Boulevard of Bumps

As I published my last post the rain had begun to fall. Ex-cyclone Oswald was moving down the coast to put an end to planned Australia Day celebrations.  Our cheers for local Aussies were not to be heard, as the Australia Day parade down the main street was cancelled. The rain didn't dampen the kids spirit, they decided to add a Samoan flavour with a swim in the rain, "Samoan Style" (fully clothed). The waters rose and continue to rise in parts of South East Queensland.  Just a few weeks ago we were explaining to the boys how this pole measured tidal height, not anymore! Just nearby is a shady haven, where over the last couple of weeks some industrious beachcombers have constructed a cubby in a pandanus tree. A festive lantern suggested this abandoned Robinson Crusoe style abode was constructed as a shady refuge in which to celebrate Australia Day at the beach. We ventured up the beach, discovering o...

The boys and I are back in the sunburnt country, it is so dry and hot. At times I feel a little alien, like when the bank teller looks at me strangely because I am unsure where to swipe my card. She quickly makes an appointment for me to come in and get the run down on all that has transpired with banking since our departure. That should be joyful. It is lovely being in our house. After 12 years of imagining we now have a front fence, which the DSG began building before his return to Samoa. His wavy gate is the cherry and faux stacked quartz tiles will be adhered to the blue board upon his return. We unravelled into our house quickly and took time out for walks, surfing and getting together with some excellent friends. Including being reunited with our beloved dog, Dee Dee. We went to see the Life of Pi and the 3D glasses made Smiley and I feel ill. Sadly the Domestic Surf God had to return to Samoa, we wept for a long while when...

I love EPC, the Electric Power Company here in Samoa.   Today they came for a drive up Hollywood Boulevade, admittedly they drove sraight back out again but then I saw................     him, a Knight in high vis, just beyond the tree split by the cyclone.   A courageous and hard working EPC man at the end of our road.   Tonight we continue to be without power, but much of the centre has power and it is quickly venturing up the hill to our house.    Yippee EPC! Yippee Samoa!

A Quick Post while I have internet access.   We are safe and now living without power or running water.     Cyclone Evan was frightening and terrorised Samoa for 24 hours, it reached category 3 at 3am, then hovered off the coast threatening to return as a category 4.   We bailed out our house for hours trying to keep the last two rooms dry, one for sleeping the other for storage.  At 12pm we set up a cyclone shelter in a bathroom, with matress, passports, food, water, medicine and bag with change of clothes.       We lost a small part of the carport roof and along with the rest of Samoa prayed that the roof of the house would hold and it did.       The boy's cubby was destroyed.   For many Samoans the cyclone was 100 times worse and continues to make life difficult.  Our friend BRoss down at Salamumu lost his house and accommodation fales, but he and ...

Smiley's favourite phrase is "I'm Hungry". When he walked out at the Parade of Nations practice for the Judo World Cup holding this sign I had to smile. This week our wonderful Samoan doctor decided Riley might need to see an ENT specialist to investigate what is going on with his ears. He was brave when she said he might need grommets, he saw what Bunny went through and he knows what might be install for him. Monday he got his yellow belt at Judo, he actually passed the grading three weeks ago, but we had to leave Judo in a hurry so he missed out on the presentation of the new belt. We celebrated with a yellow belt burger at Apia Yacht Club, well done Smiley.

Sometimes living in Samoa is like living inside a large petri dish of disease. Over the past two years we have experienced a range of viruses and the like, if we were living in Australia DOCs would be becoming suspicious!   Recently Smiley was stung by a nasty orange wasp, these big fellas agressively defend their nests in October and on our first year here one attacked Bunny, chasing him into the house and stinging him five times.  The welts are nasty and Bunny still has some scars. The next day Smiley came to show us his red shoulder and I observed some other small r ed spots on his torso. His mate at school had just been diagnosed with Chicken Pox although he had been immunised in Australia.  Smiley has also been immunised but these Samoan viruses are strong and Smiley ended up with some red spots sans blisters, fever and pain.  Little did he know he got off lightly. Bunny happily ended up having three days off with Smiley, with a mere th...

A late post for Bunny's 9th Birthday. We had arrived back from Hawaii the day before and Bunny decided he wanted to go to Hideaway Resort. A beach resort with a constructed tidal pool, which includes a rolling log and water slides. It was fun and the band in the fale above the rolling log played all the classics. Bunny's friends were all dealing with a variety of viruses when we arrived back, so it was just us. The boys duelled....... wrestled....... propelled.... lounged....... and toasted our future. Since Bunny got his ears fixed life has been excellent, he is back to his robust self, with improved balance. I was warned that 9 was difficult but so far he is proving to remain our beautiful boy.   Even if occasionally he answers us with the word "fine". He really is fine.