Names dropping in Suva

from w
A visitor or newcomer to Fiji would be at a loss to understand many conversations in cafes in Suva as the local people use acronyms / initialisms all the time to refer to departments, organisations, shops, and so on. Now there will be a new one surely that beats them all. The Council of Chiefs building to be opened shortly has a name that boggles the mind. It is Vale Ni Bose of the Fijians Trust Fund Building Complex which I expect will be shorted to VNBFTFBC!

Here is a conversation:
Bula bro. Hey there look at the woman from the FHRC.
No, she’s FLS.
And her friend from FMS.
No, she’s USP.
Did you hear about the guy from PCRD who’s going out with the GM from VTLP.
I’ve got a new job bro with PIF.
Given up on FSC? Well, I'm going for a new job at the VNBFTFBC!

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Later: Friday 25th September. Well, the building has been opened by the Tui Vuda (previously known as the President). Perhaps Ro Kepa would have been an excellent choice to do the honours. As Fiji TV reports 'However, along with the empty seats in the guests dias .... the absence of high chiefs like Ro Teimumu, Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Na Ka Levu Ratu Sakiusa Makutu and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu didn't go un-noticed.' I noticed the Fijivillage still call the building by its old name Council of Chiefs Complex. Tui Macuata was there. He knows which side his bread is buttered on!

Pictures from Davuilevu and Mokosoi

from w
Here are some more photos Peceli took the other day at the Davuilevu 100 years celebration and at Mokosoi, Pacific Harbour where he preached last Sunday. He can write the details when I can get him to sit at the computer for five minutes instead of going to meetings and talking with old friends! They have produced an excellent historical book detailing the training of Methodist ministers over the years and listing all of the talatalas from the early days of Tongans such as Joeli Bulu. It is sad to read so many names of people we have known over the years who are no longer with us.

Mokosoi is not a traditional village but a settlement of workers who once upoa time were working at the Art Village and nearby. These days many travel the 40 minutes each way to Suva to work. One photo is of the Talatala Qase of Cuvu.

Yesterday I went into Suva city to have lunch with Peceli, with Mereoni with the task of taking some photos for me, and also buy a reader to transfer photos to the computer. We went to Morris Hedstrom (rebuilt after the fire) and it is very smart indeed. We ate roti and curry up at the third floor going up by escalator. Then we found Dick Smith's shop in the Midcity Plaza, another very clean new shopping area. Way to go! Then we explored the Suva market to buy bila (fermented cassava sticks) vakalolo, fruit and kumala. Peceli had a long day with a meeting then yarning with friends at Furnival Park.

Then the rain really came down after three weeks of dry weather. Torrential rain really drenched the city and the catchment areas out of Suva surely will no be filling which is very good news as there was a threat of restrictions. It poured and poured and the little creek below our back yard is raging today. The kids of course still want me to take them somewhere for swimming etc. but four are a handful so I'll just take two to town to meet with Peceli. Maybe.

Suva diary Sunday and Monday

from Peceli
It's a beautiful day in Suva with the sunshine shining. Yesterday the church service in Coloisuva went well, the monthly service and the singing was excellent. Tauvu, the late Saimoni Kete's brother is the Choir master of the Church and it brought back the memory of the Labasa Choir in Kete's time.
I went to the Centenary Church at 4pm to attend the monthly combined service and then we had food and kava and then I came home.
I am really busy with looking after three boys because of their unexpected
school holiday so we went to the Swimming Pool in Laucala beach and it was very good. Tonight we are having kava at home. Bale went to the funeral of some distant relative. My regard to the DIK team tomorrow.

Fiji is still the best place on earth, a Chinese woman said to me. She is the owner of a cafe and she said this to me comparing it with Sydney.