Coco-nuts

Viriamu has launched himself headlong into coprah production (dried coconut flesh, for coconut oil)  its one of the main exports of Tahiti's outer islands. Recently a Rurutu co-operative has been formed to  facilitate sending coprah in bulk to Tahiti's major oil producer, and everyone seems to be building coprah driers and trying their hand at it. Coprah production is subsidized by the government, as a means of keeping people on the islands, to avoid the growing issues of over-population, homelessnes and joblessness in Tahiti, so it is once more a viable product.

Viriamu needs no more encouragement, we have a huge coconut plantation here that was exploited for coprah by his grandfather. Viriamu's never happier than when out back scanning for coconuts (except maybe for when he's with his horses) or hacking the coconuts open with his axe, or scooping out the flesh. It's real man's work. The girls are often enlisted in the coconut spree (more or less grudgingly).

Yesterday he was so adamant that he wanted to get his quota shelled, that he spent all afternoon out there, and ended up working by torch-light until 11pm, now tell me is that normal?........ We happened to be up anyway, awaiting out delegation of politicians, who were out at a rally, but still.....speaking of politicians, with the upcoming elections in France there are a lot of these guys around at the moment, all promising us this and that; it's the only time we see them, but it does make for lots of very lively and very long political meetings! This morning Viriamu has the hugest blister on his thumb from coconut shelling, but I don't think he's going to be easily dissuaded.