Steph and I have spent the last 5 days staying on a small island called Pacific Cove in the Yasawa islands north of Nadi. 18 bures and very few people on this island hideaway. I have particularly taken to the snorkelling off the island boat , dropped to follow the reef along to be picked up 45 mins later at the other end. Lots of fish and huge sponges as the coral dropped away to the ocean floor. Fantastic. On our last trip out the wind was hefty with waves making the boat lift high out of the water and entry quite tricky. Steph diligently came to check on me to find me flailing around in what felt like enormous seas and suggested a life vest might help. On grabbing mine and securing it on in the waves it floated to almost encase my head despite every effort to get it down and she said I really had a size to large. "Turn on your back " she said and kick I'll pull you. I recall flailing my arms around still with mask and snorkel on singing out " but I want to snorkel and I'm the wrong way up. Just looking at the sky I want to look down". Steph was really adamant though and progressed with me to the boat saying " No you have to go back to the boat because your'e going to drown. So no snorkelling today!! " 😩
We head for 3 days next weekend to Lelevua island , a tiny island of 8 bures and only power generated. I have asked Steph if we can snorkel there? And she has cautiously said yes. Yippee 👌

Some shots in less dangerous poses.

Reporter: Tony Lawler
In June we were on the west coast of Ireland and unfortunately missed "Bog
Week" by a day or 2 - but there was still heaps of bog about.   I reckon
that when they are digging and processing the bog they are "Bogging" and
they are called "Boggers", but Jude reckons that the stuff is called "peat"
and "turf" and when they are cutting and processing they are "turfcutting"
not bogging!   I prefer my version.2016 Conamara Bog Week provides a space for the creative force. This award-winning, multi-disciplinary, family friendly festival is now in its 32nd year and most events are free. The festival takes place in the Quaker village of Letterfrack, situated at the butt of the magical Diamond Mountain, which is the gateway to the Connemara National Park. This fun packed festival is a celebration of landscape all wrapped in the very best of Irish traditional music

Daily guided bog walks and talks and art exhibitions are a feature of the week and on both weekends the best players in the country will flock to the village to create magic with concerts, pub gigs and impromptu sessions.

A local reminder of the work environment that Steph has gone to in Fiji.  But in the case of Fiji the destruction is widespread and many villagers are living in tents with rubble around 6 months after Cyclone Winston.  The challenge is now to be prepared for the next cyclone season.

Marg and I are enjoying the delights of Maui.  IBM is footing the bill so what could be better.
After a long trip to Los Angeles and then back to the Hawaiian Islands we have settled in for the entertainment, eating and a bit of R&R.

The business session was compulsory for the IBMers but I think Marg enjoyed it immensely.  Lots of rah rah, but also great entertainment.

American Authors is an American indie rock band based in New York City. They are best known for their hit singles "Believer" and "Best Day of My Life" from their debut album Oh, What a Life.  Seemed very appropriate for the day.

Our recreation event was a tour of 'Iao valley on the northwest side of Maui.  This was with photographers who provided lots of tips on getting the best out of the conditions.  but I do not think they counted on the inch of rain that we had in the afternoon.  That's why they call it a rainforest.

The weekend drew the biggest crowd in Canberra Open Gardens history.  We were selling plant cuttings, serving freshly ground coffee and selling raffle tickets...all proceeds to BeyondBlue.

Sunday morning and the race was on.  To be expected the weather was perfect.

But Noosa was the prime focus.  For some of us it was simply an opportunity to chill out.  For Norm it represented an opportunity to try out the great 50m outdoor pool and tackle many of the walking paths and hills as part of his fitness regime while the rest of us enjoyed the icecreams and lazy summer weather around the pool.
The obligatory trip to Eumundi market was a successful day as well as Montville and Mary Cairncross Reserve in Maleny.

Amongst the many highlights was the sunset cruise around the canals of Noosa checking out the mega rich holiday homes and rental that back on to the waterways.  Looks a pretty good lifestyle.

As they say in the Schick ad...the Glenn's liked the product so much, they bought the company.  Glenn's are now proud owners in Club Noosa.  Here they are surveying their new QLD holiday destination.