VSA required us to leave and re-enter Vanuatu before our 1 year visas ran out on 12 July. We flew to Brisbane on 4 July and back on the 12th with Louise spending her week in between in Sydney with Holly and Hamish, and me spending it back in the South Island.

I was only in Christchurch briefly, spending time with daughter Sophie, having one real ale appreciation evening and then the weekend up in Nelson where Sam flew in from Wellington to join Sophie and I. This may prove to be a unique get-together of Dad, daughter and son without partners. It was their delayed birthday present to me – the time together and a magnificent lunch at Mahana Winery which included wonderful friend, Judy – photo above right. 

We happened to be there for the Nelson Light Show – what a bonus. We delayed our visit to The Free House so as to stumble our way through Queens Gardens in the dark, dazzled by the creativity and luminous exhibits. Two are shown below: a phantom Moa dwarfing me (left) and a troop of ballet nymphets over water.

         

This was a beautiful weekend, one I treasure.

Returning to Santo was unsettling again at first, but now we are back in tune with our life here.

 

We began our two year stint in Vanuatu on 13 July 2015. Now, in late July 2016, we are progressing through the final year with the end date likely to be 12 July 2017, unless something happens to make it sooner.

VSA required me to submit a 12 month report. The main points that relate to my VSA assignment were:

• Partner Organisation lack of support and engagement;
• Alignment of Partner Organisation to my VSA assignment and accountability of partner organisations to VSA as the ‘donor’;
• Delay in funding for the Value-add applied research work;
• Data access challenges when assembling an economic model.

The 12 month ‘Personal Report’ was far more positive – we’re continuing to enjoy living here with all its colour, freedoms, friendliness and contrasts.

Son Sam and girlfriend Val arrived to Luganville airport to a truly Vanuatu welcome – we were not there! Halfway there Louise’s motorbike packed up but some passing locals gave us a lift ….. in 1st gear. Once appraised of the importance of our mission, these same locals sped up, even venturing into 3rd gear. They detoured to take us to the airport, then drove all of us back out to the farm here, swooping up the inert bike on the way. So friendly, so gracious and so typically Ni-Van.

After a few days of acclimatisation and local orientation, they headed up for three days atPort Olry, staying at Chez Louis in the New Treehouse – photo above. Louise and I joined them up there on the Friday, me to talk coconuts with Louis, followed by Louise talking to Louis and wife Mikaela about chicken production for eggs and meat.

Sam and Val mixed laid back time with energetic pursuits. The PADI dive centre on Aore Island proved a real hit with Val proving to be a ‘natural’ diver – the photo on right shows Sam and Val in blissful aquatic togetherness. We did a double dive on 15th with them staying for a night of luxury at Aore Island Resort and us heading back across the ‘Canal’ and home to the farm.

Both Sam and Val wanted to learn to sail and rather handily, Lopi Lopi Resort across the road has a Hobie Cat available for renting out. The photo shows me as tutor on the helm. The trick is to get on the water an hour before high tide and return within two hours. Even at high tide, negotiating around the various reefs requires a little attention, as does the local wild life. We spotted two dugongs and two turtles surfacing nearby. The gentle wind and flat sea made it an easy lesson to give and the two students were soon happily tacking to port, to starboard and then on the homeward leg, jibing like gooduns.

They wanted to finish their stay with a watery flourish. In the morning we went up to Matuva Blue Hole, making Tarzan-style entries as demonstrated by sam in the following video:

 . Back for lunch and packing then onto the bikes and off for some “sol wota swim swim” at a totally deserted Palekula Beach.

It was two weeks of warm and colourful times rich with family togetherness.

 

 

Good friends Wilf and Sue arrived for a two week holiday in late April. It was great to have them on board and show them some of the local attractions. For Wilf, one these was the canvass chair on the veranda that looks over the farm to the Pacific Ocean to the east. They both acclimatised well to the slow tempo and were soon the very picture of relaxation.

One trip is covered in the next blog: “Land Diving on Pentecost Island”. Another was to the Aore Island Resort where lunch was followed by pampering for the girls and snorkelling for Wilf (I was back in the office).

On their last Friday I needed to work up in Port Olry so we all went up and checked in to Chez Louis, our second home. Wilf was on the look out for turtles – photo right. There was snorkelling, walking, experiments with cocktails. Dinner was a real experience of Vanuatu. Louis and his wife returned much later than expected in the evening …… and she is the chef. Son Silva confessed to limited cooking ability but to his credit, knocked out some excellent kumara chips and mounted these with a fried egg. Anywhere else this might have caused concern but here, the sand does not run smoothly through the egg timer, it is for lying down on.

Breakfast was a simpler affair, with fruit, coffee and toast set up on our veranda – photo on the right. Sitting in the slanting morning sun, squinting out through the coconut grove towards the sea and a nearby island – a good way to start another day in paradise.

All too soon it was time for them to leave but not before they treated us to a fine meal out at Village de Santo’s Restaurant 1606 – see photo below. The sharp of eye may spot the themed attire of the two gents.

 

These guys use freshly cut vines (above) whereas the AJ Hackett imitation involves modern stretchy cord and litigation-proof systems. The main safety feature we saw was the softening of the steep ground where they ‘land’, plus the restriction of the season to coincide with the fresh growth of the vines. Before and after the April to June period, ogeta oli vines I brok. I no gud. Man, I brok nek blong hem. See photo below of the 30 metre high bamboo tower – not for the faint hearted

A  World Vision project to help Malo and South Santo coconut growers gain Australian Certified Organic (“ACO”) status has been successful but the funding has ended. Last year I was asked to help them provide guidance to the 600+ growers to become self-sustaining regarding their continued ACO accreditation status. A critical stage was to present our plan for the Malo and South Santo Coconut Growers Association to the grower representatives. This involved a short boat trip across to the island of Malo to the south of Santo. Approaching Malo – photo left, not much visible but bush.

The day went well and on the follow-up meeting on 25 May, the plan was accepted, six committee members appointed and membership applications and fees are being collected.

After the 6oth bithtday trip we arrived home at 5.30pm, Cyclone Zena arrived 2 hours later. It was our first and is unlikely to be our last. Apart from a few leaks in the roof there were no signs of damage in the house. Outside, a 50 year old Mango tree fell close to the house – no more mango chutney from this source – see photo right, the house is only just visible to the right of the tree roots. It was a very localised event with Malekula 70 kms south of Santo experiencing only mild winds. Although all was violence, with extreme gusts of wind and torrential rain driving sideways in through the Storm Shutters and on through gaps between windows, our house was built by the French over 30 years ago out of thick concrete – we felt safe.

 

 

“Time Waits For No One” as the Stones once sang, without exception. The prospect of hitting the 60 label could not be put off so the only way to deal with it was with such terrific celebrations as to demonstrate that numbers need not be well hung.

On 18 March it was back to New Zealand we went, via a much-anticipated few days in

Sydney spent with brother Mark who had arrived from England a few days before. Many happy excursions, meals, events and visits unfolded with the highlight being a fabulous dinner at Beppi’s Restaurant in Yurong Street (see photo to the right).It was Beppi’s 60^th too but very sadly, only a few days after he signed my card, Beppi died. What a legacy he has created. Friends Jean and Cathy joined us and helped make it a special “Sydney Celebration”

Across to Christchurch in New Zealand’s magnificent South Island on 19th where we

joined Sam and Sophie initially, with Holly zooming in in the small hours of 24^th. The actual birthday on 23^rd was marked with the most glorious lunch at Pegasus Winery to which we motored in Bentleys – of course (see photo to the left).

This mode of transport was a brilliant touch of Louise’s. I even got to drive the grand

specimen we were in. The owner, just visible in the passenger seat (see right), assured me that it had a dustbin-sized turbo charger and encouraged me to give it plenty of wellie. So I did. It was quite an unusual sensation to be sitting in an opulent lounge and experience the whole thing accelerate forwards, gathering speed rapidly, but then just keep on accelerating. However, I suspect my ‘Green’ credentials went equally quickly in the other direction.

The lunch was a gastronomic epic for which we needed to limber up in the tasting room

(photo right).

 

 

Even before the courses arrived, our little indulgence of nibbles was such a sight to behold that both brothers felt compelled to photograph it so that I could share it

with you – on left. Superb Pegasus Reserve wines came and went, leaving the taste buds mesmerized.

 

A few drops of rain sent us in from our al fresco setting to the restaurant proper. There we overcame the last challenge of the pudding course and as the photo below suggests, we were a pretty content bunch!

A bit of thought and organisational effort went into the centre-piece celebration, beginning in June 2015. By the time the event at Olivers in Clyde (above), Central Otago happened, I had looked ahead to it often and developed high expectations. These were well and truly surpassed! The main aim was to assemble family and close friends for two days at a quality venue where everyone would have ample opportunity to mix and mingle in comfort and style. Over the course of the gathering I think I caught up with most people. But a constant source of joy was glancing hither or thither and spotting so-and-so deep in conversation with what’s-his-name.

Having gathered after lunch on Easter Friday, we relaxed in the garden gently imbibing Twisted Hop’s Challenger on hand pump (a special request gracefully accommodated by our hosts) until it was time to brush up for dinner in the restaurant. Olivers did us proud and were amply rewarded by our spirited assault on menu and wine list.

The next day started slowly with the crew gently creeping into the breakfast room. Later in the morning we reassembled in the same room for a Pork Pie Tasting and English Ploughman’s Lunch. Rob had made four absolutely superb examples of this traditional fare (photo below).

These were up against the fine specimens from The Canterbury Cheesemongers. The two interpretations were greatly appreciated but Rob’s got the nod. Challenger was required to wash these down as we had to climb on a bus

 

at 12.15pm to take us to the International Curling Rink in Naseby. it would be fair to say the mood on the bus was buoyant, with more catch-ups, connects and a whiff of eager anticipation. For many of us it was an obvious ‘first’ although some showed a degree of

poise (as per photo of Holly on the right). This was a great excursion (thanks for the idea Ken and organisational skills Lynley) and a continuation of the mingling, mixing and merriment

We returned to Olivers in time to spruce up and gather for the grand dinner in the Merchant Room. Family members had

been strategically placed at tables of friends to ensure that all were kept in colourful disorder. Between starter and main, Dagy performed his inimitable MC role, leading to some moving speeches from the three ‘kids’ (tolerating hecklers – left). During the course of the dinner, the Hair Of The Dog Irish band played gently ballads, paving the way to the more rumbustious numbers which exerted a gravitational pull upon most people towards the dance floor. The

exhibitions of movement were many and varied with father and son tending towards the more energetic end of the spectrum, sharing the floor at one point – above!

This was the most amazing party and decimated any concept of the ‘number’ attaching to the birthday having any relevance at all.

On Easter Sunday morning there were many farewells as everyone departed Olivers to whom I will always harbour immense gratitude for the efforts, seen and unseen, that helped make the occasion such a great, heart-warming success.

On Monday, Mark, Louise and I drove up to Nelson for three days in close proximity to our

future home. There we spent time with a most special friend who would have loved the party a few years ago. There was a little reminiscing with some other close friends who did make the trip down to Otago. A swim at Little Kaitiritiri (photo right), fish and chips, The Free House – lots of happy times.

Eventually we said goodbye to Mark in Christchurch on 2 April, but not before yet another indulgent meal, lunch at the Curator’s Lodge in Christchurch – ole (below).

 

After some relatively quiet time at Dagy and Carol’s (yes, really!) we flew back to our Santo home on the farm on April 5^th just as Cyclone Zena limbered up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Nino was set to blight the latter third of 2015 with a severe drought setting in by September, predictions of a delayed or even restrained wet season with consequent economic damage expected to exceed that from Cyclone Pam. A VARTC management meeting on 25 September focussed on the lack of pasture growth and potential damage to the beef cattle operation – a major source of revenue to this unique farm. There’s no irrigation system here yet artesian water is pumped up the hill into storage tanks. I left the meeting keen to source a K-Line irrigation system in New Zealand, find funding for it, air freight and present it as “Aid From NZ”. 50+ e-mails, countless requests circling like buzzards but never landing, then bingo, got hold of the right chap, Tony Atwool, at RX Plastics, Ashburton, who confirmed that RX Plastics would donate agreed to donate a scheme. SB Logistics provided a very competitive quote for the air freight, for which a funding request e-mail went out to great friends who each coughed up $100. There was still a shortfall, plus the cost of a customs agency in Luganville – this lot was funded by VSA.

Finally, after countless delays, on 11 March, I was able to present the scheme to VARTC’s Alistair, Acting CEO (right), Frank, Head of Maintenance and Jules, Chief Mechanic (next to me) as shown in the photo to the right. Alistair gave a speech of thanks from VARTC to me and all those that contributed. I note here my huge appreciation to RX Plastics, to Andy Templeton’s early efforts, to the friends that chipped in and to NZ’s fantastic Volunteer Service Abroad for its practical and financial support. It was great to have David Nalo and Clemmie Newton from VSA in attendance at the presentation.

On 29 January, two weeks after arriving back to our island world we were on our way back from the ritual Friday night Volunteer drinkies at Deco Stop Lodge’s Happy hour when Louise fell off her bike at low speed. She broke her wrist badly (see photo left) and after inspection at the Medical Centre and X-rays the following day, we were flown home, courtesy of the VSA Travel/Medical Insurer. The first week back in Christchurch was dominated by time spent in Christchurch Hospital, the second by us keeping a low profile while she with the wounded wing rested.

We saw our kids but the need for rest meant we did not announce our stay to friends so it was a strange stay, being there but in some ways, being anonymous visitors.

We finally arrived back here to our Santo home of 16 February. Louise is physically restricted in her range of activities but is diligently, if not enthusiastically, working on the Poultry Unit business plan.

For me, there was a sense of unsettlement which took a week to shake off and get nuts back on the brain.