Wednesday 22nd July

It isn’t easy explaining how I feel right now. I have never felt so frustrated in my life, well ok, there have been times, but that has been over personal stuff, this is over sheer stupidity and ego massaging.

Council have decided not to let us build the Nursery, in line with what Forestry want. And for us to be out of the Botanic Gardens as soon as possible so Forestry can move in and build their 2 story building after they cut down half the trees.
We’re still trying to find somewhere to move to, the Japanese Funding is now looking like it won’t eventuate without us having tenure somewhere, the town is looking more and more like an open rubbish dump each day, and stupid petty minded little ego-centric idiots in Council and Forestry keep playing stupid games.
Welcome to the Solomons.

Tiffany and I feel like moving to Bellona, building a bush house and spending the rest of the time fishing and growing food crops for the family. We haven’t told David yet, he’s still in the bush cutting timber for their house and we won’t see him for another week at least.

I keep trying to find something positive to pull from it, all there is is the hope that we can find some land quickly, and set up with a clean start. And cut out all the community work till someone comes up with the funding for it. Keithie is still on about us doing it, I’m not going back down that road again, it bankrupted the whole organisation, and while it was a worthy thing to do, when you’re losing $15,000 a month doing it, plus fixed overheads on top, it has to stop.

We’re losing 2 more of the crew to better paying jobs this week, Dorise and Rose. Dorise is going to the oil palm plantation, with her husband, they get a house supplied, $7.25 an hour wages, and as much work as they can do. Rose is going to one of the Hotels as head gardener, which will suit her very well. Not too bad a position considering she’s only been with SEB for just over a year, and got both Level 1 and Level 2 Certificates this year. And still under 20 years of age.
This is looking like being the shortest VSA posting in a long time.

I’m away out with Steve, Bruce, Gwen and Adele tomorrow night for dinner, on Steves card. Bruce and Gwen are settling into their island really well, it’s all a huge adventure for them still, setting up a new school and coming to terms with how things are done or not here. Adele is from VSA Wellington, she does all the environment articles for VSA. I hope she doesn’t mention global warming till after dinner.

I saw Steve this morning by Town Ground Stadium, out for his early morning jog, and mentioned my continuing saga with the water, and he said he’d have a word with the property manager. I didn’t really expect too much from it, but for the first time in I don’t know how long, I had water when I got home at 5, and it’s still working. That gets the dishes done, and a load of washing on as well. And it’s raining as well, so it is nice and coolish for the evening as well.