Walking Clanga

At low tide today we took Clanga for a walk along the refueling line down on the seafront

ACTS Cultural Week - Videos

These videos have been uploaded at low quality because of the file size. Sorry we can't do any better than this from Tonga. The video files Clancy 1, 2 and 3 are of Clancy's Island drumming performance.







This is Clancy telling the story of making Ipu Kava


Ipu Kava

ACTS Cultural Week

Clancy's school has had a cultural week which finished with a performance on Thursday night. Clancy had two role's, one as drummer and the other telling the story of how to make Ipu Kava (Coconut Cup for drinking Kava)


The raw and the finshed product (Ipu Kava). The next blog has a video of Clancy telling the story


Karmen, Taipe, Richie and Clancy before the show and Lupate'a and Mimosa. Apologies if the spelling is wrong, this from Clancy's pronunciation, which is generally pretty good.


The families watching intently. Parents and family members show their appreciation by tucking money into the costumes of the children. The money is then collected and becomes a community donation for the school. Clancy didn't realise the money goes to the school and after being given some money during his performance was quiet upset that someone was taking it. He didn't realise the protocol and explained, somewhat upset, his teacher what had happened.


Clancy's drumming performance (a new Phil Collins?) and Anny giving donations.


A very proud mum and dad

Long Weekend Activities

It was a long weekend in Tonga dampened by rain and wind. By Monday it had started to clear a little and we got a little more active


Clancy said he wanted to learn how to cook his breakfast, so we cooked sausages and scrambled eggs. Unfortunately he burnt his finger on the side of the pan while dishing up the sausages, but he wants another lesson.


After breakfast we collected Mosese for a play and they spent the morning playing star wars and space rangers


We then went for a drive to Keleti beach for a run around with Jenny Mckee, her children Blaise and Jessie, along with Jack and Neisi (Dom and Hannah's kids)

Art Zooka Competition

One of Clancy's favorite shows on cable TV is Art Zooka which is about creating and art. This morning Clancy advised Anny and I that he is running an Art Zooka competition and we are the competitors and he will judge. The rules are we must be nice and not copy each other.


The judge photographs with the competitors,


then starts the difficult task of judging before making the announcement from his own artwork, the podium


and announcing the competition is a draw!

Corporate Triathalon

Another (but my last) triathlon without any lead up training! I was told a week before the event I was doing the swim leg for the tri and Paul Taumoepeau would do the bike. After failing to find a runner I had to back up the run leg. I was in pain for 5 days!


The Tonga Chamber of Commerce Team, Paul and John, possibly the highest average age for any team. Sometimes this is what helping business actually feels like so I had a bit of fun with the t shirt design.

Great Signs and Sayings

After many years overseas, there are some things which still surprise us. Obviously some of the VIP's complained that they were mixed with a lower level of VIP and so another group was created.

Similarly, many years ago in Fiji when there was concern about people driving over the speed limit, they wanted to highlight how bad this was and so the term "overspeeding" was born. I never worked out if that meant a certain level of speeding was allowed?

Education Day - Tonga

Education Day started of with a parade from the grounds adjacent to the Royal Palace and headed up the main street to the Sports stadium.



Clancy lines up with ACTS Community school and gets a hug from mum.

Salesi (Sal) Fineanganofo and his son Mosese get ready for his school

ACTS marching past Anny's office and the little ones can't wait to join in.

Jodie's Birthday

Jodie Quirke had a birthday so we locked up the kids at home, grabbed the usual crew and headed out for dinner until midnight on Saturday (when everything closes for Sunday), then headed to Lyndon and Jodie’s for some pool and more festivities. With breathalysers now working in Tonga, we loaded everyone into Hannah’s Tarago and she took the role of designated driver.

A Play Date - Mosese and Clancy

Mosese, the youngest son of friends (Salesi and Rochelle) has become one of Clancy’s favoured mates. On Saturday he came over for a play and a swim, and then went with Clancy to his tennis lesson.