Good Bye Tonga!

My last day in Tonga, a day of rather mixed emotions. It started normally enough, waking up and going downstairs to see the lads and watch a dvd, while our house maid, generally walked round clearing up after us. We had some good times sitting round watching tv, i know it sounds a bit lazy but after doing 4 hours of coacing in the boiling sun you need somewhere to chill out and relax. Me toby miles guy will dave naoimi and natasha and sometimes the little tongan thief david from the ghetto next door!

Me and the gang at the Billfish

Then when we muscled up the energy we decided to cycle into town to do some last minute souvenir buying and check some emails to plan New Zealand a bit. Its strange to say it but I felt most at home in Tonga when i was on my bike, we had so much freedom, going through all the little side roads, having the little tongan kids running alongside you. I know i was only there for 6 weeks but i really felt at home there and I will remember it for a long time. Cycling past the school where all the kids knew our names and would shout them (our names) out loud was a pretty cool feeling. Then when we got into town getting nods of respect from the mens team that we played with was a pretty nice feeling. They were all so friendly as well and their english was pretty good so without making it sound like we were celebrities it is the nearest thing i will ever get to it, although unfortunately no celebrity pornstar girlfriend!

Me kicking it back

Then sitting around in "Escape" the cafe where we went in the day whenever we had a break in lessons or coaching. Kind of like a re-creation of "Central Perk" but tonga style. Made some really good friends in Guy and Will and have planned to meet up with them in New Zealand. And toby as well i suppose although im kind of stuck with him! No really hes been ok so far although he is trying to grow a very crap beard, if this continues i may need to part company!

The reason for some doubled mixed emotions on this day was not only was i leaving a place that i had really enjoyed and had made really good friends, and also thinking about the excitement of going to a new place (New Zealand) i found out via email that my grandad had passed away aged 85 years. It was a pretty massive blow to be honest, it was pretty sudden as well, i mean as sudden as it is for an 85 year old. It is especially weird as I am in Tonga and not at home with family. He was an amazing bloke and he had a pretty good life after 20 years of retirement and a loving wife and family around him. Im not sure why i am writing this in a public journal I just thought it was important to remember him in someway. Even though he didnt even know what the internet was I think he would have appreciated me telling all my friends that he was an absolute legend and I will miss him alot. I know he was really proud of me coming away and doing this and it is for that reason that I have tried to not let it affect me too much. Love you mate xxx

I have thought about whether this is appropriate or not but i have decided to attach some photos of my favourite memories of Tonga just so you are not too depressed by my last paragraph. Off to New Zealand now and new adventures. Would love to hear all your news