Sunday 18th November.

22 days to go.

As normal, Sundays are the “dead” days. In varying combinations I have travelled the road to the East as far as it can be travelled. The road to the West has also been covered in the same manner. This weekend we were planning to drive the roads that radiate out from the main street. We have done a few of these, but more remain to be explored. Unfortunately we have been restricted to town. No trips down isolated roads or to unfamiliar places.

This is, of course related to the current political situation. The situation is currently at a standstill. It appears that nothing more will be happening other than media releases etc, until Parliament has its next sitting and then the two sides will face off.
So, Sunday will have to consist of a few hours at work, 1000 – 1330 appears to be the norm. A return to the King Sol to watch the 2nd Test between the Aussies and Sri Lanka, followed by a meeting in the pool and a return to the room for dinner to round out the day.

As Tweety and I say, “are we getting paid for this?” “We should be getting a hardship allowance.”

The final instalment on the Solomons……

Even though there are well over ½ a million people in the Solomons, everybody either knows , or are related to, everyone else. It does not take long for information to spread. In general the people are the same as anywhere else in the world. Most are friendly and will smile and speak to you. There is no form of benefit for the unemployed or sick. They have what they call the Wantok. Wantok is pidgin and literally means One Talk. It refers to your people or clan who speak the same language. A tribe may have several clans and they will all come from the same geographic locale. You are expected to share what you have with your Wantok and look after those who need it. You may need it yourself one day.

The downside to this is that you are also expected to look after your Wantok in other ways. You hire them over anyone else, you serve them first and you break the rules to help them in business or whatever. Wantok comes first.

All other services are available, if at first they appear hard to find. Doctors, dentists, hire cars etc.

So that is a little picture of the Solomon Islands. Let me know if you wish me to expand on anything.