Bill and Jen
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 26 Oct 2015 23:57
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Morning with Bill and the
Afternoon with Jen
 Off in Baby Beez this
morning to find Bill, Quarantine Officer and the local policeman who acts as
Customs Officer. Outside the police station [funded through Vanuatu Australia Police Project 2011]
was what looked laundry scattered about. They in fact netball shirts and shorts, donated by a cruise ship but as
no one plays netball here they may be donated to a school on another island.
Heaven knows why they can’t be worn here......... Bill was at the new bank so
time to sit and watch the world go by.
 Outside, a table had been set up and
an official was registering local boats. Forms all
over the place and men having to go home for extra bits.
 A nice view of
Beez from sitting here. Bill arrived and after much form filling
and the handing over of thirty pounds all was cleared on the quarantine front.
Soon after the barefooted, casually attired policeman turned up, he was handed
photocopies of customs forms already emailed to Port Vila, a few more forms and
a little cajoling, we had cleared in and gained clearing out from Erromango on
the 10th – in exchange for another thirty pounds.
  A stroll past the
Community Centre and Post Office and it was
time for lunch.
 A very strange business........... We
walked past a Land Rover, nothing odd about that but
not only is this the first car we have seen on the island, we are left to wonder
why......... as there are no roads...........
 After lunch we went ashore and found
ourselves in the well stocked library. There we met Jen, a Peace Corps worker in
education, currently acting as the local librarian. Her local language was
incredible as we listened to her chatting to the children as they came in to
swap books or ask to sit quietly and read. The dog is called Couscous and belongs to Jen’s adoptive family. Three
o’clock came so quickly and the bell went for days end. Jen was off to the river
and asked if we would like to go with her.
 A ten minute walk, with everyone
greeting us as we went, we stood and looked left, a pretty
view.
  Jen pointed to the deep bit to jump
and off she went.
  Followed by
Bear.
 Further down the
river many ladies attended to laundry as children splashed and
laughed.
 A rare sight for us to see a porker freely snuffling about. On average, each household
has five pigs and sixteen chickens and play an important part in subsistence
agriculture as well as playing a significant role in ceremonies and customs –
especially the pigs.
    Nice to see some
blooms on our walk back to the village.
 We bade our thanks and farewells to
Jen. We wish her every happiness in the future,
whatever that may be, and will watch as she takes off tomorrow for a well earned
break in Port Vila.
 On our way back to Beez we
see a now common sight. This youngster waved heartily and carried on paddling
his canoe.
  Inbound and
landing, nice to see a sea bird.
 Beez on
her own in the massive bay.
  We never tire of coming up on Beez, resplendent in the late
afternoon sun.
ALL IN ALL A FULL AND FUN
DAY
A LOVELY DAY WITH LOVELY
PEOPLE |