22nd March

6.45pm, still no water, went into work at 11, sorted out a huge amount of stuff to photocopy for tomorrow, posted the blog update, started the p/copy machine and the power went out. I said a few choice words, none printable, waited around for an hour, wandered through the Gardens to calm down and to try and get out of the rain, well, I was out in it, but the trees shelter a lot. Still wasn’t back on by 1pm, so went to Kukum Fish Market on the way home.

If I stop the extravagant purchases that I don’t use, like the fish the other week, I’m around SBD$100 a week for food, 5 kg bag of rice is $55, which so far has lasted me 6 weeks, coffee I found at the Bulk Shop yesterday at $35 for 250gm (Fair Trade New Guinea Gold) instead of the $47.80 Wings and AusTrade charge. Sugar, flour at the Bulk Shop are about $4 a kilo. I’m going to have to blow a couple of hundred this week on 3 storage bins with clip lids for the flour/rice/noodles and spaghetti, $110 each for ones that will hold 5kg rice, and keep the weevils out.

Papaya (Pawpaw) are still $5 - $7 each, depending on size, got some Cavendish (or they look like Cavendish) bananas today, $10 for 12, the long ones, not the usual Island stubby ones, coconuts still $1 - $2 each, slippery cabbage and Bok Choy $10 a bundle, and spring onions $5. The fish hadn’t improved, I’m going to wait till I can get some time off and go on a charter for the day or weekend. Or Shirleyetas brother comes through with the boat. It really annoys me seeing the fish there, all good kingfish, tuna, snapper out in the sun all day, being ruined. The people wiping them down constantly with a sponge that is just dipped into the water in the ice bins doesn’t improve the image either, and the rags on a stick moving the flies around.

I’ll put this back in again, exchange rate SBD$ to various currencies
SBD$100 = US$12.84
= CAD$16.25
= NZ$25.30
= AUS$20.23
= €10.20
= ₤9.01


Went through Central Market yesterday, it’s my grand-daughters Birthday soon, I was hoping to find something there for her, but no luck, I’ll go to Bekihama, the traditional carving and jewellery outlet and get her something there. The fish at Central are in the same state, so I’m not in a rush for any yet.

Wings and AusTrade have meat, mince (ground beef) at $50 per 500gm and up, steak and lamb start at $80 kg, chicken pieces for soup are $30, about 1kg, sausages are $45 per kg.

They have tried raising cattle for beef and dairy here, it’s been a mixed reaction, the natives have no history of using dairy products, so it’s mainly the people like me and the ex-pats who would be buying it. I’d be inclined to raise water buffalo here, for beef and dairy, they’re more suited to the conditions, wet swamps and lush water grass, than conventional cattle. There is very little flat or gentle sloping land here, it’s either swampland, like around Honiara, or vertical cliffs and rainforest.

My bread attempts are improving, got 2 round loaves today that would be equal to the ones we used to make in Schull, so I’m pleased. No doubt Pat will be as well in Schull when I write and tell him I did learn something from him.

The rain hasn’t stopped all day, it almost turns to drizzle, then changes its mind and comes down heavy for a bit longer. Thank God I have the water tank outside, ok, the shower/toilet kitchen sink are useless without the main supply, but at least I can fill the jug and boil up washing water for the kitchen dishes.

Oh joy, the water is back on, hot and cold! Dishes from last night, this morning, and tonight all done finally, toilet flushed, and I’m going to soak in a long hot, well warm, it’s too hot anyway for a hot shower, but long shower before I go to bed.

I’m giving the neighbours a treat tonight, Gaelic Storm, Bring Yer Wellies CD, Thanks to Una Flanagan from the sadly defunct Midwest Irish Internet Radio, well, it’s not defunct, but Una isn’t on it anymore.