the challenge ahead

One of our main objectives with Project Solomon’s has always been to ensure that the work we have done as a result of your generosity and support is continued and closely followed.  The projects are for long term help not short term relief.   The challenge, having left the community, is to ensure the guest houses and other projects continue to run as best they can.  It is not a question of imposing ourselves on them or adopting any sort of colonial stance but being there to help and guide and ensure the good work and progress so far continues for their own benefit.  Certainly we have built the foundations but it would be far too easy and complacent to assume the hardest part is done and the future of both communities is all rosy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rendova Retreat @ Madali Point – The final days

They say that the further you travel the more rewarding it is.  This is certainly the case with the Rendova Retreat @ Madali point in the Western Province.   Amongst other projects, the principle goal of Project Solomon’s was to help the people of Madali Point create a sustainable project that would help generate income for the future.  As a direct result of all the kind support and donations from a number of companies and individuals we managed to build two guest houses which has given them a real opportunity to realise their dream. Read the rest of this entry »

A review of projects by Christopher Palmer

RENDOVA HARBOUR AND MADALI POINT, SOLOMON ISLANDS

NOVEMBER 2009 TO MAY 2010

PROJECT SOLOMONS ACHIEVEMENTS

Right at the outset William and Paddy identified that if they were to achieve anything then the approach to the two communities had to be very different. Projects at Madali Point could be undertaken on a community basis, whilst projects at Rendova Harbour could only be undertaken on an individual family basis. Read the rest of this entry »

Project Solomons is proud to launch www.rendovaretreat.com

Project Solomons is proud to announce the launch of WWW.RENDOVARETREAT.COM

Rendova Retreat @ Madali Point

At Rendova Retreat @ Madali Point we offer a truly unique, tropical escape in an idyllic untouched corner of the South Pacific.  Enjoy a friendly welcome, village-stay luxury accommodation, unrivaled views, traditional village life and local produce, but above all, peace, quiet and a time to reflect.

The attraction of Rendova Retreat lies in its disconnection from the world, in its space, its privacy, its intimacy and its adventure.  It offers complete isolation from the increasingly hectic, fast paced and exhausting life which so many people live. We offer the rare opportunity to really switch off, to find true solitude, to find the unusual, the unexpected and the exotic.

Welcome to The Rendova Retreat……

Sad to leave, our last few weeks….

As the door closed on the short flight to Honiara from Munda I sat back in my seat and smiled.  Will was seated two rows behind me; I tuned to catch his eye we smiled together in satisfaction.  We had done it. Read the rest of this entry »

So I felt an uplift of the spirit…

So I felt an uplift of the spirit. Never had I come across such images of startling beauty, such warmth of hospitality.

My delight lay in seeing Small Tome, Ellen, Ethele Luta, Small Sam, Dixon, Stanley, Cinderella, Small George, Muriel, Rugger, Wilson, Warren, Ivy, Barnabas, Tassels, Janet, Anthony, Spider, above all Coco Edith . . . my delight lay in travelling through life with them for all too short a while; my delight lay in meeting these and all the other wonderfully resilient people there who made this such a paradise for me.

Read the rest of this entry »

No Mercy

One thing I did not come to The Solomon’s for was to get married.  Without knowing it (and I mean that sincerely,) I found myself in a very tight spot the other week.  While I had been keen to find a way to extend my visa, this was not an option I had considered… Read the rest of this entry »

Staka Bonito

Every now and again you experience something magical.  This was one of those moments. Feeling very under par with some tropical fever, I had spent the morning in bed sweating unhealthy levels and feeling pretty sorry for myself.  I loathe nothing more than being bed ridden.  I had planned to go down to Rendova Harbor for the day.  Not only did I have a number of jobs to complete, there had been noises that Paddy and I had not spent enough time there of late.  I had actually been there 3 times the previous week but unless one is there for the 7am service and consequent day it seems it does not really count!  In fairness, apart from dodging any more marriage proposals, we have been extremely busy on the Guest Houses and away for a few days.  Regardless, when a “story” starts out here it is best to nip it in the bud as soon as possible.  As I was dipping in and out of sleep I heard Hair and Tassels approach our house.  I better force myself out of bed I thought.  He was in one of his charming moods and again asked why we hadn’t been down for a long time and if I wanted to go tuna fishing with him later on.  Sweet though it was of him to ask, frankly the idea of bobbing up and down on the Blanche Channel in my canoe for hours on end with a thumping head was not that appealing.  Notoriously bad at saying “no,” and anxious not to upset the Rendova Harbor crew I agreed to meet him at Rendova Harbor in an hour.  It is often the way that great experiences happen when you are least expecting them.  When you are not looking forward to something you always have more fun than anticipated.  Those birthday parties as a child you are so excited about are often a major disappointment whereas those you dread always turn out to be better than expected.   I was secretly hoping this was going to be the case again here. Read the rest of this entry »

A Rough Man, a Jaunty Jetty and a very nice story

Having been hit by the curse of the Wonky House I hoped our straight line issues might have been over, wishful thinking.  Having been away from the island for a day I wasn’t present when the Jetty was set out and the posts inserted, I was pretty sure though that the act of pulling a whole guesthouse down and starting again might have had some impact when it came to further 90 degree decisions.  I was expecting right angles not wrong angles. Read the rest of this entry »

A Wonky House

I dropped out of Craft, Design and Technology GCSE when the wooden horse I was making started to look like a dog; I think Mr. Coombs was relived.  I worked in construction recruitment for almost 10 years, which certainly didn’t make me a builder.  Thank goodness for Mr. Francis, my Math Teacher at Bethany School, he helped me reach the dizzy heights of an A Grade at GCSE, I’m not showing off it was the only one I got in secondary education.  It was still an A all the same.  If it hadn’t been for my knowledge of Pythagoras’ Theory it might not have come to my attention that one of our guesthouses was, technical term coming up, Wonky. Read the rest of this entry »