12 Nov - Indi's Bday Party

Indi's 3rd Bday was on the 14th of Nov but the 12th was a Saturday so that was chosen as the 'party day'. The Sea Bees helped carry all the chairs and tables from the bbq area the night before so that eased the mornings workload. This was a good thing as the head was pounding a little after going out to town with the Sea Bees when the finished at Kangaroo Court.

Nothing like some Pass the Parcel to get the party started.

I built this from scratch from some spare timber we had on the compound. I bought some hinges, knobs and bright paint and it turned out pretty good for a novice I think.

Always a hit at the compound kids' parties is the waterslide. Indi still isn't up to doing it on her own so off we go again.

Ready Set Go.

Just how is that hangover going?

I had to have one go on my own, all the way to the end and into the mud....... Great fun though.

It's nearly time for a nice cold lemonade, surely!

Great cake Mummy.

Face Painting after the cake. Who is that Bright Spark?

Princess Indianna Rose Elizabeth Campbell.

A great birthday, great job on the organising of games and cooking of food Mummy.

11 Nov - Sea Bees Function

Over the last few months 20 or so guys and girls from the US Navy Construction Battallion have been on Pohnpei doing community projects such as restoring the library and the state mental health centre. I had offered Kangaroo Court as a place for them to relax for a little while as they were working six days a week. They took me up on the offer and enjoyed the pool and bbq areas.

Lee Howard (aka LT) was the only officer with the detachment. He obviously had a lot of responsibility to get the agreed tasks completed on time and the rain didn't help his cause. But between LT and his Chief, Josh, and the team it was all knocked over with a couple of days to spare. Lee is here thanking the team for their efforts.

The USN shipped in some humvees and construction tools from Guam. The US Military is a big organisation.

Doing it local style. Nothing like a pig to make it a 'local style' party in the Pacific.

As always a couple of cheeky/happy kids are good entertainment. Kind of like having a puppy at times.

Dean and Heather are back from some time in Aus and enjoying getting straight back into life on our island home.

Just another night on our island home.

30 Oct - Ant Atoll

Well I got home from the Rusty Anchor before 2am because I knew we were taking the boat to Ant Atoll the next day. 0159 to be exact. With Indi getting up 0530 this wasn't exactly the smartest thing I have ever done.

What a lovely pair of kids.

What is that little brat up too and where is Jaxon?????

Notice the determined and look at Indi squashes Jaxon's head into the edge of the window. The screaming that followed did my hangover no favours at 0821 in the morning.

Geoff and Vale (the boss and his wife) took the opportunity to get the kids started on a sandcastle. Maybe Defence should consider moving the DA position from the Soloman Islands to Pohnpei.

Indi taking a short break from terrorising Jaxon and the hermit crabs.

A bit a water was required to test run the sand castle moat.

Test run complete. Good job team.

Nic, as always, loves the trips to Ant and had a great time relaxing on the beach.

What can I say except I wish there was a fish photo. We caught half a dozen rainbow runner on the way over and I sashimied one on the beach. I doesn't get much fresher. We lost a wahoo on the way home, Oh well, I was feeling a little tired by this stage anyway. Another great day on Pohnpei.

29 Oct - Halloween Party

The evening of the 29th saw us at the Rusty Anchor for dinner with our boss, the Defence Advisor and his wife.

The Rusty Anchor has a terrible view as you can see. The food is top notch and is a shining light on the 'eating out circuit'.

A delicate balancing act but anything is achievable if you put your mind to it.

After we had dinner Scott dropped everyone home and headed back for the annual Rusty Anchor Halloween Party. Halloween is a pretty big deal on Pohnpei and the party at Rustys is always a great night. Wayne (an Aussie now working in Pohnpei) and his wife Marie always go to a lot of effort to set up.

The entrance to the bar looked like something out of a movie set. Top job.

Let the costume parade begin. I enticed these two (with free beer and food promised) to come to Indi's Bday party next weekend in these costumes. Should be great for a laugh.

Nurse I feel sick. Great effort by Ash and Dini.

Steve dug out his 70s gear while Bill and Scott just couldn't be bothered with dressing up.....

Bizarre covers it but awesome effort ladies. The Joker and a Popcorn Maker (I think). It takes all kinds to make a great night.

A very gay hat.

Wayne and Marie. Great job guys.

05 Nov - Sea Bees Fishing Day

Saturday I took out Lee and Josh from the US Navy Construction Battalion for a morning fishing trip. These guys and about 20 others are deployed here on Pohnpei for about four months doing community projects such as repairing the state library. They have done exceptionally well to get it all done considering the ever present rain on Pohnpei. I promised Josh that there would be a Mahi Mahi on the boat before we came in. I was pretty confident that the Mahi would have made their way back as the 'Trade Winds' have well and truly picked up bringing all the logs and debri that the Mahi sit under.

Well it didn't take too long to make good on my promise with this beauty on ice. A great start to the morning. The days aim was achieved in the first hour and then it was time to try and catch something much bigger.

Much bigger indeed. Why is it that the big fish always hit the reel with the least amount of line on it? Well it only took 15 minutes to find a marlin and it did the bolt once hooked. I had Josh and Lee clear the other line is no time at all and we were already turning the boat to try and get some line back. The spool was 15-20 turns away from empty; notice that I have connected a snap-swivel from another reel to this reel as the whole lot was going to be thrown in the water if that's what it took to land this fish. Well it stopped just in time to prevent me doing this and we fought the fish for just over an hour before it pulled the hook. Spewen but that's fishing I guess. No happy ending but definately a story for Josh and Lee to tell their kids. The Mahi was the promised fish, maybe I should have promised them a marlin......

29 Oct - MiCare Fun Run

Sat 29 Oct saw us once again up at a ridicules time for a 7am fun run. An oxy moron if there ever was one. Nic has been doing her gym work and was looking forward to getting out on the open road. The rain stayed away so we were in good spirits and ready to walk/run.

The fun runs are a big deal with massive numbers at this one, well over 400 I would have guessed. Poor diet and a lack of exercise has contributed to a diabetes problem even among the youth of Pohnpei so it was great to see so many out for a morning stroll.

And we are off.

Brenda walked with Jaxon and his girlfriend Imogen allowing me to push Indi and Nic to push herself in the run.

The local fish market in full swing. No refridgeration and no adherance to any size limits. There'll be 'no' fish left in Pohnpei in 10-15 years. They seem to live for the now, and it's a scary thought that they will be living on handouts for a long time to come if things aren't sorted out quickly.

Indi and I at the finish line, 49 minutes for 5kms slowly pushing a stroller isn't too bad......

Nic ended up with a time just under 31 minutes for the 5kms and came in 5th for the open women. Great job Mummy. Nic was presented her medallion by the FSM Vice President.

A very proud Mummy.

After the presentation we all headed inside to join Imogen's older brother William for his birthday celebration. Nothing like cake and pie for breakfast after exercise.

31 Oct Halloween

31 Oct is Halloween and it's a big deal on Pohnpei. Nic took the kids to one of the local churches for a few games and stories. A big safer than 'Trick or Treating' in this place with random dogs and drunk drivers.

A very scary skeleton man. Nic is getting better and better with the new face painting kit.

Some kind of angry clown bee. I couldn't quite work it out but Indi was happy with Mum's efforts.

A little bit of case of the 'true colours' shining through I think.....

Musical chairs. Jamie and Mike did a great job of organising all the events and ways of keeping the kids entertained.

Not sure about this one, some kind of dance I'm guessing. Maybe the Chicken Dance. Looks like you missed out Granddad.

Americans don't mind dressing up. Nice pumpkin Jamie.

A very solid pinata that took some smashing to bust open. Always a hit with young kids.