I just got home from a one week tour to New Caledonia.  It was my first time away from my little ones and although I had many a heart palpitation at the thought of being away, I was also in big need of some Nelly time.  The gigs were fantastic and we had plenty of adventures worthy of a tell all book.

On the final leg of the tour, we found ourselves whisked away into the sea by some of old friends on their oh so lovely boat.  In the middle of nowhere, the anchor was plunged and we soon followed, into the turquoise waters of utopia.  Soon after, beers were handed down to us as we perched on the ropes from the boat in the salty sea.  Our swim was shortly interrupted by some rather unfriendly sharks.    It was said that I ran on water back to the boat.  Seriously, I think I broke Thorpie’s  freestyle record on this occasion.   We stood on the boat and watched the 2 dark shadows dart from one boat to another, my heart pounding in my chest.  The shadows faded and when they could no longer been seen, we struck up the courage to re-enter the waters….this time with our instruments.  We treaded water (instruments held high above heads) and fortunately found this sand bar in the middle of the lagoon.  A beautiful French  family from a near by boat came and joined us when they heard the music.  They came to our gig that night and gave us this footage….

This all unfolded a mere stone’s throw from the island Ilot aux Goelands when we got the urge to play tunes in the sea.

It was an amazing week and the homecoming to my boys was oh so beautiful.  My darlin’ D held the fort back home and did a stellar job as I knew he would.  Home is where this girl’s heart is though, and I was so fortunate to have been given the chance to realise how so this is.  Here’s what i came home to…