It is heaven to be seven

For Smiley's 7th Birthday we went to a small island called Namua, we had it practically to ourselves!

It was a kids dream come true. 

There was a supervising adult

Beachside accommodation

A Samoan playset

Skull Cakes

The Boatman, taking us home

It was a great start to Seven

And as always the Lego god visited, even in Samoa.

For Betterer or Worser

For the last couple of months Smiley has posed questions for the family in the form of;

What would be betterer?
                       A lava flow in your back yard or a          
                       waterfall?
                       A pet dog or a pet cheetah?

                       Or

What would be worser?
                       Being chased by a lion or a cheetah?
                       Having your eye poked out or having 
                       your whole head explode?

Tonight is the last time he will be 6 and he is a little devastated.  

Six has been good for him and us, he has skipped, sung, danced and filled our life with smiley times.

Here is a little of what the last days of 6 have been for Smiley....

This trail was allegedly left by me after I took the photos, the warriors followed it back to the source.

The swords were carved by Lily the lady who looks after our house and children.

Smiley had the flu last week so to cheer him up Lily carved him 5 swords!  Check out the bush knife action.

It is the dry season and Samoa's version of winter.

Interestingly many baby animals are to be found at this time of year.

These are the babies at our house.

The Olympics was celebrated at the boys school, Smiley happily found himself representing his own country of Australia and unlike in the London Olympics, Australia took out the gold medal.

Oi Oi Oi!

It must have been international crazy hair day this week.

Here's to 6, a great kid and a great year.

Kiwi Dreaming

50 years ago a treaty of friendship was signed between Samoa and New Zealand.

To celebrate the New Zealand High Commission invited 6 Kiwi artists with Samoan Heritage to come and play.

Thanks to my school connections I got to hang out with two very cool women who made art with the local kids and teachers.

We have had a lot of fun and they didn't mind that I am not a New Zealander.  

One of the key events was the opening of a Community Centre in Poutasi, a village devastated by the 2009 Tsunami.  

The Prime Minister of New Zealand John Keys was there and beside me is his very relaxed minder Robbie, whose birthday it was that day. 

An Exhibition of Fatu Feu'u's work opened the centre, that is Fatu with the Prime Minister above. After we went out the back to watch a local rugby game and witness the presentation of gifts for John Keys.

 4 pigs, 3 quartered cows, umpteen fine mats, siapo (tapa) and many fish.

The Samoan's may be on to something combining art with footy, I think it could catch on.  The best part was when one of the women carrying the fine mats jumped in the air to celebrate a try.