It’s taken ages to get this post up because, firstly, we were busy doing all the things in the pictures, and secondly, Brent has since been hogging the computer to (pause for dramatic gasp) write assignments. It’s that time of semester when everything is due at once but the end is now in sight and all he has left to do is one sermon, one presentation and one exam. So I finally thought I’d better write this on my phone as he types away next to me.
This, then, is what we’ve been up to: first of all, Brent’s mum came to visit for a fortnight at the end of April. We thought we’d better show her the Fiji from the postcards, so one morning while our husbands were sitting in class, Lesley, Daphne and I took her to Natadola Beach, which is, at least according to Kris, the best beach on this island, Viti Levu. As it happened, we missed the final (unsignposted) turn, and the road turned to gravel and got skinnier and windier and steeper but we could see we were headed toward the coast so we kept going and eventually found ourselves passing a deserted school on our way into a village. Fortunately, there was a lone inhabitant exiting a taxi as we arrived, so we were able to ask for directions and make our way back to the (skinny, windy, steep) gravel road we were meant to be on, and in due course arrive at Natadola. It truly is a stunning stretch of steep white sand with breakers big enough to feel like the ocean, yet not big enough to make you feel uncomfortable about splashing around in them. We set up camp under a couple of big trees but were not long able to resist the optimally-temperatured water. It was the best beach swimming I’ve done, probably ever. Surprisingly, there was hardly anyone else on the beach, which only made it feel more magical. I didn’t get any good pictures of Reggie in the water, but he was definitely right in there, having the time of his life.
A gentleman named Max offered us rides on his horses, a marvel to which Reggie took quite a liking and spoke about for days afterward. (“I want to go to the beach where I can ride the white donkey and the brown donkey.”)
And then my parents came to visit for a week. On the Sunday we drove south to the Kula Eco Park just past Sigatoka. My sisters had given our family a voucher for this Fijian-version-of-a-zoo for Christmas, and it was such a hit. We walked in and, basically, they handed us an iguana. I loved it; he felt so soft except for his gently pokey feet.
Next up was this eight-month old boa constrictor named Coco. I held her but it totally freaked me out. Brent, on the other hand, has dreamed of holding a snake his entire life and was completely enraptured with the entire experience.
This iguana, Fred, whom Lucy is eyeing below, is the exact iguana on the Fijian five-dollar note. So whenever we’re paying for stuff now, we look at each other and we’re like, ‘We met this guy!’
Love these two. (Side note: it’s been so beautiful to watch how much closer they’ve got since we came to Fiji, simply by virtue of Brent being around so much more. He’s now the parent-of-choice to put Reggie to bed at night. And it’s true for Lucy too, actually. She cries every time Brent leaves, which is usually multiple times a day for his various classes, and bangs on the closed door behind him.)
We moved on to visit lots of tropically-coloured birds, some bats, some fish and a kids’ playground in the middle of a paddling pool that was so freezing I would believe they had chilled the water. Reggie was brave for a bit but Lucy really went for it with the paddling. Our final stop was feeding tiny bits of fish and lettuce to the three Hawksbill sea turtles. You have to wiggle the fish in the water but drop it as the turtle swims toward you because if you’re not quick enough, the turtle will accidentally but enthusiastically snap your fingers. (I know this from experience.)
We had such a lovely day. And then a few days later, out sweet girl Lucy turned one.
I made her a lemon cake and we sang for her and helped her blow out her candles. One is such a big birthday and a tiny one at the same time. We are so glad God has blessed our family with this delightful child and her convivial personality and relaxed demeanour.
I’ll leave you with this picture of Lucy eating cake.
Reasons I Choose To Look Up 