Royalty no less




Thursday this week was a usual day until I learnt that there was a planned visit to the palace. Greg and I had the choice to go (or not). Naturally we decided to go. Instructed to be at  the palace gate at 5pm, luckily we were early as the whole show started before 5.  The school bands/choirs performed really quite spectacular, many many speeches, prayers (all in Tongan naturally).

But the highlight was being presented to the king. Just Greg, me, the school principal and Special K. Who's that you ask. The other Aussie here from Blue Mts, a teacher/missionary. Not teaching here but doing other stuff with staff training and generally getting involved in everything.

Next weekend is the big school 152nd birthday. big big deal. The Newington retiring headmaster and the incoming Headmaster will be here. All the local big wigs will be here; various diplomats, high commissioners and the Tongan King and Queen.

More news when the big weekend has happened.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cyclone summary

Following the overnight cyclone on February 12th we went down to our cottage the follwing and it was full of water, including a leak from the ceiling onto our bed. All rooms were awash but we didn’t lose anything. The car port blew away but we’d secured the scooter in a large covered outdoor learning space. The school and in fact all of Tonga lost power (still largely out) and trees and building rubble everywhere. We moved to the ‘guest cottage’.. a simple duplex with two minute bedrooms, a kitchen and eating area and a weird loo and shower with a head height divider. The mirror image through a core door, Klarissa and her husband and two kids are in. So only limited generator power, couple of hours a day, no refrigeration and one powerpoint to charge things (phones and laptops) when generator is on. (no fans!!) No night reading, but we watch a dvd in the evenings and play scrabble at cocktail hour (no real drinks only luke warm water). The candles are not romantic at al
Read more

Another week in Tonga

Image
Well another school week has started in Tonga at Tupou College. Still no power and the generators whirring is the 'norm'.  Somewhat of a relief from the chain saws at random times for hours on end. No end in sight for the restoration of power yet. The variations in different power sources have affected the water. No water in our kitchen since Thursday night, and an off and on supply to the bathroom basin and shower. Of course when it's hottest; no water to the shower. Still we have bananas, which ripen all at once. So banana porridge, banana cake, banana anything we can think of and then the pigs are the beneficiaries. The Scenic Hotel, near the airport is back in action, although the pool is still to be filled and available, but it is a light relief from Toloa. They do have meals and drinks. Saturday we decided to take a bus to town; quite an adventure. The 30 seater was transport for 42 people and as we had to stand for the 18 km trip. We had no idea of our locati
Read more

Week 5 already

With the start of Week five the half way mark for this term arrives. Five more weeks and we head to Hawaii for R&R. Nothing outstanding has happened, although cause to celebrate as we have had a record string of about 4 days with no interruptions to the water supply. Cooler weather is also now the norm, particularly in the evenings and morning before the sun rises at 7am. Last week we went to a Quiz night at a Billfish, in Nuka'Alofa. While our team of five (the maximum allowed per team, without penalty) were keen our enthusiasm did not reflect in the final results unfortunately. It was the Tongan round and the mystery location (Osaka) despite many photos we were unable to identify it. Still a fun night. It's monthly so we will try again in June to do better. Form 5 (Year 11 age group, but academic standard slightly lower) had their first National exam on Friday. It was an Aural with the passage recited over the radio for all of the country. It is still to be mark
Read more