Monday 25th May

Solomon Island Giant Frogs

Water lily

Red Heliconia

Pink water lily

Orange Heliconia

I think I’ve been here too long. Things that should get me upset, or mildly annoyed don’t anymore, and life carries on.

I didn’t get to Savo, it was either the driver forgot about picking me up, or the weather there was too rough for the boat to come over, or a combination of the two, I still haven’t found out. I’ll go into town later in the week and rebook for another weekend next month. I don’t know whether to be pleased, or annoyed. It’s saved me $1000 anyway, which I don’t mind, but I could have done with the break away doing something different.

Spent the weekend cleaning up the house, not that that took long, the few bits of washing, then went into the Gardens and got a few pictures around the place. 2 pics I really like, one of the lilies, and one of two Solomon Giant Frogs cuddling. A few others, as you can see which make good desktop or screen savers, I’m alternating them around at the moment trying to find which one I prefer, so far it’s the pink lily one up most often.

The Nautilis Souvenir shop and second hand book dealer has a good deal going. I took the books from last week back, 4 of them, took another 6 out, got 4 free, and only paid for 2, so that kept me quiet Saturday night and Sunday night with something to read finally. I’ll have to start rationing them out a bit better, but after nearly 4 months with only Bill Brysons “Made in America” to read since I got here, I’m devouring books at a great rate.

Davids Aunt died Thursday night, he’s been at work, but not really with us in some sense. He takes his position really seriously, if he’s not there it all falls apart quickly, so he’s been coming in for the mornings, getting everyone organised, then going back to his family for the rest of the day and night. He’s had very little sleep since Friday, I took him home at lunchtime today, he was looking like death warmed up, he’s the oldest male member of his family here, so it has all fallen on him to organise, and take care of everyone till they can get his Aunt back to Ren/Bel for the funeral later this week.

We’ve been having a bit of trouble with some of the taxi drivers using the Gardens as a rest and recreation area during the day. They drive up with a few friends, drink a few cans of beer, throw the empty cans out the car windows onto the lawns or gardens, then drive off. Shirleyta and I are now taking their cab numbers, and phoning the cab company and the police when we see them. Eventually they’ll stop coming when they figure out we’re reporting them everytime they come down. It may take a while.

The police do charge anyone drink driving, but it’s not a high priority thing here, they spend more time chasing the kwaso and marijuana sellers in town at the moment, trying to cut down on the assaults and petty thieving. Still, that’s better than New Zealand, where the Police seem to spend more time pulling cars over than actually catching people for criminal offences.

The work at Rove Prison is going well, it’s a pity most of the guys doing it are long term inmates, I’d employ all of them for their work ethic and attitudes. Always smiling, always keen to work. A couple are inside because of things from the troubles, 10 – 15 year sentences, 2 are in for murder, which means 25 years minimum, and a couple for growing marijuana, 6 – 10 years. All nice guys to work with, and with a good sense of humour.

The dry season has really started now, very little rain for a week now, and the air feels a lot drier. We had thunder and lightning Saturday night, but it never turned into anything more than a light shower for an hour or so. The plants in the gardens along the street are throwing up a lot more new growth, I’ll have to get used to the seasons here, it’s coming into winter in NZ, and I keep thinking everything will be slowing down. Most of the bougainvillea we have planted out is in flower, and all the hibiscus is well into bud and some flowers. It’s going to look good in another couple of weeks.


I’m posting reduced size prints here, if anyone wants a full size, 3mb copy, let me know and I’ll email them to you.

Gatto, I like your website, really well done, and interesting, http://www.gatto999.com/ , it’s well worth a look and the translate this link works well.

Another week ahead here, still working on the Japanese Grass Roots Funding proposal, I’m almost ready to throw it away and just go ahead and get the nursery going with what we have, instead of all the bother of trying to get someone else to pay for everything. I’m not very good at diplomacy or dealing with a lot of paperwork lately. And the EU Funding has so many strings attached to it, it’s going to be another nightmare to write up. Although I can see more benefit from the EU one than anything else, we can use the Nursery as a provincial training and education centre, for all the small farmers in the provinces, doing coffee/cocao/vanilla, and also the produce growers.

Take care, have a good week where ever you are.