On Monday 3 May Una took me (Ken) up the North Coast Road to Malala Secondary School where she was observing teachers in the classroom who had attended her subject workshops earlier in the year. That afternoon we travelled on to stay at the Guesthouse in Bogia for a few days so that teachers at Holy Spirit School could also be seen. It was all rather sad to be on our final visit to these lovely places in the bush. Before leaving Malala we were told that there was a bridge 'down' before Bogia. Indeed there was but as it was only a little one a by-pass had been built through the river. However a Kina 20 fee was required for this privilege. I asked for a receipt and was astonished not to get one!! We were told that some nuns the previous weekend had been charged Kina 100 so we did well! On the way back, a few days later, it had been repaired which was rather a shock as the expectation in PNG is for these things to happen whenever! It was a long day coming back as we went South of Madang to visit a new School in Transgogal. Una had got the vehicle stuck in the mud on her last visit and the driver managed it again but in another spot. He had been warned! The same teachers and students got it sorted after a lot of rocks were moved and diesel burned. Practical Skills education.

Whilst you were enjoying the General Election (6 May) I taught a course, in Madang, for Assessment Coordinators on the national policy. Of course it was stressed that I was no longer a VSO Volunteer and was not being paid a fee and thus not breaking the terms of my Tourist Visa. I rather enjoyed it. Una finished that week with more Subject Resource workshops.

On Monday 10 May we went to Raikos for the day. You may remember Una of "the burned face, sore bottom and jumping into the sea" fame on her first visit. The sea was very calm and the boat could be beached and on the way back we could land on the rocks at the Lodge. This non-swimmer was rather pleased to be home dry and unburned! We had walked up to the School (30 mins) in the hot morning sun but came back on the tractor only repaired that afternoon. The next week (Monday to Wednesday) was Karkar Island again by boat all incident free and calm. However the boatman's 18 month old son cried to come and, naked as the day he was born, was placed between Una's legs and fell fast asleep. When we got there we were not expected at the Guesthouse so a clean up job was needed and Una ended up cooking in the dark. The next morning we found out that the daughter of the man who looks after the Guesthouse had murdered her husband in the next village. There was tension but we were OK.

Apologies for the gap in putting an entry on the BLOG but we have been rather busy. The plans for our homeward journey are coming on but not yet finalised; more later.