House Gecko Eggs

According to Google, House Geckos lay 1-2 eggs in a cluster and then leave them. They need to be kept at a temperature of 88 degrees fahrenheit which is about 31 degrees celcius and need to be humid.

We have been cleaning out the outside laundry since the cyclone and found these eggs. 4 were in a puddle so not sure they will have survived but the other 3 were just on a plastic bin lid. Its not as if we need more geckos but Im watching over these now to see if any hatch. Only a potential 60-120 days to wait! Im letting the climate with regard to temperature and humidity take care of itself, after all we are in Samoa!

Merry Christmas Shortbread Trees

After much battling with yet another ant invasion and forgetting that in the climate of Samoa, chocolate melts naturally rather than sets! I managed to produce these christmas trees as gifts for our friends, oh and maybe some left overs for us as well! Thanks to Adam for finding the dowling and using some kiwi ingenuity to produce the holders for me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Bluesky Samoa Christmas Fireworks 2012

Thank you to Bluesky Samoa for providing these fireworks and giving everyone something to look forward to as they continue their cleanup efforts. The fireworks looked great reflecting in the Apia harbourwaters and were received with squeels from the excited crowd. The "Fair Ground" rides for the kids also looked like fun with zorb like inflated balls on water and dodgem cars!

New Samoan Beer

Samoa is now producing 2 new Beers brewed here. The Taula (lager) and the Pure Sama (like Corona). They have tough competition with Vailima which is a long standing favourite with the locals and tourists alike but Adam gave the Taula a go!

Cyclone vegetation recovery

Amazingly enough tropical plants have a great ability to regenerate. Banana plantations that I thought decimated, begun to sprout new leaves after only 2 days so maybe all is not lost afterall! Palm trees that were stripped of leaves have also already put up new fronds.

1 day after Cyclone Evan



1 week later

Samoa Perimeter Relay 2012

September 1st was the forth running of the Samoa Perimeter Relay. Once again I joined Daryll in the NPI Flyers team.

Like last year we had a few issues getting our team to the start line. Apart from the 2 of us, none of the rest of last years team was able (or willing?) to join us again this year. We then had a couple of late withdrawals due to injury - someone did suggest that maybe we are getting a bit old for this!

Anyway, we did manage to round up 6 runners for our team and just like the previous 3 years we had a great day on the roads.


The NPI Flyers reach the finish line

posted from Bloggeroid

After a long hard run, a Pineapple and Mango frappe is just what you need!

Tamaligi (Flame Trees) at Mulinuu, Apia, Samoa November 2012

Nana's 90th

Nana was 90 on the 10th November 2012.  Here is the quilt I made for her in "all of her lovely colours"!  We had a high tea in the Johnsonville Hall with family and some of her close friends.

Rotary Apia and the Library Association of Samoa work together to bring books for Schools in Samoa

Samoa Observer 30th October 2012

Samoa vs Scotland Netball Test Series

In October the Scotland Thistles visited Samoa to play 3 test series games against Samoa.  They took out the series 2-1 however there were some hard fought games there and 1 very exciting win to Samoa!

During the series we took care of the international umpires that were visiting from NZ to officiate the games.  It was our pleasure to act as liaison for them and to take care of their needs.  We had some great after match debriefs next to the Aggies pool over a drink or two.  Always nice to spend time with other netball mad people!!

During the series some of our local umpires passed their Regional Practical Badges and I was passed as a Regional Assessor so can continue to test people in the future.

The Scottish team receive their Lavalava's

With top NZ umpires Danielle, Kristie and Fay and Umpire Coach Colleen.

Scotland celebrate their win and improved world ranking!

ICA World Series 8 Cricket Tournament

Yes this tournament was held in Samoa this year on the 22nd September.  We went along on the final day to watch a bit of Cricket.  Vanuatu played an excellent final against Ghana and came out on top.

LNISS, Men's Nationals and NZSS ....

Yes I would be talking about Netball!  In September we came over to NZ and I umpired at two tournaments, the Lower North Island Secondary Schools (in Palmerston North) and the Men's Nationals (in Porirua) tournements, in preparation for the NZ Secondary Schools tournament in Timaru in October.

It was freezing!!  This spa bath in our room helped with thawing out!  Adam even had to go running in his thermals!!

Here is a little palagi umpire in action!!

 With my friend Marion, who's daughter was playing

 This is the Men's Nationals in Porirua.  Um can someone tell that Centre about which way a C is meant to go?!!

 

Then it was on to the NZ Secondary Schools in Timaru in October.

Alicia and Kate do "colds" after a tough game, obviously made easier with a hot drink in hand!

 With the talented Umpire Coaches, without whom none of us would progress our skills!

Doing the job...

On finals day with Alone my co-umpire and Myron our reserve

Team White!

Oceania Umpire Jona from Fiji

Lois Muir presents the medals to the winners of the 2012 NZSS tournament, MAGS from Auckland.

 

Samoa : A Historical Novel

Author Robert Shaffer visited Samoa in August 2012 to launch his new novel "Samoa : A Historical Novel".  The novel is a blend of fiction with factual information, covering life in Samoa.

We were lucky enough to see Robert at the local Samoa Stationery and Books shop and have a few copies signed.

Adama's Farewell

What better way to farewell a dear friend than with High Tea at Plantation House!?  My friend and colleague Adama from USP School of Agriculture recently left to migrate to Canada.  She is sadly missed by all of us at USP as was an excellent lecturer.  I have also now lost a lunch partner!!  She and her 2 daughters joined me for High Tea which was an experience for them (they had never had one before).  Although they had lived in Samoa for 13 years they were originally from Nigeria.

Lucky's Memorial

We held a memorial for Lucky our beloved dog for the 3rd September this year as it was the anniversary of her passing.  Here we are enjoying a quiet Jack and a few nibbles with her and her Frangipani tree (which has now blown down in the Cyclone but will be re-established!)  Old Man also joined us.

iPads for Agricultural Education

At USP Alafua Campus we have recently been trialling the use of iPad devices for use in agricultural education.  With the help of JICA, who donated 20 iPads to campus, lecturing staff and students have borrowed devices from the library and used them to undertake basic tasks such as familiarising themselves with mobile devices, taking photos and video and accessing course notes. 

Survey's were taking before and after the mini project to gauge people's opinion and collect data on how useful and easy the devices were to use.  A report on this is now being created.

In 2013 we hope to continue using these devices on campus and explore other uses such as accessing and reading ebooks, undertaking surveys out in the field, social media, video conferencing and chat to facilitate classroom discussion and using the devices to record notes or information while out int he field.

Here is a photo of Professor Shigeyoshi Watanabe from JICA and USP's Associate Professor and Chair of the mLearning Committee Bibhya Sharma with myself and the iPads

 Professor Watanabe also took us out for dinner to celebrate the end of the project to Giordanos Italian Restaurant