Archive for December, 2008
Top 5 Posts of 2008
Ah 2008.
2008 was many things to many people, but to this blog, some things never change, especially in Fiji. Sure, we’ve got dark times ahead with our somewhat soured relationship with New Zealand, but then again, when were we ever good friends with them to begin with? The way I saw it, we were always enemies, since Rugby brings out the worst in their devoted followers 
Also, the world economy took a hit, and soon we’ll be all feeling the familiar pinch of tight pockets and careful budgeting.
Also, the world economy took a hit, and soon we’ll be all feeling the familiar pinch of tight pockets and careful budgeting.But it wasn’t all doom and gloom you know. In terms of the much under appreciated sport of rugby league, the Fiji Bati fired up the hearts and minds of fijians everywhere when they made a surprising run at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia, showcasing a quality of rugby that echoed the awesome performance of the Rugby Union World Cup 2007. Fiji also took a step towards Hollywood popularity when they designated the pacific as “Bulawood“. Oh. And we got another hurricane.
And throughout all the posts (or the lack thereof), you’ve always commented, letting us know just what you think of whatever was posted, agreements, disagreements, flames, trolls, the work. Here are the top 5 posts of the year by feedback:
It was all about 2007 apparently. The mandatory lookback at our humble beginnings, our noobish attempts at blogging, the unwittingly popular posts about crazy air hostesses, 2007 was a year that heralded a new local blog into the somewhat sparsely populated blogging scene (save for the contraversial, army hating regulars). It happened. And there was no turning back.
OMG a dilemma! It was the weekend of weekends, with a showdown between two events that locals were preparing to follow and adhere to. Earth Hour, the initiative to save the world from its eco-gulping inhabitants, was going to be started around the same time as our beloved Hong Kong 7s matches, and a pros and cons list had to be drawn up to decide who was the ultimate winner. Of course, a cursory glance at the game times revealed that Fiji’s matches were roughly 2 hours ahead of Earth Hour. So in the end, both parties won. Rare.
Fiji has only just being exposed to the West and all its ways in the past few centuries, and seems to haven taken most of the influence in its stride. Franchise in all its glory has not been left behind, and has taken residence with an almost enviable ease. However, a few have since hiccuped and closed shop, due to either near impossible competition (all hail Comsol the mighty dvd distributor of pirate dvds), bad business decisions, or just plain bad luck.
Heh. Best photo of 2008 in my humble opinion, which is mostly overrated, and never paid any attention, but I digress. Vodafone and Digicel, both warring business houses in the field of easy phones and bright splashy full page advertising, go out of their way to grab the consumer’s easily lost attention, though Digicel went one step further, and brought in chubby R&B crooner Sean Kingston on their opening day. Of course, never one to lose sight of any opportunity, Vodafone staff somehow managed a photo with the star when he landed, with the digicel staff nowhere to be found. Lols ensured.
In a very pote kind of way as well. World famous magician and all round slick haired Harry Houdini visited our shores back in 1910 and upon seeing some locals perform a diving trick, bested them at their own game. I can just picture it. The local divers, after being made to look like fools, scratch the back of their heads, grin, and swear silently before going off to town to shoot a few games of billiard and curse at all tourists in general. At least that is what I’d do. Early 1900′s or not.
With that behind us, I’m certainly looking forward to what surprises 2009 has in store for us all. Stay safe this festive season.
Merry Christmas Fiji!
Image source: www.fijitimes.com.fj
A merry christmas to you all, huge xmas lunches, more boxes of booze, family gatherings, safe driving (!), police checkpoints, packed nightclubs, hard to get taxis, long line of shopping, jacked prices, xmas overdosage through the media, well-wishers abound, excited kids underneath the christmas tree, wrapped presents and unwrapped rubbish, eggnog for the traditionalists, christmas cake for the sweet tooth amongst us, mistakes made at the office party, dodging drunkards, bringing out the tunes on the neighbourhood guitar, hugging long-time-no-see overseas relatives, warming up the lovo pit, the whole lot 
Also, merry christmas John McCain and welcome back to Fiji. For like, the 12th time. O_o
Picture of the Week – Santa Fiji stlye
From a forward of a forward of a forward from a friend. Exact origins are unknown, but it’s funky enough to warrant its own post. If you know where this is from let us know please aye
Gotta love the pinky extended on the right hand holding the kava bowl. I do belive this particular Santa was born and bred in Britain, table manners, tea time and all. Of course I’m not too sure if grog is included under the near all emcompassing umbrella of good table manners.
Who will own the dome?
Posted by Wilson in advertising, pic on December 17, 2008
We all know the deal. What was formerly known as the Post Fiji National Stadium has gone through several naming iterations thanks in part to the power of the advertising dollar. For each passing year the stadium goes through a name reboot and becomes whoever has bought out the right to plaster their name all over the front and further advertising banners surrounding the lot.
While I’m still waiting for Maxim to sponsor their title on the front, the more pressing question as to who will be the brand new name owner of a gymnasium bears some thought and light photoshop skills. A brief runthrough the daily newspapers will reveal the heavy hitters and most probable bidders for next years naming rights, if only by viewing the number of full page adverts per company. Since vodafone is the current owner for this years stadium, the remaining large businesses are all game.
Of course, with the disappointment at Vodafone for creatively calling the gym an Arena, we can only hope that next year’s offering will be somewhat more…awesome. However, instead of sitting on our laurels praying that someone will have the balls, nay, the adventurous spirit, to come up with an awesome title, we’ve decided to take that brave step and give a few ideas of what the stadium might look like had one of the decision makers decided to have a ball.
First up; If Courts Homecentres were the successors.
It was a long time ago, but the one jingle from Courts that was forever lodged in my head was the “Courts, Mammoth, superstore! Best in every way!” (Insert trumpeting noise). With that irreversible tune, Courts would do well to keep that same title and use it as their identifier, giant Mammoth and all.
Next is one of Fiji’s biggest retail outlets, Morrish Hedstrom.
Because Colliseum + 300′s Sparta = Awesome. Nuff said. (Thanks Sharky! 
)
)And lastly, the most likely candidate for 2009, because any competition is good competition, Digicel.
I laugh if life throws us a curveball and instead goes with some totally out of the blue company such as the 99c shop.
If that were the case, to quote the Watchmen, “God help us all”.
5 Minutes with the Maestro
Image source: www.scrumoftheearth.com
“Hey guess what?”
Most mornings don’t usually begin with a question like that. It’s either a “Io – ” head-straight-to-workstation or a “Yadra” head-straight-to-workstation start. It’s the morning, what’d you expect? Coffee and a bright eyed PA to greet you with a sunshine smile and the morning paper? Not in my version. Or paygrade.
I had just entered the office. It was a sunny Wednesday morning, and my late night WoW sessions didn’t bode too well with my somewhat rebellious bodyclock. Entering the front door, I was greeted, nay, assaulted by the company secretary, M. She grabbed my hand and practically yelled the question at me, wild-eyed with excitement.
“Hey hey guess what?”
I groaned as loud as I possibly could, trying in vain to dissuade her morning hype with my late night darkcloud of a mood. No luck.
“Guess what guess what?”
“What M?” I started to walk towards the kitchen, excited secretary in tow. “Caaaiiittta thing sa morning saraga and you already want to take my hand and play baseball with the thing. What- “
“Serevi’s coming to the office!”
I stopped cold.
“…Who?”
By now she knew I was listening to her, and pressed her attack.
“You know that Serevi is coming to our office today saraga this morning? For one photoshoot?”
Needless to say I was shocked.
“Serevi? Serevi ga Serevi?”
I jiggled my feet in a lame attempt of a goose step.
“That Serevi?”
“Yes! That Serevi! The one and only!”
M laughed and clapped her hands in a fit of girly excitement. My jaw dropped and I had to surpress the urge to abandon my age bracket join in nilly-willy with the mini-celebration.
“Holyshitholyshitholyshitholyshit,” my mind raced. I needed to record this monumental moment. I was going to see the King of the oval ball, the maestro of the pitch, the legend of a nation that revered all that was sevens and rugby-ish.
I was going to meet Serevi.
The question that raced through my head first off was, if you’re going to meet someone famous, and you wanted a piece of history to take home with you, what would have been the best memorabilia/surface to have signed?
I did a quick mental check:
Rugby t-shirt: None. Nada. I came to work in my bloody ‘save-the-whales’ hippy t-shirt and jeans. It was Wednesday, so of course I was in my mid-week crisis wardrobe mode. And I didn’t think I’d have want Serevi to sign on some dinky whale. I liked that shirt.
Rugby Ball: This would have been really great as something to be signed on, if only there was a ball within the premises. Unfortunately, being a fairly straight forward desk and computer office, sports was somewhat of a foreign notion to most of the staff. So that was quickly struck off the list.
Rugby Poster: Any self respecting rugby fan will tell you that their wall must and I stress, must have at least one poster that depicts the oval ball in action in order to prove their dedication towards the only manly sports in the pacific. Bonus points if its those cool adidas All Blacks posters with them turning lions into fur coats. Alas, this was not my room, and no rugby posters were within reach. Sad I know.
Female Breasts: of which I had none. Last time I checked. But judging by the adulating gaze that M would be giving Serevi, I’m sure hers would have been supplied free of charge, pen or no pen.
Flat Stomach: No luck here as well. Fiji Bitter has seen to that.
After racking my brains for what seemed like an eternity, it finally hit me and I resisted the urge to punch myself in the kidney for not thinking of the solution earlier.
A photograph!
I needed a camera. And quick.
To be continued…
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