First impressions of IKEA (NZ) store...

 

On the weekend, I visited IKEA (NZ) for the first time since it opened its doors last year with its first store in Auckland. It was interesting to view the big warehouse, which reminded me a lot of the Costco stores.

I was able to view the various furniture layouts for bedrooms, study spaces, kitchen, lounge furnishings and the list goes on. I also loved viewing their colour combinations and found their pricing reasonable.

Now I get what the big deal was all about, as I had heard that when it first opened, there were cues down the road to get in and view the big warehouse.

They even had a large space for seated eating with a nice menu that offered food tastings from their European origins. I guess the only thing that I wasn't too keen on was that it was most of the warehouse used artificial lighting apart from the entrances.

All in all, it was an interesting experience, so that if I ever need furnishings to kit out a specific room or area, then this definitely would be a store to seek and consider the various offerings and options one could choose from...

Watching the movie "Tenor: my name is Pati"...

 

I was so blessed to have watched the movie "Tenor: my name is Pati" with my beloved. It was a three-day preview, and I watched it on Friday in the morning with only three of us watching in a big theatre. I think most people would have missed it as the only session of the day.

It was a touching movie for me as he was brought up in the same suburb of Māngere in South Auckland, as my family, but at different churches and schools. It was also interesting in that he had grown up with a super strict Samoan father.

I think the other part of his journey that was so interesting to watch was his commitment to his craft as a singer, musician and performer. I could see his passion growing up in performing at church and the local elderly home that his parents worked at, and that he and his siblings performed at and also worked there.

To now be on international stages all over the world singing as a tenor in operas and sharing his love and passion with audiences to see is so amazing. If I hadn't watched this movie, I wouldn't have known the great lengths that he has travelled to get to where he is today.

So happy for him and so proud that he represents our Samoaness well. The good, the difficulties and the struggles. I wish all the best for him, as he has been compared with Pavarotti, and that's saying something. 

This is a highly recommended movie that I encourage many Samoans and Pasifika people to be inspired by. Not so much about becoming an opera star but in his journey of never giving up on a dream that transpired as he was dedicated to his craft...

Shout out to our upcoming law graduand...

Yesterday, my beloved planned a family celebration with dinner out at one of our fave restaurants on the occasion of our eldest passing her final law exams to now graduate in the month of August. That's two graduations for our family this year. 

I am so happy for her as this was a goal for her ever since she was a young child, wanting to make this world a more 'fair' place for what she was aware of at the time.

I remember she was interested in social justice as a young child and became aware of cultural differences, historical perspectives and always had an opinion on social justice issues.

She definitely worked hard for it with lots of readings, debating and attending lectures. She was very hardworking with a lot of tenacity and determination to complete the course.

Now what is left is to complete her bar exams to be accepted to the bar, and to then decide which field of law she will want to work in, as I remember that she was initially interested in criminal justice, but the world is her oyster and quite a lot of opportunities are available to her. Now looking forward to her graduation in August...

Bruno Mars new song "I just might"...

 

When I first heard this new song by Bruno Mars, it reminded me of the Disco beat vibes that I enjoyed as a teenager (yeap - back in the day). What was also neat about the music video was that it showed his versatility as a musician as well i.e. as a drummer, playing the electric guitar etc.

I love this as a good dance number but not so much the message about if a girl/lady can't dance or it doesn't match her looks, now come on, because everyone dances in their own way, although the particular style might not be acceptable to some. 

I think it might be my new dance song for the month as it has a real catchy tune and one that you can step too without too much difficulty. So come on, if you're needing an up beat song to dance to, you just might wanna pick this one...

"David" movie and plea...

 

On the weekend, I watched a movie called "David" after reading a review that praised its new animation style. I was also interested in seeing the story of the biblical David being shared with a new generation, as it was one that I had learned about growing up in the church.

I took my youngest with me, and we enjoyed the cinematic view of the new animation, which made the characters' hair look very real, as well as the beautiful landscapes, horizons, and Technicolour. I was also interested in the storyline and the storytelling of a very old story.

All in all, we enjoyed it, and there were tear-jerking moments, as well as the story of a mother's love for her son. I almost laughed when there was a reference to 'stress weaving', which I think is more of a 20th-century term, but interesting in that I love handicrafts as an ancient art form, and also practical too.

I would highly recommend this movie for family viewing and also for those who are interested in viewing a different 'take' on David. At the end of the movie, the director (title unknown) makes a plea for 1,000,000 children in North America to be able to watch, and for viewers to pay it forward so they can watch, since many can't afford entry...

Family Valentines Day...

 

During the weekend, it was a joy to spend time with my beloved over a Valentine's lunch at, you guessed it, Valentine's Day restaurant, and then we took our family to have dessert at a local restaurant to celebrate the love we share together. 

Although Valentine's Day is often seen as for couples, we've broadened it to include celebrating as a family with my beloved, giving our children flowers, and then our eldest giving flowers to all the women in our family, too.

These were lovely gestures from three generations of women and a reminder not to take one another for granted as a family. It's not that we're a perfect unit, but we've gotten to know each other pretty well over the years, and we've accepted that, through those imperfections, we can learn to forgive and love, even if we never fully agree on certain things.

As for me, I particularly love flowers and have been growing plants since I was very young. So, I have plants inside the kitchen, bathroom, lounge and haven't quite got to the bedroom yet, except for bouquets, but it is pretty special in receiving and giving flowers too.

I must say I have a sweet tooth and enjoy chocolate, but only in moderation. It was also nice for our family to drive to a local beach at night and walk along it. We were reminded that my first date with my beloved was on Valentine's Day in 2000, so it's been 26 years since we've been together, and this year we celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary...

Today is the day!...

 

On Tuesday this week, I was blessed and privileged to have completed the oral defence of my PhD thesis before a panel of esteemed educators and community leaders.

It was a panel of five members, led by a Professor, with one international examiner from NUS (National University of Samoa), two external national examiners, and my supervisor as my supporting professor.

It was indeed an auspicious occasion, and it gives me great pleasure and an honour to thank them for their thorough work and the consideration they gave, especially the international member, whose comments helped sharpen my work for the final submission.

I'm pleased to say that I passed the oral exams and can now complete the final polishing edits to submit and confirm my PhD thesis for graduation on 1st May of 2026. I must say that I could have burst into tears after my 20-minute presentation, when I sang a pese (song) my late father had sung many years earlier; it was some of his last words to me that kept me on track to finish the thesis...

Coles Cookies in song lyrics...

 

We're back from the Gold Coast, Australia, and this was one of the songs that my youngest played as we drove around in our rental. What was so funny about it was the lyric that said, "Cole's cookies in a good morning..." because it was one of our favourite cookies to buy and bring back to NZ.

It was interesting that when I spoke to my older brother, who lives on the Gold Coast, he didn't understand why we would buy boxes to take back, since they're not that big into them. However, for those of us who are chocolate cookie connoisseurs, there is a big difference.

So glad to be back, but just in time also for my final presentation and PhD defence tomorrow. Still quite a lot to go through, but trusting that there are some things I just have to put in faith, and more on that another day. I'll just dunk some Coles cookies in the meantime...

Last day in Coolangatta, Kirra Beach & the Gold Coast of Australia...

 

Our last day at the Gold Coast, and yesterday we were able to go on a 2-hour cruise down the Nerang River from SeaWorld to Surfers Paradise and back.

Whilst on the cruise, we found out some interesting facts about the area from the captain, who was also a local.

He told us the origin of the name "Surfers Paradise": it was named after the local eatery when locals considered a name change.

He also pointed out the sea life and wildlife around the area. It was also noted that the number of houses built on islands and facing the river, with potoons around, so they could go straight to the water if need be.

All in all, we had a wonderful time of rest and relaxation. We also had some time last night to go to the beach and dip our feet, then to the spa and pool. It's been a great time, but it's time to pack up and head home. A really fun time...

The last of our "Worlds" tour at the Gold Coast...

Yesterday, I spent the day at "Dreamworld" with my two youngest, and we had a great time exploring the various rides and scenes at the event park.

One of my favourite rides was the train that runs every 20 minutes on a loop, and we got to see the large area of land that "Dreamworld" occupies, as well as the wildlife reserve it holds.

It definitely is different from "SeaWorld" and "MovieWorld", which were busier with longer lines and a lot more people. We found "Dreamworld" more charming, with a lot of the food spaces closed due to fewer customers.

We also visited their official "Legoland" shop, where we received a free passport you can take to any Lego shop to have stamped.

This was because we have three Lego enthusiasts in my family, including me. Although I don't have much time to build, I enjoy it as a way to use my imagination and build with Lego, something I enjoyed as a child. I think it helped with my creativity.

That was the last of our "worlds" travels, as although we had tickets for "Wet'n Wild" and "Water World", we weren't too keen, as we had an ocean beachfront and swimming pool back at our hotel. Plus we still had the cruise and visit to SkyPoint to see too...

"Movie World" and enjoying the Gold Coast...

 

Yesterday, I went to "Movie World" on the Gold Coast, and we had fun until I went on the 'Scooby Doo' ride, which made me feel sick. Note to self: Don't have breakfast before going on the rides.

It reminded me so much of 'Disneyland' in Anaheim, California, where I visited family many years ago. It was neat to visit again, with so many changes since my last visit a few years ago.

It was also neat to visit 'Surfer's Paradise' strip near the beach, as I had tried to find accommodation there with our 'Timeshare' booking, but it was fully packed.

However, where we are on Kirra Beach is so refreshing because it's only minutes from the airport, and the beaches are lovely to walk along, with so many visitors from around the world.

I've also enjoyed grocery shopping here because food is a lot cheaper with more variety to buy, e.g., fresh mangoes, tropical fruits, although meat is about the same.

Today, we're looking to finally go on our 2-hour cruise. It's a long story, but we missed the boat twice already, so we're hoping to go early and then go to "DreamWorld", which is like "MovieWorld" but has a lot more to it.

Then I can't wait to finally complete our "Worlds" tour, and either jump into the ocean or go for a spa at our hotel pools, or even soak in the swimming pool after a long, hot day driving to the various destinations. 

It's definitely been a well-deserved break before the year gets into full swing: teaching classes, defending my thesis, working on more writing and publishing books, and then considering where the next holiday will take us...

Breathe, enjoy and relax at Kirra Beach, Gold Coast, Australia...

 

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Here we are at Kirra Beach on the Gold Coast of Australia, enjoying rest and relaxation, with plenty of fun along the way. The pic is a view from our hotel resort balcony, with Kirra Beach on the horizon.

Yesterday, I was able to go for an early morning walk, and there were lots of people out and about walking, scootering, biking, running and enjoying the mild weather after some rain.

My family and I also visited SeaWorld at Surfers Paradise and did a little shopping along the way. It's been good to sightsee and notice little changes along the way; we last visited this area some 10 years ago, when our children were very little.

Last night, I had a visit from my elder brother and his wife, whom we had just met in Samoa last month. It was neat to meet my niece and her husband and catch up on their growing families.

Today, I'm also notching up to get ready to defend my PhD thesis, which I'm treating more as a 'talanoa' or cultural discussion about things pertaining to my thesis. I must say I thank God for getting this far; there were so many times I couldn't see myself finishing it, but I'm almost at the finish line.

I've also been so thankful for my supportive family; I couldn't have done it without them, and I'll never forget my father's last words to me: when would I finish? It willed me to complete it. So next Tuesday, I'll be ready to speak with my three examiners, one from Samoa and two from NZ, who were able to read through the thesis.

I'm also preparing my 20-minute digital presentation to summarise my PhD studies and share it with the faculty, other staff, and family. To get to this stage is nothing short of a miracle, and I'm so happy that I get this chance to reflect on what I need to do next, whilst taking stock and enjoying the Gold Coast...

Happy 21st Birthday celebrations...

 

I have been so crazy busy since returning from Samoa, with my middle child's 21st birthday, which we celebrated with a neat family dinner at a restaurant overlooking Henderson Valley.

She also got to enjoy her new wheels and stayed in an Airbnb for some girl time with her sisters. It's been such a whirlwind celebration, as tomorrow we're flying out to Australia.

Yes, we're going to the 'world's' to check them out with our youngest, who has never been to Brisbane. So it will be a first, and we'll probably check out the local markets there too.

Not to mention that we're staying at Kirra Beach, just south of busy Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, and we may even get some time to catch up with my brother and his wife, and my nieces and their families, so they can meet their NZ cousins.

Will be taking over some books to share some of the ancient Samoan stories with our family in Australia, and then check out the beaches there, with one just across the road from where we're staying. It's going to be fun, and I'm looking forward to it as I'm on long-service leave, which is an extra 2-week-long break from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, where I work.