Samoa, 30 degrees C and very humid

Sometime Sunday evening.

Do you know that really hot humid feeling, that constant stickiness? Yes? Well that’s what I’m experiencing at the moment. We are in Apia, Samoa. That’s the other side of the date line to NZ and somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 4 hours flying time from Auckland. We acquired air miles when we flew to the UK and said we’d use them on a Pacific Island trip. We left NZ in the depths of winter, which seems almost surreal now. Our flight got in at 2.30am, 17 hours before we left Auckland. And they say time travel hasn’t been invented. We were held up at the airport with Swine flu screening. When I say we, I mean that literally, well Eric and Alice! In NZ everybody has colds and flu. Eric, H and A have/had the usual winter colds. I, I hasten to add, have been fine! Anyway, on the plane we filled in forms which listed symptoms. Eric and Alice had to get their temp done and Alice had to have nose swabs taken. The pictures are hazy as the camera steamed up in the humidity and heat coming off a relatively cold aeroplane.

Ironically it’s Harriette that’s poorly now. Anyway, we finally arrived here at 4.30am. We are at the Samoan Outrigger. The room is a small breeze block construction which was basic but clean.

I was not impressed initially but have got quite used to the place now and am very comfortable here. We had a bad experience in Tonga with our last night in Nuku'alofa so I only booked 2 nights here in case it was the same. Our plans now are, 3 nights here, which takes us until tomorrow, and then we are hiring a vehicle and driving to the South East of the island and staying in a beach fale. A fale is a basic, uprights and palm thatch roof structure with mattresses, on the beach. There are no beaches here in Apia, Samoa’s capital, but the ones further down are meant to be spectacular. After 3 nights there we will return here for our last night, well part of night, we have to be at the airport at 3am to fly home.

As I type I am sitting on the deck of the Outrigger while I sup G’n’T and Eric and Harriette cook pasta in the adjoining kitchen. Eric has just bellowed at the Harriette, something about you stupid child then blaming me for the stupid genes (which of course I disputed), much to everyone’s amusement. Most of the other guests are med students from Edinburgh (girls) and Belfast (boys), on their electives at Samoa’s only hospital.

Yesterday we walked up the hill to Robert Louis Stevenson’s home for the last years of his life. The walk was hard work, just a street but very uneven and intermittent paths, quite steep and very hot and humid. It was a pleasure to be there as it was decidedly cooler there with a nice breeze.

The afternoon and today we have just lounged around the Outrigger, reading, swimming and playing cards. Real chilling out stuff.

I know I haven’t blogged for probably 6 months. Life just seems to get in the way but a few comments from friends saying they miss the blog has inspired me to try and catch up. Also, I actually have the time at the moment. I must say it is incongruous sitting in such a poor, 3rd world country with a laptop typing. I hasten to add I am doing so in Word and will transfer on to the web when I get home.

So, where to begin? Life plods on a Cedar Lodge much the same. Eric remains busy at work, though overall the practice is noticing the economic downturn. Eric has been made an Associate Solicitor, with a pay rise of about $60/year!!! I am still waiting for him to earn a decent salary! He should be a partner next year which means we will then be shelling out for a loan to buy him into the partnership. I am struggling to see light at the end of the tunnel. Thank heavens for his police pension. Without that we’d be bankrupt!

Having declared how poor we are I am now going to contradict myself by saying we have booked a 6 week holiday in South Africa! Thank God for a police pension and credit cards!!! We fly out on 17th December and go straight to Lynne and Vaughn’s. From there we go, with L, V and all Lynne’s family to a game reserve for 20th – 27th December. There are 18 of us in a lodge. The reserve does not have the big 4 (lion, buffalo etc) so it is safe to leave the lodge on foot/bike and explore. Something you can’t usually do in a game reserve. We are all very excited about it, especially since I booked the flights last week. We then go back to Jo’burg where we leave the girls for a night or 2 while Eric and I disappear for a romantic few days for our wedding anniversary. Then it’s back to Jo’burg, collect the girls and head South to Wilderness, on the Garden Route and West of Cape Town. There we will stay with Trish and Simon, Eric’s sister and brother-in-law. They live in Shropshire but have built a house in S.Africa to retire to. They will be in S.A. while we are there. We plan to explore the area, and head up towards the Western Cape which is one part of S.A. I am not familiar with. I must say it is the most exciting trip we have planned in ages. I just hope it lives up to our expectations.

After S.A we have resolved to get to Australia for our next short haul trip, and Canada for our next long haul, possibly on the way to the UK. I also, would like to get out to Majorca to Eric’s sister’s place the next time we get to Europe.

Eric got to the UK in May for Trish and Simon’s wedding. We did contemplate all going but that would meant we would not get to S.A., no contest in the girls eyes, particularly as they recently went to the UK and it’s been 8 years since we were in S.A. Eric had a good trip and spent some quality time with his parents who, while fit and healthy, are in their 80’s. It was much better for him to that alone where they could all give each other their undivided attention and I am sure they appreciated him.

I have asked Alice what has been significant for her about this year. Nothing she says. “And if your life depended on saying something significant that happened to you?” “I joined year 10”!!! Hardly exciting! She has joined Waikato Youth Symphonic Band, the next level up from Schools Band. That means I now have to travel into Hamilton 2 nights a week, Thursday for both of them to go to Schools Band (the one I manage) and Fridays for Youth Band for Alice. I can think of a hundred things I’d rather be doing on a Friday night than driving for 40 mins to Hamilton then occupying myself for 2 ½ hours whilst she practices, but then I guess I am not a mother to stand in the way of my child’s musical aspirations and enjoyment!! I must also say that the band is very good. And in reality, it’s actually only on alternate Fridays as I share travel with Cathy, a friend of ours from Walton who’s daughter also goes to Youth band. On the subject of the bands I have been planning our trip to Rotorua for the annual music festival. Rotorua is only an hours drive from us, less than 2 hours from Hamilton, so much easier to organise, and cheaper, than getting them all to Wellington like last year. The Festival is the first weekend of September. I must say I personally am not inspired by the music they are playing this year. I have also made it clear that I will not be managing the schools band next year!!! I really wanted to get them on a music tour of Australia whist I was manager but it just has not happened. I have not had the time to organise all the funding applications and fund raising that would go with it.

Well I will finish this blog for now as I am struggling to stay awake. The busy deck area has cleared as most people seem to have gone to bed and Alice and I still have the washing up to do.

Night night. Moxoxox