Okay so I was a bit too excited last week about the Samoan in town. I went along to meet Mr Samoa guy's wife and ummm don't know if it was me but there was no enthusiasm there. Ok the guy is from NZ and half Samoan moved to the UK and married a lady there. So the lady pretty much summed him by saying he just happens to be Samoan. That's okay I know a lot of Samoans/palagi with identity issues ha! Anyway not fair I haven't met the Samoan dude. I met the gate keeper instead who prefers to keep things the way they are it seemed. choo hooo. Need I say more it was not a warm meeting and we didn't exchange numbers and I didn't even feel like asking for her numbers as we were just NOT gelling(is that a word). So bye to any prospective Samoan toonai soon lol. My other friend checked out the other supposed Samoan that worked with her husband and it turned out that they're from Papua New Guinea! I still asked for their numbers so they can join our Pacific Island community if they want some Pacific vibes in Oman.
Hubby dearest said the other night that he was going out to the local rugby club for a few. I didn't mind as I'd be on scrabble or read my book anyway. 5 seconds later I changed my mind because I hadn't been out in a while so I called our darling baby sitter and decided to crash the boys party ha! Funny thing, I was like a little kid I was so excited when we were just going to the good ol' boring rugby club!!! There were lots of rugby games on that night. NZ vs England and then Samoan played France later. I ate dinner earlier in the evening and by the time we went out my tummy was empty and a few drinks later I don't even remember seeing the ONE try Samoan scored against France 40 something points! Anyway as we do in Samoa we say "well at least they crossed the try line" ha ha! So there's always a positive. But I wasn't feeling positive when I woke up in the morning. I was so hungover and felt awful yesterday. Anyway today is a new day and hopefully I won't be doing that again any time soon. bahaha! Ce la vie!
My beautiful boy is a star. This is my blog so I'm going to brag about my son as much as I like. He's very active and knows what he wants. Lately he comes over and grabs my hand or his daddy's to pull us down to the floor to play games with him. It's just too cute. He likes one of us to roll on the floor with him and he has this habit of jumping on me which hurts like heck but he seems to think it's funny!!! He also knows to point to the fridge where his drinks and yogurt are and he points to what he wants. He's quite bossy I must say. He's starting to fend for himself though still not fast enough when his bestie who's 6 months older pushes him to the ground and tries to ride on his back. I get so pissed off when I see this so I've become more pro-active and actually tell the other child to stop it or no hitting if the parent won't. At first I almost taught my son how to push or fight back and then luckily I had an epiphany(big word just wanted to use it) that I'd be teaching him violence. He'll learn to deal with that sort of situation in his own way which he is already. He tries to get away or just pulls his hand away. The thing is it won't be long before he can give as much as he gets so I don't want to encourage any violence in my little gentle boy.
He loves to talk on the phone, when he sees me on the phone he wants to talk on it too which he does quite well. He walks around with the phone like he's all grown up. Very cute. He loves to blow kisses to his nana when we skype and today he got so enthusiastic with his bye byes he was marching real fast with hands in the air. It was just comical I was laughing so hard. Lately he discovered he can climb on the back of the couch and tries to stand up there too which just about gives me a heart attack. He loves balls, he throws and kicks 'em. He's been learning to pass and scrum with his dad using the rugby ball. He loves the tackling thing and driving daddy meaning his holding on to hubby's legs. So cute. When one of us reprimands him for doing something naughty like playing with the wall socket he then ignores the disciplinarian for a while. He likes to go outside and push his big tonka truck around.
We're off to New Zealand in 3 weeks and I can't wait. I hope Mommy dearest can make it over for Christmas.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Samoan alert in Oman!!!
Two weeks ago I decided to be gung-ho and go out there and meet more people to make life more interesting. I met up with Molly again at play group and both were interested in beach walks so we went for our first walk on the beach two weeks ago and when I got there there was another woman with her baby in tow ready for the walk. So there were three of us with our little ones in tow all ready to face the sun rise on the lovely Shatti beach. So off we went. Nice quick steps and quicker with the chin as we chatted away. So the lady I'd just met asked my nationality and I said Samoan. We talked about NZ and she mentioned that she lived there for three years and her husband was from there. She asked if there were other Samoans here and I said not that I knew off. The only other one I knew left earlier in the year. Anyway as we kept walking and they mentioned a mutual friend of theirs and then Jane exclaimed that she's married to a Samoan!!! Imagine my excitement to discover that there's another Samoan in town! So this week Molly informed me that she'd arranged a coffee meeting with Samoan guy's wife on Sunday so I'd meet her first before we can all meet up with the husbands. So I can't wait to meet her this week-end.
Anyway I went around to Molly's house for a play date and she mentioned that another friend Erika has said that her husband worked with a Samoan and they immediately thought of me so they'll hook us up some time soon!!! So exciting.
Anyway I went around to Molly's house for a play date and she mentioned that another friend Erika has said that her husband worked with a Samoan and they immediately thought of me so they'll hook us up some time soon!!! So exciting.
Life in Muscat
Moving
I've been scouring the papers looking for a good priced villa for us to move to. We currently live in a two bedroom apartment complex which is really nice but feel we need more room for our little son to run around in. I've found one within our budget and am happy with it. It's now a waiting game to see how long it takes for our sponsor company to sort it out and if the landlord is happy with our offer. I'll just hope for the best.
Spa break
Last week-end hubby dearest booked us in a spa resort out of town for the night. It was such a lovely break from town. Beautiful green gardens and grounds. The hotel was spread out and used bikes and carts for people to get around on. It was very nice. I got a deep tissue massage which was so good I didn't want it to end! The pool was big and one side was very shallow that my son enjoyed immensely and it was easy to enjoy as he did his thing and we were just nearby to make sure he was safe. Later we went and played pool at the games room while the bar man was happy to play with Tau!! The staff were superb and the rooms were huge. We'll definitely go back there when we can!! It was fantastic and truly relaxing.
Parental abuse
I was quite concerned when I saw my sister's blog dishing it out to our PM a few days ago. So I called her up to enlighten me on the situation and was pointed to the Samoa Observer website that published our Prime Minister's letter addressed to my Mom who is President of SUNGO which stands for Samoa Umbrella of Non-Governmental Organistations and the CEO of SUNGO Mrs Roina Vavatau. The letter was almost hilarious in it's childish accusations that it's hard to believe that the writer is the man that is leading our poor country. He was accusing my beloved mom and the CEO of SUNGO of self-promotion using SUNGO and saying that this is the first time SUNGO is not working with the govt. I'm not sure where in the NON-governmental organisation he missed the point! The current building that SUNGO operates out of was given to them by the goverment to use. Well as one reader pointed out it's paid by the tax-payers who are also represented by SUNGO in many ways. I was alarmed by the vicious letter but also digusted at the nature of this man that leads our country. In the letter the PM said to SUNGO that the building was given to them by the government so they should keep up the good relations. So the PM thought that giving SUNGO a building would ensure their silence and cooperation! He shoots people down like no one has a right to say anything to him and his government. Well I'm comfortable in the knowledge that my Mom stands for the rights of the people that the govermnent prefers to turn a deaf ear to.
I just did my own digging and it seems like SUNGO has been hindering the PM's plans for awhile now when SUNGO were the ones that stood strong against the switching of the road, that were against the land bill that will allow foreigners to buy Samoan lands. And the latest is the Samoan Americans sent lots of goods to help the villages that suffered from the tsunami and these organisations decided to go through SUNGO to ensure the quick distribution of the goods to those in need and avoid the bureaucracy these things go through if sent to the government.
I spoke to my Mom recently and as expected she's undeterred by the PM's words to them. They're doing their jobs by the people and nothing the PM does or says will stop them. SUNGO haven't been the only ones on the receiving end as the media have also been on the receiving end of these accusations. The PM wants to control the media so that they don't report negative things about the government. Sadly he is acting like a dictator. There is no opposition party at the moment and the ministers that tried to form an opposition party were almost forced out of government, and each time, the government draft a new bill to protect themselves who are in power. Well it will come back to bite them soon enough.
I've been scouring the papers looking for a good priced villa for us to move to. We currently live in a two bedroom apartment complex which is really nice but feel we need more room for our little son to run around in. I've found one within our budget and am happy with it. It's now a waiting game to see how long it takes for our sponsor company to sort it out and if the landlord is happy with our offer. I'll just hope for the best.
Spa break
Last week-end hubby dearest booked us in a spa resort out of town for the night. It was such a lovely break from town. Beautiful green gardens and grounds. The hotel was spread out and used bikes and carts for people to get around on. It was very nice. I got a deep tissue massage which was so good I didn't want it to end! The pool was big and one side was very shallow that my son enjoyed immensely and it was easy to enjoy as he did his thing and we were just nearby to make sure he was safe. Later we went and played pool at the games room while the bar man was happy to play with Tau!! The staff were superb and the rooms were huge. We'll definitely go back there when we can!! It was fantastic and truly relaxing.
Parental abuse
I was quite concerned when I saw my sister's blog dishing it out to our PM a few days ago. So I called her up to enlighten me on the situation and was pointed to the Samoa Observer website that published our Prime Minister's letter addressed to my Mom who is President of SUNGO which stands for Samoa Umbrella of Non-Governmental Organistations and the CEO of SUNGO Mrs Roina Vavatau. The letter was almost hilarious in it's childish accusations that it's hard to believe that the writer is the man that is leading our poor country. He was accusing my beloved mom and the CEO of SUNGO of self-promotion using SUNGO and saying that this is the first time SUNGO is not working with the govt. I'm not sure where in the NON-governmental organisation he missed the point! The current building that SUNGO operates out of was given to them by the goverment to use. Well as one reader pointed out it's paid by the tax-payers who are also represented by SUNGO in many ways. I was alarmed by the vicious letter but also digusted at the nature of this man that leads our country. In the letter the PM said to SUNGO that the building was given to them by the government so they should keep up the good relations. So the PM thought that giving SUNGO a building would ensure their silence and cooperation! He shoots people down like no one has a right to say anything to him and his government. Well I'm comfortable in the knowledge that my Mom stands for the rights of the people that the govermnent prefers to turn a deaf ear to.
I just did my own digging and it seems like SUNGO has been hindering the PM's plans for awhile now when SUNGO were the ones that stood strong against the switching of the road, that were against the land bill that will allow foreigners to buy Samoan lands. And the latest is the Samoan Americans sent lots of goods to help the villages that suffered from the tsunami and these organisations decided to go through SUNGO to ensure the quick distribution of the goods to those in need and avoid the bureaucracy these things go through if sent to the government.
I spoke to my Mom recently and as expected she's undeterred by the PM's words to them. They're doing their jobs by the people and nothing the PM does or says will stop them. SUNGO haven't been the only ones on the receiving end as the media have also been on the receiving end of these accusations. The PM wants to control the media so that they don't report negative things about the government. Sadly he is acting like a dictator. There is no opposition party at the moment and the ministers that tried to form an opposition party were almost forced out of government, and each time, the government draft a new bill to protect themselves who are in power. Well it will come back to bite them soon enough.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mourning
The past week has been one of the saddest in my lifetime. When I heard about the tsunami I spent hours glued to the news on TV and also news from family and friends online. Video after video and story after story unfolded the horrific extent of the damage the tsunami had done to my beloved people. It felt wrong sitting in my nice apartment eating well with my family when across the oceans my fellow Samoans were fighting for their lives let alone looking for their toddlers, wives or parents. Each story seemed sadder than the last and I end up crying harder. Just when I think I'm okay I see yet another sad video and the loss is so endless I crying again. But the amazing thing is or what warms me in a way is that I know I'm not alone in this. I think anyone who is Samoan has been like me in the past two weeks, just a wreck and with puffy eyes from crying so much. I never thought I could cry so much in a week. I would find my husband with red-rimmed eyes by the computer and then I'd see he's also been reading up on the events back home. I'd show him a video I found online and again I'd cry with him as I watch the sad tale again. And then the survival stories trickle through that lifts the spirit only for a while before you come across another heartbreaking story. Yesterday was White Sunday in Samoa and my sister FJ shared the Tagata Pasifika online link which covered more from Samoa. And one young woman who has lost both her toddler and baby, clearly very distraught in her distant grieving voice and face that hid nothing she said that God gave her the most beautiful children and He had taken them back. Just when I think I'm on my recovery journey I see something like that and I'm back to square one as I cannot fathom what it's like to lose your family in an instant like that and in such a tragic way. I pray for that woman and her pain, I pray for all of them that suffered so much loss. I pray for their recovery from deep emotional wounds. I pray they find a way to move forward amidst the loss and devastation.
I busied myself along with many other Samoan brothers and sisters by finding ways to encourage people to donate what you can to Samoa to help feed, clothe and house them for now and later to rebuild. When I spoke to my youngest sister who is in Samoa and was at the devastated areas from the start she told of how they finally found our relatives in Saleapaga. Sadly our aunty that we all know died in the tsunami but the rest of the family were thankful that as sad as it was they lost ONE person as opposed to all their neighbours who lost at least three members of their families. It's amazing that in the midst of their grief they see the bright side as well. This is an amazing story that my sister told me of our cousin Paneta's experience. Paneta told my sister that when he saw the wave heading towards them after his father who first saw it and alerted the neighbourhood to run for the hills. Paneta ran back to the big fale(house) and grabbed his 4 year old son Seti and nephew Lailua. With both boys in either arm he tried to run as fast as he could up the hill towards the cliff like most of the neighbourhood. He said he didn't get far before the wave hit him from behind. He said it was so powerful he realised he'd lost grip of his son Seti. He was trying to stay afloat hold his nephew and get to the cliff before the wave receded. He saw his son a few metres from him, out of his reach. He said he thought there is no way he can get to him now and save them all so he said a silent prayer to God and said God if this is your will, then so be it. So he yelled out to his son: 'Fa Seti' meaning 'Goodbye Seti' as ge watched his son's head bobbing in the wave. He managed to get on the cliff with the help of others who were already there and his nephew due to the roughness suffered a minor head injury. As they stood on the cliff and watched the devastation and the water receding, they heard a little voice yelling out to help him. And when they looked towards the stream which the water had now receded towards, there was his 4 year old son Seti hanging onto a banana tree trunk trying to swim to the river bank. Seti escaped without a single scratch on his body. When my sister asked little Seti how he survived. Seti said he just kept swimming then he saw the banana tree trunk and hung on to it and kept swimming. I see this as a miracle. Maybe God hearing Paneta's prayer decided his will is that Seti must survive! I don't know what it was but that is one of the most beautiful stories that came out of this devastation.
People ask me how my family are and how Samoa's doing and I find myself fighting back tears as I try to answer them in a composed way. It's been a terrible terrible week for Samoans around the world but mostly those that were affected directly. However the united front that our people have put up in order to fundraise and donate to the victims has been downright amazing. The reaction from our neighbours New Zealand and Australia have been nothing but just incredible. I had applied for NZ citizenship a couple of months ago and I commented to my husband that I would accept that citizenship with much pride and appreciation even more so considering the outpouring of support and assistance from New Zealand to Samoa. Thank you to everyone that have kept us in your thoughts and prayers and those that have given things to help our people. Your help is always welcome. Ia faatutumuina e le Atua mea ua faagaogaoina ona o lo outou alolofa.
I busied myself along with many other Samoan brothers and sisters by finding ways to encourage people to donate what you can to Samoa to help feed, clothe and house them for now and later to rebuild. When I spoke to my youngest sister who is in Samoa and was at the devastated areas from the start she told of how they finally found our relatives in Saleapaga. Sadly our aunty that we all know died in the tsunami but the rest of the family were thankful that as sad as it was they lost ONE person as opposed to all their neighbours who lost at least three members of their families. It's amazing that in the midst of their grief they see the bright side as well. This is an amazing story that my sister told me of our cousin Paneta's experience. Paneta told my sister that when he saw the wave heading towards them after his father who first saw it and alerted the neighbourhood to run for the hills. Paneta ran back to the big fale(house) and grabbed his 4 year old son Seti and nephew Lailua. With both boys in either arm he tried to run as fast as he could up the hill towards the cliff like most of the neighbourhood. He said he didn't get far before the wave hit him from behind. He said it was so powerful he realised he'd lost grip of his son Seti. He was trying to stay afloat hold his nephew and get to the cliff before the wave receded. He saw his son a few metres from him, out of his reach. He said he thought there is no way he can get to him now and save them all so he said a silent prayer to God and said God if this is your will, then so be it. So he yelled out to his son: 'Fa Seti' meaning 'Goodbye Seti' as ge watched his son's head bobbing in the wave. He managed to get on the cliff with the help of others who were already there and his nephew due to the roughness suffered a minor head injury. As they stood on the cliff and watched the devastation and the water receding, they heard a little voice yelling out to help him. And when they looked towards the stream which the water had now receded towards, there was his 4 year old son Seti hanging onto a banana tree trunk trying to swim to the river bank. Seti escaped without a single scratch on his body. When my sister asked little Seti how he survived. Seti said he just kept swimming then he saw the banana tree trunk and hung on to it and kept swimming. I see this as a miracle. Maybe God hearing Paneta's prayer decided his will is that Seti must survive! I don't know what it was but that is one of the most beautiful stories that came out of this devastation.
People ask me how my family are and how Samoa's doing and I find myself fighting back tears as I try to answer them in a composed way. It's been a terrible terrible week for Samoans around the world but mostly those that were affected directly. However the united front that our people have put up in order to fundraise and donate to the victims has been downright amazing. The reaction from our neighbours New Zealand and Australia have been nothing but just incredible. I had applied for NZ citizenship a couple of months ago and I commented to my husband that I would accept that citizenship with much pride and appreciation even more so considering the outpouring of support and assistance from New Zealand to Samoa. Thank you to everyone that have kept us in your thoughts and prayers and those that have given things to help our people. Your help is always welcome. Ia faatutumuina e le Atua mea ua faagaogaoina ona o lo outou alolofa.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Samoa Tsunami
I had just hopped into bed last night when the landline started ringing. I ran out to the lounge to pick up the phone and my heart started pounding as late calls usually mean bad news. It was my mother inlaw calling to inform us that a tsunami had just hit Samoa and if my family was okay. The sick feeling I felt in the pit of my stomach was all I felt at that very moment. My mind raced as I tried to think if my family were in the danger areas. Poutasi, Falealili was mentioned and I felt even more sick as my sister J was in Poutasi to do her research there and now I was praying that she had left the area. I hung up the phone and started the marathon calls to Samoa to all my family's numbers. As I've just changed phones I didn't have all the numbers saved but these I have committed to memory. Amazing in the moment of stress and panic, I couldn't remember some of the numbers that I dial over and over. Panic rose as I could not get through to anyone. I was just not connecting. I then rang Nets(Samoan sister) in Dubai to see if she knew and she was the one that updated me that everyone in Apia were evacuated to higher grounds however Lalomanu, Falealili and Satupaitea received the wrath of the wave and suffered losses to property and loved ones! Netia was skyping with Utu in Geneva and we were conference calling as we tried to make sense of what was going on at home. My internet was down so I couldn't even be updated online or get to my family that way. Nets who was on facebook saw my my journalist sister(CJ) had just updated her status on the disaster then sent her a message from me if they were okay. Within 20 minutes my sister who was online sending off news returned the message that they were all okay and not to worry about our family. So I said my prayers of thanks my family was spared but prayed for others that were injured and lost loved ones themselves:( I tried to call again but to no avail.
I woke up this morning to more disastrous news that there were more deaths than anticipated. The beautiful beaches of Lalomanu and Falealili were washed away. A lot of the beach fales in Lalomanu were washed away so it is feared that many tourists may have perished in the tsunami as well. The female owner of Sinalei Resort is said to have died in the tsunami and her husband is in the hospital injured. They were friends of Mom's and very popular people in the community. So so sad and am praying for all the victims families and those who are suffering in Samoa.
I urge people to send what you can to help. They need tents, water, clothing and I say send money to the Samoan Red Cross if you can as they will be at the front helping people in the villages.
I woke up this morning to more disastrous news that there were more deaths than anticipated. The beautiful beaches of Lalomanu and Falealili were washed away. A lot of the beach fales in Lalomanu were washed away so it is feared that many tourists may have perished in the tsunami as well. The female owner of Sinalei Resort is said to have died in the tsunami and her husband is in the hospital injured. They were friends of Mom's and very popular people in the community. So so sad and am praying for all the victims families and those who are suffering in Samoa.
I urge people to send what you can to help. They need tents, water, clothing and I say send money to the Samoan Red Cross if you can as they will be at the front helping people in the villages.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
9/9/09
Metro
Today was the first day the metro started running here in Dubai. The radio stations and newspapers also published the rules and regulations for the metro. The metro is the hopeful relief to the traffic problems here in Dubai so we'll see what happens. The traffic is still a major problem here. Nets drove to pick us up from the hotel which is 10 mins away from her so we could go to a friend's birthday breakfast and well she was still in traffic in the morning for 2 whole hours!!! The breakfast turned into a birthday lunch due to our tardiness thanks to the traffic.
We're currently at Nets and Rich's in Sharjah and having a ball. We haven't quite made it home just yet on our way from New Zealand.
It's my birthday
Two years in a row now I'm in the UAE for my birthday. I'm such a lucky girl. Nets got up early and made us all a lovely bacon and eggs breakfast. It was fantastico. Later in the evening the ladies of Dubai came over and we had a few drinks, laughs and danced a lot. It was a good evening indeed. Meanwhile Tau is fast asleep in the room(a lovely present from my darling son) and hubby was in Oman working. He arrived at 3am just when we couldn't stay on our feet:) Thanks to our darling friends Nets and Rich for such a lovely day. On top of that I got loads of well-wishes from family and friends which made me feel special:)
Dragon Mart
We went out tho Dragon Mart of Emirates Road in Dubai and what a place. It was a huge market place type of mall with everything you can think off and a cheaper price than you'd get anywhere else. Either they were the real thing or you could get a knock off of some good phones. They had dual sim cell phones which were pretty cool and reasonably priced. So that was an interesting trip.
Fun
We're still in the UAE with our friends. We're actually staying in Sharjah with Nets and Goose and it's great.
This is our daily routine.
7am wake up with Tau have breakfast then read a book or go on the internet. When eveyone's awake we have a tennis game on Wii. So the day continues with one challenging the other for another game. It's just a lot of fun. We have lunch and then out to do something or go swimming downstairs. Tau is at a no-fear stage with swimming. He just walks straight INTO the pool. Not even pause and jump it's just like he's walking along but the next step is off the edge and into the pool. Needless to say I was kept on my toes with eyes WIDE open watching him. He had fun and I sort of had fun running after him. Right now I hear Nets mixing something in the kitchen and Tau is in their chatting away to her like he's really talking. Nets is of course humouring him and they seem to be speaking the same language...heh heh She gonna kill me for that comment.
Today was the first day the metro started running here in Dubai. The radio stations and newspapers also published the rules and regulations for the metro. The metro is the hopeful relief to the traffic problems here in Dubai so we'll see what happens. The traffic is still a major problem here. Nets drove to pick us up from the hotel which is 10 mins away from her so we could go to a friend's birthday breakfast and well she was still in traffic in the morning for 2 whole hours!!! The breakfast turned into a birthday lunch due to our tardiness thanks to the traffic.
We're currently at Nets and Rich's in Sharjah and having a ball. We haven't quite made it home just yet on our way from New Zealand.
It's my birthday
Two years in a row now I'm in the UAE for my birthday. I'm such a lucky girl. Nets got up early and made us all a lovely bacon and eggs breakfast. It was fantastico. Later in the evening the ladies of Dubai came over and we had a few drinks, laughs and danced a lot. It was a good evening indeed. Meanwhile Tau is fast asleep in the room(a lovely present from my darling son) and hubby was in Oman working. He arrived at 3am just when we couldn't stay on our feet:) Thanks to our darling friends Nets and Rich for such a lovely day. On top of that I got loads of well-wishes from family and friends which made me feel special:)
Dragon Mart
We went out tho Dragon Mart of Emirates Road in Dubai and what a place. It was a huge market place type of mall with everything you can think off and a cheaper price than you'd get anywhere else. Either they were the real thing or you could get a knock off of some good phones. They had dual sim cell phones which were pretty cool and reasonably priced. So that was an interesting trip.
Fun
We're still in the UAE with our friends. We're actually staying in Sharjah with Nets and Goose and it's great.
This is our daily routine.
7am wake up with Tau have breakfast then read a book or go on the internet. When eveyone's awake we have a tennis game on Wii. So the day continues with one challenging the other for another game. It's just a lot of fun. We have lunch and then out to do something or go swimming downstairs. Tau is at a no-fear stage with swimming. He just walks straight INTO the pool. Not even pause and jump it's just like he's walking along but the next step is off the edge and into the pool. Needless to say I was kept on my toes with eyes WIDE open watching him. He had fun and I sort of had fun running after him. Right now I hear Nets mixing something in the kitchen and Tau is in their chatting away to her like he's really talking. Nets is of course humouring him and they seem to be speaking the same language...heh heh She gonna kill me for that comment.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tau's 1st Birthday
We had planned to have Tau's brithday at the beach since it's prettier out there and the beach will keep the kids busy for hours. We were going to bbq on the beach and have a pig on the spit and celebrate till we drop. Come Saturday morning we woke up to heavy rain and heavy clouds. We thought it might be better on the other side of the island so my dear sister and nieces drove on ahead to hold a couple of fales for us before we all descends upon the chosen beach. Well we were constantly in touch and 'sister' called to say that it was stormy out at the beach. So a quick call around to the other family and my older sister suggested we do the birthday at their place since it's indoors away from the rain and in town. So I called all the cars that were heading towards the beach and everyone happily did their u-turns and headed back to town including us.
We kicked started the celebrations with games for the kids that even the adults joined in. It was just hilarious. Grandma lead most of the games and it was just good fun. Among my own family there must have been twenty kids of all ages. The kids enjoyed themselves but the poor birthday boy was teething and only had about 20 minutes of total enjoyment before succumbing to the pain and going to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. We had the food at about 2.30pm and the pig came off the spit yummy and scrumptious along with the lamb chops and sausages from the barbie, taro, luau and others. Great food and the cake was also yummy from Adria's. It was a fun party and I think everyone enjoyed it. Later on when everyone left, Tau went home with his nana and poppa and we(daddy, Aunty Relle and Aunty Nets, uncle Kilisi and self) went out to relax and celebrate Tau's first birthday our way. It was a nice night of sheer stupidity, laughs and catching up with cousins old mates and new people.
Thanks to everyone that made baby Tau's birthday a success: Grandma VMJ, Aunty Lani & hubby, Aunty Relle, Uncle Kilisi, Nana Sue n Poppa Jim, Aunty Nets, Aunty Vicky and Aunty Andrea.
We kicked started the celebrations with games for the kids that even the adults joined in. It was just hilarious. Grandma lead most of the games and it was just good fun. Among my own family there must have been twenty kids of all ages. The kids enjoyed themselves but the poor birthday boy was teething and only had about 20 minutes of total enjoyment before succumbing to the pain and going to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. We had the food at about 2.30pm and the pig came off the spit yummy and scrumptious along with the lamb chops and sausages from the barbie, taro, luau and others. Great food and the cake was also yummy from Adria's. It was a fun party and I think everyone enjoyed it. Later on when everyone left, Tau went home with his nana and poppa and we(daddy, Aunty Relle and Aunty Nets, uncle Kilisi and self) went out to relax and celebrate Tau's first birthday our way. It was a nice night of sheer stupidity, laughs and catching up with cousins old mates and new people.
Thanks to everyone that made baby Tau's birthday a success: Grandma VMJ, Aunty Lani & hubby, Aunty Relle, Uncle Kilisi, Nana Sue n Poppa Jim, Aunty Nets, Aunty Vicky and Aunty Andrea.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Samoa
We spent the whole of June in Samoa and it was just beautiful. Tau and I arrived in Samoa on June 2nd and hubby arrived on the 9th. Unfortunately the holiday kicked off on a sad note due to the death of the sister of friends due to a car accident. Net was still in Samoa so we both went to the family service which was very touching and a beautiful celebration of her life. She was a beautiful girl that lived life to the fullest. I didn't know her well but were only friends on bebo. She was a very active member on bebo and now miss her constant updates on her busy social life and her love for her beautiful niece that she's left behind. I could not imagine the pain the family is experiencing at the sudden loss of their beloved sister and daughter. I pray that they are healing and coming to terms in some way with their tragic loss.
Paradies
Nets and I went out a couple of nights to check out the local scene that we had missed out on in the past months! Nice to see that no one missed us and that everything was the same! I love it...you go you come back and it's the same beloved people that keep the outing culture alive in paradise.
It was lovely to see mom and the rest of the family and friends whom we hadn't seen in awhile.
Row your boat
Jody sent her 2 year old daughter with hubby's parents for a week in Samoa with us. It was lovely having little MM over and by the time she left all the kids in the family were singing row row you boat and screaming at the end after being thrown overboard.
Village Politics
Savaii is as tranquil as ever at least in our neck of the woods...even more so as we are ostracized from our village..ha! Funny though most of people working at the hotel are from the said village so hmmm. The family dynamics haven't changed one bit and whether it is moving forward is yet to be seen. I guess the next few months will determine our status in the village. Funny though that the courts ruled that we are the rightful owners of the titles and yet one selfish man in the village who wants it all is driving the cowardly village matais to keep us out! Village politics is something else as well move aside John Key and the gang.
Road Switch
The road switch is set to go ahead in September and on the Samoan Observer Newspaper everyday is a government sponsored ad that counts down towards the switch date and with the message: 'your life is your responsibility!' Yes the government have passed a bill that they will not be held accountable for any lives lost due to any accidents that occur as a result of the road swith. Currently Samoans drive on the right side of the road but the government are changing it to the left side! Well I was appalled that they are spending so much money on this unnecessary switch and yet the state of the roads all over Upolu and in the township in Savaii is outrageous. Half the time you are trying to avoid the deep potholes on the road...so add the road switch on top of that, there will be countless accidents unless the draw arrows all over the roads in Samoa and hope for the best:(
Paradies
Nets and I went out a couple of nights to check out the local scene that we had missed out on in the past months! Nice to see that no one missed us and that everything was the same! I love it...you go you come back and it's the same beloved people that keep the outing culture alive in paradise.
It was lovely to see mom and the rest of the family and friends whom we hadn't seen in awhile.
Row your boat
Jody sent her 2 year old daughter with hubby's parents for a week in Samoa with us. It was lovely having little MM over and by the time she left all the kids in the family were singing row row you boat and screaming at the end after being thrown overboard.
Village Politics
Savaii is as tranquil as ever at least in our neck of the woods...even more so as we are ostracized from our village..ha! Funny though most of people working at the hotel are from the said village so hmmm. The family dynamics haven't changed one bit and whether it is moving forward is yet to be seen. I guess the next few months will determine our status in the village. Funny though that the courts ruled that we are the rightful owners of the titles and yet one selfish man in the village who wants it all is driving the cowardly village matais to keep us out! Village politics is something else as well move aside John Key and the gang.
Road Switch
The road switch is set to go ahead in September and on the Samoan Observer Newspaper everyday is a government sponsored ad that counts down towards the switch date and with the message: 'your life is your responsibility!' Yes the government have passed a bill that they will not be held accountable for any lives lost due to any accidents that occur as a result of the road swith. Currently Samoans drive on the right side of the road but the government are changing it to the left side! Well I was appalled that they are spending so much money on this unnecessary switch and yet the state of the roads all over Upolu and in the township in Savaii is outrageous. Half the time you are trying to avoid the deep potholes on the road...so add the road switch on top of that, there will be countless accidents unless the draw arrows all over the roads in Samoa and hope for the best:(
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