Tribewanted: Vorovoro

It is February the 25th and my last Sevu Sevu at the top of the mat. As I look around me and absorb the surrounding music and laughter there is one feeling that I cannot escape from, “I shouldn’t be here”

No, these are not self worth issues, returning to rear their ugly head, but merely the knowledge that today is my Nan’s 75th Birthday and across the other side of the world she will shortly be waking up minus one granddaughter to wish her a Bon Anniverese.

Now this is not the first Birthday I have missed. Growing up with a taste for the ‘wild side’ there was a short period in my adolescence where my Nan did not play the life affirming supporting role she plays now, in fact I am sad to say that she played no role at all and unfortunately this is time that I will never get back.

Therefore when I decided to travel last year and knew I would be away for the big day I made plans to ensure that my route included a return trip home to wish her a Happy Birthday in person. I even for fitted that tiny saving offered by an around the world ticket, such was my determination to ensure I was back for the special day.

However, as you know one thing (and one thing only) managed to keep me away and that was the opportunity to lead the tribe as February’s marama.

When deciding to compile my manifesto the hardest question to answer wasn’t included on the sheet and that was “Is this worth it?” Having promised myself that I was going back to Blighty in Feb no matter what, was this really worth not seeing my Nan’s cheeky smile and feel her warm and possibly too tight embrace, having been away for nearly 8 months, as I walked through the door.

After much thought and consideration the answer was nothing less than a resounding yes. It is more than worth it. My Nan was unaware that I was planning to return home; only a few close friends and my Dad knew of my impending plans so she would not be disappointed as she was not expecting otherwise.

However, if my she knew that I had turned down this chance, the chance that I was hoping for when I resigned and packed my kittens off to my for an extended holiday (knowing that I would probably not get them back again as my Nan would do a far greater job of raising them than I could of) she would be mortified.

Life is for the living and grab it by both hands has always been my Nan’s motto and here I am on the other side of the world, living the dream, contemplating boarding a plane for a grueling 2 leg, 22hr flight back home to the clutches of the Grey and cold melancholy that is Portsmouth (Grey at the best of times) in the grip of winter.
So why would I even consider such a daft and it has to be said recklessly footprint enlarging idea. The reason is simple and that is Shirley May Terrett is one of the greatest ladies to have ever walked the face of this earth.

A slight overstatement you may feel but I can assure you, as certain as it is that the sun will rise over the headlands tomorrow morning, there is no exaggeration in the line above if anything it may be an understatement.

My Nan raised me from an early age and despite all my faults, blunders, mistakes and moments of damn unadulterated selfish stupidity along the way, her support has never faltered.
She is my rock, confidante and most importantly my best friend. That’s why going home was so important, to show her that despite the dark times over the years we have come to a place where she quite rightly sits at the centre of my world and everything else takes its place in orbit around her.

That and the opportunity to relish in mischief and the subsequent chaos that seems to follow us wherever we go. Previous escapades include the evacuation of a rather large retail establishment due to the misplacement of a handbag. Funny in hindsight and funny at the time I have to say to see a rather burly security guard poking the aforementioned accessory with a stick, whilst executing a front crawl across the store that even G.I Joe would have been proud of.

If that’s not enough we have had the Can Can at the local bus stop, Bat Man impressions in the rather well to do local Night and Leigh, Conga involving all patrons and staff at the Lush store one Christmas in Bath and my recent favorite of barbed wire walking through the local and rather bogy horses field after a rather unexpectedly boozy lunch.

OK so I digress, back to the beginning, here I am at the top of the mat surrounded by all is that is magical on this tiny little rock that we like to call home wondering just what I can do to show her just how much she means to me.

Then it comes to me in a flash. Not only do we have our resident band tonight but we are lucky enough to have the additional backing vocals of the Naqawaga team who have been helping to complete the dam.
If I can get a signal then not only can I sing happy birthday to my Nan but so can the entire island. Now that really is a once in a life time experience. I can surprise my Nan and take her for dinner whenever I eventually finish my gallivanting but this is something unique, the kind of present that money can’t buy, just what I am looking for.

So off we head to the fire pit, guitars in hand with the tribe following behind for the liveliest rendition of happy long life I have ever seen on the island. The atmosphere was electric and my heart was in my mouth as I tried t speak to my Nan after the boys had returned to the Bure.

I cannot thank the guys enough for what they did for me that night, the memory will stay with me and my Nan forever. There’s even talk of me having to smuggle an apple cake into Hampton Court to present to the boys to say thank you.
There are moments on his island that touch you and give you an understanding of what it means to live in a community and this was just the latest in a long line. However what made it so special was the joining of my two worlds and more importantly my two families. As I stood alongside my new found brothers and sisters, our bonds strengthened by my second visit, singing down the telephone to my existing family on the other side of the world it made me realise just how special this project is.

I have 2 homes and two families and feel like the luckiest girl in the world having had the chance to combine them.
However a telephone call wasn’t enough. Having had that taste of the 2 either side of the ocean coming together, all be it for a brief moment my mind is set.

Dad you are coming to Vororovoro.

I know we have discussed it in passing and would love to have been able to share my fast approaching birthday with you here on the big V but the timing just wasn’t with us. However, I am here for the whole of August and although there are no current spaces for the last weeks there are still a few for the first two. So dig out that savings jar, invest in a part of boardies and stat practicing your Fijian as you and Debs are in for the holiday of a life time.
Don’t panic about learning the language as Save will teach you everything you need to know when you get here, but to start you off this is the phrase you will hear from me when you arrive on the beach.
Mai vale, keitou sa waraki iko tiko, mo mai lewe ni ruvale onqo. Quite simply, welcome home, we have been waiting for you, now come and meet the family.