December 2010

Dear

Doesn't time fly! This time last year we were 'enjoying' Ken's 'stent' operation in North Queensland. We returned to PNG in late December 2009 and finally left in June 2010 (Ken having gone in January and returned in April). We reached the UK a month later via the Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Zealand. What a trip! It is all documented on our Blog. Given that we had excellent tenants in our house until December 2010 we have been wandering between our children's homes, including 3 weeks in Italy, rented accommodation near Great Dunmow in Essex and 5 weeks in South Western France thanks to a kind Rotarian from Colchester. Rowhedge was ours again on 1 December. The "no fixed abode" experience has been enjoyed in many ways but is now "wearing exceedingly thin". Una will now embroider the older one's cryptic style with some detail; a female/male thing I am led to believe.

So it seems over to me!

Christmas last year in Cairns was good with a last minute decision to eat in a nearby hotel. The Christmas tree was a twig that had fallen onto our little patio added to which were the set of Nativity figures sent by our friend Irene. It was odd having so few Christmas cards though! On arrival back in PNG we were told Ken needed to return to the UK to recuperate [in the coldest winter for years!] although he was so well. After a few days thinking I suggested that I stayed for a term to finish some of the planned activities as if I went there would be no Secondary Education volunteers left. Ken agreed and he returned home alone. After his trips to stay with each of the children I suggested that he returned for three months [the length of a visa] and we met at the airport in Port Moresby and flew to Alotau for the Easter break. The hotel was amazing and the people so kind. They, the hotel staff, obviously liked us as on our last night they did a special traditional meal, champagne to drink and a dance group to perform just for us! Along with gifts especially a necklace each [a first for Ken!!] showing that we belonged to them for ever.

So back to Madang and three months of work for me and a "holiday" for Ken. We managed to visit each of our schools as well which was wonderful. And then what a farewell we were given! The headteachers invited us to their meeting and said lots of wonderful things and then given presents. We had so many gifts given to us that we had to send 4 large parcels home via DHL which cost vastly more than the gifts! Where we will put 40 odd bilums [traditional bags] I have no idea. I also have two Chiefs' shell necklaces to display somehow never mind the wooden things! An extraordinary experience; thank you VSO!

Then as Ken says above we had a month travelling home which was fantastic.

Fuller details are on the BLOG www.offexploring.com/kenanduna

This covers the last 18 months up to July.

So a bit more about the last 5 months. I found this farm accommodation on the website just before we arrived home and in August Sian and Ewan and the boys came to stay along with Gary and Sandra and their two boys. Sara and Simon took the week off and travelled over each day. The weather was great for the most part and the owners allowed us to use their swimming pool which was wonderful for the kids and yes I ventured in once - it was freezing!

Now what can I say about France?? Well we fell in love with the area which was the Haute Pyrenees. We went to the local Church and half of the small congregation was English and not only that two couples had lived in Colchester!!! Ken was asked to preach on our last Sunday and was received extremely well [translation being done after each sentence] and we have been offered the opportunity to live in their large apartment any time we want. We also fell in love with a house that Ken feels has our name on it! House selling in the UK at this time?? Hopefully the French house will be still on the market later! Daft aren't we??? As our agent in Colchester said, " I can't let you two out of my sight for a minute". My plans drawn up for changes to the house in Rowhedge are going ahead.Now that we vare in the house and the loft is only partly sorted. So it is a busy run up to Christmas.

What were we looking forward to being in the house? Being warmer! Wearing more than trousers [couldn't justify buying new clothes as the loft is full of clothes!!well mine!] wearing some jewelry [took off all my rings and bangles before going to PNG for security], and having our things around us and of course unpacking the PNG bilums!! [!!

Other news. Ken was home when his brother John died suddenly in March and so was able to attend the funeral. It was a difficult time on his own but Sian was able to attend the funeral with him which was a great comfort.

Mark has now gained his Masters and a qualification that means he can prescribe drugs for his patients. He works with 5 GP surgeries but it is still a stressful job. Andrea is working on her Doctorate, teaching in Cambridge and London at four different Universities and so is very busy. She also sold one of her paintings for proper money!

Sian decided to applyfor a job outside the home from where she has always worked and got an interview. She decided not to take it though as the travelling to Edinburgh would be too onerous. Ewan is still at a school in Perth travelling daily which is quite a way. The boys are growing fast and now so tall but both doing well at school.

Gary and Sandra are house searching which is proving difficult. What they'd like is to be near where they are but houses are expensive. Their two boys are lively. Jacopo has just started big school and he has begun English already. He told his teacher that he didn't need lessons as he could speak English!! Alessandro is a miniature Ken so we kept being told, minus the beard and glasses of course!! He is very fair skinned with light brown hair, and more handsome!

Sara continues to work in the gym and has done a few extra courses for various other types of fitness. She ran her first marathon in Berlin a few months ago and completed it in 4 hours 18 minutes which we are told is good. Simon is still in Birmingham. His job there is very stressful as he is working in a hospital with soldiers who have been badly injured. As they only let them do this job for 2 years he will be posted again shortly. The children are well. We went to Robert's concert in late November where he starred in Grease, his solo was good even with a bad throat. Sam has settled very well into Secondary School. Rebekah will do her GCSEs next summer.

My sister Chris continues and Roger is her main carer. She can't hold a conversation and has begun to fall rather a lot which is distressing. But they remain in good spirits and an inspirational example of "in sickness and in health"!

The future? Being determined to 'do' South America before extreme old age Ken found the ideal solution a few vweeks ago. A 27 day flight/cruise taking in Argentina, the Falklands, Chile and Peru in January/February at a very reasonable price. Honestly! After that a return trip to Maubourguet for a while and further thought about the next adventure.

We trust that you are well and look forward to your news.

Every blessing,

Ken and Una.

PS. We have been in our home for almost two weeks now now. Only we could have had the furniture etc arrive in thick snow! But we are in and have unpacked our PNG things - oh so many memories. Our future?

December 2010

Dear

Doesn't time fly! This time last year we were 'enjoying' Ken's 'stent' operation in North Queensland. We returned to PNG in late December 2009 and finally left in June 2010 (Ken having gone in January and returned in April). We reached the UK a month later via the Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Zealand. What a trip! It is all documented on our Blog. Given that we had excellent tenants in our house until December 2010 we have been wandering between our children's homes, including 3 weeks in Italy, rented accommodation near Great Dunmow in Essex and 5 weeks in South Western France thanks to a kind Rotarian from Colchester. Rowhedge was ours again on 1 December. The "no fixed abode" experience has been enjoyed in many ways but is now "wearing exceedingly thin". Una will now embroider the older one's cryptic style with some detail; a female/male thing I am led to believe.

So it seems over to me!

Christmas last year in Cairns was good with a last minute decision to eat in a nearby hotel. The Christmas tree was a twig that had fallen onto our little patio added to which were the set of Nativity figures sent by our friend Irene. It was odd having so few Christmas cards though! On arrival back in PNG we were told Ken needed to return to the UK to recuperate [in the coldest winter for years!] although he was so well. After a few days thinking I suggested that I stayed for a term to finish some of the planned activities as if I went there would be no Secondary Education volunteers left. Ken agreed and he returned home alone. After his trips to stay with each of the children I suggested that he returned for three months [the length of a visa] and we met at the airport in Port Moresby and flew to Alotau for the Easter break. The hotel was amazing and the people so kind. They, the hotel staff, obviously liked us as on our last night they did a special traditional meal, champagne to drink and a dance group to perform just for us! Along with gifts especially a necklace each [a first for Ken!!] showing that we belonged to them for ever.

So back to Madang and three months of work for me and a "holiday" for Ken. We managed to visit each of our schools as well which was wonderful. And then what a farewell we were given! The headteachers invited us to their meeting and said lots of wonderful things and then given presents. We had so many gifts given to us that we had to send 4 large parcels home via DHL which cost vastly more than the gifts! Where we will put 40 odd bilums [traditional bags] I have no idea. I also have two Chiefs' shell necklaces to display somehow never mind the wooden things! An extraordinary experience; thank you VSO!

Then as Ken says above we had a month travelling home which was fantastic.

Fuller details are on the BLOG www.offexploring.com/kenanduna

This covers the last 18 months up to July.

So a bit more about the last 5 months. I found this farm accommodation on the website just before we arrived home and in August Sian and Ewan and the boys came to stay along with Gary and Sandra and their two boys. Sara and Simon took the week off and travelled over each day. The weather was great for the most part and the owners allowed us to use their swimming pool which was wonderful for the kids and yes I ventured in once - it was freezing!

Now what can I say about France?? Well we fell in love with the area which was the Haute Pyrenees. We went to the local Church and half of the small congregation was English and not only that two couples had lived in Colchester!!! Ken was asked to preach on our last Sunday and was received extremely well [translation being done after each sentence] and we have been offered the opportunity to live in their large apartment any time we want. We also fell in love with a house that Ken feels has our name on it! House selling in the UK at this time?? Hopefully the French house will be still on the market later! Daft aren't we??? As our agent in Colchester said, " I can't let you two out of my sight for a minute". My plans drawn up for changes to the house in Rowhedge are going ahead.Now that we vare in the house and the loft is only partly sorted. So it is a busy run up to Christmas.

What were we looking forward to being in the house? Being warmer! Wearing more than trousers [couldn't justify buying new clothes as the loft is full of clothes!!well mine!] wearing some jewelry [took off all my rings and bangles before going to PNG for security], and having our things around us and of course unpacking the PNG bilums!! [!!

Other news. Ken was home when his brother John died suddenly in March and so was able to attend the funeral. It was a difficult time on his own but Sian was able to attend the funeral with him which was a great comfort.

Mark has now gained his Masters and a qualification that means he can prescribe drugs for his patients. He works with 5 GP surgeries but it is still a stressful job. Andrea is working on her Doctorate, teaching in Cambridge and London at four different Universities and so is very busy. She also sold one of her paintings for proper money!

Sian decided to applyfor a job outside the home from where she has always worked and got an interview. She decided not to take it though as the travelling to Edinburgh would be too onerous. Ewan is still at a school in Perth travelling daily which is quite a way. The boys are growing fast and now so tall but both doing well at school.

Gary and Sandra are house searching which is proving difficult. What they'd like is to be near where they are but houses are expensive. Their two boys are lively. Jacopo has just started big school and he has begun English already. He told his teacher that he didn't need lessons as he could speak English!! Alessandro is a miniature Ken so we kept being told, minus the beard and glasses of course!! He is very fair skinned with light brown hair, and more handsome!

Sara continues to work in the gym and has done a few extra courses for various other types of fitness. She ran her first marathon in Berlin a few months ago and completed it in 4 hours 18 minutes which we are told is good. Simon is still in Birmingham. His job there is very stressful as he is working in a hospital with soldiers who have been badly injured. As they only let them do this job for 2 years he will be posted again shortly. The children are well. We went to Robert's concert in late November where he starred in Grease, his solo was good even with a bad throat. Sam has settled very well into Secondary School. Rebekah will do her GCSEs next summer.

My sister Chris continues and Roger is her main carer. She can't hold a conversation and has begun to fall rather a lot which is distressing. But they remain in good spirits and an inspirational example of "in sickness and in health"!

The future? Being determined to 'do' South America before extreme old age Ken found the ideal solution a few vweeks ago. A 27 day flight/cruise taking in Argentina, the Falklands, Chile and Peru in January/February at a very reasonable price. Honestly! After that a return trip to Maubourguet for a while and further thought about the next adventure.

We trust that you are well and look forward to your news.

Every blessing,

Ken and Una.

PS. We have been in our home for almost two weeks now now. Only we could have had the furniture etc arrive in thick snow! But we are in and have unpacked our PNG things - oh so many memories. Our future?