13/1/2026 Rain in Raro

So guess who was the first guest into breakfast this morning? That would be me. This is my goal for the next three weeks, be the first in. Not a particularly challenging goal but a goal nevertheless. There was passion fruit in the chiller today,  I luuuuurve passion fruit! A Maori lady came in for breakfast just after me, she’s staying two doors up.  We had a chat and she told me she was off to swim with turtles today on sea scooters which she was so excited about,  hence why she was in early for breakfast. Whilst she was eating I heard her on FaceTime with her son. As there were only two of us in the restaurant it was difficult not to hear her. From what I could tell he’d rung  her last night and she’d been asleep and missed his call which is why she was calling him back. Unfortunately she’d forgotten about the 23 hour time difference and I don’t think he was very happy being woken up an hour early.  She apologised and ended the call but was in floods of tears.  I asked her if she was ok, and she just said it was her baby boy, and she left the restaurant shortly after for her trip.  I had a few more cups of the very nice coffee before making my way back to my room. I  picked up the now obligatory two bottles of water on my way out of the restaurant and went back to change.  

As I was sorting myself out, I had a message from Nic asking if I was free for FaceTime as Ella wanted to see me before she went to bed . My best girl has a temperature and is feeling under the weather. Poor little dab..  The face time cheered me up so much, that little girl just gives me life she really does.  We chatted for over an hour and I was brought completely up to date with what my Princess has been up to, including snow days!.  

Once my precious facetime ended  it was time to make a move. It was  really overcast but not raining so I decided to make the most of that fact.  A quick change and I was on my sun lounger of choice overlooking the ocean.  Hurrah. It was lovely, a really heavy breeze coming in off the ocean, but the breeze was blowing in some VERY dark rainclouds! Fortunately they missed the Island and I was able to lie in the warm for a good few hours.  

There seemed to be a lot less people around the pool today, and there were plenty of available sun loungers had I wished to sit there.  

The resort entertainment changed due to the incoming storm so rather than Ukelle lessons and singing it was some more Sarong tying and dancing lessons.  The band was located under the shelter by the pool today,  and the demo was close to it but on the ocean side of the resort.  I enjoyed watching the dancing lesson and the sarong tying and also discovered the amount of fabric used in one is 2 metres. This has been stored away for my future reference when I get home… I may get the urge to make some up for my next trip 

It started to spit with rain which sent the lady doing the demonstration into a spin. She had her assistants throwing sarongs and fans into a suitcase so fast, it was clearly a well rehearsed operation!  Luckily the rain didn't come to anything and the sky just got a bit  darker.  That was the end of the entertainment though.  

Because the demonstration had finished I turned back around and looked out to sea and carried on listening to the music. There was an Australian lady taking photos of the ocean and she came and sat down next to me. Predictably the conversation started with the weather, as it always does.  She was saying the rain was going to be heavy this week because of the cyclone in North Queensland and we were getting the tail of it.  It’s also the rainy season! When they were over in Rarotonga last March they flew  home to Brisbane and had to fly above the cyclone. There was too much turbulence for drinks to be served for the whole flight . Looks like they’re going to be flying back into another one tomorrow. Rather them than me! The lady and her husband have been here for a month as her hubby is an islander. They lived in Adelaide originally but have been travelling around Australia after selling all their belongings and picking up work where they can. For the last 12 months she’s been cooking in Cairns and he’s been driving trucks. It'sd their last day on the Island and she was disappointed there was no sun for her to enjoy. I can relate, but I felt sure she knew she’d catch a tan on a cloudy day!  I love the way they live their lives, no belongings tying them down, just going through life collecting memories and picking casual work to put food in their mouths and fuel in their van.  They are firmly in the camp of ‘material things don’t matter’. After our chat she went and joined her husband in the ocean for a swim.  I’m still not ready to attempt the steps down but next week I will be.  

Another hour and big fat spots of rain started to fall on me,  and when I checked the sky it was as black as my soul! Definitely time to pack up my bag and hotfoot it back to my room. I was halfway there and the heavens opened and it was like someone had thrown a bucket of water over the island, more specifically, over me.  

I got back and the cat was sitting on its chair outside the room so I sat down next to it and watched the water dripping off the coconut palm covered roof.  Housekeeping came by as I was sitting there and asked if I wanted the room doing so I said yes please and she went in to make a start.  When she came out to exchange the towels, she asked if the photo on the pillow was my husband and asked where he was. I could only point upwards.  I’d forgotten to move it to the bedside table when I got up this morning, just left it where it lives overnight.  She moved the cat out of the way and sat down next to me, introduced herself as Susie and sat there holding my hand asking about Si.  She seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say about him and gave me a pile of tissues once I’d finished. Before she carried on with her work I had the biggest hug and gave me some lovely words of comfort. It blows my mind that complete strangers can be so kind.  I’m guessing she filled the young lad who was helping her in because when they’d finished and shut the door on the room he told me to stay strong and I’d be ok.  

The cat and I stayed out there and I picked up my book to finish reading.  I’d made a schoolgirl error though and totally forgot to put the mosquito repellent on before breakfast. Consequently I have 5 bites on my arms which are itching like all hell.  Morg gave me Tiger Balm to come away with for my aches and pains, so I slapped some of that on them in a bid to stop the itch as I’d locked my meds in the safe and frankly I couldn’t be arsed to key in the number.  Lazy old boot.  While I was reading one of the security guards came around with notices.  Unfortunately the resort washing machines are broken so they’re requesting that guests use their towels more than once. I had my bed changed today and I’ve got two of everything in the room as it’s for two people so I’m ok for a day or so!  

I could have caught the bus outside the hotel and gone into Avarua but frankly all my get up and go has got up and gone.  I do however have 3 weeks to catch the bus so today I wrapped up in a blanket in my room because  the air con was blasting on high and it was a bit chilly in the room, and watched Venom, read some more and did some Island research.  

There is an app called transport me which is great for tracking the Islands’  Buses  so I have downloaded it again and will now have a rough idea where they are on the Island in comparison to me.  Si and I used it last time and found it really helpful.  I suppose I could just take a photo of the timetable but the app shows the bus moving and that amuses me. 

On my Island map they have another app advertised which is supposed to take you directly to excursions food options and Deliveries  but whilst the stores and excursions are on there, the app doesn’t take you to them so you can’t book anything which is a bit annoying. I’ll check with reception tomorrow to see if they know anything about it.  I’m wondering if the  supermarket does deliveries! Although it wouldn’t hurt to go into town.  I will see what sort of day it is tomorrow and if it’s miserable I may think about heading in. There is a museum, library, a National museum and a cinema so I should find something to keep me occupied.  The cinema is currently showing the sponge bob movie and anaconda , the sponge bob is an option…  There are also lots of places to eat, drink and shop which will be in the dry too! I can do some water and food shopping in Foodland anyway. Maybe! 

Much Love

Mrs Leonard

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