Everyday I wake up and feel a greater connection and love for this island and everyone and everything on it.

Sitting with Pupu making jewellery together as he talked to me about the shell he was using, how his wife had found it and how it had been in his house for the last 20 years. Now he’s using it to make me a necklace – what an amazing gift.

Chilling with the boys on the grog mat each evening, listening to the beautiful singing of Nemani and Tale and joking with Jone Robinson that he’s my long lost brother. Hearing Tonya’s words of wisdom as I’m wondering if another 2am session is wise; ‘don’t think about yesterday, don’t think about tomorrow, only experience today’.

Relaxing in a hammock, reading my book for a few minutes until Poi and Poasa come running to start swinging it until I nearly capsize and then jumping in giggling.
Sharing moments with Jenny BeBe (ne Wavu)in the dark ‘watering’ the beach and counting our blessings.

Laughing with Wati and Kini in the kitchen, sharing naughty jokes and looking after Kini’s little boy Leavi, as the delicious pawpaw curry is simmering on the stove.

Listening to the school children on Mali singing songs, harmonizing beautifully, so much so that I become chocked up and feel my heart expand some more.

There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s Vorovoro.