Tuesday 12th May

After having a night to think it through, I asked Shirleyta and Tiffany for a list of all the free stuff we do through town, and a rough guess at how many crew and for how long each week, we spend on them

It took a while to compile, but the final figures came to $14,750 per month in wages alone for work we don’t get paid to do. Nearly half our monthly wages bill, add in diesel, tools and maintenance for equipment, and we’d be close to $20,000 a month.

I wrote it all up, added a letter saying that due to the present financial shortfall as discussed, we have cut back on all free work until such time as we are in a better financial situation, and sent it off to Keithie. I’m expecting a blast tomorrow at least, or then again, it may be what is needed to show where all the money is going.

We have enough contracts to keep everyone employed at least 4 days a week, and with the private work slowly coming in, we should be able to keep everyone on fulltime. Here’s hoping anyway

Priced another big job today, one days work a week for 4 people, mostly lawn cutting, a bit of weeding, and some more shrubs to be planted around one of the PDL Toll houses. PDL Toll are the Logistics Company that supply all the back up for RAMSI and the Army here, food, clothing, supplies, equipment etc. It used to be Patrick Defence Logistics, but Toll Holdings bought them out a couple of years back.

I got a letter back from one of the MPs about the Orchids, Not bad, one reply from 50 sent. But at least we’ll have Orchids from Malaita, which has some really spectacular flowers there

And one MP and one former Prme Minister having their photo taken for the Solomon Star and an article about their generosity.

There’s not a lot been happening lately, I’ve run into a brick wall, mostly with the exam week with the students, power cuts, working most weekends juggling contracts and staff numbers.

Another week and I’ll be back on Savo for another 4 day weekend, hopefully that will recharge the batteries and I’ll be looking forward again.