A bit about today...

Where I got to begin to get to  know the Dunbar kids and we went snorkelling at Hanauma Bay, shopped at Costco and watched fireworks on Waikiki beach - and in general had a fab day! The Dunbar minors are fab - which is to be expected given who their parents are - but still need to learn about the importance of sunscreen after a Canadian winter! [There are sunburnt feet -I feel a bad. I should have warned them...] Erika (10yrs)  and I spent some time in the ocean at Hanauma Bay swimming about and watching fish and being 'crocadillians'; Timothy (6 yrs) spotted a turtle at the beach (which I missed) and has been watching me intently trying, I think, to work out if I am to be trusted or not  and Nick (12 yrs) is being generally cheeky and fun. Joella is obviously feeling better - and this is so cool - she 'signs' to communicate. And I got at least one smile today - which is definitely one up from the suspicious 'what are you doing in our car' look I got this morning! And what is lovely to see is how the older two help look out for the younger ones - and watching them interact as siblings and hassle each other & then listening to Fraser being all parental a hoot too! So cool. So much fun.

The Scottish dancing  / festival starts tomorrow. Erika is dancing in about 6 dances across the two days - and Lori has promised me caber tossing, shortbread and sheepdog trials too. And get this - the incredible Lori made Erika's kilt. And I suspect all her other costumes too - like the sailor suit for the hornpipe and the skirt and blouse for the jig and ....

Hanauma Bay is gorgeous and the reef is full of brightly coloured fish and sea urchins and sea cucumbers and snakes and more fish.. I also saw purple and red and yellow coral - but no sea stars.

Tonight there was also fireworks on  Waikiki Beach - so we wandered down there to watch and then headed back for pizza - Hawaiian no less. And yes! I wore my Hawaiian shirt - the one with the flamingoes. Oh  - and Fraser and I are having a great time confusing people ... where are you from? Australia. Canada. You travelling together? Yes. Are you family? Kinda...

I have confused them all with my accent /. vocab a couple of times. I said something about getting out of my cossie just before we left the beach today  - and Fraser & Lori both looked at me so blankly that I had to laugh!

Still can't quite believe that I am here (as opposed to Queensland) and that they are here too...