The Viewer

If you seriously thought the blog name was some kind of wordplay on Drake's Views from the Six, I commend you. You could not have hit the nail on the head more precisely.

679 is the three-digit country code that you would need to punch in before the other 7  and very necessary digits if you wanted to make a call to Fiji. Fiji, a group of islands in the South Pacific (west of Australia, north of New Zealand). We Fijians are quite reputable for our belly laughs, our insane unbeatable passion for rugby and ardent adoration for a ginger-haired Englishman named Ben Ryan. We even adopted him into our culture and installed him as chief of Fiji (because we can't decide which part of Fiji he's from... Between us, he's from my part of town).

But whose views are being framed on your computer screens? Whose views are you giving permission to mingle with your own philosophies when you navigate through Views from the 679? Initially, I thought they would be my own and that it would be charming to let the world know what an ordinary Island girl thought about global issues, local issues, fashion fads, culture, marriage, Beyoncé and how these affect me and the Islands I live in. Then it hit me that there are other Island-dwellers who would know these topics way better than I do. Instead of uttering words from the corner of inexperience on issues that I am far from expert on, I want to involve community and the real professionals--people who are laying the ground work in their respective fields.

Apart from that, we're going to embark on many virtual travels and I really don't know what else. Do come along, children. Come along.

"Vinaka vakalevu" (Thank you) in advance to the experts for what is going to be fun, informative, educational and discovered in conversation. WIN! Hats off to the amateurs (me).

Readers, march on (in your seats).

I don't write or speak for every 679-ian (Fijian). I understand we all have different ways of seeing things; we are allowed to. Views are my own unless otherwise stated. Remember to Follow by Email so that you do not miss out on a single view.

View Number Une

I have gone to great lengths to begin again. That is true to my overall social networking profiles and now that I think about it, it reflects real life as well. I've stripped down my social network portfolios to a limited few and it's liberating (various reasons). I've got headspace. In real life, I've returned to the One thing. Comical, isn't it? That therein lies the secret to defining life - finding the single thing that matters most and staying determined in one's heart to go hard after it. It doesn't mean letting go completely of everything wonderful that life has to offer but kill the things that threaten your pursuit of the One Thing. In a nutshell.

This gentleman arrived this morning (18.8.16)

Please raise your glass with me: TO NEW BEGINNINGS.

Post-script essay: My first cousin but practically my sister finally met her firstborn this morning, August 18 2016. He is perfect. I'll give you a peek into my true feelings regarding little people--I'm not big on babies especially newborns. "Babies are born, what's new?"

This little lad is different. He makes my heart melt. Newborns rarely have that effect on me. Maybe they get cuter a few months down the line but when they're fresh out of the womb, I'm probably pretending with my high-pitched compliments and well-timed gawks. Should I be honest next time and just be a ghost in the back of the room. What's that? Oh, outside the room? Funny.

My point is, I'm not pretending. I can't. I am undeniably and completely smitten. I vow in my heart to love him as my own and that applies whether I meet him tomorrow or 5 years from now (He's only a few hours' worth of connecting-flights and a 6-hour drive away in a quaint little town called Griffith, Australia). Aunt Mode: I love you to your wee little soul, lad. The soul, you and I are going to have long discussions about things concerning the soul. Until then, enjoy your long naps and nobody bothering you about it. Take full advantage of this kingly period where as little as you are, you have Mum, Dad and a whole fleet running around at your command. Don't rush into life. Let it happen. Praying for you, son. Love you.