This morning we took our bonito tuna into the village. David dropped me off and went straight back to the boat as he's still suffering from a heavy cold.
Most villagers were off working in their gardens but I did meet two young Mum's who spoke English, an old lady who only spoke local Bislama and a young man who spoke French. We had a very interesting three way conversation. What I understood was that they were delighted to accept our fish and to give us pumpkin, papaya, lemons, spring onions and tomatoes from their garden. they told me on a normal day a family will eat once a day, usually taro or manioc with other vegetables cooked in coconut milk. Children will take some rice wrapped in a banana leaf for school lunch. Protein seems to be a rare treat although everyone we saw looks well fed but not fat.
I'd also brought the last few items of children's clothing which we'd brought from NZ to give to villagers. It's common practice for yachties to bring items of use to the more isolated communities. We left NZ with a locker of second hand clothes, fishing hooks, pens, pencils, reading glasses. Watching Lucy and Jenny's toddlers playing in tattered shirts I hoped the new clothes would fit their older children.
Chatting over and a with heavy bag of produce I went back to the beach to radio David to come and collect me and that's when I discovered the battery in my radio was flat. I also discovered David wasn't in the cockpit looking out. How was I to get back? Bring on Lucy's husband and his dugout canoe to the rescue. Thomas kindly paddled me back to Jackster and I had an authentic trip in a real canoe. It filled up with water very quickly. There was one last adult t shirt which I gave Thomas as a thank you.
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