Here comes (TC) Oli

Here we go again. You know, I finally got Sienna off to pre-school today, by herself for the first time, and had the luxury of 2 childless hours. After school was cancelled on Thursday and Friday for TC Nisha, then everyone got housebound with the torrential rain, we were all looking forward to a nice quiet week, with all children being someone else's responsibility.

(Above) The view of the surf conditions from the deck of our house at Rapae Bay.

In truth, Nisha got downgraded to a tropical depression just as it reached our door on Friday night and we got off easily with a bit of surf (!) in our normally placid lagoon, a dumping of coral on the beach, filled up water tanks, and a 'fresh' wind to keep the temperatures down. But everyone had battened down the hatches, taken all the boats out of the harbour and moved the shipping containers off the wharf and onto the main road to town (Arutanga).

(Left) Boats and containers relocated from the wharf; (Right) Michael and Winton assessing the cleanup job at Pacific Resort Aitutaki

Then along comes Monday and news of Tropical Cyclone Oli sticking a banana bend in his path and sneaking down on us from the north. Ah well, at least I haven't put all the bikes and furniture back outside yet.