A slow morning. Both kids home...Amy was "cold sick", island term for having a cold. Ben had a Christian studies exam to complete, as well as maths, art and biology revision on the agenda this morning. I popped in to the clinic a couple of times and was lucky enough to see Aunty Nancy, one of the elders. She is just an amazing lady was was talking to Rob and I about island life in years gone by. Her gentle manner of speaking and obvious love of this place and her people makes her a priviledge to listen to. Time just slips away during moment like this, no hurry, just listen and be....I think it must be very healthy for the soul and mind. I was talking to the resident RAN, Robyn a few days ago about the elderly and she says she has not come across any dementia in the Islanders in her 15 or so years out here.....lifestyle, diet??? Perhaps we all need to stop, and enjoy, and just listen to the world around us a bit more, and not the artificial one, the one God created for us
After lunch, it was reef time. The tide went way out today. I think Ben and I walked close to a km to get to where the sea started. The further we went out, the more interesting the sea life became. Ben has such a good eye for spotting things. The colours out there are so amazing, and we really have not seen the good coral yet, that we are saving for the weekend! Star fish of all colours adorn the sand, nestled between rocks, large spiky black sea unchins poke out from under rocks and bomies, little fish dart here and there as you walk and blue swimmer crabs come charging out with arms outstretched, they always look very stressed!! It was so relaxing, looking in pools and just walking around in the bath temperature sea water. We came home with several live cowrie shells, an octopus, a couple of different star fish and some shells we found. Its great to come back here and study the different animals before releasing them back into the sea
I think one of my favorite things in the sea are the clams. There are a few different varieties and all colours and sizes. Some are firmly embedded in rocks while others just sit on the sand. Their mantle spills out over the edge of the shell revealing beautiful colours and patterns. As you get closer you see them close, and then re open cautiously. They really are amazing.
Tonight, instead of going to the jetty, we decided on a walk. We headed down to the pointy end of the island and fished while Ben and Amy swam. Not many fish were biting so one of the locals took pity on us and gave us some mullet he had just caught. The locals are so generous and must take one look at our fishing style and just shake their heads. We watched as they efortlessly hauled in mullet. Watching others catch fish, makes it look so easy, perhaps we just need more practise...... The water was warm and clear and it was lovely as the sun sank in the sky to just be together and enjoy this little island in the middle of the sea. Yawo!
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