Happy New Year 2026 from Samoa!...

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR for 2026! I've been in Samoa since New Year's Day, and it has been such a blessing to be back in the motherland of my parents and ancestors.

As you can see from the pic, the tall plants are called u'a or paper mulberry trees. The bark is used to make siapo, or tapa cloth. I planted these trees two years ago because I couldn't source any in our local village.

This is one of my future projects: to learn how to make siapo, as I learned the art of weaving from my mother and from a couple of village women. 

This is a tribute to my namesake, an artisan of siapo whose craft was lost in a generation when it could no longer be passed on; I have made it my mission to continue it.

Now, to harvest some pandanus that my parents grew for use on our communal land, and to keep weaving as I was taught this beautiful skill. This is another project I've recently started, to see how it can be dried and then be ready to take back to NZ with us.

It's truly been a blessing to be back on our fanua (land), to begin some renovations, with the help of my second cousin and his friends and family, to complete some projects, and to await the arrival of my brother and his wife from Australia, so we can continue our father's legacy in our ancestral village that he wanted to pass on to us. 

To see the azure blues of the neighbouring ocean and the lush greenery and colourful flora on our fanua is such a blessing, to say the least. It's been so good to smell the ocean scent, to feel the warm, gentle breeze, it is 'home sweet home'.

Thank you, God, for this wonder-filled opportunity, may we never take it for granted...

The Magic Faraway Tree movie trailer for 2026...

 This is the trailer for the movie I mentioned, anticipating watching it in the new year, and reading the book now to refresh my memory of why I liked it so much as a child. The movie will probably omit some storylines, since I'm currently reading at least three books in the Magic Faraway Tree series (earlier blog).

I don't suppose many will know of Enid Blyton, as she was very popular in the 1970s as a children's writer, and I hadn't really heard much about her books being adapted into movies, but this is a pleasant surprise and something to look forward to.

I'm still in the very early days of reading the book, with so much going on. Looking forward to the New Year celebrations in Samoa and saying 'goodbye' to 2025 in NZ before we leave. So looking forward to returning and seeing when it's being released for the general public...

In anticipating of 2026...

 

Only a few more days until the new year, and I'm already preparing for it with much anticipation. I'm currently reading one of my favourite authors from my childhood. 

Her name is Enid Blyton, an English author who captured my imagination as a precocious reader with a thirst for reading and learning.

This is in anticipation of the new year and a new movie coming out regarding the 'Faraway Tree' books that captured me as a young child.

She was one of the first serial book writers that I read, and I bought this particular book from Whitcoulls, which is a 3 in 1 book, which works out great for me.

I'll probably read it on the flight to Samoa and finish it there before passing it on to my youngest to read, too. We're also taking along some books for our SSAB readers and looking forward to breathing the air and catching the spirit of the new year in Samoa. It will definitely be an interesting start to 2026.

I'm also looking forward to taking a breather after completing so many goals of 2025, and it's been a real privilege to have been in some of the spaces and places that I had the honour of participating in 2025. Now looking forward to what 2026 holds...

Happy Xmas Eve and Samoa New Year prep'...

 As we prep for Christmas Day tomorrow with a family lunch and all the trimmings, I'm also prepping for Samoa, travelling there in the new year, and urgently sending books to the SSAB (Samoa Stationery and Books) store in Apia. 

This was a lovely surprise, as every year I check in on the SSAB stories to see if they need more of my books. There are about three stores on the island of Upolu that I am familiar with and one in Savaii, which I haven't yet attended to, but will do at some future date.

This particular pese (song) is popular and reminds me of the different villages in Samoa, each with their own matai (chiefs) and tū ma aganu'u (protocols and traditions) that can vary from village to village. This song acknowledges this as they sing of the different nu'u or villages from the pitonu'u or district, and you can see the pride in their faces.

I'm so glad that my parents brought me up with knowledge of the language and also with an understanding of how things work in our fa'aSamoa as to not have that information can be a little trying with diaspora Samoans. 

So I'm very happy to teach this to my youngest as we travel often to Samoa together and as she studies Samoan language in high school to add to her knowledge. I certainly do see her as a future matai (chief) as she carries her grandfather's name and I know that she would have made him proud as she does of me...

Punialava'a - next generation with Xmas prep'...

 

As we prepare for Christmas festivities, in not forgetting the actual reason for the season: the birth of Jesus, who set the world on a different trajectory. I am really looking forward to visiting Samoa on New Year's day 2026 with my family, including meeting up with my eldest brother in Brisbane, Australia, and another family friend originally from Wellington and visiting at the same time.

This music has been getting me in the mood lately, with its neat, updated Samoan beat from the band Punialava'a (next generation), who were one of my parents' favourite bands back in the day. I also like the incorporation of the Cook Islands ukulele, which just enhances the dancing atmosphere! Or siva Samoa, of course!

Can you imagine trying to sleep through this song? all I want to do is get up and dance (adding to my daily steps to 10K). I have a playlist that I'm getting ready for our drives around Samoa so this is one of the first. Wishing you well for your Christmas preparations...

Watching 'Avatar 3'...

 

One of the highly anticipated movies my youngest was interested in watching was 'Avatar 3' subtitled 'Fire and Ash'. I enjoyed it more than Avatar: The Way of Water, which was long-winded and less enjoyable than the first movie. 

Although there were many aspects of Māori and Polynesian symbolism to appreciate, such as tattooing and the voice actors. They also demonstrated ideas for using their environmental resources to build shelters that adapt to their way of life.

This is my second favourite out of the trilogy so far, as it kept the storyline simple, although I wasn't so sure of the 'ash' aspect of it. However, it was neat to watch it with 3D glasses; it takes a little getting used to at first, but the 3D special effects definitely make the movie worth watching.

I recommend this movie for holiday viewing for anyone interested in the director James Cameron's Avatar franchise. It still speaks to me about colonisation and indigenous peoples trying to keep to their environmental beliefs as opposed to the colonisers trying to reap environmental resources for financial greed, power, and gain at the behest of the First Nations peoples but that's another blog...

Readying for Chrismas 2025...

 

Already I'm in holiday mode, but I've got another week of work before I lay down the tools, turn off the lights, and say 'goodbye' to 2025, then get ready for Christmas.

This year, we're spending Christmas at home, but on New Year's Day, some of us are flying to Samoa to check in and say 'talofa lava' to family there.

I'm also meeting my bro from Australia and his lovely wife, and we're going to have a neat time together and probably check out some rock pools and do some swim time, since I've sent over some boogie boards and paddles too.

I'm so glad my youngest has continued in her swimming lessons over the year, learning all the different strokes, as I had insisted on for all my children, since water plays such an essential role in our lives.

Returning to Samoa annually, since before the COVID-19 pandemic, has become routine for my family and me, as role modelled by my parents and especially my late father. And at present, my beloved is over there working on his PhD fieldwork, as I had many moons ago.

So this new phenomenon, which is a strawberry ice cream on a stand that looks like a strawberry, was given to me by my children to try, and it definitely warms the taste buds, too. There are all sorts of flavours, but the strawberries are my favourite. More evidence that the holidays are almost here...

Christmas lights lite-up and drive through in Otara...

 

Last night, my eldest encouraged our family to visit a stretch of Christmas lights in the Otara suburb of South Auckland, which was lit for public viewing and received local council funding.

It was a fantastic idea, with food stalls lining the streets for blocks. Most houses were lit up, some going overboard. Some of the residents acted as security, ensuring that the public was safe.

There were also two options: either walk through the streets and access some roads that were closed to drivers but open for walkers, or, of course, for drivers.

What I particularly enjoyed was watching families bring along strollers for their children, Christmas songs blasting from various sound systems. 

Some even had special photo-op sections where you could take photos with your friends and/or family in front of their house, with chairs and everything lit up. It was definitely a family-friendly space. My family even took photos in front of a lit-up sign that said, 'Merry Christmas'.

One of the families even had their guitars out and were singing Christmas carols whilst selling Otai, a popular Tongan fruit drink. My eldest shouted at us and bought us Otai, chocolate cake, brownies, chips, and nuggets, along with a special dessert: Black Forest trifle.

It was such a neat affair that I'm going again. Still, this time I'll take my family on the one-way route (perhaps for a couple of rounds), as it's definitely worth seeing the terrific effort most residents put into creating a family-friendly ambience.

It was also neat to see so many different people driving out to this part of town, as roads were at a snail's pace with us walkers taking our time and taking photos with many other families buying up foods of all types by the roadside. I'm also glad that residents were able to profit from the initiative, especially before Christmas. 

Well done to the organizers! They deserve a pat on the back and some extra credit for making this initiative possible. All power to them and I'm even looking forward to what next year will bring for their Christmas block lite-up...

10 year Indie-publishing journey and end of year celebrations....

 

It has been a crazy, busy last couple of weeks as I race to the finish line with a celebration of the 10th anniversary of my Indie-publishing journey since 2015.

My family had a small celebratory cake, and I was thankful for how far we had come in the 10-year journey with some 20+ books now indie-published, which makes that around two books per year, which is not too bad, counting that I have a full-time job and studies as well as looking after my family first and foremost.

I've also taken stock of the books that have been produced so far and have some ideas and challenges for another poetry book, picture books, and a novel/s or two to be indie-published over the next year.

On another note, I've finished teaching my class and am ready for graduation in 2026, which means that I've completed my marking! Yay! And now recruiting, interviewing and collating information for my 2026 class cohort to start early next year in late February.

I'm also now considering putting up our Christmas tree, as when we were in Fiji last month, I noticed that Christmas decorations were already on display in their shops and at the Wyndham resort where we were vacationing (such an American word).

Now that it's festive season, it's time to take up the challenge and to reflect that at home and in my posts in looking forward to coming together with my family for a Christmas and end of year celebration with 2026 just around the corner...

Wicked 2 - too many moving parts...

 

I forgot to mention that during the WIPCE conference, I took my elder two to watch the highly anticipated second movie in the Wicked series. I had already (spoiler alert) predicted that the Wizard was Elphaba's father (the writer in me), which my children didn't agree with initially.

Having watched the movie in the city movie theatre, complete with reclining chairs, it was a let-down for me. I missed the amazing songs from the first movie, and I found there were 'too many moving parts', i.e., lots of subplots that took away from the simplicity of the first movie.

I did, however, read that in its first week, it was still a box office hit in the States with many anticipating fans wanting to see whether the second movie would live up to the hype of the first movie. I didn't think so but many others might disagree with me.

Instead, I'm now looking forward to watching the eagerly anticipated third movie to in the Avatar series. I'm really interested in how the storyline will develop as the family moves to another space/place. I'm finding more time to do the things that I enjoy now that the holiday season is just around the corner...

Back home to Aotearoa NZ...

 

It is nice to be back home, with so much to do as we come to the end of the year. I have dinners to attend to, planning for next year and lots of marking to complete.

I also have unpacking to do (firstly) and to catch up on things at work, as we had a major restructuring that was quite a shakeup for many staff.

The pic shows the airport arrival area when we have cleared the transit area and are moving towards the Duty Free and Passport/Customs area.

The Gateway is quite significant culturally, as a Māori welcoming area symbolic of having a powhiri (Māori welcoming ceremony) that I often observe at work. It also depicts carvings of significant historical or symbolic figures. Sometimes, as you walk through, you can hear the karanga (a special welcoming call of a Māori woman), which is a reminder that we are entering historical Māori land as tangata whenua (people of the land)...

Birthday specials in Fiji...

 

Yesterday was my birthday celebration, and in Fiji, they do it with style! We had a countdown (NZ time), and two younger children made a black forest cake, which was amazing to find in Fiji.

We then all went for a family package massage or facial. Four of us chose the one-hour massage, which was simply divine, especially since I fell asleep during mine while my youngest smiled as she also had a massage alongside me.

We then went shopping in Nadi township, and I was able to pick up a few tapa (material) shirts, except that my beloved wanted what I call an 'ugly' shirt.

After that, we swam in the longest pool in the South Pacific at our Wyndham resort on Denarau Island and had an enjoyable time with a beach ball.

Finally, we got ready for our dinner and fire show just in time for my birthday, and that was so great to be able to see the ocean whilst dining with the family. 

The staff sang me a happy birthday song, and we had birthday cake, which we then gifted to the rest of the staff. We already had cake at home, and I also received another in-house birthday cake gift and a towel set, which was another treat. Really felt spoiled on my birthday.

The fun didn't stop there as we then got ready for Karaoke. I had my song ready: Michael Jackson's "Rock with You". I was number three on the list and danced to the beat.

My husband then sang one of my favourite songs called "Sosefina" except I keep asking who's Sosefina? (an inside joke :). It was an enjoyable time, and there was much laughter as many guests sang but were (a little?) off-key.

The highlight of the night was that our two youngest decided to sing "Kiss me through the phone", and it brought the house down with their dance moves and antics. It was such a laugh that even the staff were dancing along. It was such a laugh, as they were so loud (and mostly in tune, ha ha), and it was neat that we were buzzing on the way to our rooms and watching the recording.

Gonna miss Fiji as it's our special spot for R&R rest and relaxation, and they never fail to me us feel at home. Lots of families were holidaying here and especially from Australia, although there were a few Kiwis (New Zealanders) too. Vinaka Fiji we will miss you until the next time Lord willing...

Wedding Anniversary Dinner of 24 years together...

 

Yesterday, I went to a church service beside the pool and next to the open ocean that you see in the pic. It felt like a place of serenity I needed to go after a hectic year, and as I neared the end of my nemesis journey with my PhD.

The message of the day was that we were created to do essential things for which we were gifted. Or rather, that was how I interpreted the Fijian preacher's sermon.

I was joined by other New Zealanders and tourists from around the world. It was amazing to see how that moment of quietness was just what I needed to realise the hectic year I had been through.

Now I can just relax, whilst in Fiji, and take a well-deserved couple more days' respite before returning home to a load of marking and finishing the recruiting for next year's class. I'm enjoying our soft approach to enjoying our days with a family massage package this afternoon, before our Anniversary dinner tonight.

These last couple of weeks have been amazingly blessed with many people from all over the world interested in our family bookstall. The picture book sets were the most popular, with many interested in poetry (oops! thought I'd had enough to sell but sold out) and considering to continue selling at our local markets back home too...