Farmer Mother Banker - in PNG

Dining out in Port Moresby

2011-04-22T09:36:00.000+10:00

The question I am most often asked by friends and family back home...."what is it really like to live in Port Moresby?". Given that POM was recently ranked last on the places to visit in 2011, I thought I might give you a window in on what it is really like living in POM.

A few weeks ago Claudia was voted by her class mates to the Student Representative Council. She received her badge on assembly/parade and that night we decided to take her out to celebrate

The restaurant of Claudia's choosing for the night was Daikoko's - a Japanese Tappanyaki bar.

I love the feel of the place, all the timber, stainless stell and pottery are so different to the rest of Moresby.

It was looking pretty good at step 1...

Haydn loved the reflection of our chef on the teppan plate

The kids are so good with chopsticks now that they even eat their rice with them.

It seemed a tragedy to see fillet steak cut up into cubes instead of left whole, but the end result was sensational!

Here are Shane's praws about to get a dose of fire...

Of course the flames really got the kids attention.

Our chef...what a star.

So that was our night out in Moresby for Claudia's celebration.

Life here for us is surprisingly normal...mostly.

Happy Easter.

Tufi - Em kam gud stret (Really special place, top stuff)

2011-04-19T10:12:00.001+10:00

I really married very well - my husband on the other hand probably didn't fare so well. He proved his thoughtfulness again last week...I really was run down and not looking forward to a weekend without the kids who are back home on the farm with Mum and Dad. Shane booked us in for a weekend of fishing at Tufi Dive Resort. It is one of my most treasured places so I was really looking forward to the trip. I surprised myself by going 14m under water in my first scuba dive. I can highly recommend Tufi - http://www.tufidive.com.pg/

Shane on his first open water dive @ Cyclone Reef, Tufi PNG

Finally at 38 I have mustered enough bravado to enter the under water world. Why did I wait so long??

We met a very special bird at Tufi - Coco, a hornbill. She was the cheekiest, show off I have met in a long time. So playful and always, always hungry. A typical 9 month old.

Tufi Fjord - paradise on Earth....words are impossible to describe the peacefulness she spreads.

Saturday morning saw a jostling for "parking spaces" in the fjord as the locals came to do their weekly shop.

Not a sign of outrigger rage in sight though.

On arriving I was offered a drink, I opted for a Pina Colada. Susie said it might take a few minutes as the boys would need to get a coconut and shell it for her so she could get fresh coconut milk for my special brew...and it was sooooo good.

Made in China

2011-04-11T18:51:00.000+10:00

Last week I was "branded" they call it induction training. Lucky for me the training was held in Beijing, China.

My first impressions were "WOW!!". The place is just amazing. I was met on the airside and escorted through security and immigration in a flash, my bag was first off the carousel and straight into a waiting car. A total time of approximately 10 minutes from the plane to outside. Needless to say, my first impression of China was brilliant.

The view from my hotel room

The Police presence is never far away

Chairman Mao's building at Tiennamen Square

The Mudmen

2011-02-16T13:43:00.000+10:00

We were occupied. Busy. The kind of busy that doesnt leave room for interruption or disturbance. Deep in concentration, trance like - watching an impromptu performance of local villagers.Chanting, stomping and rattling their bits and bobs to keep us glued like little children at a circus.

This is the scene that had us captivated.

and then I felt or rather sensed, a prickling of my skin on the back of my shoulders. The whole group of us had the same feeling as we all simultaneously turned around to see the very boney finger of an Asaro Mudman beckoning us, ever so quietly to follow him and his grey friends.

They were completely silent yet completely captivating. We followed without question to the ceremony that we were to officiate at. Their cat like moves and bizarre masks are really unusual.

The Asaro Mudmen are from the Asaro River in the Eastern Highlands of PNG outside the town of Goroka.

Close up, it brings back memories of big nights on the drink in Townsville.

One step at a time leads to a house

2011-02-14T10:59:00.000+10:00

I have been AWOL, I know, for about 2 weeks. Great reason though...our biggest big boss (bbb) in the whole wide world has been for a 5 day visit to PNG. It was magnificent but far too busy. I feel like my brain is slowing returning to its normal self. After working 7 day weeks since Christmas, I feel its impossible to switch off completely. It was electrifying meeting important folks like the PM and then travelling in our own chartered jet to see other parts of PNG. The upside was our bbb is a delightful human being, very clever and so easy to get along with. He made a difference in such a short time.

Anyway, back in real life, its been like swimming in syrup with the house. While the bbb was here we were kicked out of our temporary apartment and luckily found another much smaller, temporary room above a roudy bar. But we are very grateful to have accomodation.

Our house was to be ready on the 7th - it was, mostly. Except there are no bathrooms and no bedrooms as these are being extensively renovated. You would have thought letting us know this would have been high on someone's list...but alas, not.

The house has the most beautiful orchids. Someone really loved the garden once.

The good news is that Rusty the cat made his journey up from Oz and is all well. Seems to like the life of a jetsetter and is settling in well.

But now to a different house - PNGs National Parliament Haus. We visited as part of our bbb's visit. I was excited to see the architecture but I didn't expected to feel heart stoppingly in awe of the place. The inner chamber, which I couldnt photograph, has timber carving and tapa cloth that is just too beautiful to describe. Why isnt that I felt such a connection for a building, raw materials that are not even connected to my home of Australia? As I looked on the craftsmanship and beauty I felt like the walls could talk, wrapping me up in a show of PNG. It took me by surprise, still does, that I should feel so humbled by another country's national building.

Snow capped mountain in PNG

2011-01-30T16:00:00.000+10:00

No of course it aint snow...its ash and hot ash at that. Still errupting from Mt Tavavur (Rabaul). It first lifted its lid in 1994 to devastating effect, wiping the beautiful little seaside city of Rabaul literally off the map.

I was lucky enough to visit a few days ago. Its surreal, errie to drive the now desolate streets, drive down the once perfect runway and look straight ahead at the still smoking volcano, defiantly spewing her ash high.

The main street is now nothing more than a thick layer of ash.

The old runway. Now looks like a landing strip for a day trip to Mars.

These trees amazed me. Still standing but like giant toothpicks.

But the people of East New Brittain province are super resilient. They with the help of the World Bank and an energetic business community, provincial government just decided to take a very bad situation and make it better. They relocated to Kokopo - a gorgeous seaside town just down the road. This is the bustling, very clean and safe market place.

I love to see bravery in the face of adversity in action. Rabaul and Kokopo communities are a must see and an inspiration.

Have bilum and will travel

2011-01-16T10:07:00.000+10:00

Its been a very strange week, a week of emotions that I havent experienced before. Being away from home, the place that is the most familiar to me and seeing it splashed across CNN in my hotel room is well, shocking. I have found it a rough week but feel guilty feeling anything compared to those of you in the thick of the fight against the raging waters and mud and silt and tragedy.

So in typical escapism I went bush PNG style and headed for Chuave, a town in the remote Chimbu province of PNG.

The team here arranged for me to travel to Goroka (an hour flight from Moresby) . So I set off at the crack of dawn to catch my flight at the domestic terminal. A terminal that is fast developing a reputation of being unsafe...again it was fine. The security was phenomenal, much better than the domestic arrangements in Australia. Firearms are to be handed to security and they lock them up on the plane for you...how thoughtful.

Here is my new briefcase...I like it much better than my faithful black Tumi case.

My Western Province Bilum is the pefect size for my laptop, radio, phone, wallet, paper, lunch....

Coming in to land at Goroka...it is like the rest of PNG, breathtaking. My camera phone just doesnt do the magnifence of the mountains, waterfalls and the valley justice. The striking thing is that all farms are small family plots. There is almost no corporate farms left in PNG and thus most farming is what I call subsistence plus...food for the family, pigs and what is left goes into the local market for sale to others. One of the many reasons why formal employment is so low.

Welcome to Goroka...indeed.

The trip from Goroka to Kongo Coffee at Chuave was supposed to be 30 minutes...slight miscalculation, it is 90minutes, going very fast in a twin cab. But my driver Rex is legendary and everyone got out of his road. I would too. This was my view for 90minutes doing 100kms most of the time but slowing to a crawl frequently to navigate where the road is long ago eroded. The grill was on the front, the sides and the back to protect us from "enthusiastic locals" who like to throw big rocks!

I ended up at Kongo Coffee and met one of the most inspiring business people, Jerry Kapka and his wife Lilly. Jerry has developed PNGs largest processing facility (taking coffee bean and converting it into green bean ready for export) right in his home village at Chuave. He buys directly from small farmers who produce around 8 - 10 bags a year of some of the world's most sought after coffee.

There was something extra sweet about drinking Kongo Coffee with Jerry & Lily in the middle of the processing facility. Coffee will never taste so good. It was strong but not bitter and a little bit chocolaty.

Possibly the luckiest dog in PNG having a rest, obviously has a nose for coffee too!

The trip back was nerve racking...not enough room width ways for everyone...I admit I shut my eyes (tightly).

There is not a clear photo but we even saw some green, leafy material for sale. The driver told me it was K1 about 35cents for a small joint. The ladies below were simply selling the equivalent of a Maccas burger and minties for the road trip.

We went through three police checks to make sure we were travelling for all the right reasons.

I had another two meetings in Goroka and then headed back to Moresby. All in a days work. The check in at Goroka is not high tech but it works. My plane up and back was perfectly on time. Better than a lot of flights in Oz.

Here is one of the three guys who were my personal protection for the day...maybe a bit extreme but I felt safe and was able to power through my work without having to worry. The only problem was they are all blues supporters.

My apologies the images are poor quality but I was supposed to be here for 3 days and so far its day 13 and counting. I didnt bring my camera just using the camera in the Blackberry Torch.

Take care and big hugs and smiles to all those back home. I wish I was there to pitch in.

Carolyn.

Violence

2011-01-10T12:55:00.000+10:00

I know Port Moresby and more broadly PNG has a dreadful reputation as a violent place. I know this and still choose to be here (and now bring Shane and the kids too). My experience is different though.

I thought I might use this blog to once a week or thereabouts, have a look through my lens on the world at violence - PNG style and abroad.

So to kick off week 1 here is a story of gang rape in England

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'Gang rape of 17-yr-old was filmed'
A TEENAGE girl was gang-raped by four men who took videos of her ordeal on a mobile phone,a court heard.
The 17-year-old was attacked after being lured to a flat where the rapists were lying in wait, it is claimed. They used the same ploy to prey on another 18-year-old woman two days later, Inner London Crown Court heard on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, sobbed as she described how friend Idris Adeokun, 21, known as Jermaine,called her that day wanting to meet up.He picked her up in a car before taking her to his cousin Emmanuel Garrick's home in Tessa Sanderson Place, Clapham, where four men were waiting.
She said: "He [Jermaine] said he wanted to have sex with me. I said, 'No, I've got a boyfriend and I'm happy'. He said I didn't have a choice. I told him I wanted to go home."
The teenager described how she was then raped by all five men and filmed until she managed to escape and call police.Jurors heard that two days later three of the gang lured another 18-year-old to the flat after offering to help with her CV.She was then raped by Adokun and Garrick before fleeing the flat, it is claimed.

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and now for PNG

Chinese businessman Hacked

A BUSINESSMAN of Chinese origin may lose both arms after he was attacked with a bush knife in a holdup at Kokopo yesterday.

The middle-aged man, who operates a trade store in the town, was attacked as he shut his shop between

9.30 and loam yesterday.

Bystanders in the quiet area said the businessman was attacked as he got into his utility.

"There were three of them, all wearing caps which they pulled low over their faces," a woman resident told the gathered crowd only minutes after the holdup.

"One had a bushknife and did the chopping. He cut him on the left arm ftrst: and then on the other arm. They pulled him out of the car, got inside and speeded away."

Nearby resident John Simon said he came along moments after, to see the wounded man standing but with his body and arms shaking as large amounts of blood poured trom the wounds.

"We got him into th~ back of a utility, tore off some sheets and tied up his arms to try to stop the bleeding," Mr Simon .said. "By the time we reached Vunapope Hospital, I thought he was dead, the way he was lying there."

The victim's wife was inside the store at the time, according totriends ofthe businessman.

"He is longtime here," said a young Chinese man. "He has been here for· more than 10 years."

Police later found the stolen car in bush near a local transport company on the outskirts oftown. The thieves had fled on foot, bystanders said.

It is believed the store owner's condition stabilized during the day.
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Its a bit dour I know but I feel strongly that the media that leaves PNG is tainted and one sided and NEVER shows the true PNG.

And just to lift the mood a little, here is a pretty picture - the pool and view at our new place in Moresby.

Friday in Port Moresby

2011-01-07T18:12:00.000+10:00

I am supposed to be landing in Brisbane right now. Back in the arms of the one I love and my gorgeous kids. BUT....Iam not as the floods have surrounded the farm and there is no way for me to get home for at least a few days and since I was coming back up to PNG on Monday, its best that I stay here and work the weekend. AWWWWW.

The good news is that at the same time I was to board the plane, we had a fire evacuation here at the building. With time to kill my wonderful offsider Rex decided I should check out a house his mate had just listed for rent. I really wasnt keen still feeling a bit sorry for myself that I woudlnt be seeing the kids this weekend.

But I got dragged off and boy am I pleased I did. The house is fantabulously brilliant. So much better than I ever thought I would ever get. I just love it.

However, as bright as that moment was this afternoon was better. The local staff here at the World Bank are well off in PNG standards but still money is tight and food is very very precious. This arve they cooked up fresh corn on the cob cooked in banana leaves in the microwave. What a treat and they made me laugh...I cant share how but gee I cried laughing. Now thats a high point.

Enjoy your weekend! Carolyn.

We have a date with Port Moresby

2011-01-03T11:27:00.000+10:00

Finally we have a date for our move to PNG...Janaury 23rd will be lift off for our quick shuttle to a world away in Port Moresby.

Most people, actually everyone, thinks we are short a kangaroo or two in the top paddock to be moving from our glorious farm in one of the World's luckiest countries to Port Moresby, recently voted as the second most unliveable city in the world and the most dangerous capital city in the world right alongside Baghdad.

I say, your a long time dead better live while I am here. Not very prophetic or worldly I know but I need something to hide behind and fake bravery and foolishness seem the best options.

So why such a dim view of Port Moresby?

This is a shot of an over water village in Moresby. Yes its not quite paradise...but then there is this...

but then there is the crime situation. Raskols are criminals who are intent on making the lives of others miserable through car jackings at gun point and general robbery. PNG has one of the world's highest rates of sexual violence. It also has one of the world's lowest ratios of police to citizens in the world.

but most people, nearly all, are gorgeous, friendly people who strive for a better life in one of the world's most resource dense countries, but yet also remains very poor and undeveloped.

and this is why we, on the 23rd of this month will be off to live in PNG for a while. To see if we can help PNG and its people make the transition from developing to developed nation while ensuring we dont interfere with their incredible, unique culture and traditions. Wish us luck.

2011 - The Year of Extra Measure?

2011-01-01T16:41:00.000+10:00

A very clever friend emailed me a Happy New Year message titled - "Welcome to 2011, The Year of Extra Measure". Of course, curious as a cat I am, wrote back and asked what "Extra Measure" meant.
Apparently, countries around the world are going to be taking a lot of "extra measures" in 2011 - extra measures to fight terrorism, extra measures to combat global warming, extra measures to boost flagging economies - you get the picture.

I was thinking, what would my "extra measure" be in 2011?

So here is my list of the "extra measures" I am going to take in 2011 -

be nicer, "keep calm and carry on"
smile more and laugh out loud, often
chill, do nothing for more than 5 minutes at a time, be still
reduce my extra waist measurement by eating less and moving more (these are aspirational goals I know)
spend less
give more of me
tell those around me how much I appreciate having them in my life
enjoy the places I visit more

Oh yeah, and do my blog regularly! Just for extra measure.

I wish you a very Happy New Year and just know that 2011 will have surprises for us all.

Unfortunately not rum in my "half a softdrink bottle glass" but billy tea in the rain.

Traditions

2010-12-30T19:07:00.000+10:00

The wet season invokes great memories for me...most revolving around my Dad as it was the only time he was home for weeks at a time. The rest of the year he was always around but spent a lot of time out in the stock camps - mustering cattle over vast country, all unfenced. It is a world away from our little farms today.

There are many memories but one in particular remains and is now firmly entrenched as a family tradition - smoking ham and bacon.

I had the most amazing childhood - a day away from civilisation meant we were isolated and away from what many consider necessities. Cold meat for us for all year was either left over corned meat or roast beef (or on a very odd occasion tinned corn meat which we called bully beef). But at the start of the "wet", a fat pig would be slaughtered and then Dad would set about curing bacon and ham. A few days before Christmas he would then smoulder over smoke for a few days eventually ending up as the centre piece of our Christmas. It was (and is) such a treat to eat genuinely smoked ham.

Despite us now owning a butcher shop and selling hundreds of hams (all year round) Dad still smokes his own ham and bacon for Christmas. This year he passed the tradition down to Claudia and Haydn who followed the process every step of the way. Check out the photos below.

PNG Move - well still no house...no I am not fretting or anxious just simply beside myself and trying my best to appear cool, calm and collected. "Stay Calm and Carry On" is my 2011 motto.

My peacock Girl

2010-12-28T14:21:00.002+10:00

Those who know me will atest to the fact that I am certainly not creative and yet I have given birth and now nurture the talents of a very creative daughter. No doubt its a way of making some use of my, up until now, very lazy left side of my brain.

At the school concert in mid December she had people crying with her beautiful voice. I didnt even manage to get a photo as I was so mesmerized by her courage to stand up on stage, no backing music and just belt out Take Me Home Country Roads. My daughter is someone that I dont recognise as being part of me or her Dad, she is truly gifted in the way she makes others feel when she performs.

Here she is on Christmas night. We were all feeling a little sad - it is always hard celebrating another Christmas without my brother Clancey who passed away 12 years ago. She picked up on our mood and came out in her peacock outfit and did an impersonation. It was incredibly funny. It reduced me to tears (again) but for all the right reasons. Thanks Claude.

Mini Plum Puddings

2010-12-12T07:27:00.000+10:00

Yes this is a real picture I took of the fab Mini Plum Puddings my kids and their two friends made yesterday. They also made Christmas Ice, Christmas Balls and Choc (Mega Rum) Balls.
It was a rainy day and I have the flu so we tried to come up with some inside fun.
I think the results are pretty spectacular.

The recipe for the Mini Plum Puddings are:

Arnotts Royal Biscuits
White Choc buttons - about a third of a large packet melted
Spearmint leaves - cut into 3 smaller leaves
1 packet Jaffas.

Just make sure you put them in a container in the fridge as soon as they are made to stop any further melting.

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Back to PNG tomorrow to nail down a house once and for all. Just when I think I am close, the target moves.

Mum's Roasts

2010-12-07T19:47:00.000+10:00

I am away from home, in Sydney attending the PNG Mining & Petroleum Conference - yeah I know, what would I know about mines...fair point. Anyway I have met hundreds of people, have been running back and forth between the office for other meetings and generally having a pretty crazy, miserable time of it. Never enough time to do any one thing properly, just a lot of things getting done half assed.

Anyway...what has this got to do with Mum's roasts.

Not much but when I am away and eating hotel prepared foods - I just long for the extra-ordinary. Dont you?

I want bangers and mash with onion gravy; cornmeat, white sauce and vegies; soup (any sort as long as its home made) - you get the drift.

A couple of weekends ago we did some mustering, branding and then one of Mum's legendary beef roasts. I took a whole rib from the butcher shop that had been dry aged for around 3 weeks. Perfect timing. Mum simply put garlic in it, bay leaves in the pain and lots of salt and pepper. It nearly didnt fit in the oven. The lid of the roasting dish certainly wouldnt fit on. Check it out

...and here is the side version to give you an idea of the height.

and here is the final result- Shane's dinner. What a feast. I wish I could have taste & smell vision installed to give you a sense of the aroma and the deliciousness of the dish.

Here I am having a chocolate fondue for dinner...just couldnt decide so went for strawberries and chocolate - dont tell my kids!

HOT POM

2010-12-01T15:48:00.000+10:00

No this isnt a reference to smoking hot Englishmen...but rather a statement about hot I am finding it in Port Moresby (POM). Its only about 35 degrees here today but the humidity must be in the 90s. It is so hot and sweaty.

Its been a fab week so far. Finally no training wheels (the boss flew out this morning) and so far no smash.

Our new offices look smik and I cant wait to move in. They are even building me a new "local". The hotel Papua is under construction across the street and it looks like just the sort of place I could enjoy a icy cold glass of sauv blanc. How thoughtful of the developers to have the opening date around the time I will be in town.

Shane is in town too doing some coaching and making the newspaper every day. He is such a media magnet - talking about how rugby league can help in stopping violence against women. What a do gooder - honestly. Some of my goodness must be rubbing off on him.

What is going on?

2010-11-27T14:45:00.002+10:00

The National, PNG - 27 November 2010
PARLIAMENT has been adjourned for six months to May next year, after Treasurer Peter O’Neill was forced to assure Speaker Jeffery Nape that K20 million would be released next week for urgent maintenance work in parliament.

The adjournment ensured the prime minister cannot face a vote of no-confidence in this term of parliament."

and in another article of the same paper

MEMBERS of parliament yesterday voted to give themselves a hefty 52% pay rise before adjourning for a six-month holiday.

I have no views on the politics of PNG, I cant...however I thought you might like to read the above extract today from The National newspaper in PNG.

You can form your own opinion about what is holding PNG back.

The Move Update

2010-11-26T09:32:00.000+10:00

As I write this I am sitting in a deserted conference room in Port Vila, Vanuatu. My office for the day is not airconditioned, and looks like a seedy nightclub at 9am on a bright Saturday morning. Charming.

My head is mushy, like I like my potatoes not my brain. I cant focus on one thing for long enough to sort it through before another important person tells me to learn something else and focus on it for a few minutes. I love being new and being completely and utterly outside my comfort zone for the best part of every day but it does make me feel constantly exhausted. My mushy brain just wants a rest and clear some space. Anyone with any extra brain cells can send them my way - please.

To top things off the big bosso of my organisation has decided to take his first trip to the Pacific and come to PNG. This is not like showing the boss of a commercial bank around - this will involve a full scale diplomatic mission with meetings with the PM and senior Ministers, the private sector and grass roots recipients of our work in villages. No mean feat in a country with serious security issues such as my beloved PNG. I am told there will be 2 -3 people to help bring this together...phew - for a minute there I thought I was going to be busy!

Then there is the moving, house situation. The good news is I am in no different a situation then 2 weeks ago when I last wrote on the subject. The landlord has agreed to do a massive amount of security enhancements in accordance with my workplace's standards and I am getting closer I think to signing a lease and handing over close to $50 grand Aussie as a deposit and rent in advance - how thrilling. Thrilling to think that we may never see that money again. I just have to hope there is a Trust account in trusting hands....

Back home tonight and then on the plane again Sunday to PNG. Its a crazy time for sure.

I think though that there is no reason to think about the future, becuase the present is wonderful. Naff - I know but it gets me through.

The Snake that Shane Shot

2010-11-20T06:56:00.000+10:00

I should warn you before we begin...there was no animal injured or killed in the making of this blog.

As he quitely watched his two lovely children happily playing under the gently swaying. yellow flowering Horse Trees, he caught at the corner of his eye, a black snake about to strike.

He sped back to the house and retrieved the highly effective snake deterrer, the 410 shotgun. He cracked it open and expertly slid a sleek, red cartridge into the barrel. Again he rushed back along his same path to the black snake, still rearing about to strike at his beloved.

BANG!! The shot rang out across the hills. When the smoke had cleared and the kids had stopped stuttering with surprise, he went in to investigate the lifeless, black snake.

Haydn began to cry followed closely by Claudia's shrieks of laughter, "Dad you shot my rubber snake!". Haydn was aghast, it was a favourite and it had been guarding the trampoline under the Horse tree for months. No magpie poo on the trampoline and all because of the black, rubber snake.

Never mind, Shane is not the best shot, even with a shotgun that sprays hundreds of little pellets, making missing a target difficult. He had only managed to shoot off the tongue of the snake. All was well. Shane retreated, thinking of how he was going to keep the kids quite.

I arrived home from Sydney late but the first thing the two kids told me was how Dad shot the rubber red belly black and only managed to take out its tongue.

The red belly black now has been safely ensconed on Nanna's window ledge, back doing its bird duties.

Snake 1, Shane 0.

Precious Food

2010-11-18T09:59:00.000+10:00

Last night I sat in a salubrious restaurant in my hotel, between a group of Japanese tourists.

It was a riot of laughter, as each of their dishes were placed on the table, they zoomed and clicked and pointed and clicked their Nikon's and Cannon's until the food was extra warm from flash light. I laughed of course - it seemed so silly to take happy snaps of your holiday food.

But why not appreciate the food you are about to eat as much as the buildings and tourist attractions.

it got me thinking about how little we including I appreciate our food. On a show on TV last Monday, Mum and I watched with horror as a woman complained about the bacon wasnt quite crispy enough for her at a hotel banquet. She went on and on and left in a huff. I was disgusted and could only think of all the mothers I have met who just want the chance to feed their children, house them safely and send them to school.

We are a nation of excess. Bring on the Japanese way of appreciating an everyday meal by photographing it.

Life is just family

2010-11-14T19:11:00.000+10:00

There is the craziness of life and then there is family. Sometimes of course they are the reason for my craziness and lack of any time for smelling the roses and general navel gazing and then there are weekends like the one I have just had, when I am reminded for my reason for living - family.

Saturday was a day of shearing Mums little flock of 60 sheep. The shearers arrived with their own managerie which amused Claudia and Haydn no end.

And then we had some fun "surfing" in the dam. We will deal with the middle ear infections at a later date I am sure but in the meantime Mum and I had a ball watching the kids and Mikey the dog surf 100kms inland from Caloundra!

and then we finished the day off with Mum's world's greatest meat pie. I could have died when I ate the crispy pastry and meltingly soft, extra tasty beef filling. Oh God my mother can cook and her food put us all in a silent patch/ Not easily done!

The today it was mustering and branding. More to come but we got a good head start. We use my brother Clancey's brand, C1B - it always makes me pleased to see such good types of calves stamped with his brand. My city bred husband also managed to castrate the males with no major dramas.

Haydn, Claudia and I mounted up on our favourite steeds and mustered and let go the mob. I love that they love what I loved growing up. I think that is probably some psychological disorder but tonight it makes for a perfect weekend.

Hope you enjoyed yours and were thankful for all the things you often take for granted - or maybe it is only me that takes things for granted?

Wordless Wednesday - nearly

2010-11-10T16:47:00.000+10:00

One of the builders was having a nice snooze when I inspected the inside of the new house today...I wasnt mad just jealous.

Whats in a name?

2010-11-09T10:09:00.000+10:00

I had a weekend to contemplate my navel, enforced entrapment in the the Crowne Hotel in Port Moresby. There are worse things I know but for 44 hours of the 48 hours I went nearly mad with boredom and frustration. And then I started to enjoy it...enjoying observing how I reacted and then accepted my own company. Afterall, I love my company - dont I? Well at least I used to before I had kids and before my life got insanely busy.

While trawling FB looking for classmates of my brother Clancey's, I came across a little boy also named Clancy Blacklock. Although his name is spelt slightly different, the sight of his name again shocked me. Its 12 years since he passed away and yet the sight of his name and my reaction made me realise all over again how much I miss him. How much I wish he was kicking back with me in the Crowne, just hanging out.

Clancey is also my son's middle name. I love that. Hopefully a little bit of Clancey's personality and happiness rubs off on my Haydn.

I eased into my Sunday afternoon, entrapped in the Crowne easily once I thought about how my Clancey would have viewed it. I pulled up a stump at the bar and said GDay to some locals I didnt know. I laughed and joked and basically listened (no small feat for me) for a good two hours. Just hanging out enjoying the present. Clancey would have loved that.

Cold Showers

2010-11-06T18:02:00.001+10:00

I am staying in one of POMs best hotels but for the past two days it has lacked HOT WATER. Now this is not a huge deal as its probably in the mid 30s outside but I just have to figure out how to wrangle the key for the balcony off the Duty Manager. Apparently they have had some "jumpers" and are none too keen to let the outside in. Maybe tonight I can have a warm shower.

This morning I caught up with a friend from PNG and she asked me why I love the place so much and why I dont hate PNG like other visitors. I preceeded to wax lyrical about all the pluses of PNG - and there are many. When I drew breath, it hit me that the PNG I experience is not the PNG that Papua New Guineans like my friend grow up with. I don't experience the fear of riding home on payday, fearful that I will be robbed, I have ready access to the best health care in the world, I live out my own life choices and can educated myself and my children almost freely at great schools and universities. I eat without thinking and travel at a whim.

When I come to PNG it is to work for a healthy paycheck. I get to travel around the provinces in comfortable aircraft and stay at safe hotels. The natural environment and the people I have encoutered in PNG are some of the most extra-ordinary in the world. Its easy for me to love PNG as an outsider. I can put up with the water not being hot and the hassles and risks of trying to rent a house in a landlords market.

My friend to be frank has also had a pretty good life here. But she is a rarity I guess. In a UNIFEM survey on sexual and domestic violence a couple of years ago, 100% of survey recipients in the Highlands of PNG reported they had experienced both sexual and domestic violence. Women find it difficult to operate businesses here due to social, cultural and security issues. Girls and women are less likely to be literate or educated than boys and men. Girls and women are also more likely to develop HIV/AIDS. The list goes on.

However, its also not a great report card for men and boys either. PNG has a lot to do to turn the massive revenues and opportunities from its resources into development outcomes - into greater prosperity for all.

That's why I want to be here. Somehow I want to help our nearest neighbour make the transition that many doubt is possible. In the meantime, I will take a nice cold shower.

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The house hunting...

Well I got to see the house of my POM rental dreams today at 9am. The RE Agent and I bounded up the steep drive, the gate was open (better than yesterday) but unfortunately none of the 3 assembled "owner representatives" had a key to the inside. Still it looks like what we want. Hopefully Monday I can get a look inside?

Here is a photo of the view over the port

Find a house, find a house, find a house, find a house

2010-11-05T16:41:00.001+10:00

My main objective, if you havnt guessed is to find a bloody house. Who would have thought it sooo difficult.
The Port Moresby housing market has exploded and I mean exploded. 12 months ago a 3-4 bedroom family home would have cost around K4000 per week - thats about AUD$1500/week. Now thats not cheaps I know but still affordable based on PNG salaries for expats. That figure has jumped to a whopping K10,000 per week that is around $14,000 per month or $168,000 per annum. Did that make your eyes light up!!

The cost is one problem, a problem capable of being solved if you try hard enough...supply of housing on the otherhand is quite another story.

I went looking today...3 houses for rent that would fit the bill in POM city...yes 3. It will change daily, the market tends to change rapidly here but still 3??

The school on the other hand was brilliant. I am so impressed. I also managed to find a music teacher for the kids - he is just like a black Barry White. A little girl from what will be Claudia's class has also emailed and "{welcomed" Claudia which I thought was really lovely.

A lonely Friday afternoon in what is not yet my home, just a place for work. Cant wait until I dont have to travel anymore.

Going to look at another house tomorrow...the quest continues!!! Wish me luck