I was met by Bashir as Tabbusum was at study. He was lovely and said he would relay everything to Tabussum. When we first visited Tabussum she had shown me the front door area which was about 4 sq metres. It was the south side and with a higher hedge, looked like it gets no sun. I had asked if they had any other area and she showed me the back, which is a much bigger and sunnier area, and we had decided this would be better. Tabussum showed me chicken wire she had, and said she could fence off the area for the extra run. However when I arrived yesterday, Bashir said they preferred the front door area and the coop was already set up there. I explained the bokashi bin as well and as I left he repeated all the instructions to be sure he had it right and I saw him videoing as I drove off.
I’m kind’ve disappointed at the chickens being on concrete with only a small amount of dirt they might get let out to. It’s not ideal to be honest but he assured me they would call if they felt it wasn’t working and we could look at it again.
Carla’s area couldn’t be more perfect. It’s not a tidy area, but it’s exactly what chickens need. A large grassy patch they can scratch and roam around finding worms, bugs and lots of greens. She said the family, children and visitors are loving the chicken and she gets visited regularly. I asked how much time she got let out for and she said almost no time, unless supervised at the moment as she was escaping behind the back house and they need to do something. We walked around and sure enough there’s a pile of boxes and junk she was jumping up on to get to the top of the pile to escape. Chickens are naturally curious and I’m guessing being alone she was bored or lonely. I showed Carla a huge board there that could be utilised as a barrier and she remembered a large gate from somewhere that she can use too, so she will look at that.
Taimani – I remembered when I got there that she was hard of hearing so I waited for Haare to join me but while waiting, could hear yelling from a house two doors down. I got out to set up my plants etc and the screamers came out to the road side. Without being obvious I watched as a domestic unfolded. I could only understand the swearing, the rest perhaps not in English, between a male and female and she was giving him hell! Taimani called me over but being hearing impaired she possibly didn’t hear the screaming…which I quickly forgot as I tried to explain how to use the bokashi bin. I may as well have been talking in Chinese as she seemed confused. As I was explaining, Haare came up behind me, greeted her in Tongan and began to ‘translate’. I turned and introduced Haare. Taimani immediately visibly relaxed and smiling at Haare broadly, she asked Haare if she was Tongan and tried talking Tongan. Haare said nah, just Maori, with her beautiful smile.
The funny thing was we were all speaking English but me in my ‘speak’, which Haare translated into ‘da bronx’ with the odd Tongan word, with Taimani nodding, laughing and asking Haare questions. It was pretty funny and a real relief. We then went round to the garden. Taimani was very interested in my age. I find the directness of these questions so strange. Haare told me later she thinks it’s because they are confused that I’m old, but going out doing all these things.
Haare is such a crack up. Lightening the mood from my serious, business tone to joking and teasing, till in the end she hugs Taimani like she’s her Nana, and yells back at her “We’ll be back for Ambrosia when those strawberries are ready”!
As we leave, Haare explains to me Tongans use a ‘D’ sound where we see a ‘T’ so to say her name more like ‘Daimani’ . I said lucky you came to translate… laughing, and she said it was cool how I didn’t change the way I talked. Just kept plugging away. Hahaha! Can you imagine me dropping into what sounded like gangster speak….?
*Makamae didn’t answer the door and didn’t appear to be home so we went ahead and planted, and left *Ailana’s plants there, but as we made to leave Makamai came out. Her English was excellent and I was able to explain the bokashi bin and left Ailana’s there as well. She said jokingly she was forcing Ailana to do what she was doing and would oversee it. She gave me her number as well, so I will be able to follow up with her at least.
I was pretty wet through, as it had rained off and on through all these deliveries and I told Haare we were going to McDonald’s for lunch where we had a lovely chat. I think with Haare with me we can fit at least one more in. She’s the perfect buddy for me!
Tewai is really lovely. She is having a problem with cats pooing in her garden and in just a few days had several fresh poo but had tried upside down plastic forks poked in her other garden which seemed to have worked, so was going to do the same in her new garden. I hadn’t bought enough Bokashi bins so will drop one in to her another day.
Thanks guys another awesome couple of days!
*Some names have been changed for the privacy of participants
Rākau Tautoko 