The Noise Is Deafening As I Blow My Own Trumpet!

So 43 years have just passed me by so it was nice to hear someone, other than my wife of course, pay me a rather flattering compliment on Friday night.  The lads were at the Fishing Club after work celebrating the end of the working week with some teachers from a local college who had just farewelled the Ministrys reviewers after a 2 week review.  The drama teacher from this college, whom I was introduced to, said "Oh you have lovely skin!"  I was speechless for a moment but flattered all the same because it isn't something you hear everyday is it!  Now this woman actually played the part of 'the wife' in the New Zealand movie "Out of the Blue" about the Aramoana massacre so I could go further and say that a movie star complimented ME on my skin...but that would be stretching the truth somewhat.  I mean what would a movie star be doing teaching drama in Rarotonga.  And, well, you know these arty drama types!
When I mentioned this episode to my wife she concurred that I do in fact have lovely skin, and it was one of the things that she noticed when she first met me!  "I did notice how nice your legs were"  she said.  "Were," I said "Were?"  I think therein ended our discussion, and she went back to dying her hair, because as she said, she had noticed a few grey ones!  I guess father time catches up with each of us, so when a compliment does come along, grab it and flog it until the horse is well and truly dead!
Oh, and speaking of grey hair, I just remember another mate saying on Friday night in regards to the fact that I do my own hair with clippers "You wear it well - it looks good".  At this point you may well be wondering what sort of get-togethers we have here with all these compliments flying around.  Well I can't really say, other than it goes without saying that I'll be back there next week for more!

Blowing my own trumpet!

See my beautiful skin!

  

Life is Good!

Part of my job entails getting out and about visiting schools and helping them out where required.  Today was such a day. 
So there I was, on a beautifully sunny, warm Rarotongan day cruising along on my scooter, sun glistening on the sea, iPod in ears listening to Natasha Bedingfield singing 'These Words' (followed by Al Jarreau's 'We're in this Love Together') and thinking of my beautiful wife & kids, one hand on the throttle, the other tapping away to the music, wind in my hair, (bugs in my teeth!) thinking how lucky I was to be living in such a place, with such a family.  But then I thought 'luck has nothing to do with it'.  You reap what you sew, don't you?
But it certainly remains a privilege to live in, and experience, such a place.
Life is, indeed, good!



My Beautiful Girls!





Sombre morning...

Janine rang me on her way to work and told me the back road was closed so take a detour to work.  I was due at Tereora College at 8.00 for a workshop and alot of attendees were late due to the road closure.  The rumour mill kicked into gear and during the day I discovered there was a road accident with one fatality.  Of course in New Zealand there are road fatalities every day, but here, in such a small place, I have no doubt that the victim will be known to someone I know.  And for some reason I feel quite sad about that even though at this stage I don't know who the victim is.  The smallness of the island brings everyone closer somehow.  On tonights news it was reveaeled that the accident was between a motorcycle and car with the rider of the cycle the fatality and the pillion passenger in a serious condition in hospital.  The car driver was in hospital with shock.  The accident happened around 3.00am and was the result of a combination of speed and alcohol.  It was the first road fatality in Rarotonga for 14 months.
This whole episode has made me quite sad...

Aitutaki Island Paradise!

I have just spent 5 days in Aitutaki facilitating PD to all the teachers on the island.  Before I provide details here are some photos to enjoy!



First Sighting of Aitutaki.  The overcast conditions were a sign of things to come!



Our digs.  Basic but comfortable.

The 'Superstore'.  The one stop shop.

Beach front by our digs.

The water was too shallow to swim in and absolutely full of sea-urchins.

Vaitau School.  Mosquitos swarmed like birds!

Araura Primary - they had a Smartboard - such luxuries!

Araura College.  The primary and college share the playing fields.

The school bus!

...and I thought Rarotonga was isolated, this place really is small.  But when I mentioned that to staff here they said "Just wait until you get to some of the other islands"  So the song "It's a small world after all" really rings true, especially when you consider some of the teachers I spoke with have actually lived and worked there their whole life, save the years they spent teacher training on the big smoke of Rarotonga!

  Unfortunately the weather was awful for 4 of the 5 days but I managed to get out for a bit of a tiki tour.  As we rode the back roads we had to mind out for huge crabs scurrying across the road into their hiding places.  They make great eating apparently but I wasn't game to chase them.  I do remember eating them in Fiji - delicious!  It was nice to be riding along and have people you've only just met ride the other way and shout out and wave "Hi Brendon!".  They really were so friendly.  As night fell the bugs came out and it felt like I was riding through a sand storm!  Had to wear my shades at dusk so glad to get home in one piece.  Reminded me of the motorbike scene in the movie "Me, myself, and Irene".  Managed to fit in a swim in the beautiful lagoon.  It's sad to consider that pollution and sewage seapage is slowly killing it.  I was told that the sweage tanks on the island have NEVER been pumped out and cleared!  Incidentally, when the tanks at the local hospital were checked there was nothing to pump out - it had already seaped into the soil!  Consequently, sewage is a huge topic of debate here now.

Back to Aitutaki, the effects of last years devastating hurricane are still evident and progress is slow in repairing things.  Instead of attacking the task one house at a time they are doing a peace-meal process of all walls, then all roofs etc.  II guess they're trying to be fair but it's a slow process.

Had a wonderful night out at one of the local principals place.  They have a fantastic little beach side place that resembles a real kiwi bach.  Her husband spends half the year on Aitutaki fishing and the other in Nelson growing grapes - it's a hard life!  Whilst on Aitutaki he also sits on his porch and takes pot shots at the 'noisy' roosters and pesky crabs with his air-rifle.  He believes the crab holes are undermining his foundations!  I now wish I'd brought mine over.  She whipped up some iki mata (raw marinated fish) for us - beautiful!  As Raro hasn't had any fish in two weeks this was a real treat.  After a few beverages the scooter ride home was nerve wracking indeed - not recommended!

Say No To Drugs!

You may have heard the big news from here about the drug bust of a dozen or so people in relation to the importing, sale, possession, and use of marijuana.  It was a year long sting that saw a range of hospitality and law enforcement personnel, as well as other locals, arrested.   Being such a small island rumours are rife as to who they were, with most being known by all.  I was wondering why I noticed a number of NZ police on the island.  Anyway, I say good on them and a job well done, but I had to chuckle at the fact that it was only marijuana – not that that’s excusable in any way, but I recall the fight against P and other horrendous drugs back in NZ, but I guess it’s all relative.  The going on's here are everyday occurences in NZ to which a blind eye is often turned.  Meanwhile alcohol and cigarettes continue to remain the drug of choice – but that’s a whole different story…!

Sea grapes; the caviar of the Cook Islands!

Sea Grapes anyone?  I've discovered a new so-called delicasy today!  I was on a school visit, and just as luck would have it, as always appears to be the case, I was there over morning tea!  Anyway, they had on the menu sea-grapes, which are apparently a delicasy from the island of Aitutaki.  They are a bunch tiny little grape coloured translucent balls attached to what looks like seaweed.  So, not wanting to be rude, and always being game for new things I tried them as is. 
"No, no", they said "You need to have them with corned beef and coconut cream"  Which I did.  Hidden with the other flavours of the corned beef and coconut cream they are quite nice. - by them self they taste like...salty water, which isn't suprising given where they come from; growing on rocks in the sea!  So with the combination of salty sea-grapes and corned beef (heavily salted) I could feel my arteries tightening with every mouthful!

I also partook of boiled green bananas, which they also had on the menu.  No surprise then when the principal said;
"Go on Brendon, eat up.  You'll soon be the size of all of us"  Needless to say they're aren't delicate women.  But they are hilarious.  To my comment of "They're salty" upon tasting the sea grapes one woman replied "Well what do you expect - sweet!  They grow in the sea!"
Well what could I say?

tonight we went to Alberto's Restaurant for a... real medium to well done steak!  My first since arriving in Raro - it was delicious!

Here's some photo's of Milly. 

"Where the hell is Dad going now?"

Enjoying the beach.  First week in Raro.

"Dancing Queen!"

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

"Rain drops keep falling on my head"

When the ship comes in...

Often heard around the Raro expat community several times a month...
"The boats in, do your shopping soon!"
The arrival of a container ship in port resembles the supply truck arriving at a refugee camp, except the masses will be tussling and fighting their way through the CITC Supermarket for the best produce and products.  The shelves of the supermarket prior to the ship arriving reminds me of the movie Repo Man, with Dean Stockwell and Emilio Estevez, where the supermarket shelves are covered with generic white containers saying "Food", "Drink", etc.  except in our case they say "Pams", or "Budget".  Don't we take choice for granted sometimes?

Anyway, on my way into work this morning I noticed the ship is in so I'm very excited!  As I keep saying, it's often the simple things in life that bring the most joy!

Here's some more photos of George's Raro life.   Milly to follow soon!  Enjoy!




Easy Riders.  Like the Raro bike gear?

 





Hmmm...the tail!



meeting the locals





"TMNT to the rescue!"



Ninja Turtles need an ice cream scoop and roller in their undies!





A hard day saving the planet needs some downtime!



Goosebumps in Raro?!

27th April 2011 - I have noted this date down as the first day since arriving in Rarotonga that I have felt cold!  Granted it was whilst riding my scooter to work at 7.15am with just a polo shirt on but nonetheless the feeling of cold was rather new, and welcome I have to say.  I even had goosebumps! I may have to think of wearing a second layer - now where did I pack those...?

Being the school holidays I have the luxury of having the mornings to my self again!  Peace & quiet as I wind up for the day ahead.  The kids even did me the favour of sleeping in until I was ready to go.  Not having to rush around for the bathroom, reading my book whilst enjoying my morning coffee and toast...Ahh, it's the small things in life we cherish so much!

Janine and I have been for bike rides over the past two days.  Having the in-laws here to mind the kids as we do so is a real luxury!  Anyway, we rode over the infamous Hospital Hill, a really good workout as the thighs start screaming as you struggle up in first gear.  Janine is training for her triathalon next weekend.  She is doing the cycle leg, which is once around the Island.  I'm just trying to keep in shape, and maybe prepare for the next mini-triathalon.  I should be able to nail it and I was dissapointed I didn't at the first attempt - so next time I'll be prepared!  Once off the bike I go for a short jog to get used to that awkward transition period when your legs feel like jelly and my calves tighten up.  I'm very pleased to say I have finally lost weight around the midriff - the famous Fiebig belly!  I think it's a combination of the heat, change of diet, and smaller portions.