Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in www.connectme.com.fj/news/opinion/. I thank Allen and Connect for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

Mango Season

It’s July 2009 and once again like every year the mango trees are starting to flower in Lautoka. By August and September we will be enriched with the aroma of ripening mango. Trees will be literally dripping with the fruit. Stalls along roadsides will be set up, people on their way to Suva will stop and buy them. School fees and other expenses will be paid. I will be sending cartons and bags of mangoes to relatives and friends in Suva, freight forward though.

This is the time many people in the West take the mango for granted. I will make mango juice, chutney will be made by my neighbor and we will exchange wares. Mango pickles will be plentiful. The people of Lautoka will be enriched with vitamin C. The mango is an excellent laxative and many stomachs will be cleaned for the duration of the season.

The amount of mango that goes to waste is humongous. I wish we could make mango juice to export. But seeing the many restrictions put in place by Australia and New Zealand, I will just export to Suva.

The mango will be here soon and once again we will be blessed, nature just carries on regardless of the situation.

...Life Goes on will be published every Saturday for the next few weeks...