SPIDER ENCOUNTER!

6th December 2009

Had an unexpected trip to Australia for the past three weeks.A long and boring medical saga, caused by a simple earache lasting for two months and one which baffled one doc and two specialists in PNG. So, off to Oz we went, where things proceeded like a well oiled machine.The verdict was:

• Ears fine (for an old girl)
• Misaligned jaw, causing tissue damage and referred ear pain - solution a plate to wear at night.Can't talk with it in, so John keeps trying to insist I wear it during the day too!
• Twisted cervical vertebrae causing referred pain - treatment from the PNG national rugby league team physio who's from NZ - nice!
• More than three times the amount of acid in my stomach than is normal, (since when was I normal?) causing reflux and throat irritation, again affecting the ear -pills and diet change for that.

If that wasn't enough, I then somehow managed to get bitten by a poisonous spider!A white tailed spider which, as well as injecting poison also leaves a gift of flesh eating bacteria, so the wound grew from a pin sized blister to a very nasty one the size of a 10p piece, causing my hand to swell alarmingly and red streaks coursing up my arm.Luckily, the doc spotted the signs and whacked me on antibiotics swiftly and it now seems to be healing reasonably.

We stayed in a lovely apartment in Cairns, clean, hot and cold water, TV, electricity and opposite a Woolworths supermarket, which was quite acceptable.I saw a film and visited an art gallery while John dived the Barrier Reef - it was tough going!Great to experience a bit of civilisation for a change and we found Cairns, whilst a bit touristy, a pretty, friendly, very clean seaside town.

We weren't sorry to escape the last few weeks of term.On one typical Friday, out of a total of 72 lessons (9 classes X 8 lessons a day) 57 classes were not attended by teachers, which left a mere 15 alone being taught.Criminal I say!!Sadly, we missed graduation 'excitement'.Jake went to the one at our school which he termed 'utter chaos' as expected, although at least this year, the certificates were ready on time, but it culminated in a tribal fight.One tribe thought too many prizes went to students from another tribe and they didn't like it.Rumour has it one person was killed - you just couldn't make it up!Phil stood in for us while we were away and on one occasion he was due to cover for some of our work in one school, when he got a call the morning of the visit to tell him it was off because:

• Some male teachers got drunk and ended up in the girls' dormitory.
• Some male students got drunk and ended up in the same place.
• Security guards from the local community tried to sort it out and were set upon by the students.
• The tribe of the security guards retaliated against the students.
• The school was closed!

However, there are some positives.John and I prepared a summary paper for the Division of Education, basically highlighting the problems which mitigate against students getting a decent education in Simbu, with some suggested solutions.Jake presented this to the Senior Inspector and Chief Education Officer, who were both very impressed and are prepared (they say) to start considering some solutions, planning to visit all secondary schools with us next term to consult and work out strategies as to how, with our help, things can be improved.If this comes to pass, at least some small progress will have been made, so we're quite pleased.We have one more volunteer arriving in February to replace the three who have now left.Not ideal, as he has no management experience, but it appears not many volunteers want to come to PNG - can't think why!

There are jokes as well.An advert in the local rag from a funeral directors, offering a generous discount of funeral expenses if they happen between the dates of 16 - 19 November!I can just see granny being bumped off early to fit in, or hung onto for a few extra days in order to hit the sale!!

We have a bilum debacle!Our neighbour made John and I matching bilums (sweet) and she has noted and commented on several occasions when John hasn't worn his.Another neighbour has also made us 'designer' bilums of which she is very proud, and expects to see us parading around with hers on our shoulder, so we are in the unenviable position of having to please them both, otherwise there'll be trouble!I so hope no-one else makes us one, as life will get too complicated!

Schools officially closed on Friday and don't go back until the end of January, so a lovely long break.Teachers here are holding a Mu Mu tomorrow to celebrate (can't think what they have to celebrate, as they won't notice much difference between holiday and term time!).So, as I write, two pigs have arrived on a truck and are being tethered not far from our back door ready to be eaten tomorrow.Don't think we will be able to get out of that one.

In a week, Richard, Jo and Mollie are arriving.We are spending a week on an island off Alatou, to give them a feel of coastal life, then up to the Highlands for Christmas.Can't think what to get for Christmas dinner, though I suspect it might be chicken!I think they are so brave attempting such a journey with a tot - I think modern young people have got much more courage than we had.So, needless to say, John and I are just a tad excited about seeing them.Sad not to be sharing Christmas with the girls of course, especially as Becky is planning on producing our second granddaughter on Christmas Day!However, we find SKYPE a real bonus, so we'll at least be able to see each other and communicate.

I hope all Christmas preparations are going well - only about 18 sleeps til Christmas!Obviously, we won't be sending cards this year, but will be thinking of you all, wishing you snow and a very happy time.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

Much love from us both

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