I share personal stories from Oceania, reflections on writing and family, memories of love and loss, and the everyday moments that shape who I am.
Autism, Samoa and the Seawall Run Club.
We went to the #RunForAutism Awareness event this morning, organised by the Saturday Seawall Run Club. Great to see the turnout and to hear from some parents of young children with autism, sharing about their experiences. One asked for people to have more kindness, understanding and compassion. 💛 I’m glad to see initiatives here in…
15 years of fiapoto?!
2026 is the 15 years anniversary of publishing my first novel TELESA. I can’t quite believe its been fifteen years since?! Which has me reflecting on my writer road, how did it begin and where I am now. (And yes its making me feel super old too.) Born and raised in Samoa, I’m number three…
Ancestral Wisdom and Engineer Daughters
Once upon a time, long ago, my mother rented a shop unit in my grandfathers building in town. (Her store was called MJ DESIGNS back then, before it was Plantation House Samoa) My grandfather, (my dads father) Papa, would sit in his office and observe all his domain, all the activities of his tenants in…
Do you like doing all this?!
My day began at 4.30am to go lead the training squad for the Pacific Mini Games in a time trial mini duathlon. Someone asked me today if I enjoy doing this work? DO YOU LIKE DOING ALL THIS?! My immediate answer YES surprised me 😆 I had to stop and think about it (wait up,…
When writers actually write again
Yesterday in the middle of my #busy – office stuff, bank stuff, triathlon stuff, chasing sports funding stuff, fixing my Uni course enrolment stuff, being irritated by people who would make the world a better place IF THEY JUST DID THEIR DAMN JOBS (or disappeared) eh! In the middle of all that, I got a…
Light switch moments
From 7th August, 2022. Alzheimers /dementia is a lightswitch journey, where you’re never sure when the switch goes on or for how long. But when it does, you savor every precious minute. Dad will have long stretches where he isnt quite present. He doesnt speak, he restless fidgets constantly, he can be lost in doing…
Red Beyonce Boots
My big brother has flown away for a new job in Australia. I am now the only child of my parents left living in Samoa. A while back, when my brother was first offered his new position, he came to see me. To ask, CAN YOU LOOK AFTER MUM WHEN I GO? Me – Of…
Spin with me
A tribute to durability. We bought this spin bike from New Zealand way back before Zion was born – so its more than 22 years old. Darren got it so he could do low impact cardio back when he was training for marathons, but he never quite got in to being a person that is…
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