The Mullet is a dodgy fish

You know the mullet, right? No, not the fish, the haircut. Anyway, there's this expression about the mullet, describing the hairstyle as "Business up front, Party in the back"

And that's what I think of when I go past this building in Avarua harbour.

One building. One item in common. Two very different... facades.

Parking Etiquette

When I first saw this parking sign (middle) outside the Muri Sailing Club, I was amused. A bicycle was chained to the pole where the main sign parking was, & to me it appeared that the sign referred to the small area around the pole and not the area in general.

Then when I got home and looked at my photo I noticed the other parking signs in the background. The red sign says "No Parking - Sailboats only - others will be sunk" and the "Motorbike Park" has been ignored, and the area is used for parking boats.

Then I read the middle sign again... And it didn't read quite how I first thought. I thought it said "Members' Parking" but it is saying parking members...

At least that only happens on Saturdays...

In Raro they Call a Spade a Spade

Got Rats?

What's Wrong with this Picture?

I wondered why I kept getting shocks of the DVD player and the computer...

Coconut Tide Line

The seas have returned to normal and we are left with the mess to clean up. The high tides swept coconuts, debris, sand and rocks on to our lawn, including several sizeable chunks of coral.

Mad about Cars

Aside from the ubiquitous scooter the vehicle of choice here is the ute. I think of them as the island equivalent to a convertible because generally there are people in the back, stretched out and sitting as comfortably as if they were on a couch watching TV. There seems to be some unspoken rule that you must sit on whatever is in the back of the ute, whether it’s a plastic garden chair, a motor scooter or a rider-on lawnmower.
If they’re not sitting, people often stand up behind the cab, positioned so they are cooled by the rushing breeze, and sing.

Pictured: Our Car. Rental Car Agencies advise…Don’t Park Your car under the coconut tree.

Are You Breaking the Law?

Some old laws regarding treason are being reviewed in parliament currently. The CI News has also brought to light some interesting laws still in existence:

In Rarotonga is it illegal to Practise Witchcraft, including fortune telling.

You will not be charged for killing people using the "Power of your Mind", unless you frighten to death anyone who is sick or under 16 years if age. That’s illegal.

Go Postal!

A parcel from my cousin in the UK reached us two days ago. He posted it over a month ago & I was surprised how incredibly long it took to get here. But then, I conceded, maybe the address had something to do with that…

Thanks Paul & Nicola, your parcel really made my day. =)

Eco-Friendly Building?

I hope you can see this photo clearly enough. The roofing iron has been cut to allow the frangipani tree to grow through it.

And, No, this isn’t the pharmacy where Chris works. This building is part of the Ministry of Health.

Dog Gone it!

The neighbour's 2 puppies have decided to adopt us. I guess they like our garden better. This has provided us with some amusing and some not so amusing incidents. A few weeks back they were keeping me hostage inside as every time I went outside they threatened me with their horrible little muddy paws. If that wasn't bad enough they nicked a pair of jocks of someone's line and tried to get me to play fetch with them. But most recently they’ve decided to drag people’s rubbish up onto the deck: old nappies, jandals, dishcloths, tincans, rotting hunks of tuna. But today they out did themselves. The black puppy managed to steal a machete.

It's a Dog's Life

Monkey Business

Despite popular belief on what flora and fauna should be found in abundance on a tropical isle, there are no parrots, macaws, parakeets or similar feathery specimens that might be suited to perching on the shoulder of an eye-patched individual other than those painted on murals outside the theme restaurants.

However we have learned there is a monkey. How did we learn? Chris received a prescription for it…er, her.

Weather Forecaster

Pictured at Muri Beach.

Click on image for full size photo

The Cinderella of Internet Cafes?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an exact closing time. I wonder what happens at 12? Do the computers turn into pumpkins?

Amusement of the Week – Homemade Pirate Ship

Last night when Chris and I went for a walk along Muri beach at sunset we spied this awesome little homemade boat. And they say Kiwis have ingenuity!

This vessel has been bound together with inner tubes and check out the stabiliser/float things – they’re rainwater down pipes – so clever!