The sandwich lady – Granny loves to meet people

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Veniana Viti enjoys selling sandwiches at workplaces around the Suva area. Picture: UNAISI RATUBALAVU

EVEN though she is 70 years old, Veniana Viti is healthy and active going about her business in Suva selling sandwiches in workplaces from Toorak and in the central business district of the Capital City.

Ms Viti, who hails from Naivakarauniniu Village, Tavuki on Kadavu, says she loves to meet people and selling food for four days rather than get stuck and bored at home.

“I only sell sandwiches from Tuesday to Friday.

“On Monday, a lot of people bring their own food from the leftovers on Sunday,” she said.

“I think people my age should be active and organise an activity like this just to keep them occupied.

“I sell cheese and tuna sandwich for $2 while egg sandwiches are selling at $3,” she said with a smile.

“Since I’m staying in Toorak, I start selling at all those offices in Toorak at around 7.45am and finish before 9am.

“I usually get $40 a day and that is enough for me, after expenses to get by,” she explained.

Dressed in jeans and in long sleeve light pink top, Ms Viti said it was better to earn money for herself rather than relying on other people to take care of her.

“I have developed a lifestyle where you work hard and then you can reap the rewards later,” she said.

Ms Viti said she attended Vunisei District School on Kadavu before coming to Suva and attended Kalabu Fijian School.

“Then I went to Lelean Memorial School and just spent one year over there when my parents could not afford to pay for my education.

“I left school in 1967,” she said. The following year, Ms Viti started working as a baker at Wah Sing Company at Cumming St.

“I used to bake buns from 3am until 7 am.

“A lot of working people used to come and have their breakfast at the café before they head to work,” she said.

She worked at Wah Sing for two and a half years before moving to Korolevu Beach Hotel in Sigatoka for two years.

When she met her husband, she had to look after her family and became a full-time mother.

Ms Viti has four children and has been a widow since 2004.

At the moment, she is content with her small business and keeping fit by walking in Suva selling sandwiches.

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