Easy like Sunday Morning!

Am back in the village after two months in a fabulous house built on the peak of a hill with a 180 degree view of the lagoon, the breakers and the never ending ocean. Chita and I have enjoyed the peace and quiet and doing our own thing.
I have been in baking frenzy, testing sour dough bread, white bread, buns, fruit brioche, chocolate brioche and pizza. Have had nods of approval from all. I have been able to make a crunchy bread in a humid tropical climate. It does not stay crunchy mind you, but fresh from the oven,deliciously hot, drenched in butter I am reminded of the breads I used to eat in Europe.
Just the incidentals of daily life, take all day here. Going shopping in Sigakatoka takes half a day, washing takes an eon, walking down to the local petrol station for kerosene for the stove takes a couple of hours, and just getting out of bed and having breakfast takes a long time. Its why I am here, to slow down my overactive high achieving brain and try and restore a balance. I have had a struggle here as everything takes so long, communication is intermittent and time passes while the documents for the lease on the cafe sit on Chita's brother Joe's kitchen bench in Suva for two months.....
By accident I rang Natalie, Joe's wife to find out if anything was moving. I had been told quietly and gently that getting the lease signed was family business and just to be patient. I am a very patient person, but Fiji tests my endurance. I discovered that Vilimone, who I met by accident in Suva had assisted Joe to get Isoa to sign the lease. He has been a life saver. He is part of the new special investigations team into anti corruption. Schooled in New Zealand, he bridges Fijian tradition and western sophistication. He continually tells me that Fijians don't have confidence in their abilities, they have no self belief that they can change their worlds, because the Fijian village culture is ruled by the village elders, and Chita being the fourth son, must do their bidding. Fear of the unknown is prevalent.
Found out to my delight that the lease is signed, and the business registered but up for renewal we can finally open.
I called a family meeting and offered $200 to set up the milk bar with stock, and Joe has matched it. We made a list together of things to sell, making our cafe a kind of Seven Eleven for the village, which will bring good will. What will help us make money is the food I am going to make - bread, buns, biscuits, cakes, and pizza.
We are also going to offer one dish a day until we start making money.
I have also found out from Natalie, who is marketing manager at the Naviti resort that they don't make their own bread and buy it from Sigatoka everyday which is forty minutes away and we are five.
I can't believe we are finally going to start and everyone agrees. Chita rushed off yesterday to ask Abo, our favourite builder to come and build the shelves on Monday.
I went into Sigatoka to do a price check on items to sell. I went into a supermarket called Shop and Save and left a list, which will hopefully be priced up with a discounted price for our shop. I will compare them on Monday. Here the Indians are a cunning bunch and you have to keep your wits about you.
Leaving the peace and tranquility of Victor's house was bitter sweet for me. I am back in the village and in trouble the first day, for striding across the village green in shorts without a sulu. Buggar. I am sleeping on the matrimonial bed, which is as hard as a rock, and seems to have a plank down the middle which is causing back ache and the pillows are rockettes so I end up with a crick in my neck. Oh for the tontine pillows from Oz, I brought with me for Victor...
Its been non stop rain for the last eight days and it definitely affects the mood. I have even ended up with a sniffle while Fijians around me are suffering congested chests, and colds. Today for the first time, the sky is clear and the waves are gently lapping against the reef, instead of the pounding waves of the last week or so. I woke up this morning to coffee and Nene ( chita's mum's) custard pie, without the custard, as she had run out. 'It doesn't matter darling' she says. I quickly wrap my sulu( sarong) around my hips and stroll up to the beach bure bar. The tide is high and I take a refreshing dip before hitting the computer. Being Sunday the internet is running at half pace so I have a good chance of getting this blog done and checking my emails.
Tomorrow will be a busy day, into Sigatoka early to shop, baking in the afternoon, and Monday typing price lists and signs for the shop. Then Tuesday we open. Yippee!!
Between Chita and me there is love and understanding but we are still trying to bridge Fijian and European culture. We have had some spectacular spats. A Fijian raising his voice is not done. My Irish grandmother cannot be contained in me. I suppose we both wish we could instantly understand each other's needs but it is not so.
Fijians live each day as it comes. No planning for tomorrow. What I have to eat today, I eat it all. What I have to drink today I share and drink it all. What money I have today, I spend. If we have an argument Chita wipes it out of his mind, and I am the elephant who doesn't forget. I am learning to wipe off the stretching that occurs daily.
I have been talking about the business for two years now, and thought he had the initiative to start but he cannot. Joe is exactly the same. I am the driving force on this boat. Chita is a great helper so we will get there.
I can extend my visa for two months and get this show on the road. The only sacrifice is ending up with no reserved savings and missing my mum's seventieth birthday and a return flight and even money to spend on her birthday dinner is out of the question. I had the good fortune in Suva last weekend to go to an Indian bazaar and buy 8 cushion covers brightly coloured and glittering for $20!! My mother always says to change a room, start with the cushion covers...
Winter here is still warm,May is on its way with moli(thick green skinned moli) and sunshine so I am happy to stay....
The Beach Bure bar will be open for business on Tuesday!!! Yippee!