Iv'e just had the most amazing week - travelled to Tavua along the Kings Road, and worked with my colleagues to run a workshop for the teachers and head teachers.

Everyone said the Kings Road was terrible, but I thought it was amazing. 29 kilometres of rough dirt, but the rest was great road, with great views, very little traffic and no pot holes. The road meanders northwards along the east coast and across the top of the island, sometimes along the coast, sometimes inland in the most stunning, hilly, green countryside, wanders passed little villages, schools and the occasional church.

The workshop was one of the highlights so far. I did not do any of the presenting this time, my colleagues did it all and they did an amazing, terrific job. The participants learnt enourmous amounts and went away buzzing with excitement. One of the acitivities that you will see in the photos, was constructing a number chart, which we then used to do some mental addition and subtraction. They just loved it. We also made 1000, using all sorts of different materials and we used a clothes line to order numbers. We also asked the teachers to go into a couple of classes and interview some students, and they were amazed at what they found out. The teachers had all come in from the surrounding areas, with some from the 'remotes', the interior schools that are quite inaccessible. All in all a great work week, the culimiation of many many hours/weeks of work.

We stayed in a loverly old hotel in Tavua, which reminded me of being in Kalgoorlie, as there is a gold mine close by and there were lots of men in workboots. The hotel must have been built in the early 1900's i think, with high ceilings, and lots of woodwork. It was very well looked after, and I had a hot shower in my ensuite, which was a treat.

Over the last few weeks we have been running workshops, one in Suva, one in Nausori, and the last week in Tavua. This week we are off to Kadavu, which is an island to the south. I am told that I will see the 'real' fiji down there, so I am looking forward to that.

Before we started the workshops we spend many weeks flat out writing books for the teachers. That is why I have been a bit negligent in keeping up with emails and this blog. We worked very long hours, into the night most nights, and at weekends, to get the books written. It was a great relief to hand them over the the printer, and get on with the workshops.

In the meantime, I have had quite a few visitors, which has been terrific. James and his girlfriend Jemma visited for a couple of weeks, Joe for a week, and now my girlfriend Lynda is here with me for this week. Last night we had a wonderful night over at Prabha house, a girls night with Lynda, Sarita, Prabha and me. We cooked curries and had a lesson on how to make roti. Today we went to Pacific Harbour for a loverly lunch and then had some fun on the Zip Line, a series of 8 flying foxes through the jungle. Great FUN!!

Next Saturday I am going home for a couple of weeks, and am so very much looking forward to being home and catching up with everyone. Hope to see you.

Kaye