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Published: February 19th 2008
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Tapi's boat
on the fatal day Kia Orana everybody,
After discussion with my mate Dale last week, I have decided to revive the travel blog. Although it is not this time about travel but more about keeping my many buddy’s overseas up with what is happening here in Raro. Obviously with a four month delay the catching up will be a bit compressed as such a lot has happened in this time. I will cover these good times, but a bit briefly, and on from here I will Endeavour to keep things up to date. This will be a bit longer than usual, At RPC length rather than Greg blog length, With Apologies to my good buddy Raf swahilidivers@superonline.com but I am sure you will understand.
Returning from my extended absence, everything had not fallen to pieces as per my worst nightmares. In fact most everything was as I had expected, thanks to Shane and all the boys.
We have had visiting, since I got back, Mags and Bodil, who took us all over Norway and showed us a great time there, Mags has the distinction of having done more Dives here than any other non-resident in the world. We also had Ron Pysmeny,
Tapi's boat
a few weeks later who is a returning diver of many years and Ron married his Love Diane here during this stay, Diane, is a lady he met on a previous trip here in Raro and we expect they will live happily ever after. We also had of course Dale and Diana, who again are regular returnees. On my trip last year, Dale and Diana drove me clear across Canada, through the Rockies and through some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen, including the Grizzly Bear. I just missed Hans and Catherine who left the day after I arrived. These folks looked after us in Seattle and are also friends we see here every year. Hans is our photo guru, don’t ask him about cameras in the Palm Grove Pool! Heiner was also here during this time frame, accompanied by quite a big family group. I am sure that if you could run here rather than fly then that is how Heiner would get here. I mention all these people because they Are my friends and also because so many of them know each other from having been here in Raro at the same time over the years.
We have
Ron and Diane
The big day at Palm Grove
had some interesting things happen of late here. During a spot of bad weather a few weeks ago, one of our outer island ships left harbour and was lost on the reef right on the approach line to the harbour. Currently it is still there and is a matter of concern. The other outer island ship remained in port but was taken out later and sunk deliberately because as with its sister ship it was beyond it’s working life. There is a lot of political dilly dallying and chicanery involved in this whole exercise. We are up the Chinese for yet another loan. It won’t be long before they will own this country. We are promised a new boat ramp, it is desperately needed but I suspect it is yet another political promise. Our Man Ben, who had been part of our crew for almost two years has moved on and is now in the “Big Apple” with his significant other “Janet”. We miss them both and wish them well. Cameron has also moved on, after three years here he is off to seek his fame and fortune overseas, starting with NZ. We have a new addition to our crew
Bill and ·Dale
the intrepid underwater explorers and that is Ian Wheeldon. Ian is a Pom who along with his lovely wife Claire have decided to make this little bit of paradise home. A far cry from being a DJ in blighty.
We have a new dog, no we don’t! Bond has a puppy “Hugo” and Chappy next door has a puppy “Scruffy”, we seem to have both, and along with our new cat Zero who thinks he is a puppy we are looking more like a zoo than a dive operation. Shadow and Lucy are still here and Shadow is definitely the boss dog. He still regularly runs between home and work, a distance of 4.2Km. Not bad for an eleven year old dog.
Shane and Matariki, on their return from NZ have shifted into the big house here at Nikao so we now have “Lance’s little love nest” available for use by our visiting Divers or in fact anyone interested in staying in this idyllic property whilst here in paradise and at really good rates to boot. A lot for me And hopefully up to date from now on.
Regards
Greg
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Caroline
non-member comment
Welcome back!
Glad to see you back online. A great way to keep in touch, aside from tacky jokes. Kevin and I hope to get up to see you in the year...no real overseas trips planned for us until 2009. Keep the room available! Hope to see you soon!