On my walks and while driving through our local suburb since returning from Samoa, I noticed some notices regarding fruit flies in our local area.
This has been a concern with signboards all around, with bins left for the locals to throw any local fruit or vegetables that are not to be taken out for the suburb.
Here we go with another year already started and now becoming aware of...
Yesterday, I went with my youngest to watch the movie "Mufasa", which is Disney's latest live-action remake. I enjoyed it with some new music and songs but still with excerpts from the old animated movie first launched in 1994.
At the time, I remember how it was hyped as being the first of its kind with music scores that included Elton John and the famous voice of the late James Earl Jones (who was also the voice behind Darth Vader since the 1970s).
They also dedicated the movie to the late James Earl Jones, who passed away last year in his 80s after voicing his part in the movie and was remembered as the stirring voice of the character Mufasa, who was the Lion King who passed away with his mantle passed on to his son.
This particular film was interesting in that it told of the backstory of the character of Mufasa and his 'adopted' brother Scar. The movie took us on an interesting journey that was incredible to watch as a live-action film with action scenes that would have been impossible to view back when it was first filmed as an animated film.
I recommend this film as a movie that the whole family can watch. It gives an interesting perspective of the family relationships and dynamics that gives one a better picture of why the story plays out as it does.
However, there are no spoiler alerts except to say that you must watch the movie yourself to understand the storyline. I will watch it again when it comes out on Disney+ as it was also a reminder of how far we have come in animation and live-action type films...
But this time, I was joined by my youngest and eldest (as my middle child was working), and we had a ball! Not to mention the long lines that we had to line up in.
So we decided to split up, and my youngest went with her friends on all the extreme rides. Rides that defied height and were not for the faint-hearted.
I decided with my eldest to go to the rides that were not so thrill-seeking and adrenaline-pumped, and we started at 6pm and finished at 11pm with a break in between for a snack of a hotdog combo and then back onto it!
My favourite ride has to be the log flume, with its neat log-like boat that floats in and out of interesting scenery, especially with the large splash at the end. The neat thing was that we had two rides, with our last ride being the final two before they closed the park.
The other rides I enjoyed were the dodgems, the family carts and the scorpion carts, the water drive was neat too, in fact any rides where I'm in the drivers seat was neat to go on. We also went on the Gold Rush ride, which was quite jarring with the fast pace and erratic corners.
We also went on a simulated ride, where we had to wear 3D glasses and be featured in the final tally of marks (shooting range), where we had to shoot at the monster robots. That was unexpected fun, as I thought we would just watch a movie.
All in all, it was a fun time, and although we didn't want to go on all the rides, we still had lots of fun. I especially enjoyed it with good company. I would definitely recommend it to those who are thrill-seekers who and even those who just want to get out for a night, the rides are worth it...
As you can see from the pick, we managed to snag a granite table to stack our gear. I love this blue bag, complete with sticker-like gibbets that match my shoes, too!
We even got to have a neat swim, although I went out with my hat as I didn't want to get my hair too wet and to ensure I didn't get sunburnt.
The neat thing was that the beach was only metres away, and our car was parked closely behind. This beats going to the city beaches with cramped parking and waiting for ages.
The other thing about some of the Auckland beaches is that it's best to check the safety of your local beach, as I've seen social media posts about beaches with sea lice on them. You can check it out at: safeswim.org.nz
This definitely beats some of the swimming out in Samoa as at some local beaches, you have to pay $50 SAT Samoa Tala (currency) to swim there, or at some local rock pools, it's $20, although free if you know someone. We have our beach beside our home but it needs a little TLC (tender love and care) to bring it up to scratch with some who have dumped their rubbish nearby but that's another story...
He speaks with confidence, and it's important for every woman who has gone through difficult relationships with a man or men, in general, to listen to this as it helps to centre oneself on the understanding that living authentically on who you are is important in not compromising your beliefs for others.
I hope this speaks to someone out there who really needs to hear these words: You are worthy, you have a purpose, and you are beautiful inside and outside in your own skin. No one has the right to say that you are not worthy perhaps they are not worthy of you...
Also, think of those in Samoa and other Pacific Islands who have been hit by the torrential rain that's caused flooding in low-lying areas. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult hurricane season.
Meanwhile, back at home, my eldest reminded me of a gift I was given for my birthday late last year, as a 3D (dimensional) work of art that has kept me busy for a couple of days.
It's a chocolate cafe/store scene with all the paraphernalia on a very small scale. So, I have been busy in the last couple of days working out the frame and then, with scissors, glue and tweezers, assembling the whole scene.
It also comes with lil' light fixtures and printed chocolates, which are parts that are pretty finicky and that I've left for the part of the scene to assemble. It's definitely kept me busy and working slowly through the various steps as there is so much to do, and I want to finish it before starting on the second one that they got me also for my birthday.
I've also got a couple of new year's resolutions that I'm working on and that's going to take some time to work through as well. All the best to you, the reader, in what you have in store for the rest of the year and looking forward to what 2025 holds....
Since returning last week, we've had time to catch up with family and friends, share New Year's well-wishes, and enjoy the relaxing holiday and temperate weather.
It definitely was a whirl-wind trip to Samoa with the second of four Ah Siu Family Reunions I've attended.
It's also neat to know that the next proposed Ah Siu Reunion has been confirmed to be hosted by our Brisbane family reunion komiti in Australia in 2027.
Launching a book in Samoa at the Reunion was also great as my 21st book contribution, with free copies given away to each of our five family clans. It was neat to sign books and receive positive comments as it was intended as a bilingual picture book for diaspora Samoans living in different parts of the world, as demonstrated at our reunion with families living in Australia, N.Z., U.S.A., American Samoa and Samoa.
I was also able to leave some copies to be sold at 'Return to Paradise Resort & Spa' in Lefaga and also at 'SSAB Samoa Stationery and Books' at their Apia Superstore, which long-serving manager Sina (of Education Resources) expressed that the books would then be distributed to their other SSAB stores throughout Samoa. A real blessing.
Now for more writing to continue as there are plans for further books to be completed and launched throughout the year since having a very long hiatus since I last published a book in late 2022. It feels like a catch-up with New Year's resolutions to consider, too...
This is a dream come true for me in December of 2024, in that I'm able to tick off that I can now say that I've learnt to weave a skill that was passed from my great grandma Eleni (namesake), to my mum, in Samoa, and now I'm able to do it as well.
The sides were a little hard to figure out as there's a special way of weaving it out, and also, the corners are a little' tricky for a novice like me, but I'm still in disbelief that I've finally been able to learn it.
It would have been the basic pattern for making the sails of the early canoes. I know it's stretching it a bit, but I see and feel a generational echo that I've wanted to know for a long time.
I first learned to weave from watching a demonstration of making Māori putiputi or woven flowers when I worked as a lecturer/teacher at AUT (Auckland University of Technology) in 2006 - 2009 on a community project. I then tried it and enjoyed it so much, but I wanted to learn how to weave Samoan styles.
My mother was a very good weaver, but because we didn't have the products, i.e. the pandanus, I bought some and took them home to Auckland with me, but I was just too busy with so many projects, work, church and family life that I didn't quite get to it.
But then, in returning to Samoa with my last week to go (a few days), I decided to boldly ask my mum to show me how to do it, and the rest is history. I must also thank the ladies who taught me when I was on the Measina workshops in 2020 - 2021 as the basics I had retained in memory, and now I'm ready to tackle making a small 'iē Toga or woven mat that originated from Tonga.
I only have a couple of days left before flying back home, but I'm really going to try and finish it, as it's been such a blessing to finally succeed in something I've wanted to learn for years. It's also neat to think that it's never too late to learn a new skill, and I've also wanted to experiment with making hats and fans.
Roll on 2025 as I have a countdown with my family over Messenger with those in New Zealand. Afterwards, we plan on continuing the celebrations with pain popo (coconut buns), a New Year's chocolate mud cake and a puligi or steamed pudding after midnight. However, if I'm not up to midnight eating, there's always the new year tomorrow for continuing the festivities and celebrations...
One is the abundance of plastics that have replaced glass, which used to be the norm. I also remember bottled drinks rather than plastics that now add to plastic pollution, which is rather harder to recycle and easier to throw away.
However, one of the things she's really enjoyed at the local markets has been the fresh produce and tropical fruits that we can't easily find in NZ except sometimes at the Chinese markets.
Take, for example, these lichee that I have only just discovered through her as I think they came from imported seeds and are now easily grown in Samoa.
I still can't get over their alien-looking appearance on the outside, but when you peel off the thick outer layer, there is a membrane-like egg that is the delicious fruit with its unique taste and a thick seed in the centre.
It costs about SAT$5 (Samoa Tala) for a bundle of 5-6 fruits at the markets, but it is definitely worth it with its delicate taste. We also brought some dragonfruit, and my mum's favourite - sea grapes. These are little green, tasty, and tiny grape-like fruits that are harvested from the ocean. Yum! Never a dull moment...
Afterwards, we went to the markets and picked up some gifts for family and friends in Samoa. The going rate for a printed dress is about SAT$120 (Samoa Tala) for my elder two, who are house-sitting. I also bought earrings and some printed lavalava material with some beautiful colours.
We then made a beeline for the fruits and veggies section of the market. It was filled with delectable tropical fruit, and my Lil sis picked up some lychee (the first time I've ever tried it), some dragonfruit, pineapple and soursop, which tastes a little different.
I'd recommend the markets in Apia to any travellers to Samoa. In fact, it was so funny to meet a colleague and then at the same time to meet my cousin from Melbourne whom I didn't at first recognise because he was wearing sunglasses. I remember seeing him mid-year at the Melbourne airport, and then to see him again was a real bonus.
I will now visit his mum, my auntie, who was in her late 80s and one of my late dad's elder sisters (he had many). I can never stop bumping into my many relatives as I visit various places. Sadly, on our way home, we went to visit our fave 'oka (raw fish with coconut cream cuisine) but was told that the boys who work on the boat were on holiday. Oh well, we can try again next year because that's when they start up...
Yes, this is me weaving at our house in Fasito'o-uta, Samoa. Earlier this year, when we were in Samoa, I got the itch to weave, and one of our neighbours came over and started teaching me, but I completely forgot about it when I returned at the end of the year.
The reason was probably because I was observing her rather than trying it myself. This year, however, I asked my mum if she could show me as I had given it a go a couple of years when I was a part of the measina workshops at our Samoan bilingual early childhood centre (which has since closed).
This time, not only did I pay attention, but I gave it a go and started working it line by line. It's a really interesting process because not only did I have to weave to make it larger, but I also needed to lengthen the strands of pandanus by adding new ones. I had a wonderful time, except my back and legs got sore.
I also had the overhead fan and front door and louvres open so that I could catch the breeze. My first sitting took about six hours as I gained momentum and learned how to make it. I will see how far I can go with this and then start another one in NZ, as I want to keep my first ones in Samoa for our home here.
Later on, I went for a drive with my youngest to pick up some food, as too lazy to cook after the long weaving session and filled our water bottles with filtered water from our local water store. At night, I like to listen to the cicadas singing their songs long into the night.
Can't wait to get up tomorrow and do some more weaving as some other things that I'd like to learn to weave are bags, hats and fans, just like my namesake great-grandmother Eleni would have when she lived in Faleula...
This pic shows the paper mulberry tree, also known as u'a locally, which has been missing at many Samoan houses due to many households no longer learning about how to make tapa or siapo.
I made it my business to go to a local source in Falelatai, i.e. check out my blog (after asking around) about sourcing this plant and bringing some little seedlings with me, and now - Wow! It has grown with offshoots as well.
Next month, I plan to publish a book about this next measina a Samoa, the siapo. It has its origin story, which is very interesting and telling.
For Christmas night, last night, my family jumped into the car and went for a night ride to check out the Christmas lights close to Apia. Each year, it's been improving, and this year was no different, especially in the village of Leauva'a, which has its Christmas decorations galore. I especially like the coconut tree sculptures with bright lights, which are worth viewing.
I was also surprised to see a lot of local shops open and some big supermarkets like "Frankies" and DMC (Samoa's KFC). My youngest discovered last night (after I shouted the family as a treat) that DMC stands for Dad, Mum and Children. Well, what better way to advertise :)
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I've got to give credit to Doug Healy for this wonderful piece of art I wanted to share with you as he encourages anyone to use his art free of charge - a true artist after my heart, too.
Last night was so interesting as after our countdown to Christmas night as a family, we started hearing cars and trucks beeping up and down the road, then watched bikes lit up with Christmas lights riding up and down the street.
Then, there was a procession of cars, utes, and vans with loud music and singing with revellers driving up and down the street. It was definitely a sight to behold.
Then, at 2 o'clock in the morning, yes, I couldn't see because there was so much celebration outside on the street, I heard carol singers or manuao walking down the street. This brought back memories as it was something that I had enjoyed participating in with my family back in Auckland when I was young, we had a Samoan church youth group that would hire a bus, and we would go Christmas carolling on Christmas Eve to church members houses where we'd often get treats. It was so fun to participate in....
