Saturday 26th September

Wednesday 23rd September
Caught up with Steve today finally. Or rather he finally called into the Gardens with my mail from the past month. So I’ve finally got the letters Mother has been writing. Thanks Mum. Still waiting on my phone to get here though but never mind.

We’re slowly getting ready to move out, making arrangements for the tools, the office stuff, and trying to get a container moved to the temp site in Ranandi. It is a bit rough at the moment, but if we can go ahead we can turn it into something workable. The only problem is going to be funding for us. The last cheque we got from the Ministry of Infrastructure for the Road Contract bounced, and it took an extra 2 weeks till the Govt had enough to cover it, in the meantime we were out $19,000, and copped a $250 charge from the bank for presenting it. I’m hoping we have enough in the bank for next week, I’m still waiting for the $7,000 I used last payday for everyone, and I don’t have enough left to cover it again yet.

I’m really stuck for stuff to do at work, we are all winding down, knowing we’re really moving now, so the urgency of jobs is declining. I had the crew do a big tidy up in the Botanic Gardens today, David couldn’t understand why for a bit. He wanted to know why I wanted it all tidied up when we’re being thrown out, and it was hard to put into words, but I feel that we’ve looked after the place for 10 years, and improved it immensely, to leave it untidy knowing Forestry will be quick to publicise the fact isn’t something I wanted to do. Well, I don’t really care what Forestry do or say, but I didn’t want the Gardens looking uncared for when we do leave.

I filled the afternoon in googling everything and anything, then found the new Triumph T100 Bonneville Classic and it was love at first sight. All I need now is $15,000 plus a few extras, like a helmet, jacket, trousers and oh yes, a bike licence and I’ll be away. Beautiful bike, Triumph have managed to keep the classic look of the 1968 Bonneville, upgraded the spec to fuel injection, disc brakes etc, and an 850cc motor which is plenty big enough for me. Although the touring bikes are nice lookers as well, but at 2100cc and quite a few kilos I don’t think so.

Saturday

We’re getting closer to moving, slowly. Monday Tiffany and I are sorting out the files and boxing stuff up to go to BJS Office, and some of the clutter as well. We haven’t heard about the container going to Ranandi yet, but hopefully that will be sorted this week.

Our lady at the Japanese Consul is having a meeting with the Honiara Mayor on Tuesday, trying to sort out the facts from the BS. According to the Mayor, he knew nothing about HBC forming an NGO, Solo Enviro Beautification, but our paper trail of letters and meeting minutes from the past 10 years shows different. Same with Forestry, it’s a small victory, it won’t change anything, but Chie thinks it may help us keep the funding as it is not our doing that has caused the problems.

Along with that, the Mayor called out to the Gardens on Thursday, to inform us we weren’t to call ourselves Honiara Beautification Committee any longer, as he is calling the Parks and Gardens Dept that. I think he will have a few problems if he tries to go ahead. The name is registered to us, plus we have a 10 year prior usage, although the way things are here that means nothing. It’s more a matter of trying it on, and if you can get away with it you do.

I can see a huge upheaval coming here soon, with the things that are happening with the present Government. There are ministers making decisions over the courts, accepting bribes blatently, well, ok, bribery is a way of life here, so it isn’t a big thing. But it is going to rebound over the next year leading up to the elections.

I’m noticing more and more the attitudes and frustrations amongst the people in town, especially around Central Market. While it is still reasonably safe there, it isn’t somewhere I’d spend a lot of time, not that I have anyway. Adrian got involved in a bit of a push and shove match the other day there. Luckily he had his small bush knife, a bit of a Crocodile Dundee one, and once he pulled that out the guys giving him a hard time changed their minds about taking it any further. It’s mostly the kwaso and marijuana sellers causing the problems, with the buyers getting drunk on the spot and then getting a bit aggressive towards everyone.

Another reason why I prefer Kukum Fish Market.

I’ve been going around the house at night lately, trying to get a pic of the fruit bats in the mango trees. All you hear at night now, is a rustle in the branches, then a loud “plop” as the mangoes fall to the ground. In the mornings the ground is littered with mangoes, all with a couple of bites taken out by the fruit bats.

I found out never park a vehicle under a mango tree with fruit on it. Fruit bats crap all over it during the night.

If anyone is following the South Pacific mini Games being held in Rarotonga, or if you aren’t, here’s a name to watch out for in the coming years, Betty Babalu. She’s a 12 year old from the Solomon Islands, races barefoot, and won the 5,000 metre race on Tuesday, came second in the 10,000 metre race in 42.8 minutes, and I haven’t heard yet how she did in the 15,000 metre race today yet.

Along with which I haven’t yet heard how Geelong did in the Grand Final against St Kilda today. I’ll check from work tomorrow when I post this.

Geelong by 2 goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Cattters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!