Last of the hockey

It was raining, and the kids had fun.  Rob, the coach, swapped their positions around, defence became strikers, strikers became defence.  Lots of laughs, and lots of goals.

Quinn's team were awarded Team of the Year in his grade.  Tighe's team won First Equal with Westbrook in his grade.  Proud Mama day.

Science Experiment

 Put vinegar, and baking soda in a film canister.  Get the cap on quick, turn it upside down, and POP!

 It took several goes, we all got covered in vinegar and baking soda.

A night visitor

Not sure what type of spider this is, but it is a big one!

Found it making it's web outside the back door.

Farewell Blues

Another cooked breakfast, and fresh pineapple and pawpaw.  Back to NZ today, go by Ferry to the mainland, then fly back to Auckland.  It will be late when we get home to Rotorua.

Beachcomber, Treasure, and Fiji mainland

 The ferry will take us back to the mainland, but we will visit the other Islands on our way.  A great way to spend 2 hours, the blues of the water were spectacular.  There are lots of resorts dotted all around the Mamanuca Islands.  We stopped at several of them to pick up and drop off passengers.  Mana, Tadrai, Castaway, Malolo, and Likuliku.

Entrance to Mana

Mana

Castaway

There were several resorts dotted around Malololailai.  I just loved the colour of the water.

Plantation

Malolo

 Denarau was hot, dusty, and busy.  It was a relief to get onto the air conditioned bus, and look out the window at everyday life on the Fijian mainland. Quinn was fascinated by the yachts in the harbour.

Our ferry

Our flight back to NZ was delayed, by an hour. We drank smoothies FJ$32 for 3, and waited.  The PA said “apologies for the delay, the flight was delayed for (a long wait while he searched for the right word) Personal Reasons!”  Not sure what that meant, but it was a good excuse.  Later on board we discovered the previous flight to Auckland had a medical emergency on board, so that delayed the flight.

Quinn enjoying a "small" snack while waiting

Tighe watched Godzilla, and Quinn watched TV.  I napped.  Arrived back in Auckland after sunset.  Managed to get home before midnight.

Farewell Sunset

Last night on Treasure Island, and what a fantastic sunset.

Coconuts and Crabs

Tighe managed to get a green coconut, so Biss (the waiter) peeled the husk off, and cut the plug out, so Tighe could drink the juice.  It kinda tasted like lemonade

It's hard work, easier to make cocktails

Tighe had a go, found it tough peeling a coconut

One peeled coconut ready for drinking

Removing the plug

Perfect for the afternoon by the pool

The boys spent the rest of the day at the pool.  Spring has come to the island.  More and more plants are getting their leaves.  The parrots were noisy.

Fantastic sunset for our last night on the island.   

 I treated the boys to Mocktails for dinner.

We all got to do the "Seagull Dance", and Tighe really enjoyed the live band.

At last, what the boys had been waiting for, hermit crab racing.  

 If you whistle, the crabs move towards you, some were a lot faster than others.

There were 12 hermit crabs, and of course, we had to bid on a crab.  We secured Number 6 for $25.  The highest bid was for number 10, $60.

Number 6

Number 6 performed beyond expectations, and out of three races, came 2nd twice.

Number 6 moving over the finish circle line

Our crab, No 6

Walking back to the bure, gecko spotting, we could smell the Frangapani, the perfume is much stronger in the evening.