September is here. August was a hoot... I am back in the Land of Aus, in my valley. My quick fix of LDC time/ Family fun done and I am now in recovery mode... my final submission from my time in the isles...
Started Friday 30 Aug 2024:
Island Time, jus 'bout done.
I sit in the departure lounge at Henderson Airport. Its Friday, 30 of 08, 1254pm. My flight boards in an hour and a half. Ive come out early because a) I was told traffic would be terrible, and b) my family are all recovering from a long, long night of very heavy partying. Everyone is tired to the point to being exhausted, hungover. Tired and hung over is the theme of the day.
The party was a huge success. The food and grog flowed thick and long. I think there were an easy 200 folks, of varying sizes, shapes and ages catered to. I know that many of my tribe were on site until after 3am.
I am told that the band stopped playing and the final drops of grog got poured about the same time… 3am. Great timing to run out of lubricant as the music makers ran out of steam.
We drove out to the scene of the crime on the way to the airport. Not much activity there when I passed through. Everyone is slow, injured, infirm, damaged. My daughter, Connie, tells me that the extended tribe was still in bed at 10am. Noting well the clean up requires a huge effort… plates and silver ware and table cloths, napkins and heaps of glasses… pots n pans and all the greasy kitchen hardware that is now congealed and attracting flies.
Old line… OK to howl all night, if you're ready to howl all day… Howling starting very late today.
It was impressive… A 40/20meter pavilion was set up, a timber floor laid, a kitchen established, power strung up and a big generator brought in. Toilets, water… where nothing was, is now a cool facility.
I always dig watching what can be done in these islands… where many hands might make light work… or maybe a promise of a party brings folks together… I am impressed with my tribe for pulling off such a fun, big, frenetic gig.
No blood was spilt… we shall try harder next time…
Traveling in the Islands is fun for many reasons, but my favourite is the before discussed fact that its common to bump into folks you know at the airports. And not just folks you know and see often, but rather, folks that you ant seen in ages and ages.
I pride myself on having a good memory. As I was checking in a man, maybe 40 years old, with greying at the temples, recognises first, Don, then flashes a huge smile and grabs my hand… from the back of my memory I hear an echo… I say "Eddie"… Golly, the skinny kid I knew working for Nick at Sullivans in the 90s stood before me. Big ass man now, but his skinny boy smile was still there.
And it was guuud.
Got through formalities and placed myself to observe the in coming and was very lucky to meet my old bud, Justin Fu'o. Justin is a good, honest, hardworking, smart, very successful business-dude from Malaita.
We sat and talked for over an hour. It was good.
Back at the farm now.
Cleaned and ready for my own bed.
Some images of it all...
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