This morning we were up early washed the bedding and were on the beach by 9.30 as it was national cleaning day so we decided to be tourists for the morning. We met Adam who was pleased to see us as we haven’t been in touch since Tobasky. Felix and Georgia were on the beach which was a surprise as Georgia should have been in England her flight was at 6.00pm Friday evening along with Amy and John. Apparently the flight had been delayed until 6.00pm tonight as on landing the undercarriage had been damaged so they were waiting for a part to be flown out and repaired. They had all been put up in the Kombo Beach Hotel at Kotu on hearing this Paul sprinted off to see John and Amy, when he got back he said Amy was sat around the pool in her bra and knickers but they seemed cheerful enough. We packed up to leave at around 12.30pm as the Diana Mariam school was having their Christmas presentation party this afternoon which we had been invited to also it was Cathy, Emily and Greg’s birthday party which was being held at the Sand Plover from 5.00pm so we will be very busy for the rest of the day.

Diana Mariam Christmas Presentation

We arrived at the school for about 2.00pm an hour later than it was said to start I was very impressed with how they had transformed the grounds very festive with garlands and baubles in the trees. I introduced Paul to some of the teachers and then I showed him around whilst Abigail and Bradley went off to play in the reception area. Paul and I took a seat underneath a tarpaulin out of the hot sun and waited and waited and waited. Eventually at around 3.15pm Aunty Alberta announced that food was available for sale so at this the parents and children lined up to be served returning with various dishes. One young boy was sat next to Paul eating and spitting chicken bones out onto the floor which was annoying and others were just leaving empty foil containers around on the floor. Then Aunty Alberta welcomed everyone and a Christmas carol was sung however the children sang this sat in their seats instead of up on the platform whilst munching on food. By this time it was nearing 4.00pm so we had to excuse ourselves and make our way home to then pick up the car and drive to the Sand Plover.

Sand Plover

At the entrance to the Sand Plover we pulled of the main road along a very bumpy road and parked up in the small car park. We then had to walk over a very rickety bridge made out of wooden planks which lead towards the Sand Plover. The building was a little shack with an upstairs lookout area and benches and tables outside looking out across the beach to the sea. Cathy, James Emily and Robin were busy blowing up balloons and putting up party banners, we were introduced to Robin, Emily’s boyfriend who is staying out here for a week. We decided to leave them to finish off the party decorations and take a walk along the beach towards cape point, on the way we passed a small lagoon and on the bank was a two foot long crocodile as we approached it scurried off into the water and hid among the reeds. Further on we could see the eyes of another crocodile submerged just under the surface of the water bearing in mind the lagoons were separated from the sea only by the beach. We headed back towards the Plover by this time Emma, Sukey, Greg, Andrew Paul and Courtney had arrived we ordered some drinks and sat chatting until the buffet dinner was served. We ate a meal of chicken, beef, vegetarian curry rice and salad, we then handed out the presents for the birthday girls and boy to open rounding off the evening with chocolate cake. We then left at around 8.30pm carefully making our way across the rickety bridge which was unlit however the restaurant staff did shine a torch for us to pick our way across.

Croc Pools