So — don’t tell anyone — but I was doing a little light research when I read the following passage:
[French explorer de Bougainville marvelled at the skill of the Samoan sailors who knew] how to use the sun and stars as a guide and how to take advantage of prevailing winds. Furthermore, they seemed to have a wonderful sense of direction that would tell them the right direction of travel no matter what strange surroundings they were in. And, like a bird of migration, the Samoan sailors unerringly returned to the island from which they had set out.
And I flashed on this early exchange:
WELLINGTON -- 2008
Our PET WRITER and his GODDESS seek directions from the writer’s AWESOME SISTER.
GODDESS
We just want to find the nearest supermarket.
AWESOME SISTER
Easy-peasy: you take the first left and you’ll see a KFC on the corner. Drive past it for three blocks until you see a McDonalds, take a right before the golden arches, and you can’t miss it.
GODDESS
... I have no idea what you just said.
PET WRITER
It’s okay, I got it.
GODDESS
(off writer and his sister)
... It’s an island thing, isn’t it?
Pet Writer and Awesome Sister try not to smile patronisingly at her.
How did you manage to go past KFC and the Macco?? Cant have been hungry eh? Or researched before??
1. the Lovely Wife was with me. 2. the Lovely Wife was with me. and 3. heck YEAH it was researched previously!