Children's Day at the Flat

Tony and Mary celebrated the day with a special meal and a family gathering, and we were also invited. I got to watch Mary and her sister-in-law Lothie making sorsor, the traditional laplap dish of Malekula Island.

The yam was already grated when I started watching. It goes like a slightly runny bread dough and gets scooped into a bowl made from banana leaves.

 Then some greens are added,

 and some stones that have been heating in a fire. They are volcanic stones from other islands, there aren't any suitable ones naturally on Efate. Chris made the tongs just by partly splitting a stick - very clever!

 Then coconut cream from freshly grated coconut is squeezed over.

Chicken pieces were piled into the middle, salt and more coconut cream added,

 then all the banana leaves are folded over the top and tied up.

 It is carefully placed on the fire and more hot rocks piled over the top.

 Then more banana leaves and a couple of wet sacks go on top - a lot like a hangi in NZ.

After a couple of hours it is ready to eat - a very tasty dish!

 After the meal there was fun with a few balloons,

 and Martyn joined the men in playing petanque on the coral chip driveway.