Chasing Water Buffalo with Mike!!

Carl has had a busy time in PNG flying 25hrs this last week.
This has included flying one of their regular clients the PM Sir Michael Somare around his constituency for Independence Day Celebrations.

Carl treated him to some low level water buffalo chasing which Somare loved and kept urging Carl to do more!!!

Carl sure is seeing lots of great spots that are off the beaten track.

Sports Carnival

This week the school was full of activity with Sports Carnival being held over a number of days (the school goes from kindy through high school). Luckily all 3 kids were competing on the same day so I took the morning off to cheer them on.

Was the normal type of Olympic affair - bit of drama, few tears, interspersed with the occasional medal and PB's.

As a hang over from Colonial time marching is pretty big here so that launched the sporting activities.

As for the events:
Tobias got taken out by a wayward lane change from another athlete who luckily got disqualifed. Tobias therefore came home with the gold for 3 year olds over 25m.

Millie headed into the 50meters a little fast and found she had no legs to get to the finish line without help from her coach (mum). She did a great obstacle course though winning her race by a long way.

Poppy gave some solid performances in the 50m, 200m, obstacle course and balls sports probably doing PB's I'm sure and accumulating lots of points for Poha.

Our house POHA won the junior sports carnival and came 2nd overall for the total school!!

Poppy's Learning Journey

Today was Poppy's turn to do her learning journey which included showing me some of her classroom work so well as what she does at the computer lab. She is a bit of an expert on Powerpoint now and showed me a few tricks I didn't know!!! She'll be giving Carl lessons soon I suspect!!

Betsy you are our Solo Idol!!!!!!

Betsy and her very proud Dad Jimmy

I just had to put a couple of pictures of our wonderful little friend Betsy who came third in the Junior Category of the Solo Idol Contest. She was fabulous and I'm sure you will agree she looks adorable in her Solomon Flag outfit.

I have to say I am pretty glad the competition is over for the year. I have attended every heat and the grand final was a marathon of an event that went for 5 hours (yes 5 long, very hot, painful hrs)..and that didnt count the 1/2 hr queue just to get in. There were 28 singing items, 1/2 a dozen dance groups and alot of elimination banter in between!!! Was all worth it though to support Betsy and her family. The crowd is incredible - entertainment enough in itself as everyone cheers for every high note and dance move and gets hysterical over any funny items!!
We were very enthusiatic supporters with our banner and lots of screams but were outdone by Betsy's Dad Jimmy who danced and yelled waving his banner the entire time Betsy sung..was a great spectacle.

Jimmy tells me they will be back next year chasing first prize...and I suppose we will be there too!!

Learning Journeys

This term instead of parent teacher interviews we have a process called Learning Journeys where the kids take responsiblity for sharing their term's learning with parents.
Even Kindy kids have to take their parents on a "learning journey"

Carl shared Tobias and Millie's "journey's" this week and its Poppy's turn next week. The teachers had it well organised and even Tobias at 3 knew what he was meant to do when showing Dad how good he was at puzzles, making patterns, counting and explaining their term's theme of "how things have changed since Mum and Dad were kids".

Millie's theme this term was "Insects can help and harm us." Was a great topic - they visited bee hives and the malaria reaseach centre - until she got stung a number of times by a hornet last week and from her kindy learning was absolutely convinced she was on the road to death!! They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Aunty Kylie Comes to Stay!!!!!

This week it has been fun having Kylie to stay. Carl has been the official tour guide while I have been at work and Kylie has been kept busy by the many exciting Honiara activities - snorkling , swimming, kayaking, riding in the back of utes, and retail therapy. Yes it is hard to believe but amongst other things Kylie has managed to buy 3 pairs of shoes in Honiara!!! Phipps girls have always been good bargin hunters though!!!!!!

Strutting our Stuff at Assembly

Tobias aka Haka Boy

Number 1 Bee




Twas a big day at school assembly for us. Tobias and Millie 's classes both did items...Tobias had to dress in his country's traditional costume and Millie was "number 1 Bee" no less. Their all singing/dancing numbers were followed by Poppy getting a merit certificate for spelling. To cap a great show off our good friends Betsy and Marian sang in preparation for their big showing at Solo Idol tomorrow night!!!