{"id":3016,"date":"2020-07-05T13:57:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-05T12:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/?p=3016"},"modified":"2025-10-22T22:54:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T21:54:20","slug":"memories-of-rodrigues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/05\/memories-of-rodrigues\/","title":{"rendered":"Memories of Rodrigues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This CNN video showing the opening of the net fishing season<\/a> (“ouverture la peche la senne”) in Rodrigues brings back childhood memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catches from the fishing sorties usually reached us late in the evening. We then had to clean and pack the fish quickly before they could be put on sale in the shop freezers. Too young to handle the sharp knife used to gut fish, I was mostly a spectator. But my older brother had to contribute to this unpleasant task, which often lasted into the early morning hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later when I was about twelve or thirteen, I helped my brother-in-law Bambi in his octopus trade. Once or twice every week, he set up station to buy octopus. Sat on a low bench, with a weighing scale on the floor in front of him, he waited for the fisherwomen to return from their hunts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One by one, they came with their catch. Together with Bambi, they checked the weights on the scale. When they were in agreement, it was up to me to pay the women and to record the transactions. To save time, Bambi unceremoniously dropped the octopus on the floor behind him before calling over the next person. The motions were repeated as in a ritual, as more fisherwomen joined the queue. By the time all the weighing and paying was done, the floor was covered with slimy octopii reaching up to our ankles. Now, other employees would clean and prepare the octopii for export: gutting, cleaning, packing, and storing them in cold rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if octopus trade was serious and haggling was fierce, the exchanges between the fisherwomen and us remained friendly. They were filled with banter and laughter, the kind of gaiety you would imagine of islanders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This CNN video showing the opening of the net fishing season (“ouverture la peche la senne”) in Rodrigues brings back childhood memories. Catches from the fishing sorties usually reached us late in the evening. We then had to clean and pack the fish quickly before they could be put on sale in the shop freezers. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1j9q5-ME","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1789,"url":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/26\/after-11-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":3016,"position":0},"title":"After 11 years","author":"Eddy Young","date":"26 August 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Eleven years after my previous visit, I got to spend three amazing days in Rodrigues. View over Riviere-Coco in Rodrigues","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Grazing cattle","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/2015-08-06-331.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/2015-08-06-331.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/2015-08-06-331.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/2015-08-06-331.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/2015-08-06-331.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/2015-08-06-331.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2848,"url":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/03\/objects-that-tell-stories\/","url_meta":{"origin":3016,"position":1},"title":"Objects that tell stories","author":"Eddy Young","date":"3 August 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I replaced the batteries of my Photon Micro-Light and gave it a bit of TLC. With some elbow-grease, the little torch was once again clean and shiny. Although it shows wear from being carried on my keychain for 20 years, it still evokes happy memories. Photon Micro-Light I bought\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo Micro-Light lamp","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210803_131749.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210803_131749.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210803_131749.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210803_131749.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/20210803_131749.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3881,"url":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/02\/a-few-memories-of-tahiti\/","url_meta":{"origin":3016,"position":2},"title":"A few memories of Tahiti","author":"Eddy Young","date":"2 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"From November 2019 to January 2020, P and I holidayed in Tahiti. When COVID locked down England a couple of months later, the experience of our trip was quickly effaced by the anxieties of the day. Since then, viewing the pictures that I'd taken in Tahiti reminded me of COVID\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2019-12-29-046-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2019-12-29-046-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2019-12-29-046-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2019-12-29-046-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2019-12-29-046-150x150.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/2019-12-29-046-150x150.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4018,"url":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/31\/easter-photoblogging-port-louis\/","url_meta":{"origin":3016,"position":3},"title":"Easter photoblogging: Port Louis","author":"Eddy Young","date":"31 March 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Our road-trip cut short by downpours, we stopped at Albion Public Beach to buy rotis. After eating, we drove to another beach, hoping that the clouds would clear. I got lucky and snapped this picture of the lighthouse just before it rained again. We then went to Pointe-aux-Sables where the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lighthouse near a sea cliff","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-31-0001-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-31-0001-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-31-0001-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-31-0001-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-31-0001-150x150.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3241,"url":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2022\/07\/15\/trying-film-photography-again\/","url_meta":{"origin":3016,"position":4},"title":"Trying film photography again","author":"Eddy Young","date":"15 July 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I finally visited the park that opened near my house in 2020 amidst COVID lockdown. It is a former golf course that has been rehabilitated as a green area. I carried a Nikon FG-20 camera with an unfinished roll of film on my walk and took pictures of the trees\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Peach blossom flowers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2022-07-15-0024-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2022-07-15-0024-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2022-07-15-0024-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2022-07-15-0024-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2022-07-15-0024-150x150.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/2022-07-15-0024-150x150.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4010,"url":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/21\/how-hard-could-it-be\/","url_meta":{"origin":3016,"position":5},"title":"How hard could it be?","author":"Eddy Young","date":"21 March 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Managing a house renovation project is hard work. We keep rushing from place to place, making phone calls to and meeting tradesmen for cost estimates, and pleading\u2013if not begging\u2013for our work to be started in priority. This back-and-forth has been our bane for the last three months. Yet, I'm told\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-20-0003-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-20-0003-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-20-0003-150x150.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-20-0003-150x150.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-20-0003-150x150.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/2024-03-20-0003-150x150.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3016"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5100,"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3016\/revisions\/5100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/priscimon.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}