The First Of Jan

Happy New Year Everyone. Here's a prayer for us...

How was your Christmas?

Nativity at House 12, designed by Mercy and Josiah Neal

On the day, it was a full day, but a lovely day.

I'd gone to the Sacred Heart Cathedral for midnight mass on Xmas Eve (at 8pm, but that's when they do it). The Gospel, Luke 2.1-20, became a simple but spellbinding live nativity as young people walked us through the story and created the stable scene. It was done carefully, sensitively, and narrated skilfully, with no hurry or fuss. I was so impressed and admiring of the catechists who'd worked with the young people to achieve this. With 'nativity plays' I'm convinced we should trust the power of simplicity more, allowing the Gospel to live and breathe without undue decoration. 

In his sermon, The Archbishop of Suva, Peter Loy Chong, reminded us that no-one would have these nativity narratives without the witness and commitment of real disciples, on fire to share faith. 'We only have these stories to tell, because those who gave them to us had first found life through Jesus'. I've thought about that a lot and am grateful to him.

Up at 6.00 Christmas Day to be with my 'regulars' - the Nanuku congregation at 8.00. Deaconess Ruth Prakash took the service, wearing cheerful, festive red and gold instead of her usual Deaconess's blue and white uniform - a little to the congregation's surprise, but truly celebratory! It's always great to benefit from her brightness and energy. Little by little my comprehension of Fijian-Hindi is improving and I'm much better at the bhajans now. The only English-speaking service option I could get to after that was again at the Sacred Heart at 10. (The Prots had started early!) Fr Donal; retired, Irish, been in Suva forever, brimming with enthusiasm, presided at Word and Table. 'GOD becomes a BABY!' he exclaimed, eyes alight, face flushed, as though this had struck him for the first time. 'It's - it's an ENORMOUS mystery! God's love brought right down to earth in a smelly old stable. For us. Children - you MUST come and see baby Jesus in the crib after Mass'. And many did.

Back home about 12 in time to deliver the remaining plates of mince pies still waiting for a home. Food moves my way too: delicious plates of chicken and fish and fruit and coconut milk brought as gifts. It's most definitely the  Pacific way to share food with neighbours and ensure that no-one misses out on the Christmas feasting. You feel so blessed and humbled. The fridge groans and shudders slightly more than normal... 

Then Crystal Valerie - who else?! - makes her appearance along with Mum and Dad, kindly bearing gifts - and more food. It was so kind of them to come - a fair way by taxi - and make a Xmas Day visit to House 12. 

So then, it was time to settle down and raid the fridge, right? Well no, because Yogesh, a frequent and faithful colleague in ministry because of his taxi service! - invited me to his place to meet his wife Shobna, son Nelson and other family members. So, chauffered each way by his immense kindness, I had a lovely time getting to know Yogesh's folks, and was fed royally. Thanks everyone. You're the best.

And all of a sudden it was about 8.00pm. Some present unwrapping followed and then a number of Skypes, What's Apping and texting from 9pm onwards. Good to see and speak to Nigel and Richard and cousin David among others as their Xmas day was beginning and mine was ending.

My Christmas Day was peaceful, full of  worship, friendship, food and festivity. It was also uneventful weather-wise. Not so for those in flood damaged areas of the UK, Brazil, Argentina etc. Nor for those tornado-struck in the US. 

When we're enjoying peace and pleasure, we can't help but ache for those experiencing quite the opposite. And so we pray...

God, in coming to us as a vulnerable new-born,

you heighten our longing to shelter and protect those who need it most.

We give thanks for those who have opened inns and stables, homes and halls this Christmas, 
so that neighbours; known and unknown, 
may be kept warm, dry, secure and reassured. 
We praise you that, through their example,

Your Gospel Lives.

Amen

Chennai and Cumbria

Carols in Nanuku settlement

It's a bit blurry, but you can see we've been doing house-to-house carols around Nanuku settlement. A warm welcome from our Church members and our neighbours - Hindu or Christian - who are phenomenally generous with snacks along the way!

 

We've sung this little blessing at each home - an adapted verse of  'We are marching in the light of God'.

 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year too; Merry Christmas, Happy New Year too!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year too; Merry Christmas, Happy New Year too!

May God bless you, now and evermore; may God bless you now and evermore!

May God bless you, now and evermore; may God bless you now and evermore!

 



A doddle to remember, whatever your natural language, and seems to have gone down well. We offer it in love for your carol singing too!

 

If you read nothing else this Christmas....

With thanks to Sally Lowe for sharing...

REFUGEE

We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,

Or cosy in a crib beside the font,

But he is with a million displaced people

On the long road of weariness and want.

For even as we sing our final carol

His family is up and on that road,

Fleeing the wrath of someone else’s quarrel,

Glancing behind and shouldering their load.

Whilst Herod rages still from his dark tower

Christ clings to Mary, fingers tightly curled,

The lambs are slaughtered by the men of power,

And death squads spread their curse across the world.

But every Herod dies, and comes alone

To stand before the Lamb upon the throne.

Malcolm Guite

Nothing in depth and theological. (Though when you think about it....)

Cute baby photos!

Salome brought Crystal Valerie - my namesake (yaca) to the PTC staff party.

We're nearly 6 months old, smiley, know our own mind, and like Xmas tree lights very much.

We also have an ample collection of flowery hats and headgear that would put the Duchess of Cambridge to shame.

Let's hear it for

December doings

Did you have time to flick through the graduation album on the previous post? It's full of cheeriness, so if you need a bit of that in December, I recommend it. And talking about cheerful sights....

 

After graduation I went to Hong Kong for 10 days for a break and met up with cousin David. First time for 15 months to see family in the flesh as opposed to through Skype (they look pasty and aren't eating enough fish...) and I'm grateful to David for lugging back a suitcase full of Christmas presents to post for me in the UK! We stayed in walking distance from the harbour and enjoyed the peak tram, the Po Lin monastery and the Ngong Ping cable car among other delights.
 

 

 

We also heeded wise words on the metro....  

 

The residential College closes officially from 16 Dec to 6 January. A number of families have already left. Some are fortunate enough to go back to home places for holidays if finances and Church permissions allow. Some stay. So we're a reduced but jolly crew. The few Faculty who are around take turns to be Acting Principal and it's my week of unbridled power at the moment. So far this has included a worrying amount of cheque signing - though I'm assured that as soon as the dosh comes in it needs to go out somewhere, and I can see that's true. It's pretty hand to mouth. Unexpected sparks up a pole fizzed and crackled last Sunday leaving some houses, including where I stay, without power and it's a pain to get it fixed at the weekend. One day without electricity isn't a massive deal. It just so happened though, that 40 plus people from the Nanuku Congregation were coming carol singing around the campus that evening with food and fellowship at House 12 (Ogden residence) afterwards. Mmmm, I thought. No light or power. That'll be interesting. I consulted the stewards. 'Oh - we'll just take our plates down to the sea wall and have a picnic - they've got light there!' Good plan. And actually, if you walk a little further down the sea front to Suva Park, it's got lights and trees agogo, (c/o the ever-present Vodafone). With carols from local choirs most nights. See below....

 

 

In the end, my resourceful neighbour persuaded the Powerwise men to do something clever with wires, and behold there was light at 6.00pm and a mass of carol singers descended on House 12, not by candlelight.

 

Distance learning continues to have a life of its own and the assignments still roll in having little respect for the holidays. Quite right too. Also the 're-do's' as we call them: resubmitted work, some as a result of genuine and appreciable struggles, and some  because people who should know better were just messing about. What are the chances of 2016 being the year we conquer poor academic practice and plagiarism? I'll let you know next December!

 

I'll be getting the latest BD courses on the shelf over Dec and Jan: Biblical Exegesis awaits editing and Academic Skills needs fresh work. But it can be fulfilling doing that sort of work minus the restrictions of the Semester timetable, and in such glorious surroundings. Christmas services and celebrations will be in the Dudley Circuit and at Nanuku congregations.

 

If you've been following the Climate change discussions COP21-Paris 2015 #COP21, so have we, as you might well imagine. Our students from Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands etc live these realities. We pray for the 12 December agreement to be translated into committed action. Mr Samuel Manetoali, Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meterology of the Solomon Islands has been much quoted.

“Climate change is a man-made problem and can be addressed, here in Paris. We are the last generation that will be remembered to guarantee humanity’s survival. We have one shot at getting it right. Let us not fail our people and the future of humanity.”

Not a bad Christmas message.

If we're in gmail contact, there'll be a Christmas e-card coming your way. Here it is for blog readers too, with my love. Grace and peace for now and the New Year.

Pacific pictures galore!

Why not spend a happy few minutes flicking through the album from Pacific Theological College's end of year Chapel service, College Feast and Graduation celebrations. Just click

here 

to see joyous, colourful, vibrant people! And there's even one or two of me as well.. 

Here's a taster!

Is there a world out there?

When end of October-beginning of November hits PTC, an intriguing combination of glee, panic and utter self-absorption descend. The 'glee' is generated by many an end of academic year jamboree and premature Christmas celebration. We do tinsel and a carol service over the weekend of 7/8 November. Though come to think of it, the College children's Christmas party was last weekend. (Advent? What's Advent?).

The 'panic' is caused by the deadline for all academic assignments on 30th October - dissertations a little earlier, but not much, and hopefully returned by external examiners before crunch time - and the necessity for Faculty to turn everything around by 4th Nov. 

The Academic Dean and Registrar then meet for a lengthy 'getting the grades sorted out' session on 6th. Followed by a not short Faculty meeting on Saturday 7th (done it today in fact) at which ALL the grading is formally approved, (or debated upon) and ALL awards given the final OK. Graduation is next week on 12th. Phew. 

Want to have a look at the end of year calendar? Here it is.

I've been getting the Extension Dept students' results together of course and also chipping in with the residential programme by marking an Introduction to the Study of the Prophets course for the BD. I'll save happy graduation pictures for the next blog, but we should see a few smiles. 

The 'utter self-absorption' bit is the classic theological College institutional sickness; that only PTC and its doings matter at this time of the year. It used to descend at the United College of the Ascension and at Queens in the UK (where I was on staff) in similar fashion. The wider world? What's that? Just now, it's absolutely all about us! We exist purely on Planet PTC, and this intensity is fuelled even more by the fact that the bienniel full College Council (Governing Body) meets in the final week too, so we await a raft of senior Pacific Church leaders arriving any day now.

In commenting on the glee, panic and self-absorption, it isn't meant to sound derisory or over cynical. I'm just reflecting the realities. I've been and will continue to be gladly and fully involved in all the end-of-year necessities and events. Plus I look forward to rejoicing with those progressing and graduating. Hallelujah! There's phenomenal hard work and hours of commitment from many to be recognised and appreciated: from our faculty, support staff, admin colleagues, maintenance guys; not to mention the student body and women's fellowship executives whose creativity and energy make so much happen here. Come 14th Nov, it'll start feeling a bit different, with clergy families preparing to move to new appointments, some preparing for holidays off campus, and the work quietening down a bit residentially. 

Our Extension Dept. I have to say, is a good counter to any introverted Planet PTC mentality. With the College in leavers' mode, we're still busy signing up new recruits. Hoorah! A Suva based musician, of Rotuman heritage, discovered the library here and has suddenly got the bug for Biblical studies and theological reading. So he's the latest 'Foundations in Theology' student, on step one of the 'Certificate in Theology' ladder. Great! Then the  office phone rings, and it's the Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu. Can we start someone off on your BD by Extension? You certainly can, friends - send us the details! 

We haven't forgotten there's a wider Parish...

But just for the moment, feel free to party with us on Planet PTC! (Photos with thanks to Kini from the bookshop and plenty more on Facebook!)

 The lovely Alofa on the left and some blurry dancers. Spot the mission partner?

Collin and Rosalind - end of term is catching up.....

Talanoa time with Amos, Rev Raki, Sefania and Dr Upolu

Indian snax, Pacific flowers a British Mission Partner 

and a Swabian Church History specialist - Dr Ralph.

Did we mention it was the end of the academic year? 

Waiena, Abdias and Doreen share the love!

2 Busy 2 Blog!

That hasn't happened to me before! I  normally get around to writing and reflecting once a week or every ten days or so, but it's all been a bit full on. Funnily enough, the world hasn't paused on its axis due to this omission... We stick a few things up on the Education by Extension Department's Facebook page - or rather, the faithful Jokapeci does - pretty frequently. And just now, I'm going to cheat by simply putting a few pics up here and commenting on them. Nothing profound!

It was very soggy until just a few days ago and so it was wellies to work. 

And my old drawers had a makeover - look. Like them?

We're really going for our new strapline

We  believe in

THEOLOGY

for ALL

for LIFE

Hoping that I can increasingly play a small part in opening up what that means to different groups, so that we really start to move beyond this it's 'only for ministers'  mentality.

Crystal Valerie Tuilomani Kalouniviti paid us a visit. She's my 'yaca' - namesake. (That's been on a previous post; try to keep up). She's giggling, singing, expanding and keeping her Mum and Dad, Lome and Koli, bursting with pride! A joy to see her again.

I can now confirm that postcards from Gothenburg to Suva take 1 month exactly: 21 Sept to 21 October.

My cousin David went. To see the Volvo museum, among other things.

I love getting postcards. They're such simple, cheerful things. And it still floors me that a small piece of cardboard with a pretty picture, some friendly squiggles and an unusual stamp on it can find its way thousands of miles across the globe and not get lost. 

SEND ME POSTCARDS! Well, only if you want to. No pressure.

And Deidre Madden visited her old haunt. Hoorah! 

Deidre was Director of PTCEE for 10 years until November 2013 and I'm of course the inheritor of much of her faithful work and have heard her spoken of many times around the campus.

She was full of ideas and experience, touchingly concerned about and attentive to a course that hadn't been in quite the shape she'd have liked it to be on leaving, and had a good catch up with colleagues on campus and friends at the Anglican Cathedral where she was much immersed.

Here we are, swapping notes and sorting stuff. 

God Bless, Deidre as you return to Australia and take care of yourself.

Praising for all that is past. 

Trusting for all that's to come

And that's the best I can do until next time! 

Does it add up?

It could be put off no longer. I did the 2016 Education by Extension Departmental budget this week. On paper we've got 2000 FJ$ (about £600) excess income over expenditure. However, the two major items in the income column have yet to be confirmed: grants from the World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain (optimistic) and another from a German mission agency (trying to be optimistic). The rest of the income will be locally generated from student fees and coursebook sales, plus extra Pacific Church support if we can drum it up, and I've carried over the contingency sum that's already banked in a high interest account. So, no wiggle room at all, sadly. We can also create income by selling our materials and services - like textbooks that we happen to have on the shelf, or my teaching and marking stints - to the residential school or other internal programmes within PTC. But I really feel uncomfortable about that 'buying from Peter to pay Paul' approach in an ecumenical Christian College when we're all in the same business. Cross-charging seems unethical and self-defeating to me. Not least when some departments doing that add 10% for good measure. (Meditate upon Deuteronomy 23.19-20 and discuss!) However, the reality is that as the year rolls on, with the prospect of Graduation second week in November, belts get tightened and it can be a real struggle to pay the Xmas salaries. An e-mail came around this week saying all new library orders were on hold until the new year. And yet, the ground is being tentatively marked out for the building of new and improved housing on campus, so we sure are people of faith. 

The World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain has a Just Giving page by the way. And our name's 'Pacific Theological College Education by Extension'. (Just thought I'd slip that by you). 

Yesterday, 9th October, was Fiji Day marking 45 years of independence from Britain. The Fijian ethnic group here at College generously put on a wonderful morning tea for the whole community and sang to us. We prayed for this great nation's future, especially for the wise choice, shortly, of a new President. God Bless Fiji.

The Fiji Times chose to mark Independence Day with this lead story which I reproduce with grateful thanks to and acknowledgement of Sikeli Qounadovu. Here's how getting to school looks for some of Fiji's children.

Students of Tubarua Village in the interior of Naitasiri during their four-hour trek covering 10km to get to their school after Sunday lunch, crossing the Wainimala River more than 20 times. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

Tough walk        Sikeli Qounadovu

Saturday, October 10, 2015

EDUCATION is a luxury and to some extent life threatening for the children of Tubarua Village who have to cross the Wainimala River 32 times to reach the nearest school to them, Nakurukuruvakatini Primary School. In the past five years, at least 10 students have lost their lives along the treacherous route.

Noemalu District representative Kaliova Tivulu said villagers of Tubarua had to watch in vain when a Year 3 student on horseback was swept by strong currents of the raging Wainimala River early this year. "Keimami qai cici yani me keimami saga me vueti koya sa bera (When we ran to try and save her, we were too late)."

The children - starting from kindergarten, who are all boarders have to cross the Wainimala River 32 times to reach the school. They leave their homes on Sunday afternoon and return on Friday afternoons, which Mr Tivulu said was a normal routine.The Fiji Times accompanied the school children as they journeyed down the Wainimala River on Sunday October 4 - from ankle deep to knee deep and waist deep, the children sang songs and shared jokes.Despite the challenges they faced, they were in high spirits. They formed a line and held each other's hands while crossing the river - just to ensure that no one was swept by the strong currents.

"The good thing about these students is despite their geographical location, they have the urgency to come to school and their attendance is 100 per cent," headteacher Sekonaia Ledua said. Mr Ledua added so far this year, they had had to take four children to the health centre because of sickness associated from walking bare feet and crossing the river.

Nakurukuruvakatini Primary School has a school roll of 162 student - 72 of which are borders.Tubarua Village is the last village in the district of Noemalu, Naitasiri. To reach that village, one has to cross the raging Wainimala River for four and a half hours.

Meanwhile Divisional Education Officer Central, Serupepeli Udre said they had already approved the construction of an infant school for villagers in the upreach of the Wainimala River. He said they were asked to hold the construction of the school as the road needed to be constructed first.

"The infant school was to cater for children in Nasava, Nasauvere and Tubarua villages - to look after those in kindergaten and from Year One to Year Three. Depending on the number of students we could have one to two teachers."

As we celebrate Fiji Day today, we should spare a thought for those who are less fortunate and be grateful for things we have. The Fiji Roads Authority says they will first need to upgrade the road leading to Sawanikula village before a road is constructed for villages within the district of Noemalu.

Fiji Roads Authority Manager Rory Garland said their next phase would be the construction of the road from Sawanikula to Korovou Village which should be completed in 2017. "We will then look at the next phase and how we can continue the road to reach the other villages," he said last night.

On a change of subject, and possibly a question to British Methodists mostly - recognise the guy in the picture?

It looks awfully like Rev Eden Fletcher, doesn't it? Well spotted. Former minister at Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. And what's he doing in Suva, one might ask? Well, he's on his way to Vietnam (it's sort of on the way...) as the British Methodist Church's latest mission partner. Eden descended as a blessing among us for a week, to have a bit of retreat and reflection time, and to meet and talk with others who've 'moved in mission'. So he's spent his time meeting Julia Edwards and myself in Suva, the Neals up at the Methodist College, Davuilevu, and had few nights at the Catholic's Pacific Regional Seminary with 'the boys' as Rector Fr Mick always calls his priests in formation! He also joined in the Wednesday evening Bible study at Nanuku (having only flown in from the UK that day, God love him), much to the group's delight.

And hey, guess what? We only found Vietnamese Sisters Lucia and MyHanh, from the 'Daughters of Charity' religious order, in Nausori - not far from Suva. (That was Sister MyHanh in the earlier photo). How good is that? They've been in the US for a number of years, and are now on mission here, so a beautiful exchange of life histories, Vietnam experiences and prayers of encouragement were enjoyed by Eden and myself over afternoon tea in their peaceful home. How God connects his global people is as marvellous as it is mysterious. Go well Eden. Fiji won't forget you.

Beat the lali - let us praise God!

for journeys and meetings

for mission in humility

for giving and receiving

for openness to one another

Screen printing by the Pacific Theological College Women's Fellowship

Women's Doings

My word, I couldn't be accused of neglecting sisterly matters this week. Methodist Women in Britain will be proud of me. Do visit their website by the way - it's great. 

On Friday evening I was at the annual elections for the Pacific Theological College's Women's Fellowship Executive. Up for grabs were the roles of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Here's the old Exec. From the left, Ruci (Methodist Church Fiji), Selina (Angllcan Fiji), Elena (Congregational Christian Church of Samoa) and Temalesi, (Methodist Church in Fiji). 

Half an hour later, after one or two adamant (but perfectly acceptable, in my view) 'I decline' responses to nominations and a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, the white smoke went up (or was that the tea urn overheating?) and the Executive transmogrified into this. 

Did you spot that Selina (brown shawl) is still there, God love her? But not as Secretary, as VP now. The new President, standing, is Ta'ofi whose husband Rev Iosefa is doing his PhD here. They're from the Methodist Church in Samoa. On her left is Florence Santa, Anglican Diocese of Melanesia, Solomon Islands. And Alofa Crawley, American Samoa, seated, green dress, pursed lips, is the new treasurer. I think the caption for Alofa could read, 'Pay up your subs girls, or else'. (They know I'm teasing!) Seriously, I wish the new Exec the wisdom of Anna, the laughter of Sarah and the enterprise of Lydia as they get into full swing. There's an exceptional amount of 'Martha' work required of women here, often in the kitchen, and many a question raised by that in some minds, not least mine. But it's done with selfless skill, unquenchable energy, admirable efficiency and great humour. Awesome.

I was at another Women's Fellowship gathering on Saturday afternoon to talk about the Book of Esther and whether she shows us what it means to be 'True to our Destiny'. Invitations to speak sometimes come with unnervingly particular requirements, but it keeps a mission partner on their toes. This was at Wesley Central Mission, and when I entered the Lower Hall, quite early, to find chairs in rows and the 1933 red hymn book, I smiled and thought - affectionately - yep, I'm pretty sure it's a traditional Methodist Ladies' Fellowship waiting to happen and I'm in the right place.

And then it's Pinktober, don't you know. That's a month long awareness campaign on risks, early detection and prevention of  Breast Cancer that gets a lot of publicity here. A bunch of us from College, urged on by the effervescent Kini our bookshop manager, were up at 0530, pretty in pink, to join a walk and event in one of the town parks. Some Zumba warm up and cool down was on offer, blood pressure testing, free pink T shirts, healthy(ish) refreshments, and breast exams by a doctor in a tent.

The main speaker was Deaconess Asena Daumaka Senimoli who's a student here at PTC and getting closer and closer to achieving her Bachelor of Divinity degree, despite her surgery and journey through breast cancer. She's been studying in 'mixed mode' as we say, doing what she can when she can, and has a couple of our Extension courses on the go as we speak. So I know Asena quite well: she often pops into the office for encouragement, and was moved to hear her speak. One of the issues she's had to contend with is that complex relationship between Fijian traditional medicines and treatments; scientific tests and clinical options at the CWM hospital; and the power of prayer along with the trust in a God who heals. Asena's husband, family, relatives, colleagues in ministry etc, all had their words of advice and caution, along with suggestions about what to go for and what not to go for. If you're not careful, all that can do your head in. Asena had to make some difficult and firm choices. She's full of faith but equally full of conviction about the need to seek medical treatment quickly. She's now cancer free. The event was on her birthday and there was a huge cake for her to cut. O Happy Day.

Asena's in the middle, flanked by Tua and myself. 

If you haven't had enough on the women's theme yet, I also attended this week, the Executive Committee of 'Weavers'. This is a programme that's been running about 25 years (same age as the Education by Extension programme at PTC) belonging to the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools. I've mentioned them before: SPATS. Weavers has a brief to promote theological education for women all across the South Pacific and to encourage member colleges to put a bit of oomph into that area too. They often don't.

There's talk of scholarships and murmurings about a possible conference, but it's a bit 'watch this space' I think. The majority of the Executive have been associated with Weavers for most of its life, and it's impossible not to notice the many, 'well...we used to...' kind of sentences. I'm really interested to hear and read about what's gone on in the past and to be helpful in looking to the future, if there''s any way I can be. Not least because - selfishly - many of our Extension students are female and any solid support for them via Weavers would be terrific. There's been some. More would be wondrous. We'll see! Enjoy looking at the woven Samoan mat above and be suitably inspired to pray for 'Weavers', please.

---=---

Just going back to Pinktober for a minute, recognise the senior gentleman in the baseball cap in the refreshment queue?

I wouldn't blame you if not. It was his wish - as it often is if he can get away with it - to blend into the crowd, queue for his T-shirt like anyone else, stand and listen attentively to Asena's speech (politely refusing a chair when offered), and be accorded no special favours.

He just happens to be His Excellency the President of the Republic of Fiji, Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, CF, LVO, OBE, MSD, KStJ.

It was one of the most beautiful things I've seen for a long time.