January

We've been back in Lae two weeks now and in two more weeks we reach the half way mark of our assignments.  Hard to believe!

Just as the work place was decorated for Anniversary of Independence, so was it decorated for Christmas.  Receptionist Anna has her Christmas seasonal wear!  I did my bit for Christmas Spirit with a red and green paper chain that said Happy Christmas.  HR Manager Lina organised a small end of year morning tea with pizza and cake (it was Jasmine's birthday).  Steve and I have been coopted into the HR Team - we don't seem to fit anywhere else. 

 

Then it was home to Australia for two weeks R&R.  We opted for a night in Port Moresby on the way to Brisbane rather than risking missing connecting flights - Airniugini is not known for its reliability! - and all went well.  The EV we had hired for the two weeks on the Sunshine Coast was ready and easy to drive.  Also very cheap to fuel.  It was lovely to see so much family - my sister and brother-in-law met us on the Gold Coast along with their two grandchildren for a catch up before Christmas, then our three plus one grandchild arrived on Christmas Day.  They were all exhausted from working right up to Christmas Eve so we had a relaxed time reading, eating and sleeping.

       

Christmas Lunch - still working on the Selfie!

The boys only stayed three nights but we had the girls for a week.  We had a trip up to Eumundi Market (plenty of earrings!) and a day in Montvillle and Maleny.  The girls had a day at  Australia Zoo.

Last time I was on the Sunshine Coast for Christmas there was a cyclone!  This is us at Auntie Lil and Uncle Don's house in Montville Christmas 1963. 

Montville - in the 60s this was the General Store with a very grumpy owner.

Also it was lovely to see Steve's cousin and her husband.  They had lived in PNG when Col worked for the PMG in the late 70s.  I think Jan was very brave coming here with four children, the youngest just weeks old!  It was interesting to talk about what is still the same and what is so different.

Mostly we enjoyed the freedom of being able to walk and drive wherever we wanted!  And we enjoyed being in the bush and at the beach.

Liz and me at the beach

 

A beautiful coastal banksia - don't know which species

I love the buttressed roots of many rainforest trees - I so wish we could get out into the forest here in PNG!

Orchid at D'Aguillar NP

As promised, a story about fruit and vegetables.

This is the story as we heard it from locals.  Between Christmas and New Year trouble with raskols at the 9 Mile Market increased.  They have been coming in with automatic weapons and threatening stall holders to steal money and goods.  Police were called but when the officers came some stall holders hid the raskols from the police because the raskols were "our people".  and of course violence erupted.  People were killed, the stalls were destroyed - knocked over by vehicles and then burned.  Now the market area - about a hectare - has been totally cleared.  We have heard it will reopen soon but nothing yet.  This morning as we drove past there was quite a big crowd just hanging around and a few stalls set up on the track at the back that leads to the illegal settlement village up in the forest where the market community mostly live.  

So for now we get our fruit and veg at Main Market which is crowded and bustling on a Saturday morning but stall holders are always cheerful and friendly, and I try to buy from many stalls to spread the Kina around.  Main Market itself is just a temporary arrangement, the former Lae Central Market having burned down a year or so ago.  The Australian government and the New Zealand government have committed funds to build a new one and work has begun, though planning is not quite finished.  

The crayon drawing is the side market at 9 Mile where we used to shop - it runs along the footpath of the Highlands Highway and so was easy to park.  There's always plenty of variety there - though not always everything on the list! 

Today's fruit and veg from Main Market

9 Mile Market on the Highlands Highway

On December 10 we learned how to hand pollinate Dragon Fruit and barely 4 weeks later mine was ready to eat.  It was very red!  And delicious just chilled and sliced.

Pollinated Dec 10

Harvested January 9

Eaten January 12

 The work continues, extra slowly at the moment with so many people still on leave.  I am waiting for feedback on most of the documents I have prepared - revised training manuals and training workshops.  There is a certain amount of frustration - I don't want to push too far ahead if I then find out it isn't what is needed.  But that's the life of an Australian Volunteer!

We're looking forward to an Australia Day BBQ hosted by the Consul-General Lae next weekend and then we'll be almost into February.

Always happy to get comments and feedback, Jenny