Dear Family, how have you all been? I’m closing up for the night, but not before dropping by for some news from our little village of Matahau, in case you want to refresh your mind with all the latest from the Lalokalosipani.

First of all, ‘oku mau mo’ui lelei pe. Hange ko e lau ‘a e ki'i fine’eiki mei ‘Ahau: "Ko e nofo ni ia ko e kili pe mo e hui”. But as days rolled by, we continue living our normal routines like aunty Maliana’s rosary to begin with or Lotiola’s koka’anga. So true, these Fale’aisi ladies would never leave a minute go by wasted. I came by Sr. Clare’s convent and they were serving ki he polokalama fakamamahi ‘a e kau patele Marist ‘i Tonga ni. With all the food the people had donated to them, my brother Sepa was indeed fortunate that Sr. Clare shared with him one huge massive chocolate creamy coloured cake, which made Sepa even forget to share. While Sepa was enjoying the cake, the other patients were yelling out: “Sepa, tokanga na’a ma’u koe he suka”, but that never reached Sepa’s ears. I remember watching a kids' movie “Matilda” where this little school boy was eating this huge chocolate cake, and that’s what Sepa reminded me. He just enjoyed his cake!

LOTIOLA, ME, HUNI, PATELE, FELI AT HUNI'S 1ST COMMUNION ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2010

For us at home, we run about doing our everyday business. Fifita & Tiana having to care for Maliana and of course taking control of babysitting our two little angels, Milika & Saimone. I have to tell you, both ladies are using my name as if I’m a monster or a ghost ke fakailifia’i ‘aki e ongo ki’i ua. “Hauee, ko Hiko ena .. . ko Hiko eni . . . teu ui koe kia Hiko”, and they fell for it, but I could only wish the kids would understand that I’m not that bad. For Neni, since our church community fails to set up this year’s toutu’u, Neni and Maliana have taken up the chance of making their own, and so far it is coming out alright. Kuo ‘osi palau e konga ma’ala, beside the road ‘i he fo’i hala ki liku, and I think kuo ‘osi kotoa hono keli, ‘o to mo e kau ’a kape, kae toe pe ‘eni e fo’ipulopula ke vakai'i pe ‘oku fe’unga. Well, so what can I say, we’re just glad Neni is home with us now. Poini’s family is alright. He and Rodney are busy with their visa applications to be at Maggy’s wedding.

MATAHAU STORMERS AT TEUFAIVA STADIUM BEING LED IN BEFORE THE MATCH

Our Matahau Stormer’s GrandFinal Fallout (Saturday 18 September 2010)

Oh well,as most of you have been waiting to hear about our local rugby league team’s grandfinal game, as the sub-heading says, our team lost to Pea by 32-28. Unfortunately for us, it was obvious that the pressure of the moment really took a lot out of the boys since it’s their first grandfinal appearance. But regardless of the errors they have made, to be frank with you, it was inspiring to see the spirit that was in our young team fighting it out with these giants from Pea. I have to tell you it was so obvious that the size was no match at all, but even more obvious than that was that our young team bled for every minute of tackle, ball running, of injuries yet they kept fighting. It reminded me of the Bible’s David vs Goliath.

RUGBY LEAGUE GRANDFINAL AT TEUFAIVA: MATAHAU VS PEA (Matahau team in red)

When Goliath was mocking our young David, throwing his spear that nearly took out David, and as David managed to get that rock and started swinging it, aiming about right at Goliath’s head as the giant kept laughing, well that’s when the Matahau twist to the story came. Instead of young David being about to finish off Goliath, the Israelite soldiers couldn’t hold it any longer, instead they illegally engaged themselves in the battle and started throwing rocks at Goliath too. So what do you expect? Of course,Goliath’s soldiers came out for their giant. And so there it was for our GrandFinal, na’e iku fuhu ai e kau poupou ia he’enau ‘oho ki loto ki he kau va’inga. The referee (an Aussie palangi) then had to call off the game. I thought to myself, kapau na’e ki’i lava hifo ‘e he'etau kau poupou (sotia Isileli) ‘o ki’i fakama’uma’u taimi si’i, I still had faith ko e tulikai malie ‘a e tamaiki na’e fai, that we would still win the game. Unfortunately, our supporters took matters to their own hands. At the moment, we are still awaiting to hear if the Tonga Rugby League Committee would still grant our team a chance to play next season, after what they saw in Teufaiva last Saturday. Of course, they still gave our team the second prizer winner of $2000 pa’anga which at least for our boys they really deserve for the effort they gave all year. But who can say more of our supporters . . .ko e kau Sotia Isileli ia ko ‘eni, 'oku ‘osi taimi ke hilifaki e toume ia ki honau tu’a.

MATAHAU STORMERS' MOST LOYAL SUPPORTER: ANA MAKA TAVO

Small family gatherings

Today (Sunday 19th September) na’a ku lava atu ai with my mum, ki he first holy communion of my aunty Felisita Fe'ao’s grand-daughter Huni-‘a e-Sola. It was held at ‘Apifo’ou where we had a lovely little mass at the school’s church building at St. John's with the mass celebrated by Fr. Soane Mata Lomu, and assisted by Fr. Isileli Lino. It was a small beautiful celebration attended by friends and relatives. Mum and I were there, because Fifita and Maliana were attending a 1st Birthday celebration 'a e mokopuna 'o Pipiena Peauafi, ko e ki'i ta'ahine 'a Latai, na'e fakahoko pe mo ia today as well. So, I guess ko e taha e homau 'aho kai lelei atu!

VERY NICE PHOTO OF GRANDMA FELI, GRAND-DAUGHTER HUNI, AND AUNTY LEPETI

Anyway, I'm gonna go to bed now as I'm tired already. But for you guys, you take care of yourselves and until then, 'oku mau 'ofa lahi atu kiate kimoutolu hono kotoa.

Your faithful reporter from Matahau,

Hikosi'i