Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our friends and family here in Fiji and around the world. Arthur and I have been very fortunate this year to be able to celebrate the season with Siana, Marc, Kinesi, Ateca, Brendan and many of our Fiji family in our new house.

Our kids arrived in Fiji between the 12th and 13th of December. Siana met up with everyone in Nadi before she and Marc travelled to Sigatoka for a few days at the Tabua Sands Resort. I met up with the rest of the group  in Suva on December 15th. We had planned to do some site seeing in Suva but the weather did not cooperate.  For the entire 5 days I was in Suva it rained, and I mean torrential rains. Thank goodness we were nice and dry in Nakasi with Tomasi and family. Siana and Marc caught up with us on the 17th and we all headed over to Vanua Levu by ferry on the 18th. Although Arthur had said that the rain down home had been light, the night before we travelled the rain was really heavy and caused bridge and road washouts. We arrived in Nabouwalu after a somewhat rough ferry crossing only to discover that the road was closed and we were unable to get home. Thankfully Arthur’s niece Joanna Kean and her husband Tony opened their home to us.  Their hospitality was deeply appreciated. After two days the rain stopped and we were able to travel by boat up the coast. We met Arthur out on the ocean, transferred into our boat and made it home safely.

While we were in Suva, Arthur was hard at work installing the water tank, kitchen sink, toilet, louver windows and doors. Once we arrived we were able to move in. Siana built some rough shelves and counters in the kitchen. The fridge and stove were installed just in time for Christmas cooking. Our solar power system was finally installed on Dec 24th and this week the electrician completed the wiring. We now have lights and power points throughout the house as well as running water in the kitchen and a flush toilet – fantastic!  Arthur has mounted a white flag in preparation for the official house opening scheduled for January 8th.  Tomasi and Emosi from Suva will be our guests of honor and will have the official duty of taking down the flag and declaring the house open.

We celebrated Christmas with Arthur’s brother John and family,  as well as his cousin Zacharia and family, and cousin Charlie and family.  Everyone arrived on the 24th and stayed until the 26th. Thirty-eight people sat down to Christmas dinner. Our menu included 6 chicken put in the lovo, curried chicken, fried snapper, fish soup, dalo, and cassava. Lots of food to go around and lots of time spent laughing and talking.

The time with everyone is going very quickly. Ateca and Brendan have already left on their way to Savusavu and Taveuni. They will be spending their New Year’s eve at the international date line.  We’ll connect with them in a few days in Savusavu before they head back to Canada. I’m already missing them.

Tonight we’ll see in the New Year with a fish BBQ and a bonfire under the stars.Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.