We seemed to have quite a day ahead of us. Yesterday, Eddy had arranged with Fred + Peter that we should all be paddled over to Siar Island, where we would have a barbecue + a swim. Both Fred + Peter had been knocked out of the squash championship at an early stage, so their interest in that was more or less done. They came round at about 11, but we still weren’t ready – 3 kids + 4 adults need more time than the average, I discovered, tho’ I would hope that any kids that I would have would be a little more obedient than these 3.
Finding Siar village turned out to be a little difficult as well. We drove past the turn-off twice, I believe, before finally being directed by an English-speaking woman at an establishment called Kirsten Press. A strange sight on the main road just before the village – row after row after row of coconut palm, still standing, but dead. It may have been the aftermath of a fire, tho’ it looked less charred + more controlled than one would expect, but it was very eerie.
Siar village looked amazingly neat + tidy, + rather more affluent than the average village – as a result of tourism, perhaps. We had been instructed to find Paul, which we did, + a group price was soon negotiated. He then paddled most of us across, while what I would imagine was a young relative paddled Fred + Peter – he still came in a comfortable first. It was a lovely ride across, just gliding peacefully along, + looking down at the fish + the coral, + quite short, being just 2 or 3 hundred yards.
It was a wonderful afternoon, swimming in the warm water, drinking beer, + having a super barbecue – what a life. As a bonus, Paul took Val, me + the kids (regrettably they could hardly be prevented from tagging along) over to another tiny island, off which we did some snorkelling. This was very pleasant, + the girls were good at it too, tho’ it was a pain having to keep Antony amused. Just before we left, Val went with Paul over close to the island, where they pulled up some cowrie shells + a big blue starfish. We paddled back, me at the front, getting arm-ache from the exercise, while Paul did the real work at the back, + steered as well. It was a fine canoe, 40 years old, Paul told us, made by his father. It had an outrigger, + a high platform in the middle.
Back on Siar Island, we whiled away another hour or so, the only event of notice being Eddy attracting the notice + sting of a sea cucumber – a nasty affair. Paulk ferried us back in 2 loads, + I paid him off, a little more than the agreed amount, then a little more because he had no change, having given the K2 we had already given him for the snorkelling trip to a guy on the island for the use of the beach… when we’d already given the guy on the beach K2 for the same thing! So it wasn’t such a cheap trip, but thoroughly enjoyable, + worth every toia.
The excitement for the day didn’t end there – as soon as we had returned, we had to start getting ready for a mumu (phonetic spelling only) or native meal cooked in a ground oven, that Peter (the work colleague Peter) was having cooked for us – he is married to a native lady. The meal was soon there, along with Peter, his wife, + 3 kids, + various other guests. The meal was beautiful, of course, but very little to my taste, apart from the chicken – I’m afraid I could eat none of the vegetables. The others all pronounced it splendid tho’. Fred + Peter arrived late – they had been to the squash presentation + dinner, + then the beer really started to flow – altho’ we hadn’t been doing too badly up to then. It was pleasant, sitting on the verandah, drinking beer, + chatting about this + that. A variety of subjects – computers, education, racial prejudice (particularly with regard to Asians in England.) Fred was dry + teasing, Eddy sometimes heated. But I enjoyed it – it’s been a while since we’ve been able to sit + talk in this way with friends.
And another pleasant, social day, of the sort we would never have been to access without being involved in the community. I am a little contrite now about my attitude to the kids, when now I am (a little) more prepared to give them the time and attention they deserve.
