It’s a happy ‘Bula’ from Mister C and Me…

We say a hearty ‘Bula’ from the wonderful coral coast and islands of Fiji this week. The word ‘Bula’ not only means hello, but also goodbye in this special native Fijian language. My family and I had the pleasure (and privilege) of visiting this glorious part of the world for a week at the end of April, beginning of May 2023. I mentioned in our previous blog, we had booked a family overseas trip back in 2019, but had to postpone the trip due to Covid and all of the world-wide lockdowns that were sadly ongoing over these past years. We can now put some closure on all of this, after finally using our passports (the kids were thrilled to get their first stamp in their passports) and all conquered one of the main Islands. We can now tick this glorious place off our bucket list! Husband and the kids are busily chatting about our next possible adventure to New Zealand (let the travel bug begin!); I just hope my ongoing injuries and chronic pain will improve in time for this next flight and trip…

Well, I can report, Husband, Flossy and Mister C thoroughly enjoyed our adventures in Fiji. We sure did miss our Widy over this week (studying hard for year twelve at present), but say a big thank-you for helping look after the house, chooks, pets and ‘Rhetti’ while we were away (we love you and are super proud of you getting through a tough few weeks). Me and Mister C also wanted to say a big thank-you to ALL of the wonderful staff and managers of the resort where we stayed for the week. I did unfortunately struggle with much of the travelling and the quite long flights, drive there and back, with my ongoing right shoulder, lower back and hip pain (wasn’t good, but tried to relax as much as possible).

The staff were very attentive with our villa and quickly provided another single bed, after realising there was only room for three guests, not the four as we had booked (only issue really). The kids loved swimming in the huge pools and spending time on the glorious ocean shores (the sunsets were truly mesmerising!). With some help, I too was also able to soak in the warm water for some time during each day, which helped my body to relax for a while (it was good). We also enjoyed a lovely glass-bottomed boat trip around part of the beautiful island, seeing the undersea life and coral reefs (the really humid weather did get to Husband at times). We also celebrated Flossy’s fifteenth birthday while we were away, a very special birthday evening indeed (minus the ensuing storm). Husband was thankful (as was I) that the flights were not overly delayed or postponed due bad weather, as was reported the day after we arrived back to Australia and Sydney airport.

We met some delightfully kind and cheerful staff at the resort; we built up some friendships with the kind and fun ‘Kids Club’ and ‘Activities’ staff, of which Mister C only attended twice during the week, as he complained there were unfortunately not many kids his age, but did enjoy the time spent there (wasn’t school holidays over this time). I enjoyed hearing the busy staff laughing, chatting and singing while they worked around the villa; I did miss these wonderful sounds when we arrived home. Travelling from the resort to the airport in ‘Nadi’, the main city on this main island (a two-hour drive back), we experienced some of the rural local areas and waved to many children and folks playing in the area. I asked the local driver from the resort (who was kindly driving us around), how many islands made up the Fijian region, the driver said, “We have one hundred and fifty islands in the region. Everyone has to learn English in the schools and are only allowed to speak English while at school as well.” This lead to us chatting about the local schools and high schools on the island, where the topic of our children’s books came up. The driver mentioned he has two children who love to read books, but resources are costly for all areas and schools to have access to new and interesting books.

This gave me the idea to look into donating (to send over from Australia) a copy of our first four children’s books, to two of the local primary schools in the area (as I just knew the schools read and spoke English). I spoke with one of the managers of the resort (in the restaurant area) who was thrilled about the idea and gave me her address and details (who also mentioned she had eleven children, three of which are still in school!). The manager connected with me via social media when we landed in Australia- which was lovely (thanks heaps!). I have just sent one book pack yesterday to one of the primary school closest to the resort in Fiji. I was told while at the Post Office the parcel will take between ten to twelve days to arrive on the island (cross fingers it gets there intact). As an author I am so thrilled to be able to share our fun books with children and families outside of our lucky country, Australia. Mister C commented after I told him that I had sent the book parcel yesterday, “Gee, Mummy, I hope the parcel arrives soon. I hope we hear back from the primary school and the children in Fiji about our books. I really hope they enjoy our books as much as we do!” …💕

A Word from Mister C…

I was studiously completing Mister C’s commemorative birth cross-stitch design (last year). I started the needlecraft after Mister C was conceived and worked on it through the pregnancy and a year or so afterwards, before life became too busy. It was a tradition in our family to make the babies a special hand-made birth gift, of which my dear nan taught me when I was young. I had created several designs for when Widy was premature in NICU and for Flossy when born. In the past, Mister C had asked me when I was going to finish his design and put it up on his wall like the girls. I often replied, “Soon, my son. I promise to have it finished by the time you turn ten.” Through the years I’d pick up the craft and do a few hours here and there. I made a promise to Mister C, so I decided to dedicate more time to finish the cute animal ‘Woodlands’ design, as he was turning ten soon. Mister C noticed I was working on the craft and commented, “Wow, Mummy, you’ve been working so hard on my cross-stitch. I know you will get it finished before I turn ten.” I smiled back and replied,” My hands are working as fast as I can, to finish every little animal stitch just for you!” Mister C grinned back and said, “There must be over a million stitches. I bet a trillion hours have gone into it too, I love it! It doesn’t matter I’m not a baby anymore, I will always love it, because you made it for me.” …🧵

Stay tuned…

Thanks to our readers for your continued support reading our blog, today’s blog is our one hundred and sixtieth blog! We look forward to our Storytime event coming up tomorrow (17.05.23) at the wonderful Queanbeyan Library. Thanks to Widy for taking the time off school to drive me to Queanbeyan and back for the event (is very much appreciated!). We look forward to seeing some new and familiar faces on the day, and are super honoured to be able to donate a copy of our latest children’s book to this library: ‘Is The Tooth Fairy Really Real? We also look forward to our second book-reading and Storytime event at the fabulous Goulburn Library, the following week on Thursday 25th May 2023. Our second Me Poems Book Two poetry book (for mature readers) is now published and available! Thanks to our fabulous editor and hard working designer for all of their work to help get both books published so quickly; we are very humbled and happy with the results of the printed book copies. Author copies are now available; get in touch with us if you would like a copy…📚