A very busy, but oh so enjoyable August

On the last day of August, I reflect on the many things that have happened.Simon had a lovely birthday on the 1st August, playing golf and then dining at our favourite restaurant , Ashiyana's with Udo and the Battison family Doug, Maree and their sons, Harris 9and Lewis 6 years of age( Doug and Udo are two of my delightful work colleagues and several of Simon's Fiji golfing partners )Then Simon actually flew out to Australia to be with his Mum. She was so thrilled to have him home for a few weeks and her health improved remarkably. I was very busy with work AND I decided to make tomato relish in Fiji ! a challenge , but it turned out quite edible and everyone wants the recipe, so it must be OK. It is peak tomato season here and the mangoes are just starting. The sugar cane season is in full swing and if you strike sugar cane train you have to wait for a long time as they are sooooo long !
I also was invited by 2 of my students who are sisters, to attend a Methodist Church service. It was 2 hours long and 95 % in Fijian,and their singing voices were stunning. It brought back many childhood memories of the Wesley hymns. It was quite emotional as I thought of my gorgeous Dad who was a strong Methodist devotee.
Simon is back now and we have just enjoyed having Peter Conyers, a golfing mate, over here for a week. I needed to visit Suva, so dropped them at The Pearl Resort and Golf course for one night and picked them up the next day on our return to Nadi.
They squeezed in 5 games of golf in the week, which included one game at the new 36 million dollar course at the Intercontinental Hotel in Natadola, about half an hour away from here. This weekend we welcome Christopher across here for 2 weeks.
Our 29 Certificate 3 students graduated on Friday 28th August. Kerryn was able to return from Australia to share in the celebrations and work with me for the week leading up to the Graduation. What a very memorable evening it was for everyone.
The weather is still delightful at 27 or 28 each day... what a wonderful place to live and work... soon I will need to make a decision about 2010... mmmmm....

Back home to Fiji

July was a hectic but enjoyable month... we both crammed in so many things !
I finished teaching the Cert 3 of Children's services course with my students and we had many dinner celebrations together. They sang "Isa Lei" to me, which is the Fijian farewell song, which was very emotional. I spent a few days entering results and preparing for my new group of Cert 3's this term and be ready for my "old" Cert 3's to return as Diploma students ! I flew back home as planned on July 3rd to spend time with my delightful family, our 2 inseparable dogs, Lucy and Harry and catch up with as many work colleagues, neighbours and friends as possible in one week ! Sleeping in my own bed was just "heavenly", especially with my very own pillow ( which I squashed into the case to bring back here ) Both my Daphne bushes are still alive ! amazing !
Since our return Simon's Mum has been hospitalized with Salmonella poisoning and a chest infection, but is progressing well now. At 90, these things take a little longer to abate.
Christopher has booked to visit us in early Sept and one of my sisters, Dot and her partner Trevor are coming mid Sept. One of Simon's golfing mates is also flying over sometime too.
The weather is quite dry now, with daily temperatures hovering around 26 to 28 and sunny skies, but with cooler nights of 17 or 18 ... slightly different from Melbourne ! It was very odd wearing long sleeves, long pants, boots, coats and scarves ! It only took 10 minutes to change into thongs, t-shirts and shorts again.
We have been to the Bula Festival in Nadi and I was chosen to be one of the judges for the 9 contestants vying to be Miss Bula ( all in the name of charity)
As a token of appreciation we received tickets to the Bula Ball ! Simon wore one of his bright Bula shirts from his growing collection and I borrowed a very colourful Bula dress ! It was a memorable evening....
We look forward to celebrating Simon's birthday on Aug 1st..... better hunt for the candles !

A few more photos of our adventures and friends here !

These Fijian birds are called bulbuls. About 20 of them descend upon our balcony each morning awaiting their slice of bread, carefully fed to them by Simon. Since he has been back in Melbourne, they sqwark outside our window until I feed them ! Not sure what they will do when I go home too !

Lauren joins us in Fiji

Bula everyone !
Once again, I have been very slow in adding a new entry.. apologies... we have been very busy showing our daughter Lauren, the sights of sunny Fiji ! we spent 3 days on the Coral Coast, meeting lots of attentive staff ( Lauren phographed with one called Tange) and then celebrated her 27th Birthday with a day boat cruise to Malamala island. Since she was here, Simon has now gone home for a few weeks and I fly home on Fri 3rd July. We both return on July 12th.
The weather here is a little cooler now and I have even wore long sleeves twice in the evening ! Although cooler is about 28 in the day instead of 35 and at night about 19 instead of 25. The daily swims are less frequent, but I still enjoy a dip a few days per week.
I taught my last class with my Certificate 3 students today, but hopefully will be able to continue teaching them, as they have chosen to continue their studies by enrolling in the Diploma of Children's Services, due to start on July 17th. There will be 24 students in Diploma and I have a new group of Cert 3 beginning on July 21st !The second half of the year promises to be extremely busy ! Simon is joining the local golf club and has been playing weekly in what they call the "Chook Run " The prize is a few frozen chickens !

A great time with our visitors

Bula everyone!
No entries for a while.. we have been very busy showing my sister-in-law Helen and my brother James, the sights of Fiji. They spent a few days on Mana Island which they loved, before we headed down to the Coral coast together for 3 days of sightseeing and snorkelling ! This I did for the first time ever in my life and am now hooked ! Simon had not been snorkelling since I had met him, so 35 years ago and he is sorry to have left it that long ! It was so good to see them both. James visited the Asco Motors, the Toyota dealership here,to check out the different models etc and the workshop area. We were enthralled by the beautiful famous orchid gardens at the Land of the Sleeping Giant started by Raymond Burr, the US actor, many years ago. We scrambled over the Sigatoka Sand Dunes and visited the Tavuni Hill Fort hearing gory stories of the early days of cannibalism in Fiji.
Simon continues to play a little golf, shopping, cooking, reads a lot and does heaps of crosswords sent over by Lauren ! She will be our next visitor in a few weeks time. Christopher is planning to visit later in the year.
My work is very hectic as the students are coming to the end of the Certificate 3 in Children's services. There will be a 3 week break before many continue in the Diploma course. We hope to go home to Melbourne for a period during that break. I have extended my contract until Dec 31st 09.
The weather continue to become less humid, and drier now. It is just delightful, we are making the most of it, as we about hear the chilly temperatures back home.... brrrr.......
It is around three months now since our arrival in Fiji and the many letters and parcels from home are always very welcome... they create that special link...

Time is passing quickly AND the weather is cooling down slightly !

Much has happened in the past few weeks. Suva was so different from Nadi. The photo shows the spectacular view over the city of Suva from our hotel window on the 9th floor ! It is a much bigger city and more urbanized. Simon and I enjoyed our time there, and took pride in finding our way around quite easily. We were there at a very historical time when Commodore Bainimarama was ousted and then re-instated within a short time. At any time, we did not feel in danger, but did return to Nadi on Easter Saturday in time for Easter Bunny. Since then, I have been extra busy at my work as we are beginning a Resort Kids Club stream of Certificate 3 in Children's Services in July, so have been in contact with all the large resorts both on Denerau Island and the Coral Coast. At the weekend we welcomed my sister-in-law Helen and my brother James to Fiji and have been busy showing them the wonderful sights of Fiji and feasting on scrumptious pineapple and pawpaw etc. Lovely blue sunny skies of 28 degrees and very little breeze. The weather is MUCH less humid now and the days not quite as hot as before and drier. Next weekend, the 4 of us, we will head to the Coral Coast for a few days snorkelling and enjoying the sun and sand. I still cannot get my head around working in such a holiday destination. It is so nice to see them both as our first visitors.. we hope many more will join us here. It does appear to be quite safe and one would hardly know what was happening politically on the other side of the island. The Fijian school holidays are about to start as they have 3 terms here.
I have been to many teacher's meetings, building my professional network and loving the teaching side of things. Simon has played some more golf and made more new friends. We do love the Aussie butcher here and Simon has made some yummy meals...
I tested the oven again and made Anzac Biscuits for Anzac Day. My students had not tasted them before and want the recipe !

Off to Suva for Easter

Simon and I are both well and looking forward to a few days away together.
It is now time to visit the southern Coral Coast region and the eastern side of Fiji. We have a break from classes for 2 weeks, as the APTC follows the Victorian school terms. I will still be working a few days over in Suva leading up to Easter. There are 4 students from there, who travel weekly over to Nadi for classes. I will then be working the second week back her in Nadi, for the four days, but reduced hours slightly ! More swimming time !
We are very excited as it will be a real change from this side, they even have traffic lights in Suva. Our 2 sets in Nadi have not worked since the floods in January and they are pedestrain crossings , not at an intersection. So it is a bit odd not to have travelled through a traffic light for 7 weeks !
We spoke to Christopher on Skpe tonight, so good to know that he is home safely from Europe and Lauren as a new job at Hahndorf chocolates ! Yum Yum