Christmas

Christmas Eva style, a crown, bracelets, the chocolate scraper, a scooter, what more could a girl want, it is still after Karen's birthday the hardest day of the year, without fail each Christmas I have the image of Karen and Eva sitting under the tree opening presents and feel so ripped off that they never got a chance to celebrate even one.

Nice hair.

Time to participate instead of standing on the side lines

SOLO

Its a pretty idyllic morning out here, had some company for an hour, a large pod of spinner dolphins came to visit, currently in 10 knots of wind from the south doing 5.2 knots heading south east under a perfect clear sky and anchorage calm sea, the wind wane is dictating where I head so as I head more and more East the wind change should happen.
Downloaded the latest weather and this is the way to go, looks like light southerlies then tending south east sometime in the next 12-24 hours, will flop over and head for home, match racing the Norseman 45 at the moment they are 0.3 miles to weather but I am passing them to leward going a little faster, we both have the same strategy and sorry to the baby sitters but may be in on the 9th instead of the 8th, I can shout dinner on the money I save on diesel and if I want to do the solo round the world race I can't just turn on the motor when the going gets slow, the sponsor by the way is HUGGIES for my open 60.
Have been doing a few boat maintenance jobs so just been up the rig to do a check and pulled the aft bunk apart and tightened the rudder gland, didn't seem to be any issues but when the wind kicks in from the SE there could be a few brisk days so do it before it needs doing.

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SOLO

Only three more days and our Fiji adventure chapter for this year closes, again Fiji has amazed us we couldn't have asked for better, it has been a very special six months and the experiences we have had and the development Eva has made has been a joy to watch and be a part of.
For better or worse I have decided to to the trip back to New Zealand solo, it is only 1100 odd miles and Rachelle and Eva are a little disappointed to be left ashore but it is always something I have wanted to do, I am sure their disappointment will end when four hours later they are home :-)
I guess it is some sort of self imposed exile, seven days with out interaction with anyone, I doubt few of us have ever experienced and it and ever will so it is something I don't want on my wish I had done list.
It seems like there is an great weather window opening next week and only recently I told someone I was going to hoist the spinnaker at the reef and pull it down a thousand miles later at Russel, suffice to say they thought I had a few issues, but it looks like it might even come close so all is good.
Ok time to get back to boat jobs, all advice has been, make sure you do it before you need to and SLEEP.

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Yes its Vodka !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LANCE ARMSTRONG

I don't know about the rest of you but I am more than a little deflated at the obvious fraud that is Lance Armstrong.

The cycling community, well who cares, as long as we can remember results have been performance enhanced and no less today than the past but all of those that relied on Lance for inspiration, a belief that cancer was a race you can win will be gutted.

I have read the latest developments with interest but find it a LOT strange no one is questioned the obvious, did the guy ever actually have cancer or is that like all else that surrounds Lance Armstrong an elaborate fabrication so far from the truth it should be a Disney show.

Like many others we have experienced how great his cancer foundation is and the support it offers but it has been funded by fraudulent activities, one of the best con jobs in recent history would be an apt description.

Looking forward don't take away his titles, take away his winnings and all that is important to him, criminal charges would be a great place to start.

So on a lighter note I have 1 x LIVESTRONG Trek bike, one lady owner, immaculate condition, low mileage going cheap :-)

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Food, well thankfully not.

What a day, shark dive in the morning, night time crayfish snorkel excursion, at least I didn't end up being shark bit, seriously great shark dive, a couple of over 4m Bull Sharks and a 5m Lemon Shark as well as a heap of reef sharks. 

Sent from my iPad

Sometimes she does wear clothes !!

Faster

Kindy Island style

Photos to follow

Nacula Isalnd, Yasawas, we loved it so much here we stayed an extra day and Eva went to Kindy, the village is a small one but extremely friendly, the total role for the kindy is six and Eva loved it, check it on google earth, 16 degrees, 53.50 minutes south, 177 degrees 24.60 minutes east. The beach here is one of the best we have seen in Fiji, white and fine as talcum powder sand. As always the weather here is amazing, the Yasawa's are pretty much in drought through the winter months, daytime temperature is 30 degrees, water temperature 27 degrees, so all very nice.

Tomorrow we will keep heading North exploring the Yasawa's all the way to the top. Oh and I forgot to mention if you are bored and have a bike then come join a group of us to do the Tour Of Northland, March 2013, four days of fun and festivities and more than likely a little suffering.

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Blue Lagoon

The movie that made Brooke Shields famous, we are hanging out at Blue Lagoon in the Yasawa's, it is not too bad here and the weather is pretty close to perfect. Had a great day of exploring topped off with tea and cake on the beach. The pic of Eva swimming with Dianne and Pam is in the lagoon not a swimming pool, the colours are hard to capture but do our best we did.

Oh to be three

Would you fight or run and hide

Nemo, man alive they are feisty little buggers, had a great dive this morning and again found nemo but this one was more aggressive than normal, ah it all became apparent when I saw the two little babies, they were so small they were still translucent and really hard to see in amongst the anemia. This one even bit Ray my dive buddy.

So it begs the question, if you had a bubble breathing monster a thousand times your size coming at you and you loved ones would you front or run, mmmm mother nature you have to love it.

So here it is Tuesday, glassy calm, a dive, hanging with friends and later ashore to continue Eva's swimming lessons, I pinch myself and often, its a hell of a life.

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What else would we be doing on a Monday

Well maybe diving but there is still this afternoon, PS unlike yours Rachelle, no crunchy bits :-)

Where is Eva

Mmmm, I always know to be worried when Eva is quiet, this is what I came down below to this morning, Eva had anointed herself with bug repellent, deodorant,  sunscreen and checked her temperature, she very proudly told me she smelt nice, wouldn't get sun burnt or bitten by mosquito's and wasn't sick so we could now go to the pool, how quickly they learn. 

SHE IS SUCH A GIRL.

Its tough being Eva

Sweet / Bitter

Eva and friends, this week has been great with the arrival of three families from Tauranga, yesterday was The Reef movie hour on Sea Esta. 

The 11th of July, I would have thought that after three years it would hurt just a little bit less,  it doesn't, we miss you Karen.

Where are we now