Tsuanmi, Police Check Points, Lent and my new neighbour, Frankie

The full moon brings the standard insane neighbourhood dog barking and howling orchestra (they go berserk) but there’s also changes on the Suva streets and even a change of street for me.

Yesterday's tsunmani warnings (a result of a massive earthquake that measured 8.1 on the Richter scale struck the Solomon Islands about 8.40am yesterday) were largely ignored by Fijians. Robb and I didn't ignore it.. we moved to the higher ground of our balcony (3rd floor) and watched the harbour for 30 minutes around the ETA of the wave that was due. As we sipped on our Fiji Golds we contemplated the the fate of the Fijians sitting in the harbour in their small tin boats fishing. The police are up in arms about the complacency of the public in the face of this warning. Robb and I did consider dragging the wind boards and kayaks up to our floor in case a BIG wave came.. but we did okay. We didn't see a ripple.

Today I am moving from the bustle of Marine Drive, which is one of Suva’s four major arteries (it leads to Nadi), to a quiet street a stone’s throw from military commander and interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama (AKA Bananarama). Should I invite Frankie and his wife to my house warming? Will I run into him on my morning jogs? Will my neighbourhood be safe? Should I pop in for a cuppa with his wife? Perhaps my new neighbourhood will allow me to mix with the upper echelons of Fiji society… or perhaps I will remain in my rank, insignificant Plebian.

Frankie won’t be off to the US any time soon. The local US ambassador told him his visa has been revoked and after requests for him to bring his passport to the embassy to make the cancellation Frankie replied, “come and get it” and “bring your running shoes”.

The military have slowly, slowly been removing themselves from the checkpoints around Suva. This week they have disappeared altogether, after being on checkpoints since December 5^th. There are police checkpoints instead…there’s only one or two police members at each point… but what they lack in numbers they’ve compensated for with imaginative use of roadblock equipment. They’ve made an obstacle course with the tyre spikes, petrol drums and all sorts of wreck-your-car-thingos… which isn’t too bad for the average competent, sober car driver but the police have certainly given the bus drivers a little challenge. FYI, competent thoughtful drivers are not the norm here but that is a whole other story for a blog series and I will have to provide photographic evidence for you to deem these stories true.

On the countdown to Easter I am hanging out big time. Last year I gave up chocolate… but did quite well because of a technicality and consumed chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, chocolate muffins and chocolate cookies (technicality: they’re not actually chocolate). After a quick chat with God, I was informed that I could probably do better this year… so I’ve gone the whole hog… I’ve given up sweets. So at day 36 with 4 more to go… I’ve gone where I never thought I’d go. What a sacrifice it’s been and quite frankly, apart from being crucified on the cross, I don’t think I could’ve done better. Only a couple of accidents early on (simply forgetting it was Lent and eating a couple of sweet biscuits) and one transgression (somebody, despite my requests, gave me Cadbury Roses chocolates! Grr!). I’ve done much better than someone else I know (won’t mention names) who decided to give up sex and has failed dismally. The trick is to be realistic (which is why I didn’t give up gin)!

Easter eggs aren’t lining the walls of supermarkets in Fji… they don’t go the distance here… too hot. However, I did eye some off in the fridge at an upmarket supermarket yesterday. A public holiday yesterday for Muhammad’s birthday (I am on holidays anyway, a total waste of a public holiday!). It was good timing as Fiji lost the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens cup the prior evening and Fijians required a day to recoup (excuse the pun). Australians have their own worries…what was Thorpe thinking!? Trust the French to go tit-for-tat! My Fijian Muslim friend is in my country… probably eating my religion’s food treats (hot cross buns, Easter eggs), whilst I am here experiencing a public holiday for his religious prophet’s birthday. I don’t think the Koran has anything saying you can’t eat Easter eggs but I’ll look into it.

Something for the scientists and astrologers among you (see photo): night-time view of Saturn, taken by NASA's Cassini orbiter last week. The six-sided honeycomb feature which encircles the planet’s entire north pole is what’s causing a commotion...hasn’t been seen since the 1980s and was written off as a light trick. 6 is a good number. My new house number is double that!

Happy Easter and happy holidays!! Stay safe.