Alofa Tuvalu BLOG

And a better one..

Some not so good news from our long time friend in Tuvalu�.

On April 15 & 18 John Hensford wrote :

I am trying to catch up on my work after being stranded in Suva for four days because of plane mechanical problems. There were 28 of us stranded in Suva, and of course many people delayed leaving Tuvalu.

I will be relocating to Australia very soon � in fact next week. Our business is very bad indeed and we�ve had to pare our expenses to the bone. Part of the economy is me moving out. I�ll still be doing my usual work, but from home. Eti and Sina will be moving out of their house shortly and moving in to my (former) house. That�s part of our economy drive.

It will be strange handing over the key of the door to Eti after living quite a substantial slice of my life (fifteen years) in Tuvalu. In terms of physical residence the only countries in which I have lived longer were England and Australia.

My moving gives the opportunity of cutting down on electricity consumption too. One month ago we switched off the airconditioners and I removed the batteries from the remote controls. Tomorrow our meters should be read. I�m anxiously waiting to see the bill. You see, we are doing our bit to save the environment! I have reduced the brilliance on our monitors from 100% (default) to 45% and have found it makes NO difference to the readability of the screen. All computers are on power saving plans that cuts off the monitors after 5 minutes of non-use and hibernates the hard drives after a further ten minutes. Also we have have fewer computers. The electric jugs are in the cupboard and water is now boiled on the gas stove. The twin tube fluorescent lights have one tube removed and we generally don�t use lighting during the day.

These are all things that the three of you have been doing for decades, I know. We are just catching up and I must say it is in large part because of your attitudes and guidance that I started these measures, which Eti and Sina have to continue. If I were remaining here I would find it necessary to have some airconditioning. It�s 32 in the office just now (mid-morning) but in the afternoon it will go above 35 and that for me is hard to take. I don�t think clearly then.

Bye for now. John

"Trouble in Paradise" and debate with Gilliane at Star Prep Academy (CA)

10 avril 2013 - Kent au Caf� de la Danse (Paris)

Le 10 avril 2013
Caf� de la Danse
5 passage Louis Philippe
75011 Paris
T�l. : 01 47 00 57 59

Site du Caf� de la Danse
Facebook du Caf� de la Danse

Acheter vos places

The Guardian - "Scientists link frozen spring to dramatic Arctic sea ice loss"

"Climate scientists have linked the massive snowstorms and bitter spring weather now being experienced across Britain and large parts of Europe and North America to the dramatic loss of Arctic sea ice."
... full article by John Vidal in The Guardian

Mediapart - "Fonte des glaces polaires, neige au printemps"

"Des scientifiques �tablissent le lien entre ce printemps tr�s froid et la fonte des glaces de l'Arctique." Article complet dans le blog Mediapart de Antony Manuel

Vivre en positif, sur une id�e d'Alain Maneval sur arte

"Il y a trente ans, toute personne atteinte par le VIH se pensait condamn�e. Aujourd'hui, de maladie mortelle, le sida s'est mu� en maladie chronique et beaucoup de s�ropositifs ont retrouv� une existence quasi normale.
Entre espoir et d�sespoir, ils ont surmont� le �verdict de s�ropositivit�. Plus de trente ans apr�s le d�clenchement de l'�pid�mie, Maneval dresse un �tat des lieux qui t�moigne du moment charni�re que l'�volution de la maladie conna�t actuellement.
Il est en effet possible d'entrevoir la fin de cette �pid�mie, � condition que la pr�vention reste la priorit�."

R�alis� par J�r�me Lefdup

Prochaines diffusions sur Arte : Vendredi 5 avril 2013 � 22:20 et Samedi 6 avril 2013 � 10:50

Island business - "No dates set yet for Tuvalu by election"

No dates set yet for Tuvalu by elections
"No date has been set for a by-election for the vacant Nukufetau Island seat on Tuvalu. The seat was left vacant following the death of finance minister Lotoala Metia in Suva in December last year. Secretary to Government Panapasi Nelesoni told ISLANDS BUSINESS their lawyers were still working on details including when it will be held. The Tuvalu constitution gives the government of the day the power to decide when to hold the by-election." ... full article in Island business

A few news, by Kaio

Just a few news if you haven't heard.
Mr Prime Minister Willy Telavi and Seinati are currently here in Taipei,Taiwan for the opening of the new Tuvalu Embassy. Secretary of Finance Mr Minute will be serving as Ambassador. Opening ceremony was held on Friday the 15th of March.
There is still a strong wind warning in Tuvalu.Flights were cancelled for a week and started again on Saturday 16th March. I guess the strong wind warning were cancelled then.
I am still on the ship. My reliever's documents weren't ready so John asked me to stay a month longer :-) Sarah will be back in Fiji on the 8th of April so i guess i'll catch up with her then.
That's all the news. Have a blessed Sunday and take care..
Kaio

Greedy Lying Bastards, by Craig Scott Rosebraugh

Tuvalu and GiGi in the cast !!!
The film is currently being shown in many theaters in the US, Canada...

D�bat Energie, ce que veulent les associations

Bonjour,

Aujourd'hui, le RAC et les nombreuses associations rassembl�es au sein de la coalition des ONG pour le d�bat sur la transition �nerg�tique ont tenu une conf�rence de presse.

Vous trouverez les communiqu� et dossier de presse, ce dernier reprenant les 14 propositions des ONG sur le site du RAC

Bonne r�ception.

Marc Mossalgue, Information Communication RACFrance

Coming soon... / Parutions imminentes

The Tuvalu Marine Life full study

L'int�grale de l'�tude Tuvalu Marine Life, sur la biodiversit� marine de Tuvalu

The "Our planet under water", arabic version

La version arabe de "A l'eau, la Terre"

"PLANTS of TUVALU

"Hard work pays off. Professor Randy Thaman started working on this book in 1992, I got involved in 2003.20 yrs to produce it, it is a very good book with great photos. All because of this man and his love and passion, Malo Randy" Eliala

A comment by Eliala and family about the situation around her father's death

Paragraph 26) of CJ Gordon Ward dated 21st December, 2012.

"I assess the necessary level of damages to ensure the plaintiff�s reputation is vindicated in the eyes of reasonable members of the Tuvalu public would be $35,000. I am also satisfied that, for the reasons I have stated in this judgement, the status of the defendants when making these untrue assertions and the extra weight they knew that such status would give to those assertions and their attitude in failing in any way to lessen the harm they have caused to the plaintiff even though they must have known they could produce no evidence in support of their defense makes it appropriate to order a further sum of $15,000 aggravated damages."

This is the judgement on the defamation case between the Late Honourable Lotoala Metia and the seven opposition members. The seven being the defendants and the Hon Metia the plaintiff.

My father's intention was justice. To prove that he had never stolen any money from anyone nor the Government of Tuvalu. This is the reason why he could not accept Opposition's proposal for him to change sides and switch allegiance especially after they (the Opposition) had publicly announced via a signed declaration that my father had stolen Government funds. Put yourself in this position what will you do? I think I will do the same if you are an honest man but if you are a corrupt man you will submit intentionally to hide your sleazy ways.

For the people of Nukufetau my father could not accept your request to support Enele Sopoaga government for this reason. He wanted to clear his name so that his children and grandchildren can freely live life without shame.
Would you support someone's quest to become Prime Minister if he had accused you of stealing Government funds?????? Silly. and for people of Nukufetau not to understand this is just absurd. and for the fenua to think that my father was defying orders of the Toeaina??? It is not my father's intention.

Paragraph 29) of the Judgement
"Counsel for the defendants has suggested that the defendants who are not from Nukufetau were less involved and should be less liable. It was never part of the defence and I do not accept the proposition. I have not accepted that subsequent demonstrations against the plaintiff should form part of my assessment of damages for the defamatory statements and all the defendants too equally failed to make any effort or mitigate their involvement."

The accusation (letter) was signed by the Seven MPs after Tuvalu 2010 National Election. This is way before the fenua of Nukufetau got involved. So what I want all the fanau of NUKUFETAU to think about is why are the other MP's asking for this?Asking to be less liable for the defamation? It means one thing. Think about it ... This is way before Nukufetau got involved

To date my family have not received any money from these cases. My family have spent our life savings to pay for the lawyer but what we hope is that the people of Nukufetau will realize now what the TRUTH is. Many feelings have been hurt because of this defamation and many more lies have been created to try to justify this lie but we are the victims. We are the ones facing the real hurt because the accusation was against my father. Nukufetau you turned your back on my father and supported a man who falsely accused my father of stealing and you supported him and marched through Funafuti asking for his resignation threatened to kill him. You stopped all his families and supporters from entering the Maneaba and from representing Nukufetau in anything including Sports. You silenced them from participating in Community functions, decision making. At his death you never showed up. You commemorated the two year Anniversary of the protest march while we burried his corpse. After his death you said good riddance kaitoa ke mate .... mate kae seki tina tena kaitalafu(what kaitalafu?) The man is dead my father is dead. Wrongfully accused and died with a heavy heart that his people (his flesh n blood) remained divided and kept in the dark.
All of you have always been forgiven in my father's heart. The TRUTH should always be more important. Even more than our allegiance to the fenua.

Petsy Lotoala, Penieli Lotoala, Luma Lotoala, Noerin Lotoala, Tristen Johnmattfield, Cilati Sueina Lisati Seumanutafa, Sue Lisati, Mandy Liveti, Lupeti Fihaki, Stuzzy Major

We wish you...

As 2012 is giving way to 2013, we would like to share with you all, friends, partners, supports or acquaintance, the gift* we received last year from our Young friends, the Alofa Tuvalu Peninsula Kids.

We long seeing them in 2013 and miss them. We miss very much too our friends who left us this year, from Farrah a little after new year 2012 to Loto a few days ago. Our thoughts go to his family and friends.

We wish you a warm end of 2012 and a peaceful 2013.
*Click here !!

**********
Avant que 2012 ne c�de la place � 2013, nous souhaitons partager avec vous tous, amis, partenaires, soutiens ou connaissances, le cadeau* que nous avons re�u l�an dernier de nos jeunes amis, les enfants de la p�ninsule d�Alofa Tuvalu.

Il nous tarde de les retrouver en 2013. Nous manquent aussi infiniment les amis qui nous ont quitt�s cette ann�e, de Farrah peu apr�s le nouvel an 2012 � Loto, il y a quelques jours.. Nos pens�es vont � sa famille et � ses amis.

Bonne fin d�ann�e 2012 et paisible 2013.
*Click here !!

4 d�cembre 2012: Mardis de l'Environnement

29 novembre 2012 : Rencontre-d�bat sur les changements climatiques � Pantin (Paris) / - November 29th, 2012 : Climate Change conference (Paris)

COP18 - Kyoto Is Essential to Successful Outcome in Doha (AOSIS Press Release)

25 November 2012

CONTACT: Contact: Michael Crocker, michael.crocker@aosis.org, + 1 978 968 9499

AOSIS, LDCs, African Group: Kyoto Is Essential to Successful Outcome in Doha

DOHA�Ahead of the climate change negotiations in Doha, the Alliance of Small Island States, Least Developed Countries and the African Group, which together represent 100 countries and 1.4 billion people who are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, released the following statement urging developed countries to fulfill their responsibility to take the lead in addressing the crisis and outlined key expectations for the 2012 climate conference:

�The Kyoto Protocol is more than a treaty, it is the foundation upon which our multilateral effort to address climate change rests. As the only legally binding international agreement with quantifiable targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions it is essential to building any future climate change regime, and our sole assurance that action will be taken.

�At a time when the impacts of climate change are growing more severe before our eyes, and with the survival of our nations increasingly in doubt, the countries most responsible for the crisis must agree to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol that will deliver genuine benefits to the climate that sustains us all. Currently, what is on the table falls far short of this climate imperative.

"Our groups agree that this requires action in Doha that immediately works to reduce emissions in line with the latest scientific recommendations, including the following:

�Annex I Parties � including those that have not yet submitted Quantified Emission Limitation Reduction Objectives (QELROs) � must raise the ambition of their economy-wide emission reduction commitments and take legally binding, single number QELROS without conditions inscribed in amended Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol.

�The second commitment period should be for a length of five-years to avoid locking-in insufficient mitigation ambition.

�The use of surplus units from the first commitment period must be dramatically curbed in the second commitment period to protect the environmental integrity of the Kyoto Protocol.

�Parties must reaffirm that legally binding QELROS inscribed in Annex B for the second commitment period are required for all Annex I Parties wishing to participate in the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms.

�Parties must affirm that the compliance system of the Kyoto Protocol applies to the second commitment period.

�All amendments to the Kyoto Protocol should be provisionally applied pending entry into force to ensure the rapid implementation of Annex I commitments.

�Furthermore, those few Annex 1 countries that are not parties to the Kyoto Protocol must also take more ambitious and comparable mitigation commitments under the LCA.

�This conference comes in the wake of disasters that offered an alarming glimpse at what life on a warming planet looks like. A failure to build on the progress we have made at this critical juncture could be a set back from which we may never recover. If hard decisions to dramatically cut emissions are not made now, developing countries will be forced to confront adaptation and damage on a previously unimaginable scale.�

-Ends-

COP18 - Le Qatar peut-il racheter le climat ? (communiqu� RAC)

Semaine de la Solidarit� Internationale avec la Cie Le Makila

November 27th, 2012 � TMTI enthusiastic staff, by Sarah Hemstock, project team leader at USP Fiji and Alofa Tuvalu biomass specialist

I went to TMTI today � Leota and everyone are in good health and spitits and cant wait to start with projects again�

They are very enthusiastic. All the equipment is there, but I haven�t seen it up and running. Leota is going to put it on display (a new battery is needed for the scooter it is running but only gets from the main entrance to the diesel shed before running flat out of power!!). He is also going to put the spare part into the fuelpod.

He is happy that the gassifier is OK and they have also painted it and are looking after it well. TMTI has also bought a new compressor for the gassifier.
So all is ok and appears to be on track. I think one of the issues has been high turn over of staff � as well as other staffing issues� I am all for doing RE demos on the outer islands.
Cheers, Sx

November 20th, 2012 � More biogas and biodiesel to come, by Sarah Hemstock, project team leader at USP Fiji and Alofa Tuvalu biomass specialist

Still here - leave next week... Its all Fun Fun Fun!!
And yes!! We can fund more digesters. I think that this would run more smoothly now...
The folk from Nanumea have asked for more digesters at the workshop we just had - which was great - and one guy from the community in Nanumea also presented his experience with the project which was fantastic!!
We could also look at grants for the Biodiesel Awareness in outer islands...
Cheers, Sx

November 13rd, 2012 - Seeds planted, by Sarah Hemstock, project team leader at USP Fiji and Alofa Tuvalu biomass specialist

Hi Gilliane,
I am loving being back in Tuvalu (for me it� been almost exactly 2 years since my last visit) and I am really missing you guys not being here!!
Alofa Tuvalu has really planted seeds � there are now 2 plans like we spoke of : 1 for an energy efficiency house and another for an �eco-house�� As well as the big national renewable energy plan�
I have already met with Risasi (Alofa Tuvalu Treasurer) at the hotel, but will pop over and see her again and ask her to drop you an email�
I have not caught up with Nala (Alofa Tuvalu Patron) yet � will go and see her this afternoon.
Hugs, Sx

November 12, 2012,- Back in Tuvalu, by Sarah Hemstock, project team leader at USP Fiji and Alofa Tuvalu biomass specialist

�Hi, I am back in Tuvalu (since last Thursday) and helping Teu out with a National Adaptation Wkshop�. Difference here is that Tuvaluan�s are delivering the messages (its 9pm, we have been going since 9am and there are still over 60 people here!)� and we have brought people in from communities on outer islands as they are the ones who will be implementing the activities we will be developing under this project. Molipi has the floor now and he is talking about energy use� and yes!! Internet connection from inside the Funafuti maniapa!!
Alofa Tuvalu is very much in everyone�s minds and I must have been asked at least 100 times today where you guys are and when are you going to be visiting again!!
John (Alpha Pacific Navigation manager and Alofa Tuvalu counterpart) is in Australia but Eti (Alofa Tuvalu Vice-President) is here, doing fine and has changed his name to Eddie!!
Anyway, hope everything is ok..
Cheers, Sarah�

Actus de novembre

Du 14 novembre au 16 d�cembre 2012: Alofa Tuvalu � "La Route des Contes"

Alofa Tuvalu partenaire de l'op�ration Ecolo'zic

19 octobre 2012: "Nuages au Paradis" � la f�te de la science (Ile d'Yeu)

Vendredi 19 Octobre : 19h00 // Cin�-D�bat au Cin�ma � Cin� Islais � de l'Ile d'Yeu, Gratuit

Projection du Film "Nuages au Paradis", r�alis� par Gilliane Le Gallic et Christopher Horner (ETC, 2004) suivi d'un d�bat avec Fanny H�ros, Charg�e de mission � l�association Alofa Tuvalu ainsi qu�un conseiller de l�Espace Info Energie.

plus d'infos sur la F�te de l'Energie

Jeudi 4 octobre 2012: table-ronde sur les "r�fugi�s climatiques" au Museum de Toulouse

Wednesday Sept 19th September 2012 - "Kate and William farewell" by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

The day has dawned bright and clear, a good day for farewelling William and Kate. Let�s hope it remains that way; yesterday started like this too but turned rainy. Today there will be less opportunity for that because the Royal Couple will be departing soon.

I hope they slept well in the house loaned by the Australian Defence Force Advisers. It�s very comfortably furnished and its location is idyllic, right on the edge of the lagoon. The island at this point is narrow. A good golfer would be able to hit a ball from the lagoon beach right across the island to the ocean beach in one stroke. The Governor General�s residence and the Prime Minister�s residence are also in this area, comprising a thin string of housing along the lagoon edge with the airport runway right alongside.

As their jet came in to land at Funafuti yesterday William and Kate were probably thinking �where is this island�? That question goes through most people�s minds the first time they come. One can feel the plane reducing altitude, down, down, down, but no land visible either side. The plane banks right and islands come distantly into view to the left. Flaps being adjusted, landing gear whining down, all the usual noises of an approach to landing but still not much indication of land. Plane now so low it�s easy to see individual wave crests. Then flashing past the windows a series of tiny islets � none big enough to land on. One can see the connection between them underwater; it�s the rim of what was a volcano, aeons ago. Now low enough to see individual coconuts on the palm trees but below the plane is still only sea. Suddenly, palm trees pop up on both sides and almost instantly there�s the bump as the plane touches down on the runway. It�s an exciting landing and I never tire of it. Then there�s the shock of heat as the plane door is opened and the tropical air rushes in, and one realizes �we have arrived at the World�s most remote capital city�.

Well that was yesterday�s experience for William and Kate. Today, Eti and I will go down to the airport for the farewell ceremony. Today we can be attired less formally � still with traditional Tuvaluan flower headband, neck decoration and colourful skirt, but with a casual, Fijian-style �Bula� shirt. On our feet just sandals; the black leather shoes have been put away until next year�s Queen�s Birthday honours ceremony. We ride on Eti�s motorbike, our pandanus leaf decorations trailing behind us in the wind. We ride along the runway perimeter road. The plane is still parked where it stopped the day before, turbines now gently hissing in anticipation of its Royal cargo.

Oh, we have arrived rather later than we should. The Royal Couple are already seated in the maneaba and are being regaled by very stirring singing and dancing. On a table in front of them is a model of a traditional Tuvaluan house, intricately woven from pandanus leaf. It�s the biggest such model I have ever seen. It�s evidently a present. If it�s to go on the plane someone is going to be working very fast to box it up when the Couple go to the plane.

The Governor General Sir Iakoba Italeli Taeia and his wife Koling are seated to right of the Royal Couple. Prime Minister Willy Telavi and his wife Seinati are seated on their left. Foreign Minister Apisai Ielemia and his wife Nala are there too and other members of Parliament and just about everybody who is anybody. I must remember to congratulate Apisai on the good organizing of his Permanent Secretary and the team at Foreign Affairs.

Kate has her hair down today, as she did at the fatele last night. She looks more familiar that way; that�s how she usually appears when we see her on TV. I�m not close enough to see exactly what the pattern is on her dress but it is a floral design, very different to the pattern of the Tuvaluan ladies� dresses but very much in keeping with them. Different but complementary, somebody has chosen well. Perhaps Mummy-in-law had some hand in it. No doubt there will be quite a difference too in what she paid for her dress � perhaps a hundred times more than the local price of dresses! The dress is above knee. Last night she wore a long flowing dress. William is wearing much the same as yesterday, plain blazer and open-necked white shirt. That in itself is a fashion statement. He looks relaxed.

The Prime Minster makes a speech, appropriate and brief. The President of the Tuvalu Church offers a prayer of thanks to the Almighty and asks His protection for the Royal Couple. Then it�s time to go. William and Kate are tall and easy to see. They move outside and board their special vehicle, the �mini-maneaba�; the bearers raise it to their shoulders. The Police Honour Guard makes a Royal Salute, with great precision; the Royals move forward preceded by a big choir of young ladies singing merrily. The official party melds in behind the Royal vehicle and follow it to the plane, an avenue of schoolchildren clapping on either side.

The populous moves onto the grassy area alongside the runway. This must be one of the few international airports in the World where that would be permitted, and in truth it is not usual here either, but it is possible because the runway is not fenced and is only a �runway� for a few minutes per week. The rest of the time it is a walking and running track, a place for volleyball and soccer, at night a place to study the stars and a cool place to sleep.

The Couple reaches the plane and the bearers lower the mini-maneaba. It has fulfilled its task. The bearers will be able to tell their grandchildren �I carried the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge way back in 2012! There are some final farewells from the official party and Kate walks up the aircraft stairs, pausing to make a very bold and happy wave to everyone, which is responded by a thousand waves. William follows and does the same, but he didn�t get so many return waves as Kate. She is on the way to becoming a star.

The door closes and we are all ushered back to beyond the airport perimeter road, but that is still close to the runway. So now it�s time for the Couple to go. There is always excitement at the airport when a plane lands and takes off � even if it�s just the turbo-prop from Fiji twice a week. This is the first Royal visit by plane so it�s extra special. It�s lovely that people can be so close to planes, but it is necessarily so because the island is only four hundred metres wide at this point and that�s its widest.

The plane starts to move forward. A dog decides to show interest in another dog; they run onto the grass. A thousand throats hiss at them � a reaction they have never experienced before. Wisely, nobody gives chase, which would have frightened them towards the aircraft. A policeman waves at the dogs; remarkably they obey and leave the area. In Tuvalu even the dogs are law-abiding. The plane passes us, nice and slowly. We all wave frantically and everyone on the plane does likewise. We can�t see which is Kate and which is William, but anyway they�re surely at one of the windows.

The wind is light and the direction a little unusual, more or less straight across the runway. So the pilot chooses to taxi all the way to the northern end and take off heading south. As he taxis, a dog nonchalantly crosses the runway behind the plane. The dog-chaser vehicle speeds after it. The dog gets the message and disappears towards the beach.

The plane turns, immediately winds up its jets to full power, and comes thundering down the runway. It is airborne before it gets to where we are all standing; it needed only half the runway length. The jet engines are huge, as though taken from a larger plane. A blast of hot jet air and dust sweeps over us and we are all forced to turn away momentarily. Then the plane is soaring up into the sky, banking right, setting course for Brisbane where the Couple will transfer to a scheduled flight.

I find myself talking to one of Royal staffers who has been left behind to travel on tomorrow�s regular plane. She says William and Kate told her last night their visit to Tuvalu has been the absolute highlight of their Tour.

CONGRATULATIONS TUVALU!

I am so thrilled that I was able to be a part of this historic event.

Best regards, John

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 - "Kate and William visit" (part4) by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

Well finally the fatele has finished and poor W & K are being allowed some rest. What a day! I�m told the kids at Nauti Primary school put on a spectacular display this afternoon too. 600 kids singing in harmony and making those special shrieks of delight that are just pure exuberance.

I�m told William made a speech this evening (I guess at the feast) in which he mentioned that he had particularly wanted to have Tuvalu on his visit list because of what his grandmother had told him about her visit thirty years ago. She had described Tuvalu as the �most iconic place she had ever visited�. Well there you have it, straight from the horse�s mouth, oops the Queen�s mouth.

So that�s it for tonight. I believe there will be a bit of ceremony tomorrow morning farewelling the Couple and then they�ll be �up, up and away� in their silver jet � said to be the biggest jet to have landed at Funafuti Airport.

So that�s me signing off for tonight. Bye. J

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 - "Kate and William visit" (part3) by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

Well I said I had finished but I have to resume. The fatele is fantastic. All the usual colour and movement and harmony and gaiety, and the biggest crowd outside the maneaba that I have ever seen � ten or more deep all the way round. I was in two minds whether to go to the fatele but I�m glad I did. More to follow, must rush back�..

STOP PRESS � Kate is dancing. Seinati (PM�s wife) evidently suggested that Kate join her and her island community. Kate agreed. What a hot. It was exactly what people were hoping would happen. Kate is dancing pretty well too � well perhaps not to a trained Tuvaluan eye but I�ve seen lots of fatele and I can tell you she�s holding her own nicely. Anyway, the important thing is that she got up and joined in. She�s a hit. This fatele isn�t going to end any time soon. Must rush back.

STOP PRESS AGAIN � William is up too, not dancing but at least dispensing shots of perfume (a Tuvaluan tradition) to the dancers and singers. This has gone down very, very well. The GG can report back to QE2 that the Royal Couple did well�..

AH, now WILLIAM IS DANCING. Oh, everyone is so excited about that (including me). There must be a thousand people down at the maneapa, everyone beaming smiles and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Not a drop of liquor in sight but everyone intoxicated on the excitement. Must go back�

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 - "Kate and William visit" (part2) by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

I forgot to mention that the mini-maneaba (the one on the truck) wasn�t used because of the rain. The Couple are travelling in a regular vehicle instead (there were contingency plans for wet weather). Charles the Architect who lives next door to me is lamenting that Public Works Department put such a lot of time and effort into making the conveyance and now it won�t be used at all. Never mind, some other use will be found.

The visit to Nauti Primary School is taking much longer than I expected. I�m a bit tired of standing by the roadside waiting so I have come indoors to make a cup of tea. There�s a big group of people down the road near the Queen�s coconut tree but I think I�ll stay at my place (200 metres from the tree) so I can wave my union flag in front of our office � not that a union flag has any connection with our office of course but I don�t think it would be considered good form if I waved a German flag. I might get away with waving an Australian flag but the office doesn�t have any connection with Australia either, other than through me.

So I boiled my water and then found I hadn�t emptied the tea leaves from my previous pot of tea. I went outside to dump the tea leaves in the garden as I always do (environmentally sound practice I believe) but just at that moment I saw William and Kate�s entourage approaching. There was no time to put down the teapot so I just waved it at the Royal Couple. They probably thought I was inviting them for a cup of tea! I would have happily done so of course but they both smiled at me and continued on their way. I have entertained three ambassadors (simultaneously)(British, Australian and New Zealand) at my house and three or four others at odd times (Canadian, Belgian, Taiwanese) but never a prince and a duchess. Well, maybe next time they stop by.

Fortunately the weather has improved and they were able to change over to the mini-maneaba. So it got its use after all. Our road is narrow and I was standing right on its edge and had a good glimpse of the Royal Couple. They looked as good in real life as one sees them on TV, William looking gracious and regal, Kate looking radiant and relaxed. It will take time before she gets that �star quality� that Princess Diana had but Kate is getting there.

Willy and Seinati (the PM and his wife) were following in their car, both beaming smiles from ear to ear, and rightly so. Now the Couple are at the hotel for their coconut drink and to watch the canoe racing. During the day the wind has increased, as it often does on rainy days. The lagoon is quite rough so it will be interesting to see how they go. For those reading who aren�t familiar with Funafuti Lagoon it�s no little pond, it�s about 15 kilometres wide and about twice that in length. When it�s rough on the lagoon it isn�t much different to being rough on the ocean.

I forgot to look at the beach while the tide was low this morning. From what I can see of it now the sand removed yesterday has not made any significant difference. After today�s wind and waves one probably won�t even be able to see where the sand was taken from.

Evidently today�s programme had to be adjusted to fit with the weather. How different it is this year compared to same time last year. Now we have too much rain; last year we were suffering a drought and Willy had to declare a state of emergency so that New Zealand Red Cross and New Zealand Military could start airlifting desalination plants in C-130 cargo transports.

The canoe racing is over and one of the canoes is being taken out of the water on our office ramp. Daylight will start to fade soon and it will be dark in half an hour. The Couple aren�t going to have much of a rest after they get to their accommodation, and they still have to visit the �Tuvalu Village� beforehand. I think after they�ve been feasted and toasted tonight there will be a fatele (dancing/singing). I may go and watch that if there�s no rain but it depends on my email load. Having been out of the office all afternoon I can see there are 19 messages waiting now, and likely more during the evening.

So that�s pretty much the end of my narrative except to summarize. It has been a unique day, long and carefully planned and well conducted. The weather posed some problems but they were overcome. I�m sure it will have been a memorable visit for the Royal Couple, and it certainly has been for all of us at Funafuti.

When I was a schoolboy and aspiring to become a seafarer my imagination was fired by a book I read (�A Pattern of Islands�) that concerned the experiences of a British colonial administrator in this area before the First World War. I never seriously thought I would ever visit Funafuti, still less that I would live here, and certainly not that I would be here for a royal visit � only the third such visit ever.

So as the sun sinks below the horizon (though blocked by rainclouds) I will say farewell from fair Funafuti.

Best regards, John

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 - "Kate and William visit" by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

Rain started again, not really heavily but enough to spoil the proceedings. 1400 hours came and went and no sign of the aircraft. I don�t know what time it arrived (I don�t wear a watch in Tuvalu) but I guess about 1430. Perhaps that was always the intended time and we were just told it was 1400 to ensure we turned up on time. The extra time was fortuitous because the rain gradually subsided and stopped completely as the Royal jet (a Vista Jet) hove into view over the southern end of the atoll.

There was a strong breeze blowing and the plane was angled considerably to its right as it approached, then straightened up just before touchdown. A neat manoeuvre, as one would expect. It touched down about the normal place and roared past the assembled throng but stopped in much less length than our regular turboprops planes. A big plane, big jets, big stopping power to match. A quick turnaround, back down past us and another turnaround, as planned. There was a man waving table tennis bats (or whatever those things are called) to indicate where the plane should stop.

Very soon the door opened and out came the press contingent. Then a long wait and suddenly out popped William with Kate close behind. She in a beige coloured dress, above knee, her hair in a little bun � very different to the pictures we have seen of her in other countries on this tour. It�s good that she is being different for Tuvalu. William wearing a blazer and open-necked shirt.

The micro-maneaba came to meet them and they were carried away with a preceding escort of young ladies dancing and singing, while the school students formed lines on either side and waved union flags. The conveyance stopped at the dais in front of the flags � one the Tuvaluan national flag, the other apparently the standard of the Duke of Cambridge - a harp, some lions, not unlike the royal standard but with a white key across the top (must look that up).

I was standing about fifty metres off � as most onlookers were. The wind was still quite strong and carried away most of the sound. We did hear the British and Tuvaluan national anthems, and I could vaguely hear the Reverend Falani saying a prayer. His voice would normally carry clearly beyond fifty metres but not with today�s wind.

The Governor General and his lady met the Royal Couple and then there were the expected presentations of the community leaders and their spouses. The Royal Couple did what we have seen royals do so often before, pausing here and there to chat and then moving on.

Into the maneaba and a brief fatele presented by the Funafuti community. Somebody had choreographed the dancing very well, as always happens. They dancers did something I have never seen before. At the end of the singing/dancing, as the drumming reach its inevitable crescendo, all the dancers in unison made three leaps forward ending close to the Royal Couple and raised their right arms in a very military salute. Well done Funafuti, I say!

Then the Couple boarded their vehicle for the island tour, and that�s the point we have reached now. Unfortunately it is raining again and the sky is totally overcast and grey. It won�t entirely spoil the day because the main part is over now and most other activities will be indoor.

So now I must go outside because the mini-maneaba will come past very soon. Bye for now. Tofa! John

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 13:54 - "Five minutes to go" by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

Five minutes to go. Eti arrived. RAIN STOPPED!!! We�re going to wear the full regalia. J

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 13:47 - "Fifteen minutes to go" by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

Fifteen minutes to go. I�m still waiting for Eti. Lucky the airport is so close. The rain is still falling, not really heavy now but enough to soak everyone and make a mess of the planned outdoor activities. What a great shame. Still, it could change in a moment. It�s hard to predict from one moment to another here. We could have bright sunshine in ten minutes. Here�s hoping! The ten minute siren should be sounding soon. Of course no persons need to be told there�s a plane arriving but we have to give our dogs and pigs due notice. Bye for now. J

Tuesday 18 September, 2012 13:32 - "Thirty minutes to go" by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

Thirty minutes to go. Still raining, though less hard. If we get a heavy shower passing over at 1400 the Royal plane may have to go round and make another approach. OK, I am wearing my fou (floral headdress). I�m just waiting for Eti and we�ll then walk down to the airport. Our traditional dresses have been specially commissioned by Dinah and Sina. They have the three Ahrenkiel fishes. Very creative design. Right, time to go, fingers crossed for no more rain. Otherwise we will leave the dresses behind and we�ll put them on when we come back to the office prior to go out and lining the street as the Couple pass our office on the way to the Queen�s Palm Tree. Bye for now. Wish us luck! John.

Tuesday 18th September, 2012 � 13:01 - by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti and APNL Manager

OH DEAR � one hour to go and heavy rain falling!!!!!!!!!!!!

We won�t be able to wear our traditional costumes because the dye will run.

Fingers crossed that the rain will pass in a few minutes.

J.

"The day before.." by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti

There has been a lot of activity today, making final preparations for the big day tomorrow. One of the activities was taking several truckloads of sand from the beach in front of our office. I don�t know where that went but no doubt was put to a good use.

I took a look at the little mini-maneabas set up for the handicrafts exhibitions. Very nice, and all quite different from one another. I don�t know whether each is an example (in miniature) of the building style of each island or whether the designs are just the individual builders� preferences. Anyway, they are all very pretty.

Our ladies have been very busy washing the front of our office. If the Royal Couple are alert as they pass along our street they might catch a fleeting glimpse. More grass has been cut in the last few days that in normal months. Lots of painting too.

I�ve just seen the news coverage of the Royals� visit to the Solomon Islands. The �canoe on a truck� provided for their reception there will definitely be bettered by our hand-carried mini-maneaba. The media reported today that the Couple had arrived in the Solomon Islands but surely they arrived yesterday? I suppose the film clips didn�t get back to Australia and New Zealand in time for last night�s news so the TV stations ran with the news today.

We shall have to keep fingers crossed for dry weather tomorrow. There have been several heavy showers today. No doubt �the show will go on� regardless of weather but it will be miserable if everyone has to line up in the pouring rain to greet the Couple. After all the preparations that have been made it would be disappointing if there is much rain.

There�s a lot of noise outside, which I must investigate�. Oh, a tractor and trailer are on the beach removing more sand � at 2200 hours! I hope they don�t spoil our nice beach. I suppose they�re taking sand from here because of the good access with the brick-paved driveway and the ramp we built.

OK, that�s all for today. Best regards, John

Tuesday 18th September, 2012 - by John H., Alofa Tuvalu counterpart in Funafuti and APNL Manager

Bonjour G,

I guess the tension is mounting, and especially so for the PM and the Min. of Foreign Affairs! Indeed for the whole of the Foreign Affairs Ministry who have been engaged in preparations for weeks. I�m just thinking about what I should wear. I suppose a long-sleeved white shirt with tie and long trousers. I just checked my black leather shoes; they�ll be alright once I polish off the mildew.

The plane is here � no, not the Royal one, the regular one. It came early today. I guess it was a requirement that airspace be cleared well before arrival of the Royal jet. I can hear the plane taxiing down the runway so it�s just about to leave� ah yes, I can hear the warning siren now.

Something interesting I omitted this morning � Tuvalu Telecom shop has a sign up outside which says�.. �Tuvalu Telecom�. Wow that�s a real innovation. I have often thought it would be good to have a sign there so that visitors know what building to go in to get their SIM cards for the local mobilephone system. With the �old� Telecom building (that one), the �newish� Telecom building, and the �newer Telecom building there was potential for confusion. All is clear now. Right opposite is a very large sign that says �Cigarettes � the Killer� with a list of all the poisonous and carcinogenic ingredients. That sign has been in place for some months; I suppose it is permanent.

Eti tells me there is a sign on the Vaiaku maneaba that reads �Welcome Home�. He reckons it should just read �Welcome� but I think �Welcome Home� is somehow appropriate. When QE2 is spoken of here she is referred to (as you well know) and Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Tuvalu and other realms. So if Tuvalu is �home� for the Queen in that sense it must also be �home� to Prince William.

I think the Queen�s title here is not quite right, she should be Queen Elizabeth the Second, she should simply be Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Tuvalu and other realms. Europeans had not discovered Tuvalu at time QE1 was on the throne. But then, the good lady is referred to as Queen Elizabeth the Second even when she is in Scotland, but really she is QE1 there, if have my schoolboy history correct.

There was a truck stopped on the road opposite the end of our driveway a few minutes ago. It seems they were replacing the globe in the street light. It seems as though a few chores that aren�t really related to the Royal visit have been �added�. Very good too!

Weather still good � bright sunshine, cotton wool clouds. Perfect. Must go and iron my shirt. Bye.

So, our Internet is down again � a very common problem nowadays. I guess I spend about 30 minutes every day pressing email �Send� button to try to get messages moving. Very frustrating and getting worse, to the point where it is hindering our business (or rather it is extending the length of each working day). So I�m taking the opportunity to add a bit more to this message.

The Radio Station fence posts are beautifully and imaginatively decorated with �flowers� made out of interwoven leaves. I�m frustrated not having a camera. Dinah went off to Halo�s place to try to download the images from her computer, which is full. Hopefully she�ll sort out the problem.

The mini-maneabas on the lawn in front of the Vaiaku maneaba appeared to be laid out randomly but I have just realized (after seeing the island name signs that have just been added) that they are laid out in their proper geographical design, as in the Tuvaluan flag. Clever idea that! The area has been cordoned off with just one entrance over which there is a sign �Tuvalu Village�. Very nice indeed. OK, let�s try the Internet again�.

Best regards, John