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Week beginning 15th June 2009
Congratulations Dianne on becoming a granny for the eighth time! And to son Leeroy, partner Caroline and baby Katie.
Last week we went to Goroka museum where there was displays of mourning jewellery including human finger necklaces. These were from 1960! See photos.
Alison went to a graduation for a life-skills programme on healthy eating and hygiene. They taught the village ladies to make American doughnuts among other things- very healthy. They proved very popular as you can see from blog photo - everyone took loads.
The plan this week was to go to Doliba again on Tuesday for three days.
On Thursday we were going so we shopped for provisions. On Friday it was off - too wet - it would only be on if it stayed dry all weekend. On Saturday and Sunday it rained all night. Trip was off. On Monday everyone agreed the road was impassable. We made other plans for the week. This Tuesday we had a phone call - the school was on its way to pick us up!
Another epic journey. This time we stayed in the headteacher's house. There was no water. Electricity for 2 hours at night and the house was in a poor state, including a hole in the floor where the floorboards had rotted. During the night we heard scurrying and scratching and our loaf of bread was nibbled by the morning. A poor night's sleep had by all. We worked hard. We delivered in-service training to the 10 members of staff from 9 a.m. 'til 4 p.m. with half an hour for lunch. They were a very receptive and keen staff.
We went back to the house to see an old billy goat tetheredthere. They told us they were having a mui mui to mark the end of term two and our being there. We saw the whole process and then shared the goat meat (see 'before and after' photos - sorry!).
We delivered more in-service training the next morning. The headteacher suggested we started at 7 a.m. then said 7.30 a.m. but we felt 8 a.m. would be early enough.
We left in the truck at 11a.m. with a full truckload of staff and their families - 26 people, including us, all heading to town to start the end-of-term holiday (we don't start ours yet). Within an hour the tyre burst. The spare tyre had already been used on the way up to Doliba due to a tyre burst, so that 'spare' that had been repaired was fitted.
So with the newly repaired tyre on we set off. It burst 20 minutes down the track. Two men took the tyre and went back to a mission station to see if they could repair it or sell us a spare (wheeling it, largely uphill for an hour). Two teachers went on to the next village to see if they could get a repair. We waited in the shade for an hour and then talked of walking the three hours to get the PMV to town. The staff were keen for us to do this as we seemed quite a liability. I think they could cope but worried about us. We set off with the Headteacher, buying bananas and flour balls along the way. After an hour and a half we arrived at a village and were greeted warmly by the folk there, who were mainly playing cards for money or selling bananas, rice balls or beetlenut. We were a welcome distraction and a group of people formed opposite, staring at us. The children inched nearer and dared each other to get close and then got the giggles. Whilst there a phone call told us that the truck had been mended and they were on their way again. We were glad it was coming as we couldn't smile any longer.
When it eventually arrived, we all started piling onto the truck when someone noticed that the front tyre was bulging. Off we got again, whilst this wheel was changed for one of the spare 'spares'. Things were looking precarious and we still had 3 hours to go. The driver decided that whenever we were going up hill (often), downhill (often) and across bridges (frequently) everyone had to get off and walk - even mothers with young babies etc. - except Alison - who was forced to stay on as 'white meri'. As the journey took so long, the rains came - meaning everyone got wet but worse still the roads became muddier and increasingly difficult. A leash was tied to the front of the truck and the strong PNG teachers literally pulled the truck up hill. Theyhad to do this 7 times and got wearier and muddier each time. As the tyres gripped, mud was flung up in the air and everyone got covered.
We arrived home - 8 hours after setting off for the 25 mile journey - bruised and weary, covered in mud. Even Alison's knickers were muddy through her trousers. Ben says ' Never again!' We stripped off the minute we got through the door and fortunately the water was on and the shower was bliss.
We woke this morning (Friday) still aching and with little energy to get going. We later saw the school truck as it headed back to Doliba. How they could face another such journey is beyond us.
Today we prepared for the Headteachers' Conference by rehearsing a role play we are putting on. Mike is the Headteacher and I am the undisciplined deputy. I am thinking of wearing my meri dress for the role.
Love Alison & Mike
- comments
Eda Interesting post and covered all most all the basic tips a posern can easily adopt. Curious to add one more tip, not sure you like it or not:While going on a long drive you can utilize the AC switch ON/OFF process to improve the oil efficiency..Everyone knows that car consumes more fuel while it running on AC than running without AC. So if you feel after each 15 mins you have enough cooling inside your car you can easily survive by switching OFF the AC for next 3-5 mins and it can effect the overall performance of your car if you are planing for 5-6 hours of long drive..hope it will help