Oh, it’s been a while. I’m not going to try and explain myself – I’m not even going to apologise. I’m back and I have grand intentions but I don’t blame you for rolling your eyes slightly as you read this. Yep, we’ve been here before.

In my blogosphere absence, autumn has rolled into winter and it seemed overnight the living became anything but easy; I guess that’s the expected counterweight to the Gershwin-penned croon. Maybe it was the knowledge that we had a holiday on the horizon, or possibly the autumnal cute bundle of misfortunes we were dealt (each small and barely irksome on their own), or simply the general mood of doom, gloom and outrage that seems to resonate around the globe at the moment; whatever the cause, we Homesteaders were in desperate need of a change of scenery… an adventure. An overseas jaunt!

Besides, we had a landmark birthday to celebrate! Yes, I now speak to you as a 60 year old. SIXTY!! That’s a lot of sun orbits.

Leaving the rain for sunnier climes

Taking a leaf out of the Queen of Melton (West)’s book, we decided to head for sunnier climes to mark this auspicious occasion. When my input was sought during the destination brainstorm, my list contained only two items: to be warm and to swim each day. A bit of research, a rummage through Expedia, and our destination practically chose itself: Fiji.

This was to be a holiday of the type never before experienced by the majority of Homesteaders. Generally we travel to explore and return home with hearts and heads full but reserves hovering just above empty. This time the emphasis was on recharging and, somewhat dubiously, the Homestead was heading to a resort! To say we weren’t convinced was an understatement; we’d never thought ourselves to be resort folk.

It quickly became apparent we had made a fortuitous choice of temporary abode in The First Landing at Vuda Point, 20 minutes out of Nadi. On check in we were greeted with, “Bula! Welcome Home!” and not one of us, not even The Bean Counter, cringed. That may have had something to do with the mercury hovering around 23 degrees Celsius at 8.30pmish, rapidly thawing our pasty, winter bods, but they sounded genuinely pleased to see us.

We’d opted for a two bedroom garden villa which gave us enough room for the six of us, and our own pool/private walled area which was good as I spent a great deal of the first day sleeping by the pool in a rather undignified heap (yes, several photos exist; no I will not be sharing!).

Most days were filled with swimming, kayaking, reef walking, snorkeling, gossiping in the sun…and eating, of course.

We ventured further afield a couple of times. Once into Nadi to visit a produce market (oh, the pineapples…), a supermarket, get ourselves into some appropriate island attire, and have a general look around

At Sri Siva Subramaniya, the largest Hindu temple in the Pacific, model Farm Girl, Subeto Mud Pools, and our taxi driver brokering another pineapple deal

and another “island hopping” because that’s what you do, apparently. The anniversary of my birth was spent at on Eluvuka Island at the Treasure Island resort swimming and snorkeling and, the utter drawcard for us, checking out their environment and sustainability program for the critically endangered Fiji Crested Iguana and Hawksbill Turtles.

The added excitement was actually leaving the Island as the wind came up while we were there. The boat ride home is something we will talk about for a long time, rivalling the Paris Taxi Ride of 2017.

The ten days went way too fast. Now, wearing a great many layers as the sun slowly melts this morning’s frost, Fiji – the golden sands, warm sea, waving palm trees and wonderful people – feels a little like a dream.

Sota Tale, Fiji x