people began to relax on them so that was perfect - just what I wanted. I was so excited about getting 2 couches for the library that I began to check myself for what things it's "cool" to get excited about!! Again things we usually take for granted are so fabulous when you get to have them here.
We are now in the build up to the start of the new semester and planning for orientation. I am getting my head around what happens here for this. Starting next week we are having a staff "orientation" type day where apparently I am going to teach Customer Service and then give them a tour of the new library layout. Next week is Orientation for the students when I have to do a presentation and then take short tours around the library and the first week of semester we have a 4 module "Success @ USP" course to run for new and existing students who want to attend. In this I will cover the library in a bit more depth with maybe a bit of searching techniques and also have to cover Referencing. Phew. Busy busy but all good fun.
I am also assisting one of the lecturers with his research into Taro Leaf Blight which hit Samoa in 1993. I have been looking for information but also will be building a digital library of research that has been undertaken at USP and the Ministry of Agriculture over the last 15 years of the Taro Breeding Project. It is vital that Samoa produces some export crops this year and the aimed for date is October so it's exciting to be involved in a national project.
In addition to this I have unpacked the 40 boxes of books donated by NZ libraries and divided them up. All the fiction is now out on our shelves and our staff and students are enjoying having some new titles to read. I donated the adult Non-Fiction to the public library and now have the Children's picture books, fiction and non-fiction left to gift to a worthy school.
I tried my hardest to find a couple of couches for the newspaper reading area in the library but to no avail so now that I have my budget for 2009 I have been out and purchased us a couple. They had only been out of the plastic and put in place 10 minutes before people began to relax on them so that was perfect - just what I wanted. I was so excited about getting 2 couches for the library that I began to check myself for what things it's "cool" to get excited about!! Again things we usually take for granted are so fabulous when you get to have them here.
We are now in the build up to the start of the new semester and planning for orientation. I am getting my head around what happens here for this. Starting next week we are having a staff "orientation" type day where apparently I am going to teach Customer Service and then give them a tour of the new library layout. Next week is Orientation for the students when I have to do a presentation and then take short tours around the library and the first week of semester we have a 4 module "Success @ USP" course to run for new and existing students who want to attend. In this I will cover the library in a bit more depth with maybe a bit of searching techniques and also have to cover Referencing. Phew. Busy busy but all good fun.
I am also assisting one of the lecturers with his research into Taro Leaf Blight which hit Samoa in 1993. I have been looking for information but also will be building a digital library of research that has been undertaken at USP and the Ministry of Agriculture over the last 15 years of the Taro Breeding Project. It is vital that Samoa produces some export crops this year and the aimed for date is October so it's exciting to be involved in a national project.
Angela's Antics!
Talofa Lava everyone
Well It's been a busy few weeks what with heading home for Christmas, galavanting around New Zealand seeing everyone, back to Samoa for a week and off to Sydney for the Information Online Conference. I'm back in Samoa for a rest now! It's taken me 2 weeks to catch up with myself and get time to write on the blog. It's now Friday night and it's the finals of the 7's in Wellington so I'm quickly fitting in a spare moment before my lift home arrives and I'll have to be going as after all there is 7's to be watching! Go the Kiwis. Wasn't it a great win over the Aussies last night?!
Well I see Adam has given you his account of Christmas! He has covered most of it really. I just wanted to say that it was a fabulous time at home. So many shops, so much food (particularly strawberries which we don't get here and apricots and nectarines .... the list goes on) and so much good company. We enjoyed a week up in Auckland when we arrived being treated to Latika's culinary delights which included some potent maitai's and margaritta's that has to be tested. My favourite had to be the Ocean Breeze though with Blue Curacaeo. A Samoan tradition - or one that we created during Latika and Hedley's visit here at Happy Hour.
It was fabulous to meet up with the girls I originally did library training with back in the early 1990's. We have kept in touch all this time so had a mini reunion at Mission Bay the day after I arrived in Auckland. It was great to see everyone, catch up with the latest gossip and see all the children!
Also fab to see Derek and Richard at the pub in New Market. Photos on Flickr by the way.
After spending Christmas in Auckland with both families we heading down to Wellington for a week. Caught up with Barbara and Malcolm and the new addition to the family - Olivia. What a gorgeous wee thing and I mean wee. So tiny but I bet she has been growing fast since we left. Got to take some great photos of Kapiti Island while there testing out my new camera and saw Nana while in Wellington. Had a few outings with Mum and Dad around shopping for everything on my list that we needed to take back to Samoa. I must say even I was shopped out in the end.
Sooooooo after 3 weeks in NZ we came back to Samoa before I headed to Sydney for yet another busy time of Conference and meeting people. My Japanese friend Yuki came up from Canberra for a couple of days so we enjoyed Japanese lunch, afternoon tea (at the Japanese cake shop) and dinner. I am now well educated in where to go in Sydney for a great meal. Once Yuki left it was time for the Information Online conference. I caught up with Coral and Donna who I used to work with at UCOL and we had a great 3 days at the conference. No light bulbs went on with the presentations this time round but I found the Exhibition hall very useful so now have many new contacts for Agricultural resources. The mission for the conference was to see how many free pens I could collect to bring back to Samoa - as they seem to be like hens teeth here and disappear from under your nose within seconds! With the help of my friends I think we collected about 150 - problem was I had to carry them back in my suitcase!
Once the conference ended my brother came down from Brisbane to stay for a couple of nights and we "did" sydney. Well we did a lot of talking about everything and some visiting of his friends etc which we haven't been able to do for years as we have been in different countries. I had to remind him numerous times that I walk at "Samoan Pace" these days and to stop frog marching me around Sydney at top speed!
Well that's got me about up to date so byeee for now. The weekend is here so Yippee. Might get out with my new camera and it's new underwater case to test it out. I buggered the old one up taking it underwater but now I might even be able to make you some fish videos - I hear you groan.
Speak soon
Tofa soifua
Well It's been a busy few weeks what with heading home for Christmas, galavanting around New Zealand seeing everyone, back to Samoa for a week and off to Sydney for the Information Online Conference. I'm back in Samoa for a rest now! It's taken me 2 weeks to catch up with myself and get time to write on the blog. It's now Friday night and it's the finals of the 7's in Wellington so I'm quickly fitting in a spare moment before my lift home arrives and I'll have to be going as after all there is 7's to be watching! Go the Kiwis. Wasn't it a great win over the Aussies last night?!
Well I see Adam has given you his account of Christmas! He has covered most of it really. I just wanted to say that it was a fabulous time at home. So many shops, so much food (particularly strawberries which we don't get here and apricots and nectarines .... the list goes on) and so much good company. We enjoyed a week up in Auckland when we arrived being treated to Latika's culinary delights which included some potent maitai's and margaritta's that has to be tested. My favourite had to be the Ocean Breeze though with Blue Curacaeo. A Samoan tradition - or one that we created during Latika and Hedley's visit here at Happy Hour.
It was fabulous to meet up with the girls I originally did library training with back in the early 1990's. We have kept in touch all this time so had a mini reunion at Mission Bay the day after I arrived in Auckland. It was great to see everyone, catch up with the latest gossip and see all the children!
Also fab to see Derek and Richard at the pub in New Market. Photos on Flickr by the way.
After spending Christmas in Auckland with both families we heading down to Wellington for a week. Caught up with Barbara and Malcolm and the new addition to the family - Olivia. What a gorgeous wee thing and I mean wee. So tiny but I bet she has been growing fast since we left. Got to take some great photos of Kapiti Island while there testing out my new camera and saw Nana while in Wellington. Had a few outings with Mum and Dad around shopping for everything on my list that we needed to take back to Samoa. I must say even I was shopped out in the end.
Sooooooo after 3 weeks in NZ we came back to Samoa before I headed to Sydney for yet another busy time of Conference and meeting people. My Japanese friend Yuki came up from Canberra for a couple of days so we enjoyed Japanese lunch, afternoon tea (at the Japanese cake shop) and dinner. I am now well educated in where to go in Sydney for a great meal. Once Yuki left it was time for the Information Online conference. I caught up with Coral and Donna who I used to work with at UCOL and we had a great 3 days at the conference. No light bulbs went on with the presentations this time round but I found the Exhibition hall very useful so now have many new contacts for Agricultural resources. The mission for the conference was to see how many free pens I could collect to bring back to Samoa - as they seem to be like hens teeth here and disappear from under your nose within seconds! With the help of my friends I think we collected about 150 - problem was I had to carry them back in my suitcase!
Once the conference ended my brother came down from Brisbane to stay for a couple of nights and we "did" sydney. Well we did a lot of talking about everything and some visiting of his friends etc which we haven't been able to do for years as we have been in different countries. I had to remind him numerous times that I walk at "Samoan Pace" these days and to stop frog marching me around Sydney at top speed!
Well that's got me about up to date so byeee for now. The weekend is here so Yippee. Might get out with my new camera and it's new underwater case to test it out. I buggered the old one up taking it underwater but now I might even be able to make you some fish videos - I hear you groan.
Speak soon
Tofa soifua
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