Hi Friends and family!
We missed you too….hope you enjoy our May / June in Fiji.
The Mormon Church in Tamavua. Perched high on the ridge in Tamavua next to the US Embassy sits the Mormon temple. The church is borderline blog-worthy, but the fact that a group of dudes (no offense to my gender, but I don’t think a group of women would think that the angel perched on top of the temple was actually made of solid gold) attempted to get rich by sawing of poor Moroni’s (thank you Mormonwiki.com) leg…..which is somewhere between blog-worthy and spectacular (even if it isn’t true….considering my source: the always reliable Nanny Gossip Network).
Joske’s Thumb. Easily my favorite part of the hills surrounding Suva, this volcanic plug about 15km from Suva stands out along the already dramatic landscape as you look out down the coast. I usually try to keep the stories brief for fear of losing you to the lovely pics, but this one is too good so stick with me.
The first interesting piece around Joske’s Thumb is that Sir Edmund Hillary (who as you should know is the first to summit Everest with Tenzing Norgay) who was based in Suva with the Kiwi Air Force made 2….count them 2 unsuccessful attempts to climb Joske’s Thumb before summiting it (after Everest).
The second piece is the story behind the name. Paul Joske was one of the early settlers in the late 1800’s and after a failed sugar refinery venture, he spent his later years designing and establishing Suva as the new capital of Fiji (before that is was Levuka). Now prior to the late 1800’s Joske’s Thumb was referred to as “Rama” or Devil’s Thumb as it looked like someone trying to climb out of hell………which is so enticing. After Joske’ was accused of incest, he committed suicide and his entire family changed their names to Brewster and Devil’s Thumb was changed to Joske’s Thumb due to his rather dark demise
I know. Spectacular.
Suva Bowling Club. Much like surfing, the dream of joining and competitively playing/socializing at the Suva Bowling Club might just need to stay a dream as the are both equally hard to imagine pulling off and the dream looks a helluva lot more fun and safe then actually me actually doing either activity.
QE Drive and Kadavu House. From our house, we drive about 3 blocks to the Queen Elizabeth drive which takes you into town along the water and right to Kadavu House which is where UN Women’s offices are located. I often drive Abby to work and/or pick her up and at least every other time we make the drive we comment how crazy life can be.
Kadavu House. Home to UN Women.
Sea Wall. If/when our kids learn to ride a bike, it will be on the Sea Wall that runs along the QE drive.
High tide along the Sea Wall…
My Suva Playground. At least 2-3 times a week, Salote, the kids and all their friends (old and new) will meet at the My Suva Playground. For the most part, the equipment is clean and safe…..:)
Contain Yourself is a café built out of an old shipping container and the place I frequent most. Most of the blog posts and emails that I write are from this exact spot. I feel like Norm at my table watching the boats dock and Maureen (on the left) and everyone who works there are wonderful wonderful people.
Tennis Class. The kids started to play tennis once a week and are off to a fashionable start.
Lucy’s first swing with Junior her teacher.
Only in Suva. Abby had a 4:45am taxi pick up to go to the airport (which is about 45 minutes away) for her trip to the Solomon Islands so she headed out the door with her bags and a steaming hot cup of coffee….at about 7:30am the taxi showed up to return the coffee cup back at the house. ** no pics, sorry **
Any attempt to describe this one would be futile.
Working the PM’s Gardens. Across the street from our house sits the back side of the Prime Minister’s house…more specifically his gardens. Once a week or so, a truck comes piling down Vui Vui Road and out pops a few prisoners and guards to work the prime ministers garden……and they usually come over and give us a big bag of cabbage or spinach….and like most Fijians, they are quick with a big smile and wave.
Mommies Travels. During May and June Mommy traveled to both Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Both amazing places but deeply troubled by incredibly high rates of violence against women with PNG being often labeled as the worst in the world. Needless to say, we were nervous prior to Abby’s trip to Port Moresby knowing that there would be an armed transport from the airport to the hotel and an armed guard for the walk across the street to the UN Headquarters. For those of you who know Abby probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear how amazing, inspiring and ‘fierce’ she found the women who risk their lives every day just going to the store let alone being outspoken voices against violence against women and girls.
Holiday Inn Suva. Strange at is it sounds, the best Happy Hour, the best place to take the kids for pizza and a dip in the pool, a best generator that kicks out some serious Air Con when the power is out in the middle of the summer….and I could go on and on, is the Holiday Inn- Suva!
Friends of Suva. We have met and become dear friends with so many in the Suva community. I’ll start with the kiddos and their amazing network of friends.
Post dance class in the magical USP campus with the core group of friends.
Our rockin and slightly illegal (sorry Aunty Erin!) ride to dance class. This never happened.
Neighbors and dear friends, Leba, Charlie and Alice.
Will’s new friend Charlotte and Bestie Jack.
Our dear sweet BooBoo….we are going to miss you!!!!
Laisanna, Samuel and Nora
Early morning book time with Lewa.
Super Bat Boy
Will’s 2nd Birthday. Well, we had to wait a few weeks for all his best buddies to be back in town and then we threw a party for members of the Tues/Thurs Boy’s Club which included ballons, M&M cupcakes and a trampoline. No way that isn’t fun….or easy to clean up after.
……my personal favorite pic of Mommy and the B-day boy in all his island bling and sass.
…..stayed tuned for a July/August post that hopefully include us swimming with the humpback whales in Tonga and visits from Abby’s soul mates, Inbal and Matt. No way it isn’t amazing.
Love to you all!
Clancey, William, Abby and Lucy