Compound Staff party

Christmas time gives us an opportunity to say thank you to the local staff that have been employed to clean our houses, maintain the grounds and provide 24hr security. It generally turns into a invitation to at least three generations with kids and grandkids everywhere. The smiles were everywhere and I don't think my ears have recovered from all the screaming yet.

 

Our playground is the best on island and gets a good working over at this time of year.

Jaxon loves having the kids over to play with.

But he hasn't got the 'Island Gangstar' look sorted just yet.

Vangie and Indi

Clean water to swim in is another novelty on the day.

The King. For at least 10 seconds.....

The kids spent a few hours in the pool. At least we knew where they all were. A weird thing is that most of the island kids don't know how to swim; so it's eyes open all the time.

Peas in a very noisy pod.

Soniber with is first can of 'pasito'. Loved it.

Hotdogs for lunch. You beauty.

The Pohnpean way, men gathered around the table drinking beer while the women tend to everything else. Sounds a little like home.

20 Dec - Indi's Christmas Party

Indi's at UCCP without Jaxon now and seems to enjoy it. Each year UCCP puts on a Christmas play for the parents to come and enjoy.

 

 Lined up in her classroom ready to come out and be part of it.

 

 Cute as a button and ready to role.

 

 She's got the 'over the shoulder' look weighed off. No boyfriends until you're 30 Indi.....

 

 Jaxon's school finished a week earlier which gave Nic and Jaxon an opportunity for some 'quality time'. Jaxon was very happy to come and see his old school.

 

 The three class's all contributed in some way. Christmas songs was the order of the day, as you'd expect.

 

 Very loud and confident singing.

 

 The kids's and our favourite; Miss Dersey.

 

 Teacher Petra unveils the present rack after the show.

 

 This cheeky smile signifies that she realises that one of those presents is for her.

 

 The first of way too many this year.

 

Ringo retired this year so he was happy to have a great reason to leave the house.

 

Jaxon, Indi and Denira with the teachers that have helped them out of the last three years. It's been a great introduction to schooling for them. Something they no doubt will forget, but the skills are embedded so lets see how being a minority at school is transferred back into an Australian school.

Mantas and Mahi

A full moon overnight combined with a low tide in the first hours of light usually means there is a good chance of seeing mantas. Well we loading up the boat and headed out to Manta Road. We knew it was going to be a pretty good manta session when we saw them flapping on the surface as we approached the mooring.

 

 Shortly after arriving we were in the water for what turned out to be a great hour and a half.

 

 There was maybe up to six mantas that just kept swimming back and forth throughout the channel. The current was really strong so snorkelling reverted to holding on to a line at the back of the boat.

 

 Four in the photo.....

 

 Simply magnificent session. Maybe this will be our last manta viewing so we were glad it was so good.

 

 After dropping the family off at home I ducked out out to get stuck in the schooling mahi that have arrived on mass with the seasonal trade winds. One lure in the water, reaching the second and bang, I'm on. It's going to be a great day. I ended up trolling with the 3-5kg bream stick and managed to bring in two little mahi. Great fun on light gear.

 

 No matter, large or small, they taste great.

 

Beautiful looking fish when they're first out of the water. Luckily the FADs are out in Perth, I'll be able to pick this kind of fishing up right where I'm leaving it here.

16 Nov - Indi's Bday Party

 Grab a coffee or a red wine - this'll take a while.

 

A weeks worth of preparations for four hours of party time hardly seems worth it until you see the smiles on the kids' faces. Nic once again did a great job planning, cooking and getting set up. The theme of the party was 'Fairys' - boys come however you want....

 

 First activity was to colour in your own crown.

 

Jaxon and Katie, loving it. Jaxon decided to start the day as Peter Pan.

Indi (aka Tinkerbell) and Kennidy. 

 

Next game was pass the parcel - with a lolly in each layer everyone was a winner.

Lining up for 'Pin the Wings on Tinkerbell' 

Laughter all round; until it's your go.....

Looks like a happy Tinkerbell to me.

Mummy Fairy with the birthday girl.

The Hairy Scary Fairy had a few adults as well as kids wondering what the hell was going on.... What can I say 23 years in the Navy changes a man...... 

Peter Pan quickly changed into Obiwan Kenobi, including a new lightsaber.

Silly Lilly even made an appearance which helped burn off some lollys and cake.

 

I'm sure mother hen wasn't impressed with the intrusion into her domain. 

Cake Time!!!!!!!! Top job Mummy.

Very happy with Mummy's efforts.

I'm sure all the Mums were groaning when their daughters saw this cake....

Nothing like birthday cake to slow things down for a little while.

The Muffin and Hairy Scary Fairy. Definately Daddy's little girl.

Next up was the slip-and-slide.

The kids had obviously forgotten how to do it so the Hairy Scary Fairy gave another demo. Anyone seen a Lear Jet heading to a hospital in Sydney.....

I didn't take Jaxon too long to get the hang of it.

Soap subs and eyes don't generally mix well. 

Oh so graceful Tinkerbell....

No major damage done. 

Off to line up for another go. 

 

Daddy and Indi, enjoying a slide together.

 

Line em and let em go. Kind of like dwarf tossing but gentler.

Luckily Mike stepped in to save my back.

 

What a lovely pair of fairys.

The lawn was enjoyed by all.

Finally.....

You'd think these guys didn't have grass as their houses. Oh that's right they don't. We are very lucky to have the compound to enjoy and invite people to.

What's wrong with this picture. Ross did a great job on getting the bbq started but being American I don't think he had seen real sausages before.... 

After dinner it was time to set up the projector for the kids.

So the adults could relax.

 

Grateful that the day went off without any major hitches. Nice work Mummy.