Servings: lets go with 8

Ham bone with lots of meat left on it Ham bone with lots of meat left on it
water water
1-2 onions, rough chop (eight-ed?) some skin is OK. 1 to 2 onions, rough chop (eight-ed?) some skin is OK.
garlic (half a head) rough chop garlic (half a head) rough chop
3-4 bay leaves, whole. 3 to 4 bay leaves, whole.
salt to taste salt to taste
pepper to taste pepper to taste
Tony's to taste Tony's to taste
 
500g split peas, picked through and rinsed. 500g split peas, picked through and rinsed.
Olive oil Olive oil
2 carrots 2 carrots
2 celery stalks 2 celery stalks
1 onion. 1 onion.

Put 1st 8 ingredients into big pot/dutch oven with enough water to cover the ham bone.
Simmer for 6 to 7 hours
Strain out solids, saving meat chunks
Chop celery, onion, carrots into approx. ¼ inch pieces,
Saute in a bit of olive oil until onion is translucent.
Add stock, peas, and chopped up meat bits.
Add salt, pepper, Tony's to taste.
Simmer until peas melt into silky smoothness, at least 3 to 4 hours, stir every 20 minutes or so.

Tony's is Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning.  Tony's is Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning.
Don't skimp on salt and pepper.  Don't skimp on salt and pepper.