26/12/2025 Boxing Day Fiji

Morg and I slept in until 6 which was a marvel. I lay in bed while Morg went for a walk along the beach and made some calls. We decided to get to breakfast early, it runs 7-9 and then we could decide what to do with our day..

Breakfast was pretty damn good, despite being on a bed and breakfast plan, we are able to book a meal if we wanted to one night, despite being told we couldn't do that before we arrived. 

We had a delicious omelet each with everything in it and I just had some fresh fruit to follow. Morg, being a growing boy, went in for a full hit breakfast, beans sausage bacon followed by fresh pancakes with spaghetti and more bacon.  I just topped up on lots of coffee.  As we sat eating, a gorgeous little bird with bed hair was flying around and landed on the chairs and rails next to us. It was looking like an upside down robin, as it had a flash of red on the underside of its tail feathers that were in a fan shape. I tried my best to catch the red underfeather but failed. He's a funny looking bird and I know I'm right about the bed head! 

We sat gazing out over the ocean for breakfast, on the same table Si and I sat at, Morg sat next to me so there was that awful empty chair opposite. While I was finishing off my coffee and lost in thought looking out over the ocean, I thought I saw Si out of the corner of my eye sitting opposite me which took my breath away and brought me to tears because he wasn't there.

After breakfast we decided to go back to the bure and get ready to go and swim. It was already very hot, the temp rose to 30 today but it was the uv index that was the killer at 13 which is pretty extreme. I wore my sunnies in the water today to try and protect my cheeks from the sun as they got a bit burnt yesterday. (read that as burnt to a crisp).  As the tide was in it was much deeper and easier to swim in than yesterday afternoon. I've discovered what a weird feeling soft coral touching your leg is when the water is so shallow. It's not exactly a pleasant experience when you're not expecting it and you've got a fear of sharks and the ocean in general!!  Once again I was reluctant to get out, it's so blissful being in water that is like a bath, and crystal clear. After floating for an hour, I flipped over and swam into the shallows so I could balance on my arms and catch some sun on my back. That worked a treat. Gotta think outside the box on these occasions. 

I got out because I could start to feel myself burning, go me being all sensible. And I also wanted to go to the traditional grass skirt making class at 11. I always assumed the traditional skirts were made from grass but they are actually made from Hibiscus wood. A small branch is cut and the bark peeked off it. With a big fuck off machete. The thin sliver of bark has many many layers that are then stripped and ripped into long threads. It's pretty time consuming, very mindful and I found it really relaxing.  A traditional skirt takes in general 15 days to make, the most time consuming part being the actual harvesting of the bark. Once enough fibre has been gathered it is then bundled up and put to soak in large vats of water for 5 days to get the colour required. After that each length of fibre is laid out to dry in the sun. For the waistband, a length of fibre is used and is knotted at each end to mark the waist circumference so it's made to measure. The traditional skirt waist bands are braided for extra durability, but the one we made today we just used one piece of fibre.

Once the correct length for the waistband was ascertained, we gathered up strands and folded them in half, making a loop and the loose ends threaded through,and around the waistband. This went on until the whole strip of fibre between the knot was full. 

Next up the skirt was tried on for size and length adjusted accordingly. It took three of us two hours to make a flimsy little grass skirt, and I can see why it takes 15 days to make a full one. The skirts are still worn, when the new tribal chief is sworn in and for many other formal occasions. It was a really interesting few hours and I'm looking forward to learning more local craft stuff.

The two other ladies attending were mother and daughter from Queensland Australia, Sue, the mum and Tara the daughter. Both really nice ladies, Tara was run over by a car when she was 7 and had some really significant life changing injuries, and she's absolutely incredible. Tomorrow is her 40th Birthday and she and her mum are taking a snorkelling trip on the sandbar which she i very excited about.  Each day there is a different activity that are written on a chalk board in  the lobby so everyone can see what's occurring. Every day is fish feeding, turtle feeding, coffee and cookies and Fijjian singing and dancing. Other stuff is then added, like any trips from the island to other islands or the mainland. 

After the skirt making, I went for a wander down memory lane, the beach shelter where we had Si’s 60th birthday meal now has a picnic table in it and the fire pit has been relocated to somewhere else. The beach shelter made me cry, as did looking out over the ocean from it. 

I needed to book our sandbar snorkeling excursion for tomorrow, but had to pull myself together first. It took me three attempts to get it booked but nailed it in the end. I spent a while sat on bean bag chairs by the pool. I didn't go in the pool as the water was too bloody hot and was actually pretty unappealing, the ocean is much cooler and a lot cleaner looking. However, the  view from the side of the pool is just beautiful, just the ocean and not a soul to be seen. Just the sounds of the waves lapping on the shore is so relaxing, I could feel my distress and upset melting away.

I walked back up the beach to the bure where I found Morg drying off after being in the water.  He's working hard on his tan! 

We had another few hours on the water until 1500 hours and we hit the lobby for complimentary cookies and coffee, today were like farleys rusks, blimin lovely!

Also we topped up our water supplies. The island only has desalinated water which is ok boiled, but no good to drink from the tap. They sell 2 liter bottles behind  the bar for $12 Fijian, which works out at £3. Not bad really. Besides, it was hot and we were really thirsty! We stopped to admire the clever use of coconut palm fronds in the Xmas decorations , so simple and effective, all the upright posts are decorated in this way.

Clutching our water we went back to our burre and I claimed the hammock. It was a master stroke, that I remembered how Si got in and out of it and as such I didn't make a complete twat of myself this time. There was a beautiful white waderbird that has been showing up, the pure white plumage against the clear blue sky and turquoise waters is stunning. I have no idea what it is but it's certainly eye catching.

There is a family of Bibi birds living next door and tonight mummy daddy and the babies all scurried home from where they had been for the day in front of my nose disappearing under our bure before popping back up and going next door.  

Both Morg and I have burnt today, so kept in the shade for the afternoon so as not to burn any more. We're waiting for the sunset so we can go admire it! It didn't disappoint and in the golden hour both Morgan and I look pretty healthy.

The after burn is very pretty and we managed to get a few lovely shots. One of the clouds looked like a dolphin diving through the waves.

The darkness falls very quickly once the sun  drops, and it was pitch black by the time we got back to our bure. The millions of  stars are twinkling brightly in the heavens, alongside the moon and are a sight to behold.  

Tonight there was crab racing. Si and I won it last time and the prize was a trip to a sandbar, which was actually on his birthday, so the perfect gift for his 60th birthday. Well we didn't win the race, our crab did. Anyway, I wanted to go so Morg obliged, and we went over just as it was about to start. Before we left I said to Morg if our crab wins tonight, Si is here with me.  The entertainment team had set up the racing circle and put the 8 crabs up on the board. They were then auctioned off, they only made $5 each so that wasn't too bad. All the crabs had been named for their countries, Argentina had puma, Australia had koala, Italy had ferrari, japan had suzuki, Fiji had Bula, and Wales had Dragon. As they got to crab number 6, America Eagle, Morgan said i’ll take an eagle, he figured it was a good omen as Si loves the eagles. I had a number 8 wales and a dragon. Poor little crab number one, Italian ferrari, no one wanted and because i felt sorry for it i had him too. 

There was a grand countdown, the bucket was removed from over top of them and the little buggers were off, running as fast as their  little legs could carry them! The other crab owners didn't seem particularly invested in their crabs but Morg and I were cheering ours on, my little crab that no one wanted crossed over the blue chalk line first and was declared the winner. I was a bit emotional as for me it was confirmation Si was here. And I needed that

Race number two was started in the same manner and they were off again, first crab across the line, Japan mine and Morg's little crabs didn't even place. The third and final race we gave gentle encouragement to our two, their legs were clearly very tired by now, my little ferrari however was whizzing around the bottom of a wooden kava bowl like it’s life depended on it and im sure he would have won again given the chance to race. This time Morgan's Eagle crossed the line first, Si was here with us for sure! We came away $10 better off and feeling happy. 

Even though it was only 2130 we were shattered and returned to our Bure. I got eaten alive by mosquitoes earlier when I was lying in the hammock and am now itching like the devil. Note to self remember the spray when utilising the hammock! 

Much love

Mrs Leonard

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