76 days to go.
I was woken by a broadcast of Religious Radio floating in somewhere from the East of the room at 0600. Once the sermon was over at about 0615 it was Sam Cooke for 10 minutes. I went and had a shower, when I returned to the room at 0640 all was silent to the East. I wonder if they ascended?
Well, normal day at work. My job description has changed again. I have another couple of areas to look at and try and help to modernise. What we do is identify the process that need changing and then submit our suggestions to the locals.
They can accept or reject our suggestions. If they accept we then work with someone to help plan the implementation. We have to "Capacity Build" the locals. We need to convince them that the new way is better and then for them to take ownership. If they do not like the alterations they return to the old way once you stop looking.
So I have finished my first bit and I now have to wait to see if we have approval from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. If not we will ask for it. I can then put the plan in action and begin to organise staff training.
Before I begin my next couple of major projects I completed an interim one today to last until I can spend some time on them.
Lunch time and I will close for now as I am about to go on a Patrol with the NZ Navy. The patrol is due to end on Friday 5th however that may change as the patrol is running ahead of schedule. They have been ordered to return to a place to pick me up. I hope they do not hold it against me. They were probably counting on being home on Monday and I will hold them up til about Wednesday.
Spent the rest of the day pottering with different processes then headed home to eat and pack. I have everything ready and go to bed about 2200, up at 0600 for a trip to the airport.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday 25th September.
View from the Office. Savo Island on the right, Point Esperance on the left.
77 days to go.
Well after an interesting nights sleep, this is the first night I have gone through without having some form of assisstance. That is, no fan or air conditioner on. I am still adjusting to getting up to use the toilet because of the large amount of water I am drinking.
I awoke just before the alarm at 0700 to the strains of some 70s music being played nearby and the singing that was with it. Go to prison and pick up the visitors and on to work. Squeeky is still unwell, but continues on.
Get into work and receive a phone call from one of the outer Islands. Utter confusion reigns. I was supposed to go, now I’m not. Speak to Nemo who is on her way to a meeting with other RAMSI folk. I can still go perhaps, but will find outafter her meeting. After the meeting she rings and says I can go. The Army Colonel has said he will ordere the boat back to pick me up. They are going to love this onboard. I will be surprised if anyone speaks to me. Maybe they will tow me behind the big boat in a little inflatable. Maybe they will just throw me overboard and report me missing. In the meantime, Duke had started to get me dropped from the flight.
Went out with Tweety for lunch. He wanted to return to the hotel to get some tablets for his tummy. Back to work and drafting new instructions for changes to procedure. Had confirmation that I was still listed for the Thursday flight. I will have confirmation and departure details at about 1500 tomorrow.
As today is a slow day I will mention the War, I did before, but I think I got away with it.
The War in the West Pacific. Prior to the US landing on 7th August there were a few other things that happenned. Everyone knows about Pearl Harbour in December 1941. After that the Japanese moved south from their own country to a line from Singapore, New Guinea and Bouganville and to the Solomon Islands at Tulagi on the 3rd May 1942. This started the Battle of Coral Sea between 4th – 8th May 42. This was the first defeat for the Japanese forces on their push south. The following month 3rd – 7th June the Battle of Midway was fought. The Allies had a significant victory and changed the balance of navy power in the Pacific. In early July the Allies discovered that the Japanese were building the airfield on Guadalcanal. This lead to the land battles I started on earlier. This was the first US land action of WW2. As a result of this the following sea battle followed.
The Battle of Savo Island. (I can see Savo every morning, it is about 20 nm from Honiara).
Two days after the landing, in the early hours of the 9th August a Japanese fleet sailed down “The Slot” to Savo Island. A series of miscalculations by the Allies missed the fleet, and after the initial attack started they made several mistakes that worked in the Japanese favour. They sailed from the north and came around the East of the Island and then turned and headed North on the Western side of the Island. In the hour it took to do this the Japanese fleet sank 3 US Heavy Cruisers and 1 Australian Heavy Cruisers.
One other US Heavy Cruisers and two Destroyers were badly damages. A third US Destroyer that was damaged in the attack was sunk by Japanese planes later in the day. It was one of the worst defeats suffered by the US.
There were six other naval actions serious enough to be given their own names.
If anyone reading this is interested, please leave a comment to let me know if you want me to continue this, or an I boring you to death? I do not need to write it as I have other ways of remembering.
Well after an interesting nights sleep, this is the first night I have gone through without having some form of assisstance. That is, no fan or air conditioner on. I am still adjusting to getting up to use the toilet because of the large amount of water I am drinking.
I awoke just before the alarm at 0700 to the strains of some 70s music being played nearby and the singing that was with it. Go to prison and pick up the visitors and on to work. Squeeky is still unwell, but continues on.
Get into work and receive a phone call from one of the outer Islands. Utter confusion reigns. I was supposed to go, now I’m not. Speak to Nemo who is on her way to a meeting with other RAMSI folk. I can still go perhaps, but will find outafter her meeting. After the meeting she rings and says I can go. The Army Colonel has said he will ordere the boat back to pick me up. They are going to love this onboard. I will be surprised if anyone speaks to me. Maybe they will tow me behind the big boat in a little inflatable. Maybe they will just throw me overboard and report me missing. In the meantime, Duke had started to get me dropped from the flight.
Went out with Tweety for lunch. He wanted to return to the hotel to get some tablets for his tummy. Back to work and drafting new instructions for changes to procedure. Had confirmation that I was still listed for the Thursday flight. I will have confirmation and departure details at about 1500 tomorrow.
As today is a slow day I will mention the War, I did before, but I think I got away with it.
The War in the West Pacific. Prior to the US landing on 7th August there were a few other things that happenned. Everyone knows about Pearl Harbour in December 1941. After that the Japanese moved south from their own country to a line from Singapore, New Guinea and Bouganville and to the Solomon Islands at Tulagi on the 3rd May 1942. This started the Battle of Coral Sea between 4th – 8th May 42. This was the first defeat for the Japanese forces on their push south. The following month 3rd – 7th June the Battle of Midway was fought. The Allies had a significant victory and changed the balance of navy power in the Pacific. In early July the Allies discovered that the Japanese were building the airfield on Guadalcanal. This lead to the land battles I started on earlier. This was the first US land action of WW2. As a result of this the following sea battle followed.
The Battle of Savo Island. (I can see Savo every morning, it is about 20 nm from Honiara).
Two days after the landing, in the early hours of the 9th August a Japanese fleet sailed down “The Slot” to Savo Island. A series of miscalculations by the Allies missed the fleet, and after the initial attack started they made several mistakes that worked in the Japanese favour. They sailed from the north and came around the East of the Island and then turned and headed North on the Western side of the Island. In the hour it took to do this the Japanese fleet sank 3 US Heavy Cruisers and 1 Australian Heavy Cruisers.
One other US Heavy Cruisers and two Destroyers were badly damages. A third US Destroyer that was damaged in the attack was sunk by Japanese planes later in the day. It was one of the worst defeats suffered by the US.
There were six other naval actions serious enough to be given their own names.
If anyone reading this is interested, please leave a comment to let me know if you want me to continue this, or an I boring you to death? I do not need to write it as I have other ways of remembering.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday 24th September.
78 days to go.
0730 start. Fire up the computer and still NO INTERNET. Start working. Squeeky, Plunger and Spud Cod arrive and Squeeky is not well. Something he ate is not agreeing with him. He lasts out the morning and he gets dropped off at the Prison for a quick rest. It is the first day of 2 weeks worth of courses he is here to present.
Again we have some rain, still it keeps the temperature down.
We head out for lunch and to pick up some shopping. Over lunch we find out that Plunger was propositioned at the bar of the Church last night.
Apparently he went up to buy his round, as he is ordering a local girl approached him and introduced herself. She asked where he was staying and if he was lonley and would like some company. He declined the offer, well he told us he did anyway.
After lunch I finally get a very very slow internet connection. I find out that Newcastle actually beat West Ham, something I was not expecting after losing to Derby last week. Squeeky turns up and gets through the afternoon. That was a major effort, the boy done good. I take the 3 back to the Prison. Go back to work and finish off what I was doing. Then a quiet night in. Back to the grind tomorrow.
0730 start. Fire up the computer and still NO INTERNET. Start working. Squeeky, Plunger and Spud Cod arrive and Squeeky is not well. Something he ate is not agreeing with him. He lasts out the morning and he gets dropped off at the Prison for a quick rest. It is the first day of 2 weeks worth of courses he is here to present.
Again we have some rain, still it keeps the temperature down.
We head out for lunch and to pick up some shopping. Over lunch we find out that Plunger was propositioned at the bar of the Church last night.
Apparently he went up to buy his round, as he is ordering a local girl approached him and introduced herself. She asked where he was staying and if he was lonley and would like some company. He declined the offer, well he told us he did anyway.
After lunch I finally get a very very slow internet connection. I find out that Newcastle actually beat West Ham, something I was not expecting after losing to Derby last week. Squeeky turns up and gets through the afternoon. That was a major effort, the boy done good. I take the 3 back to the Prison. Go back to work and finish off what I was doing. Then a quiet night in. Back to the grind tomorrow.
Sunday 23rd September.
They must get unruly customers in the Airport Hotel.79 days to go.
A nice lie in til 0800, some breakfast and some lounging around until 1100. Tweety and I head off to Nemos’ place. We take our washing and both get them done. Work done we head off to the Airport Hotel for lunch. During lunch Nemo tells us about her Saturday. She went diving off the beach on the West of the Island, where we drove last Sunday. She walked off the beach and then swam a few meteres to a submarine. She spent the whole of the dive going in and out of the wrecked submarine.
After lunch we head off for our drive the length of the road to the East. This area of Guadalcanal is totally different to the West side. These are the plains. Most of the agriculture takes place here. There are also Palm plantations. Row after row of palm trees stretching a long way. They are used to produce Palm Oil, wonder if that is what they use in Palmolive?
I also found out that there are two types of Coconut Palms. The tall ones are the old natural ones. There are smaller hybrid ones. They were introduced to make collection easier. However they produce smaller Coconuts. The locals refer to these as "Colonial Coconuts"
We pass a few villages, people out walking everywhere. There are several rivers too. In most of them the local communities are either swimming or washing. Clothes or cars. They just drive the car into the river and wash it.
We get to the end of the road, well for us anyway. We do not attempt to go any further past a wide river bed. There is a bridge, but no road leading up to it. We return via the same road to Nemos house where we pick up the washing.
On the way back we experience some rain, not the expected heavy tropical downpour, just a shower. First rain we have seen here despite constant cloud cover.
Back to the Hotel. Tweety heads off to Dukes where the other 3 have gone. Tonight is Melbourne v Parramatta in the second Rugby League semi final. After the game finishes he takes the others to the prison and returns to the hotel. There appears to have been a lot more rain down Dukes way, after the reasonable drive there last night it was almost time to switch to 4 wheel drive. We have dinner in and a quiet night. Newcastle are playing tonight. There has been no internet access since Friday. I will have to wait until Monday.
Saturday 22nd September
View West (left) and East (below) of Red Beach.
80 Days to go.
Up at 0800 today. Meeting Squeeky, Spud Cod and Plunger at the Mendana. We are off for a tour of the Eastern Battlefields of Guadalcanal. The Tour starts at 0900. We are the only 4 on the tour. We start up at the US / Solomons memorial. It is on one of the higher points at Honiara. You can see the location of a lot of the action from here. The memorial has all sorts of stuff about the action. I will post pictures.
We head to the eastern-most point of the action, Red Beach. It is here the US forces landed unopposed. The name was only a code name. The other beach where they landed on the Island of Malaita was called Blue Beach. They only had time to get about half of the men and equipment ashore. They then had to stop and retreat to the south as they were in danger of being attacked by the superior Japanese Navy. It was August 7th 1942. By the close of August 9th they had taken their primary objective, the airfield. The airfield was 90% completed by the Japanese. After taking the field it was quickly named by the Marines after one of their own Aviators, Major Lofton Henderson who was killed at the Battle of Midway. They wanted to ensure they had the naming rights over the Army and the Navy. Lofton Henderson Airfield was now the US landing strip.
Next was the site of the US Hospital. There are Quansett huts spread throughout the area. You can see it was a large facility, however very basic.
The next place we went to was the “ Tenaru River” site. This was the scene of the counter offensive by the Japanese. The only problem was it was actually the Ilu River, the US had got their rivers mixed up. To confuse this even more the US Marines called it the Alligator River. Of the 917 Japanese attacked the US forces at the mouth of the river. Their attack however was not well planned. They attacked from the sea side and they walked into an established defensive position. All but 128 were killed. When we returned to the road from the rivermouth we could see the edge of the airfield. Thefighting took place only about 200 metres short of the airfield.
After this we went to the airfield itself. There is a memorial garden. We drove around the airfield, passing the remaining air control tower. It was destroyed 13 times by the Japanese. Next to this is a Memorial for the Battle at Bloody Ridge or Edsons Ridge. More on that in a moment. Then we went past the area where the US had their HQ. It was housed in what was the Japanese Pagoda. They then moved after destroying the Pagoda when they realised it was being used as a landmark for artillary barrages of the airfield.
Bloody Ridge runs between two hills, Hill 1 and Hill 2.They are numbered as the US discovered them. Bloody Ridge is between the high ground, Mt. Austen, and the airfield. It was held by the Japanese who were forced back towards Mt. Austen. They counter attacked, the US troops were forced back from Hill 1 across the Ridge to Hill 2. Standing on Hill 2 you can still see depressions of the foxholes. There has been some recent grass fires and Squeeky finds a bullet casing, centre fire of unsure calibre, but is of the size used during WW2. There were over 3,000 Japanese troops attacked the ridge which was defended by 840 US soldiers led by Merritt A Edson. This is the only area where hand to hand combat takes place. Eventually the US hold off the attack. Over 600 Japanese lose their lives. US casualties are reported to be 59.
This was the last site of the Eastern Battlefield tour. We returned to Honiara and had some lunch and regrouped for a drive to Dukes house, high on a ridge over looking Iron Bottom Sound and the Slot. Those of you “Googling” some of this stuff will know what those terms mean.
We have a great barbeque at the Dukes, then settle down to watch Crows v somebody in the AFL and then Manly v some Qld team in the Rugby League. They are both semi finals. Neither of them were semi interesting.Well that was an interesting Saturday.
I am writing this for my family and myself. I could write more on the Battlefields and Naval Battles that took place here that I have learnt about. However as no-one else is commenting I think I shall just commit it to memory. Those people who know me will be surprised that I have written so much. I am not usually this demonstrative.
Up at 0800 today. Meeting Squeeky, Spud Cod and Plunger at the Mendana. We are off for a tour of the Eastern Battlefields of Guadalcanal. The Tour starts at 0900. We are the only 4 on the tour. We start up at the US / Solomons memorial. It is on one of the higher points at Honiara. You can see the location of a lot of the action from here. The memorial has all sorts of stuff about the action. I will post pictures.
We head to the eastern-most point of the action, Red Beach. It is here the US forces landed unopposed. The name was only a code name. The other beach where they landed on the Island of Malaita was called Blue Beach. They only had time to get about half of the men and equipment ashore. They then had to stop and retreat to the south as they were in danger of being attacked by the superior Japanese Navy. It was August 7th 1942. By the close of August 9th they had taken their primary objective, the airfield. The airfield was 90% completed by the Japanese. After taking the field it was quickly named by the Marines after one of their own Aviators, Major Lofton Henderson who was killed at the Battle of Midway. They wanted to ensure they had the naming rights over the Army and the Navy. Lofton Henderson Airfield was now the US landing strip.
Next was the site of the US Hospital. There are Quansett huts spread throughout the area. You can see it was a large facility, however very basic.
The next place we went to was the “ Tenaru River” site. This was the scene of the counter offensive by the Japanese. The only problem was it was actually the Ilu River, the US had got their rivers mixed up. To confuse this even more the US Marines called it the Alligator River. Of the 917 Japanese attacked the US forces at the mouth of the river. Their attack however was not well planned. They attacked from the sea side and they walked into an established defensive position. All but 128 were killed. When we returned to the road from the rivermouth we could see the edge of the airfield. Thefighting took place only about 200 metres short of the airfield.
After this we went to the airfield itself. There is a memorial garden. We drove around the airfield, passing the remaining air control tower. It was destroyed 13 times by the Japanese. Next to this is a Memorial for the Battle at Bloody Ridge or Edsons Ridge. More on that in a moment. Then we went past the area where the US had their HQ. It was housed in what was the Japanese Pagoda. They then moved after destroying the Pagoda when they realised it was being used as a landmark for artillary barrages of the airfield.
Bloody Ridge runs between two hills, Hill 1 and Hill 2.They are numbered as the US discovered them. Bloody Ridge is between the high ground, Mt. Austen, and the airfield. It was held by the Japanese who were forced back towards Mt. Austen. They counter attacked, the US troops were forced back from Hill 1 across the Ridge to Hill 2. Standing on Hill 2 you can still see depressions of the foxholes. There has been some recent grass fires and Squeeky finds a bullet casing, centre fire of unsure calibre, but is of the size used during WW2. There were over 3,000 Japanese troops attacked the ridge which was defended by 840 US soldiers led by Merritt A Edson. This is the only area where hand to hand combat takes place. Eventually the US hold off the attack. Over 600 Japanese lose their lives. US casualties are reported to be 59.
This was the last site of the Eastern Battlefield tour. We returned to Honiara and had some lunch and regrouped for a drive to Dukes house, high on a ridge over looking Iron Bottom Sound and the Slot. Those of you “Googling” some of this stuff will know what those terms mean.
We have a great barbeque at the Dukes, then settle down to watch Crows v somebody in the AFL and then Manly v some Qld team in the Rugby League. They are both semi finals. Neither of them were semi interesting.Well that was an interesting Saturday.
I am writing this for my family and myself. I could write more on the Battlefields and Naval Battles that took place here that I have learnt about. However as no-one else is commenting I think I shall just commit it to memory. Those people who know me will be surprised that I have written so much. I am not usually this demonstrative.
Friday 21st September.
81 Days to go.
Well, today it rained for the first time. I was sort of expecting it to pour down for ages and then the air would be swwet and cool. What an idiot! It just made it twice as hot. Drudged through work, the power outages are getting worse. We lost maybe 3 hours during the day. Not all at once though.
We have a generator, however it is a bit old and no-one knows what to do with it. It is supposed to come on within a minute of the power going off. Sometimes a button has to be pressed. Other times it runs out of fuel and nobody replaces it.
We have another generator, it is almost new. The Ministry of Finance gave it to us. They got a brand new one and this one was playing up. So they gave it to us with all the inherant problems. We installed it, but are not allowed to start it up as the exhaust does not have a rain catcher on it, this is to replace the upturned plastic soft drink bottle that sits on the pipe to stop water entering. One day something will happen.
Tweety and I have moved hotels. We were told that a room would be available in another hotel with a kitchenette, we went and had a look, it was OK so we have moved in. We will be sharing until a second one becomes available. I will only be there until Thursday and I head off somewhere else until the following Friday. The other room will be available then. So it is now the “KING SOLOMON HOTEL” for me!
This evening the whole work team, seven of us, as Baby Nemo is not really one of us, she is an external consultant, and she has taken a week off, go up to the Honiara Hotel for pre dinner drinks and dinner.
It was horrendous. It is very hot and very humid, they have air conditioners, but prefer to keep the doors open and ceiling fans on. The others want to watch the AFL. We go down to the restaurant and have dinner. After arriving in the hotel and getting a drink, then going down and ordering the meal it took about an hour inbetween the ordering and receiving. Then upstairs for drinks and to watch the football.The humidity and temperature has not dropped. To me it feels like I am hovering over a bain marie. I am not taking it well and am relieved when Tweety said he was ready to head home!
Well, today it rained for the first time. I was sort of expecting it to pour down for ages and then the air would be swwet and cool. What an idiot! It just made it twice as hot. Drudged through work, the power outages are getting worse. We lost maybe 3 hours during the day. Not all at once though.
We have a generator, however it is a bit old and no-one knows what to do with it. It is supposed to come on within a minute of the power going off. Sometimes a button has to be pressed. Other times it runs out of fuel and nobody replaces it.
We have another generator, it is almost new. The Ministry of Finance gave it to us. They got a brand new one and this one was playing up. So they gave it to us with all the inherant problems. We installed it, but are not allowed to start it up as the exhaust does not have a rain catcher on it, this is to replace the upturned plastic soft drink bottle that sits on the pipe to stop water entering. One day something will happen.
Tweety and I have moved hotels. We were told that a room would be available in another hotel with a kitchenette, we went and had a look, it was OK so we have moved in. We will be sharing until a second one becomes available. I will only be there until Thursday and I head off somewhere else until the following Friday. The other room will be available then. So it is now the “KING SOLOMON HOTEL” for me!
This evening the whole work team, seven of us, as Baby Nemo is not really one of us, she is an external consultant, and she has taken a week off, go up to the Honiara Hotel for pre dinner drinks and dinner.
It was horrendous. It is very hot and very humid, they have air conditioners, but prefer to keep the doors open and ceiling fans on. The others want to watch the AFL. We go down to the restaurant and have dinner. After arriving in the hotel and getting a drink, then going down and ordering the meal it took about an hour inbetween the ordering and receiving. Then upstairs for drinks and to watch the football.The humidity and temperature has not dropped. To me it feels like I am hovering over a bain marie. I am not taking it well and am relieved when Tweety said he was ready to head home!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday 20th September.
82 days to go.
Well, today exercise has begun. I was not foolish enough to believe that I could detox and lose weight without some form of exercise. I have maintained my no sweets/chocolate/dessert regime without too much effort.
I had my last diet coke last week, Friday I think, so that is 1 week ago!
I start with 30 minutes in the pool at 0630. I am combining some walking, hopping, swimming and stretching in that time.
It is then off to Tweetys' room for breakfast. This morning we were joined for breakfast by Squeeky. Mine is 3 slices of toast and Vegemite with a cup of tea. Off to work with the group. Lots of teeth gnashing and banging my head against the wall. I had some good news about work, but I cannot share that with you until next Wednesday. I know that the 3 people reading this will be bristling with anticipation. On the subject of the people reading this, just before I finish here I will make reference to words beginning with "T", "B" and "E" that will please the CIA operatives who scan transmissions from the Pacific Rim. I may even mention "OBL" too for good measure.
After work we call in to the bottle shop, Spud Cod picks up a case of SolBrew for the next couple of nights work.
I return to the pool for another 30 minutes of exercise. They shower and head off to the foyer.
We decide to eat in the Prison Mess tonight. They have a Japanese and a Western menu. Some interesting menu picks by the crew this evening. Tweety goes for the rib eye steak with a pepper sauce, Bubble bum goes for an entree of Tempura vegetables, main of whole lobster and dessert of Sticky date pudding. They do not quite grasp the sticky date concept as it comes out cold with more of an icing than a sticky, although listed as served with ice cream and cream it arrives with 2 scoops of ice cream. Cream must be off! Squeeky goes for the beef curry. Spud cod starts with satay chicken from the Western Menu????? and follows with Crackerin(sic) pork. I go for the whole lobster, it is split and grilled with a lime butter and chive sauce and served with rice and sauteed vegetables. Cost was a staggering $140 SolDol or $23 Aus. for the lobster.
During the dinner Bubble Bum has picked up a new name. While in his room and in a mild state of undress (the only thing he was wearing was a pair of nail clippers) he was surprised by one of the room service maids, well he swears it was not planned and that will be his defence in court! A short time later he had a slight plumbing problem with the toilet. Reception then send someone to fix the problem. The poor unfortunate to be handed this job is the same maid who caught him unaware earlier. She his armed with a plunger and proceeds to fix the problem. We have not found out if Bubble Bum had altered his state of dress on this occasion. So, henceforth he is known as "Plunger".
Apre dinner drinks are held in the foyer as per usual. I have just realised that the more astute of you will have picked up the point about pre and during and apre dinner drinking. How can he detox if he is doing all that drinking I hear you all whisper? Well, I only have 1 drink per day. Either pre or Apre, some times during. Occasionally I have a second, but not often. I just spend time with the others. I am now drinking about 2 litres of water a day.
Well, today exercise has begun. I was not foolish enough to believe that I could detox and lose weight without some form of exercise. I have maintained my no sweets/chocolate/dessert regime without too much effort.
I had my last diet coke last week, Friday I think, so that is 1 week ago!
I start with 30 minutes in the pool at 0630. I am combining some walking, hopping, swimming and stretching in that time.
It is then off to Tweetys' room for breakfast. This morning we were joined for breakfast by Squeeky. Mine is 3 slices of toast and Vegemite with a cup of tea. Off to work with the group. Lots of teeth gnashing and banging my head against the wall. I had some good news about work, but I cannot share that with you until next Wednesday. I know that the 3 people reading this will be bristling with anticipation. On the subject of the people reading this, just before I finish here I will make reference to words beginning with "T", "B" and "E" that will please the CIA operatives who scan transmissions from the Pacific Rim. I may even mention "OBL" too for good measure.
After work we call in to the bottle shop, Spud Cod picks up a case of SolBrew for the next couple of nights work.
I return to the pool for another 30 minutes of exercise. They shower and head off to the foyer.
We decide to eat in the Prison Mess tonight. They have a Japanese and a Western menu. Some interesting menu picks by the crew this evening. Tweety goes for the rib eye steak with a pepper sauce, Bubble bum goes for an entree of Tempura vegetables, main of whole lobster and dessert of Sticky date pudding. They do not quite grasp the sticky date concept as it comes out cold with more of an icing than a sticky, although listed as served with ice cream and cream it arrives with 2 scoops of ice cream. Cream must be off! Squeeky goes for the beef curry. Spud cod starts with satay chicken from the Western Menu????? and follows with Crackerin(sic) pork. I go for the whole lobster, it is split and grilled with a lime butter and chive sauce and served with rice and sauteed vegetables. Cost was a staggering $140 SolDol or $23 Aus. for the lobster.
During the dinner Bubble Bum has picked up a new name. While in his room and in a mild state of undress (the only thing he was wearing was a pair of nail clippers) he was surprised by one of the room service maids, well he swears it was not planned and that will be his defence in court! A short time later he had a slight plumbing problem with the toilet. Reception then send someone to fix the problem. The poor unfortunate to be handed this job is the same maid who caught him unaware earlier. She his armed with a plunger and proceeds to fix the problem. We have not found out if Bubble Bum had altered his state of dress on this occasion. So, henceforth he is known as "Plunger".
Apre dinner drinks are held in the foyer as per usual. I have just realised that the more astute of you will have picked up the point about pre and during and apre dinner drinking. How can he detox if he is doing all that drinking I hear you all whisper? Well, I only have 1 drink per day. Either pre or Apre, some times during. Occasionally I have a second, but not often. I just spend time with the others. I am now drinking about 2 litres of water a day.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Wednesday 19th September.
Entrance Tablet at War Memorial (I shall attach full photos later)83 days to go.
Meet the newbies and take them to the Lime Lounge for breakfast. They are impressed. How they have changed, this would not have impressed them when I first met them. It would have taken free beer and dancing girls to do that.
Tweety and I attend an early morning presentation on cultural differences between Pacific Islanders and Westerners. It is mixed between locals and Advisers from Australia and NZ. When it comes to the differences in talking about yourself, one Kiwi pops up and claims it is not common in NZ, until I ask if he means except when they talk about Rugby or their 1 cricket win a season. Overall it was a great session. The information was timely and relevant to the situation. I think everyone got something out of it.
Back to the office and a bit of work then we go to lunch with Nemo to "Town Square" where a sort of fair was set up. Stalls selling food and artifacts and some just providing information as well. There was a stage and a couple of locals singing. This part of a Women's Week.
After work we go up to the American - Solomon Islands War Memorial. It details the major battles and lists the naval losses of both sides. It also provides a lookout to show where the battles were and where the ships sunk.
We take the Newbies to Iron Bottom Sound Hotel for the Japanese Buffet. During the evening various comments are passed about different menu items. One of the newbies from Canberra, "Squeeky" who turns out to work in new outfits he ordered especially for the trip, extols the virtues of the tempura fish. The West Aussie, to my eternal shame wanders over to the tempura bar and loads his plate. After eating the food he says "well I am not impressed, the fish tastes just like potato" To which I point out, that is because it is potato, all the fish was gone. From this moment on he is referred to as "Spud Cod" The third newbie, for reasons I do not wish to know or go into is referred to as "Bubble Bum".
Iron Bottom Sound is the stretch of water between Guadalcanal and the other island group of the Solomons. It was not known as this until 1942. The name was given to this stretch of water because of the number of ships sunk in in during the battles mentioned earlier.
Another foyer meeting and Squeeky, Tweety and I arrange to meet to revive our Vegemite breakfast at 0730.
Meet the newbies and take them to the Lime Lounge for breakfast. They are impressed. How they have changed, this would not have impressed them when I first met them. It would have taken free beer and dancing girls to do that.
Tweety and I attend an early morning presentation on cultural differences between Pacific Islanders and Westerners. It is mixed between locals and Advisers from Australia and NZ. When it comes to the differences in talking about yourself, one Kiwi pops up and claims it is not common in NZ, until I ask if he means except when they talk about Rugby or their 1 cricket win a season. Overall it was a great session. The information was timely and relevant to the situation. I think everyone got something out of it.
Back to the office and a bit of work then we go to lunch with Nemo to "Town Square" where a sort of fair was set up. Stalls selling food and artifacts and some just providing information as well. There was a stage and a couple of locals singing. This part of a Women's Week.
After work we go up to the American - Solomon Islands War Memorial. It details the major battles and lists the naval losses of both sides. It also provides a lookout to show where the battles were and where the ships sunk.
We take the Newbies to Iron Bottom Sound Hotel for the Japanese Buffet. During the evening various comments are passed about different menu items. One of the newbies from Canberra, "Squeeky" who turns out to work in new outfits he ordered especially for the trip, extols the virtues of the tempura fish. The West Aussie, to my eternal shame wanders over to the tempura bar and loads his plate. After eating the food he says "well I am not impressed, the fish tastes just like potato" To which I point out, that is because it is potato, all the fish was gone. From this moment on he is referred to as "Spud Cod" The third newbie, for reasons I do not wish to know or go into is referred to as "Bubble Bum".
Iron Bottom Sound is the stretch of water between Guadalcanal and the other island group of the Solomons. It was not known as this until 1942. The name was given to this stretch of water because of the number of ships sunk in in during the battles mentioned earlier.
Another foyer meeting and Squeeky, Tweety and I arrange to meet to revive our Vegemite breakfast at 0730.
Tuesday 18th September
84 days to go.
Met up with Tweety at 0730 had toast, vegemite and a cup of tea for breakfast. The first "normal" activity from home I have done. Tweety is again struck down by tummy trouble. Poor guy, just to sum up the differences in our arrival here, I went to the recommended Dr. in W.A. Sat through the interview and he said OK you need Typhoid and Hepatitis B injections. 1 for typhoid and a course of 2 prior to departure and 1 post arrival home. S0 I had 2 on that day and a further 1 3 weeks later. Tweety follows the same procedure in Melbourne. His Dr. has just returned from India and Tweety embarks upon a course of about 30 injections. I kid you not, he has to endure Typhoid, Rabies, HepA, HepB, HepC, Tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles Mumps Rubella (OK that was a liquid), Athletes foot, gout, karaoke and anything else that is a danger to health.
My Dr. told me to buy a first aid kit and take some Betadine, also recommended a general purpose antibiotic and anti emetic treatment diagnosed by my own Dr. This I do and sorted. Tweety has about 40 prescriptions filled for everything for a rash to amputation. I think it cost about $900A to prepare me for here, a conservative estimate for Tweety is $3000A. Still, not his fault.
Tweety has a Bex and a lie down and I head into work.
At about 1200 he resurfaces, fighting fit in the office. We have to go out to where the secret base is to get ID cards issued to give us access to the field hospital. We head out to the airport and find our way from there. It was a bit dicey because we had to blindfold ourselves when we got to the airport. We just drove very slowly and tried to keep the wheels on the road. We ran over a couple of things, but it was OK, we left our blindfolds on.
Utter confusion at the CIA. They were expecting us, but did not have permission to do anything. Someone important, I think his title was AFP Grand Inquisitor was located on his day off. Well, located is stretching the abilities of the AFP here, he actually walked in to CIA headquarters to refill his water bottle. We get it sorted and return to base.
As we arrive another 3 holiday makers, well, a training team arrive. They are going to be here for 2 weeks. I have worked with 2 of them but the third remains a mystery to me. Although if he works with these two he is either a saint or a maniac. If I were a betting man I would go for maniac.
End of another work day and the nightly rendezvous return as it is our turn to babysit the newbies. We decide to take them to Church for dinner on the first night. Normality for here returns and back to the foyer and nightcaps and arrange an 0800 start on Wednesday.
Met up with Tweety at 0730 had toast, vegemite and a cup of tea for breakfast. The first "normal" activity from home I have done. Tweety is again struck down by tummy trouble. Poor guy, just to sum up the differences in our arrival here, I went to the recommended Dr. in W.A. Sat through the interview and he said OK you need Typhoid and Hepatitis B injections. 1 for typhoid and a course of 2 prior to departure and 1 post arrival home. S0 I had 2 on that day and a further 1 3 weeks later. Tweety follows the same procedure in Melbourne. His Dr. has just returned from India and Tweety embarks upon a course of about 30 injections. I kid you not, he has to endure Typhoid, Rabies, HepA, HepB, HepC, Tetanus, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles Mumps Rubella (OK that was a liquid), Athletes foot, gout, karaoke and anything else that is a danger to health.
My Dr. told me to buy a first aid kit and take some Betadine, also recommended a general purpose antibiotic and anti emetic treatment diagnosed by my own Dr. This I do and sorted. Tweety has about 40 prescriptions filled for everything for a rash to amputation. I think it cost about $900A to prepare me for here, a conservative estimate for Tweety is $3000A. Still, not his fault.
Tweety has a Bex and a lie down and I head into work.
At about 1200 he resurfaces, fighting fit in the office. We have to go out to where the secret base is to get ID cards issued to give us access to the field hospital. We head out to the airport and find our way from there. It was a bit dicey because we had to blindfold ourselves when we got to the airport. We just drove very slowly and tried to keep the wheels on the road. We ran over a couple of things, but it was OK, we left our blindfolds on.
Utter confusion at the CIA. They were expecting us, but did not have permission to do anything. Someone important, I think his title was AFP Grand Inquisitor was located on his day off. Well, located is stretching the abilities of the AFP here, he actually walked in to CIA headquarters to refill his water bottle. We get it sorted and return to base.
As we arrive another 3 holiday makers, well, a training team arrive. They are going to be here for 2 weeks. I have worked with 2 of them but the third remains a mystery to me. Although if he works with these two he is either a saint or a maniac. If I were a betting man I would go for maniac.
End of another work day and the nightly rendezvous return as it is our turn to babysit the newbies. We decide to take them to Church for dinner on the first night. Normality for here returns and back to the foyer and nightcaps and arrange an 0800 start on Wednesday.
Monday 17th September.
85 days to go.
Work to be commenced properly this week. Tweety and I get our briefing from Duke and Nemo. What each of us will be doing and how things will work. Tweety is given a full Commercial role and I will be the Jack of all trades. I think this will suit me better as I will be able to go all over the place and not get myself bored. At least it will stop me thinking of things to do for entertainment.
Had a big breakfast this morning, then had a big lunch too. I start to get involved in some local stuff and start to design a couple of amendments to processes.
As it is a quiet day, let me give an anecdotal info session on Guadalcanal. It was here in late 1942 (August), that the Japanese push into the Pacific was halted. They were building an airfield on the Island to enable attacks to be made on the Eastern cities of Australia. When this was discovered the Americans decided that this was a good place to launch the counter attack to push the Japanese out of the Pacific. They allowed a time to pass to let the construction of the airfield move towards completion. They then began the invasion of the Island.
(If you want this in detail, Google it). The Japanese decided to defend the Solomons, they sent reinforcements down and the resultant battle was the heaviest defeat of the US Navy in WW2. Fighting continued and the US then had a victory of its own, catching a supply fleet unaware and inflicting major damage. Although the US lost more vessels, the Japanese losses were more devastating because they were supplies and troopships. The majority of the fighting ended here in early 1942.
Work completed, head to the prison and potter about. I decided not to eat tonight, as I was still ok after my big lunch. Arrange to meet Tweety for breakfast in his room. We were given a supply box containing a 1 ring electric cooker, a toaster, and various pieces of equipment. We purchased some stores and will have breakfast in his room.
Work to be commenced properly this week. Tweety and I get our briefing from Duke and Nemo. What each of us will be doing and how things will work. Tweety is given a full Commercial role and I will be the Jack of all trades. I think this will suit me better as I will be able to go all over the place and not get myself bored. At least it will stop me thinking of things to do for entertainment.
Had a big breakfast this morning, then had a big lunch too. I start to get involved in some local stuff and start to design a couple of amendments to processes.
As it is a quiet day, let me give an anecdotal info session on Guadalcanal. It was here in late 1942 (August), that the Japanese push into the Pacific was halted. They were building an airfield on the Island to enable attacks to be made on the Eastern cities of Australia. When this was discovered the Americans decided that this was a good place to launch the counter attack to push the Japanese out of the Pacific. They allowed a time to pass to let the construction of the airfield move towards completion. They then began the invasion of the Island.
(If you want this in detail, Google it). The Japanese decided to defend the Solomons, they sent reinforcements down and the resultant battle was the heaviest defeat of the US Navy in WW2. Fighting continued and the US then had a victory of its own, catching a supply fleet unaware and inflicting major damage. Although the US lost more vessels, the Japanese losses were more devastating because they were supplies and troopships. The majority of the fighting ended here in early 1942.
Work completed, head to the prison and potter about. I decided not to eat tonight, as I was still ok after my big lunch. Arrange to meet Tweety for breakfast in his room. We were given a supply box containing a 1 ring electric cooker, a toaster, and various pieces of equipment. We purchased some stores and will have breakfast in his room.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sunday 16th September.
View at the West of Guadalcanal.86 Days to go.
Well we arrived a week ago and I have managed to spend only a short time alone. I have not eaten any sweet things since I left home on Friday 7th. I have cut down my diet coke intake to less than 1 can a day and coffee is also around the same intake. I am drinking lots of water. I do not like water.
Tweety and I meet up with Nemo at Rain Tree Cafe. She is having breakfast with Mr and Mrs Baby Nemo and Baby Nemo. They are heading off on their own today and Nemo and Tweety and I are going to drive the full length of the roads to the west of Honiara. Firstly we return to the prison and drop off our car. Nemo has a newer more comfortable one.
Semi urban developments are the go from the Prison to White River. After White River it becomes more semi rural. We drive past a couple of dive wrecks, which are actually on the beach. The Island in places has a very steep drop off into the ocean. During the fighting on Guadalcanal during WW2 some craft actually beached the bow of the boat and the stern was still deep enough to allow clearance for the prop to continue to work.
After this beach we went several kilometres without seeing a village. The road was sealed all the way to the tip of the island. The road in parts ran along the sea and other times was inland. We often drove next to hills which were almost vertical and covered in thick forest.
The sealed road ended. We continued on the road for at least another hour and almost made the Eastern side of the island. We were about on the same latitude as Honiara when the road ended and we turned around and headed for home. As we got near the dive beach I was looking out for the wreck, when I spotted what I thought was a concrete "pill box", a fortified machine gun post used during WW2. I shall check it out when I go back that way.
Nemo dropped us off at the Prison at about 1700. We meet back at 1800 and head out to the French Restaurant at Hotel Honiara, although we go up to the one on the higher level next to the swimming pool and Margaruites Bar. We have a drink each and sit on the veranda enjoying the view. We head into the Restaurant and discover it is a buffet, not the a la carte we expected. We head back down the hill to the lower place and share a bottle of red with dinner.
Well we arrived a week ago and I have managed to spend only a short time alone. I have not eaten any sweet things since I left home on Friday 7th. I have cut down my diet coke intake to less than 1 can a day and coffee is also around the same intake. I am drinking lots of water. I do not like water.
Tweety and I meet up with Nemo at Rain Tree Cafe. She is having breakfast with Mr and Mrs Baby Nemo and Baby Nemo. They are heading off on their own today and Nemo and Tweety and I are going to drive the full length of the roads to the west of Honiara. Firstly we return to the prison and drop off our car. Nemo has a newer more comfortable one.
Semi urban developments are the go from the Prison to White River. After White River it becomes more semi rural. We drive past a couple of dive wrecks, which are actually on the beach. The Island in places has a very steep drop off into the ocean. During the fighting on Guadalcanal during WW2 some craft actually beached the bow of the boat and the stern was still deep enough to allow clearance for the prop to continue to work.
After this beach we went several kilometres without seeing a village. The road was sealed all the way to the tip of the island. The road in parts ran along the sea and other times was inland. We often drove next to hills which were almost vertical and covered in thick forest.
The sealed road ended. We continued on the road for at least another hour and almost made the Eastern side of the island. We were about on the same latitude as Honiara when the road ended and we turned around and headed for home. As we got near the dive beach I was looking out for the wreck, when I spotted what I thought was a concrete "pill box", a fortified machine gun post used during WW2. I shall check it out when I go back that way.
Nemo dropped us off at the Prison at about 1700. We meet back at 1800 and head out to the French Restaurant at Hotel Honiara, although we go up to the one on the higher level next to the swimming pool and Margaruites Bar. We have a drink each and sit on the veranda enjoying the view. We head into the Restaurant and discover it is a buffet, not the a la carte we expected. We head back down the hill to the lower place and share a bottle of red with dinner.
Saturday 15th September.
View from Rain Tree Cafe.
87 Days to go.
A sleep in in the morning as we are only heading out for brunch. Rain Tree Cafe, is literally right on the water, two adjoining decks are lapped by the waves as we sit under a thatched roof and have our brunch. Service is slow, but the food and coffee is good, you do not mind waiting as you enjoy the view and the breeze. It only sits about 12 and gets very busy on Sunday morning we are told. It is the first turning after White River.
White River is the place where the "troubles" started in 2003. It is the place we are told not to go to after dark and to drive very slowly during the day. It is a collection of stalls selling Betel Nuts and some selling Coconuts. They cover both sides of the road and people walk from one side to the other avoiding the buses and other traffic occasionally.
There are no communications here and the mobiles go off about 5 minutes after we leave. Returning to the Mendana Regional Prison we arrange to meet in the usual place as Duke and Nemo turn up to say goodbye. Lets have lunch pipes up Ana, so everyone has lunch an hour after brunch, except for me. Duke takes his leave and the rest of us head out to the airport.
Mrs Brady is not travelling well, her feet are no better today.
We get the girls booked in and the departure tax (40 Sol Dol) paid. As we are saying goodbye, Mrs Brady tells us she is really unwell, she feels it is food poisoning, she becomes unsteady on her feet and heads off towards the departure sauna.
Nemo heads home, she lives 2 minutes from the airport. Tweety and I drive down towards the runway on a side road. We see the girls walk out and up the stairs and onto the aircraft. As we turn to drive out we see an eagle soaring above the fields. Isn't nature wonderful? Wish I had a gun!
Tweety and I make separate arrangements for dinner. I think this is the first time I have been alone in a week!
A sleep in in the morning as we are only heading out for brunch. Rain Tree Cafe, is literally right on the water, two adjoining decks are lapped by the waves as we sit under a thatched roof and have our brunch. Service is slow, but the food and coffee is good, you do not mind waiting as you enjoy the view and the breeze. It only sits about 12 and gets very busy on Sunday morning we are told. It is the first turning after White River.
White River is the place where the "troubles" started in 2003. It is the place we are told not to go to after dark and to drive very slowly during the day. It is a collection of stalls selling Betel Nuts and some selling Coconuts. They cover both sides of the road and people walk from one side to the other avoiding the buses and other traffic occasionally.
There are no communications here and the mobiles go off about 5 minutes after we leave. Returning to the Mendana Regional Prison we arrange to meet in the usual place as Duke and Nemo turn up to say goodbye. Lets have lunch pipes up Ana, so everyone has lunch an hour after brunch, except for me. Duke takes his leave and the rest of us head out to the airport.
Mrs Brady is not travelling well, her feet are no better today.
We get the girls booked in and the departure tax (40 Sol Dol) paid. As we are saying goodbye, Mrs Brady tells us she is really unwell, she feels it is food poisoning, she becomes unsteady on her feet and heads off towards the departure sauna.
Nemo heads home, she lives 2 minutes from the airport. Tweety and I drive down towards the runway on a side road. We see the girls walk out and up the stairs and onto the aircraft. As we turn to drive out we see an eagle soaring above the fields. Isn't nature wonderful? Wish I had a gun!
Tweety and I make separate arrangements for dinner. I think this is the first time I have been alone in a week!
Friday 14th September.
88 Days to go.
Well, meeting held and breakfast consumed it is all hands to the office. I duck into the conference room and set up the lite-pro and speakers for Gimps' laptop, then go and fill my water bottle and settle back for his presentation.
He introduces a video and makes some smart comments, some even directed at himself. There is a mixed crowd of Army, Police, Customs, Finance and others to listen.
After the video and some discussion he introduces Michael from the Central Bank and he has a talk for 20 minutes. Gimp then goes on and does a 20 minute power point. The whole thing is quite intersting and we wrap it up at about 1200.
The Gimp and Austin head out to the airport for their flights home. Ana organises dinner at the Church. Meet in the foyer at 1800.
Ana, Mrs Brady, Tweety and I head out to the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, known locally as "Church". We select a table metres from the water edge and relax in the evening breeze with a drink and a nice meal. We have to speak to someone, the Police get a hardship allowance for this, we are doing it just as hard so we need one too.
A special Brunch tomorrow as it is the Brissy girls last day.
Well, meeting held and breakfast consumed it is all hands to the office. I duck into the conference room and set up the lite-pro and speakers for Gimps' laptop, then go and fill my water bottle and settle back for his presentation.
He introduces a video and makes some smart comments, some even directed at himself. There is a mixed crowd of Army, Police, Customs, Finance and others to listen.
After the video and some discussion he introduces Michael from the Central Bank and he has a talk for 20 minutes. Gimp then goes on and does a 20 minute power point. The whole thing is quite intersting and we wrap it up at about 1200.
The Gimp and Austin head out to the airport for their flights home. Ana organises dinner at the Church. Meet in the foyer at 1800.
Ana, Mrs Brady, Tweety and I head out to the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, known locally as "Church". We select a table metres from the water edge and relax in the evening breeze with a drink and a nice meal. We have to speak to someone, the Police get a hardship allowance for this, we are doing it just as hard so we need one too.
A special Brunch tomorrow as it is the Brissy girls last day.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Thursday 13th September
89 Days to go.
Tweety makes a surprise return to the foyer, well he did actually show up at lunch yesterday and had dinner, so not much of a surprise really.
Normal breakfast and away to work. Spend the morning with Tweety, Stats and Baby. Everyone splits for lunch, we say our goodbye to Stats although he may be back before I leave.
Check upstairs in the office about timings for the foyer meeting and do some work.
Smaller than usual dinner crowd, Gimp, Ana (of course), Mrs Brady, Tweety and I. We manage to order the remaining bottles of CV wine (A West Aussie) over the night at Puppies 1. Gimp does the ordering. I think he has his contacts in the wrong eyes. He has ordered for our table and another 2 nearby. Dishes come and are eaten and just as everyone is about to explode, the whole coral trout turns up. That was forgotten about as it was ordered about an hour earlier and arrives when all the rest have gone. Fish, I told him I do not do fish. Serves them right, they can eat it all themselves.
The girls have a bee in their bonnets about the toilets at Puppies 1. After hearing tales of horror and threats of throwing up after their experience Gimp and I go for a look. Walk into the gents and use the facility, nothing amiss, seen worse in other places, actually the ones at work are worse, dunno what the fuss is about.
Back to the usual for the usual. The Gimp has taken it upon himself to teach a bit of the traditional language to the crowd. I apologise for the spelling mistakes but it is supposed to go like "Vinaka Vaka Levu", only thing his, his version is "Vinaka Faaka Duka". No worries says the gimp, say it that way and everyone will know you know me!
Important meeting in the morning, the Gimp has a 2 hour 30 minute presentation to give, I have been appointed the IT specialist so I will be setting it up.
Another day ends in the Pacific.
Tweety makes a surprise return to the foyer, well he did actually show up at lunch yesterday and had dinner, so not much of a surprise really.
Normal breakfast and away to work. Spend the morning with Tweety, Stats and Baby. Everyone splits for lunch, we say our goodbye to Stats although he may be back before I leave.
Check upstairs in the office about timings for the foyer meeting and do some work.
Smaller than usual dinner crowd, Gimp, Ana (of course), Mrs Brady, Tweety and I. We manage to order the remaining bottles of CV wine (A West Aussie) over the night at Puppies 1. Gimp does the ordering. I think he has his contacts in the wrong eyes. He has ordered for our table and another 2 nearby. Dishes come and are eaten and just as everyone is about to explode, the whole coral trout turns up. That was forgotten about as it was ordered about an hour earlier and arrives when all the rest have gone. Fish, I told him I do not do fish. Serves them right, they can eat it all themselves.
The girls have a bee in their bonnets about the toilets at Puppies 1. After hearing tales of horror and threats of throwing up after their experience Gimp and I go for a look. Walk into the gents and use the facility, nothing amiss, seen worse in other places, actually the ones at work are worse, dunno what the fuss is about.
Back to the usual for the usual. The Gimp has taken it upon himself to teach a bit of the traditional language to the crowd. I apologise for the spelling mistakes but it is supposed to go like "Vinaka Vaka Levu", only thing his, his version is "Vinaka Faaka Duka". No worries says the gimp, say it that way and everyone will know you know me!
Important meeting in the morning, the Gimp has a 2 hour 30 minute presentation to give, I have been appointed the IT specialist so I will be setting it up.
Another day ends in the Pacific.
Wednesday 12th September.
90 Days to go.
All is not well in Honiara, Tweety is really unwell. Stays home in the morning. The rest of the team meets up in the foyer and heads en - masse for the Lime Lounge. Breakfasts all round, I have a toasted Ham and cheese sandwich and a coffee. Spend the next 30 minutes calculating the shortest way to the toilet and if I can projectile vomit to save travelling time. All ends well and danger averted as some normality settles my stomach without resort to violence.
Ana calculates minutes to lunch, Mrs Brady shuffles to the office and Gimp and Austin disappear for the day. I tag along with Stats to the office.
An uneventful day, work gets done, I do actually contribute, but I want to leave the boring bits out. Yes folks these ARE the exciting bits. On slow days I shall give you some info about the Solomons.
Dinner was organised, we are off to a Japanese buffet at the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel. Everyone is attending along with special guests Baby Nemos parents. This is the last meeting of the team. Stats departs tomorrow and Austin and Gimp leave on Friday, the Brissy girls leave on Saturday.
Once again we return to the foyer for breakfast plans and dinner discussions for the following day.
All is not well in Honiara, Tweety is really unwell. Stays home in the morning. The rest of the team meets up in the foyer and heads en - masse for the Lime Lounge. Breakfasts all round, I have a toasted Ham and cheese sandwich and a coffee. Spend the next 30 minutes calculating the shortest way to the toilet and if I can projectile vomit to save travelling time. All ends well and danger averted as some normality settles my stomach without resort to violence.
Ana calculates minutes to lunch, Mrs Brady shuffles to the office and Gimp and Austin disappear for the day. I tag along with Stats to the office.
An uneventful day, work gets done, I do actually contribute, but I want to leave the boring bits out. Yes folks these ARE the exciting bits. On slow days I shall give you some info about the Solomons.
Dinner was organised, we are off to a Japanese buffet at the Iron Bottom Sound Hotel. Everyone is attending along with special guests Baby Nemos parents. This is the last meeting of the team. Stats departs tomorrow and Austin and Gimp leave on Friday, the Brissy girls leave on Saturday.
Once again we return to the foyer for breakfast plans and dinner discussions for the following day.
Tuesday 11th September 2007.
Stats, Nemo, Mrs Brady, Gimp and Ana at dinner.
91 Days to go.
We all meet up in the the foyer before heading off for breakfast except for Nemo and Baby Nemo. The usual, Lime Lounge, only thing is Tweety and I are unwell. Both of us have tummy trouble, for me it limits itself to a sick feeling, temperature spikes and a little light headedness. Tweety is a lot worse, not sure I want to know the details.
I order the fruit salad, but without the yoghurt. Have a couple of spoonfuls and chicken out of the rest. The others unmercifully tuck into toasted sandwiches and omlettes and 2 eggs sausage bacon and toast.
We have more time to spend with Stats and Baby Nemo and we run through their whole presentation and suggest changes to meet our needs. Interlink this with more admin, getting on the local database, having our passports sent to the Govt Office with our letter of exemption for visas etc.
I now realise there is a 5 storey building on the Island, I thought it was just built further up the hill. Still, no lifts though! A bit more familiarisation and some driving around town to see where everything is. I am feeling better, Tweety is not.
Off to lunch, which, Ana helpully informs us, is 4 hours 20 minutes since breakfast. Mrs Brady is not travelling too well, her ankles have been playing up since she flew in. Poor thing, walking is starting to be a problem for her, she is trying to get support socks for her flight back as this means she is a DVT risk. We travel both the pharmacies but no luck, she will take her chance.
Tweety has an after lunch resurgence, no not in the toilet, he is feeling better. After the afternoon work, we are again all in the 10 x 8 office to discuss eating (what else?) tactics for the evening. Nemo, Mrs Brady, Ana, Gimp, Stats, Tweety and I are going to the French Restaurant at the Hotel Honiara. Where should we meet? I know, the foyer at 1830 for pre dinner drinks!
We all meet up and head for the Hotel Honiara, we saw a light in the distance, such a lovely place, plenty of space. We walk up the stairs and in through the courtyard. Ana says we were here last week and that concrete area was a pond. Nearly everything in Honiara is beng renovated,slowly, as is the way here.
We all order our mains, no entrees as the second course will be dessert. Not for me though, I am in detox and weening myself off dessert, chocolate and to some degree alcohol. Not that I have a problem with alcohol, I do with the others, I thought I may do the full job, including no DIET COKE. This is very very hard to do, all at once cold turkey.
I have taken to a new drink, something that never entered my head before. Some foul and vile tasting stuff called water. Now this is the finest bottled water available here. 2 of the types are made from water gained found in pristine streams after millions of years of purification from virgin environmental wildernesses of KL and Jakarta, that's what the label says, honest.
Anyway the mains were all delicious and well prepared. A few bottles of red are consumed and dessert is ordered. Profiteroles are a multi order, nougat icecream with a toffee tuille looked good, however the award goes to Tweety who has ordered, I kid you not, half a pineapple, scooped out and filled with icecream and chantilly cream with other bits of fruit like mango and pawpaw (papaya) as well as the removed pineapple bits. Not bad for someone at the wheel of the porcelain bus this morning. Dinner over it is back to the hotel foyer, I head off and leave the others to after dinner drinks. Not before being informed that breakfast at 8 will be 8 hours and 20 minutes after this.
91 Days to go.We all meet up in the the foyer before heading off for breakfast except for Nemo and Baby Nemo. The usual, Lime Lounge, only thing is Tweety and I are unwell. Both of us have tummy trouble, for me it limits itself to a sick feeling, temperature spikes and a little light headedness. Tweety is a lot worse, not sure I want to know the details.
I order the fruit salad, but without the yoghurt. Have a couple of spoonfuls and chicken out of the rest. The others unmercifully tuck into toasted sandwiches and omlettes and 2 eggs sausage bacon and toast.
We have more time to spend with Stats and Baby Nemo and we run through their whole presentation and suggest changes to meet our needs. Interlink this with more admin, getting on the local database, having our passports sent to the Govt Office with our letter of exemption for visas etc.
I now realise there is a 5 storey building on the Island, I thought it was just built further up the hill. Still, no lifts though! A bit more familiarisation and some driving around town to see where everything is. I am feeling better, Tweety is not.
Off to lunch, which, Ana helpully informs us, is 4 hours 20 minutes since breakfast. Mrs Brady is not travelling too well, her ankles have been playing up since she flew in. Poor thing, walking is starting to be a problem for her, she is trying to get support socks for her flight back as this means she is a DVT risk. We travel both the pharmacies but no luck, she will take her chance.
Tweety has an after lunch resurgence, no not in the toilet, he is feeling better. After the afternoon work, we are again all in the 10 x 8 office to discuss eating (what else?) tactics for the evening. Nemo, Mrs Brady, Ana, Gimp, Stats, Tweety and I are going to the French Restaurant at the Hotel Honiara. Where should we meet? I know, the foyer at 1830 for pre dinner drinks!
We all meet up and head for the Hotel Honiara, we saw a light in the distance, such a lovely place, plenty of space. We walk up the stairs and in through the courtyard. Ana says we were here last week and that concrete area was a pond. Nearly everything in Honiara is beng renovated,slowly, as is the way here.
We all order our mains, no entrees as the second course will be dessert. Not for me though, I am in detox and weening myself off dessert, chocolate and to some degree alcohol. Not that I have a problem with alcohol, I do with the others, I thought I may do the full job, including no DIET COKE. This is very very hard to do, all at once cold turkey.
I have taken to a new drink, something that never entered my head before. Some foul and vile tasting stuff called water. Now this is the finest bottled water available here. 2 of the types are made from water gained found in pristine streams after millions of years of purification from virgin environmental wildernesses of KL and Jakarta, that's what the label says, honest.
Anyway the mains were all delicious and well prepared. A few bottles of red are consumed and dessert is ordered. Profiteroles are a multi order, nougat icecream with a toffee tuille looked good, however the award goes to Tweety who has ordered, I kid you not, half a pineapple, scooped out and filled with icecream and chantilly cream with other bits of fruit like mango and pawpaw (papaya) as well as the removed pineapple bits. Not bad for someone at the wheel of the porcelain bus this morning. Dinner over it is back to the hotel foyer, I head off and leave the others to after dinner drinks. Not before being informed that breakfast at 8 will be 8 hours and 20 minutes after this.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Monday 10th September, First Day at work.
92 days to go.
Well, The first night crew met in the foyer of the cell block hotel. We all made our way to the Lime Lounge for breakfast. 0800 in the morning 28deg and 100% humidity.
This is a very good place to be, air conditioned and serves decent tea and coffee as well as a breakfast. I go for the fruit salad with yoghurt. The others a variety of dishes from omelette to BLTs.
What a way to start the day, the rest of the 92 days will fly by. We head to the Office, well we do have an office, it is shared by 8 of us, all 4 desks and 3 office chairs supplemented by 5 plastic garden chairs. The two visiting banana benders, Mrs Brady and Ana, being in possession of a weeks knowledge, stake the remaining desk not occupied by Duke and Nemo (the permanent staffers) and leave the rest of us to fight over the one desk, chair and computer connection.
As I have yet to get a laptop or phone or ID or anything I graciously let the Gimp and Austin have first go at plugging in their laptops. Then it is downstairs, yes folks, I think I am resident in one of the few multi-storey offices in the area, we meet the IT consultant in charge of the integration of the system Stats has produced for the SI Govt. Baby Nemo. She has worked all over the world, but is a little distracted as her parents then boyfriend are due on the scene.
Straight into work with them as Tweety is given the roll of doing the commercial work. I will be doing enforcement. We spend the rest of the morning discussing Stats system and what we expect of it. Then off to lunch to the shopping centre. This is the only real shopping mall here. It is huge, I counted at least 8 shops and the food hall had 3 food outlets! I go with Nemo and Mrs Brady and Ana. Ana s conversation over lunch is where to go to dinner and how many minutes that is away.
Back to the Office, then out to the Aid Missions admin place. They are on the top (fourth) floor of the tallest building in town. Oh, by the way, no lifts, elevators or escalators in Honiara. I get my mobile, my laptop and am officially here. I will get my security briefing tomorrow. We meet the advisor at 1000.
Back to Stats and Baby Nemo for the rest of the afternoon. We meet up with all the people mentioned above and arrange to meet in the foyer of the Mendana Cell block at 1830 for pre dinner drinks.
Gimp, Austin, Mrs Brady, Ana and I head out to a new Sri Lankan -Indian Restaurant. We are joined a little later by Nemo. Baby Nemo has gone home to get things ready for her visitors, Duke has gone home, he is still bothered by the failure of Adelaide's football teams and needs some quiet time. Stats and Tweety are off to join the Hash walk/run this evening.
Well we drive out to the Taj, looks impressive, so does the restaurant. Clean and they have sport on a big plasma on one wall and news on another. Ana does not do "Hot" so we choose carefully a range of flavours and vegetables. The food overall was good, however I was eating the Curried beef, when I pulled out a piece of meat with a bone in it and started removing said meat from bone I noticed that it was a very white meat. I do not think I shall be returning to that establishment.
Ah well another day over and work awaits in the morning, we decamp to the well used foyer and catch up with Tweety and Stats for an after dinner drink and arrange to meet in the same place at 0800 for a trip to the Lime Lounge for breakfast, upon which Ana informs us is 9 hours away.
Well, The first night crew met in the foyer of the cell block hotel. We all made our way to the Lime Lounge for breakfast. 0800 in the morning 28deg and 100% humidity.
This is a very good place to be, air conditioned and serves decent tea and coffee as well as a breakfast. I go for the fruit salad with yoghurt. The others a variety of dishes from omelette to BLTs.
What a way to start the day, the rest of the 92 days will fly by. We head to the Office, well we do have an office, it is shared by 8 of us, all 4 desks and 3 office chairs supplemented by 5 plastic garden chairs. The two visiting banana benders, Mrs Brady and Ana, being in possession of a weeks knowledge, stake the remaining desk not occupied by Duke and Nemo (the permanent staffers) and leave the rest of us to fight over the one desk, chair and computer connection.
As I have yet to get a laptop or phone or ID or anything I graciously let the Gimp and Austin have first go at plugging in their laptops. Then it is downstairs, yes folks, I think I am resident in one of the few multi-storey offices in the area, we meet the IT consultant in charge of the integration of the system Stats has produced for the SI Govt. Baby Nemo. She has worked all over the world, but is a little distracted as her parents then boyfriend are due on the scene.
Straight into work with them as Tweety is given the roll of doing the commercial work. I will be doing enforcement. We spend the rest of the morning discussing Stats system and what we expect of it. Then off to lunch to the shopping centre. This is the only real shopping mall here. It is huge, I counted at least 8 shops and the food hall had 3 food outlets! I go with Nemo and Mrs Brady and Ana. Ana s conversation over lunch is where to go to dinner and how many minutes that is away.
Back to the Office, then out to the Aid Missions admin place. They are on the top (fourth) floor of the tallest building in town. Oh, by the way, no lifts, elevators or escalators in Honiara. I get my mobile, my laptop and am officially here. I will get my security briefing tomorrow. We meet the advisor at 1000.
Back to Stats and Baby Nemo for the rest of the afternoon. We meet up with all the people mentioned above and arrange to meet in the foyer of the Mendana Cell block at 1830 for pre dinner drinks.
Gimp, Austin, Mrs Brady, Ana and I head out to a new Sri Lankan -Indian Restaurant. We are joined a little later by Nemo. Baby Nemo has gone home to get things ready for her visitors, Duke has gone home, he is still bothered by the failure of Adelaide's football teams and needs some quiet time. Stats and Tweety are off to join the Hash walk/run this evening.
Well we drive out to the Taj, looks impressive, so does the restaurant. Clean and they have sport on a big plasma on one wall and news on another. Ana does not do "Hot" so we choose carefully a range of flavours and vegetables. The food overall was good, however I was eating the Curried beef, when I pulled out a piece of meat with a bone in it and started removing said meat from bone I noticed that it was a very white meat. I do not think I shall be returning to that establishment.
Ah well another day over and work awaits in the morning, we decamp to the well used foyer and catch up with Tweety and Stats for an after dinner drink and arrange to meet in the same place at 0800 for a trip to the Lime Lounge for breakfast, upon which Ana informs us is 9 hours away.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The First Week Crew
Even Stiller Sunday 9th September.
The crew on that first night turn out to be a mixed bag. The permanent staffer who met me at the airport now known as "Duke". Tall, languid, relaxed and nervous. From South Oz and devastated that the Crows lost this weekend.
A visitor from the A/Gs department, "The Gimp" with a line in insults and a view on life that only an ex AFP, Army and CPA from Melbourne could have. He is here for a week with the possibility of a return at any time in my 3 months.
Another visitor for the week, here to assist the Gimp and do some of his own work for the OCO is "Austin Powers". Austin sits in and listens to everything going on, bemused by the antics of the crowd. When asked he joins in and flashes a great smile. He has a wicked sense of humour.
Two advisors (both from Qld) here to plan some training, for the locals. "Carol Brady". Calls us all love and cares for our welfare. From the Atherton Tablelands. Sort of the land that time forgot. Always asks "have I got time for a ciggie" "Anna Conda" the second of the two, not sure if she gets anything done, but she sure moves around a lot. This excessive movement causes a feeding frenzy. Counts down the minutes to her next meal. They have been here a week and have been out swimming at one of the local beaches.
The guy I came over with "Tweety" for several reasons, yellow thongs and shorts will do for now. Likes a bevvie, well, man cannot live on food alone!
Finally an ex-Pom who has settled in NZ likes sandles with socks, woodworking and numbers "Stats"
Having had a couple of drinks in the hotel bar we head out to the eating establishment of choice for the evening. A Chinese Restaurant called Puppies 1. There are another two Puppies, I am sure we will get to them over the next 3 months. Despite misgivings the food is OK. The 2 squid dishes in particular.
After dinner it is back for a night cap at the hotel. This is where we meet the second permanent staff member "Nemo" she was away all weekend on a diving expedition to the Florida Islands.
Then I head for my cell, crank up the aircon and drag myself under all 13 layers of blankets, mosquitos can be dangerous you know. Work in the morning.
The crew on that first night turn out to be a mixed bag. The permanent staffer who met me at the airport now known as "Duke". Tall, languid, relaxed and nervous. From South Oz and devastated that the Crows lost this weekend.
A visitor from the A/Gs department, "The Gimp" with a line in insults and a view on life that only an ex AFP, Army and CPA from Melbourne could have. He is here for a week with the possibility of a return at any time in my 3 months.
Another visitor for the week, here to assist the Gimp and do some of his own work for the OCO is "Austin Powers". Austin sits in and listens to everything going on, bemused by the antics of the crowd. When asked he joins in and flashes a great smile. He has a wicked sense of humour.
Two advisors (both from Qld) here to plan some training, for the locals. "Carol Brady". Calls us all love and cares for our welfare. From the Atherton Tablelands. Sort of the land that time forgot. Always asks "have I got time for a ciggie" "Anna Conda" the second of the two, not sure if she gets anything done, but she sure moves around a lot. This excessive movement causes a feeding frenzy. Counts down the minutes to her next meal. They have been here a week and have been out swimming at one of the local beaches.
The guy I came over with "Tweety" for several reasons, yellow thongs and shorts will do for now. Likes a bevvie, well, man cannot live on food alone!
Finally an ex-Pom who has settled in NZ likes sandles with socks, woodworking and numbers "Stats"
Having had a couple of drinks in the hotel bar we head out to the eating establishment of choice for the evening. A Chinese Restaurant called Puppies 1. There are another two Puppies, I am sure we will get to them over the next 3 months. Despite misgivings the food is OK. The 2 squid dishes in particular.
After dinner it is back for a night cap at the hotel. This is where we meet the second permanent staff member "Nemo" she was away all weekend on a diving expedition to the Florida Islands.
Then I head for my cell, crank up the aircon and drag myself under all 13 layers of blankets, mosquitos can be dangerous you know. Work in the morning.
First Day in the Solomon Islands.
Still Sunday 9th September.
I was picked up from the airport by one of the two permanent staff of the posting. As I have not received any instruction I am unsure of what I will be doing, but enjoy the ride.
We get to see some indidgenous dwellings made of sticks and leaves, I cannot see where the airconditioners are though! There are also numerous market type stalls, all made of the same materials, yep, sticks and leaves. They are staffed by 3 or 4 people and they all sell the same things, Betel nuts. No market diversity! To our surprise, we then reach a stretch of coconut stalls. Now we know we can drink AND relax as well as spit a substance that looks like a blood/wax mixture.
I am advised on the drive in that we will have a tour of the area. This does not take long as it only covers the east/west road from the airport to the hotel in Honiara. The refreshing news is that we can look at the other 50% of the east/west roads tomorrow.
We drive past the Casino and Hotel that were burnt down in the recent troubles as well as the second supermarket in town. This is the bigger and more modern of the two, but it is further out from the centre of town. After this excitement we reach the middle of town, then just as quickly leave it. We progress another 500 metres to our residence for the next 3 months, the Bates Motel, sorry that should be Hotel Mendana.
We are sent to our rooms to unpack and refresh so we can meet up with the rest of the team and out for dinner.
The foyer of the hotel is open, posts and a roof, no walls and no aircon, but ceiling fans. They are effective in the evening with a breeze and a beer/cold drink in your hand.
1830 comes around and I march out to be introduced to the "team".
I will detail them in the next instalment.
I was picked up from the airport by one of the two permanent staff of the posting. As I have not received any instruction I am unsure of what I will be doing, but enjoy the ride.
We get to see some indidgenous dwellings made of sticks and leaves, I cannot see where the airconditioners are though! There are also numerous market type stalls, all made of the same materials, yep, sticks and leaves. They are staffed by 3 or 4 people and they all sell the same things, Betel nuts. No market diversity! To our surprise, we then reach a stretch of coconut stalls. Now we know we can drink AND relax as well as spit a substance that looks like a blood/wax mixture.
I am advised on the drive in that we will have a tour of the area. This does not take long as it only covers the east/west road from the airport to the hotel in Honiara. The refreshing news is that we can look at the other 50% of the east/west roads tomorrow.
We drive past the Casino and Hotel that were burnt down in the recent troubles as well as the second supermarket in town. This is the bigger and more modern of the two, but it is further out from the centre of town. After this excitement we reach the middle of town, then just as quickly leave it. We progress another 500 metres to our residence for the next 3 months, the Bates Motel, sorry that should be Hotel Mendana.
We are sent to our rooms to unpack and refresh so we can meet up with the rest of the team and out for dinner.
The foyer of the hotel is open, posts and a roof, no walls and no aircon, but ceiling fans. They are effective in the evening with a breeze and a beer/cold drink in your hand.
1830 comes around and I march out to be introduced to the "team".
I will detail them in the next instalment.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Leaving Australia
Sunday 9th September.
Early start in the morning for the taxi to the airport.
Arrive to be met with a busy day at Brisbane Airport. Even though we arrive at 0815 for a 0930 flight, the line through Customs is really slow. As I am flying business class I have a special pass to use the lane for aircraft crew.
This is not helped by the security screening which is right behind the fast track Customs desks. This slows down the process as the queues going through the xray are really slow, they also back onto the Customs lane so even if you are processed through Customs you cannot advance. The brainstrust that designed this process also decided to let Airport workers use the same security checkpoint as the Aircrew and the "special" business and first class passengers, the results of this is that it is the same speed as the other lines.
Once through the security screening it is straight through the shops as it is unclear whether or not we will be able to carry on duty free, you know the stuff in bottles of more than 100ml? As it turns out we are, but no one told us.
We race down to the departure gate as our boarding time is here. Naturally, we are leaving from the last gate at the far end of the building. Not only is it the furtherest gate, it is the one without a covered walkway, we walk down the steps and over the tarmac to the aircraft parked 100 metres away.
The plane is a surprise, an OzJet 737. No Solomon Airlines plane, some problem with the lease apparently.
We finally get to board the aircraft. We then proceed to wait. The forward toilet is not working and an engineer is trying to fix it. No luck after 45 minutes and we (well the Captain anyway) decides to undertake the dangerous 3 hour 30 minute flight with only 2 working toilets. And you thought we were soft!
Away we go only 90 minutes late. Thereafter the flight to Honiara was uneventful and we arrive 31/2 hours and 40 years behind. The OzJet is obviously a time machine. As we step out onto the tarmac the local time is 1530 and the temperature is 30 Deg Celsius with 90% humidity.
For some unknown reason we double over and run in case a squadron of Zeros or Betsys decite to attack the stranded aircraft on the tarmac. We make it safely into the terminal.
The terminal. Well, I think it was the same one McArthur walked into during WW2. AN historic building complete with the most advanced cooling fans in the world, not.
Still, all is well and we made it.
Early start in the morning for the taxi to the airport.
Arrive to be met with a busy day at Brisbane Airport. Even though we arrive at 0815 for a 0930 flight, the line through Customs is really slow. As I am flying business class I have a special pass to use the lane for aircraft crew.
This is not helped by the security screening which is right behind the fast track Customs desks. This slows down the process as the queues going through the xray are really slow, they also back onto the Customs lane so even if you are processed through Customs you cannot advance. The brainstrust that designed this process also decided to let Airport workers use the same security checkpoint as the Aircrew and the "special" business and first class passengers, the results of this is that it is the same speed as the other lines.
Once through the security screening it is straight through the shops as it is unclear whether or not we will be able to carry on duty free, you know the stuff in bottles of more than 100ml? As it turns out we are, but no one told us.
We race down to the departure gate as our boarding time is here. Naturally, we are leaving from the last gate at the far end of the building. Not only is it the furtherest gate, it is the one without a covered walkway, we walk down the steps and over the tarmac to the aircraft parked 100 metres away.
The plane is a surprise, an OzJet 737. No Solomon Airlines plane, some problem with the lease apparently.
We finally get to board the aircraft. We then proceed to wait. The forward toilet is not working and an engineer is trying to fix it. No luck after 45 minutes and we (well the Captain anyway) decides to undertake the dangerous 3 hour 30 minute flight with only 2 working toilets. And you thought we were soft!
Away we go only 90 minutes late. Thereafter the flight to Honiara was uneventful and we arrive 31/2 hours and 40 years behind. The OzJet is obviously a time machine. As we step out onto the tarmac the local time is 1530 and the temperature is 30 Deg Celsius with 90% humidity.
For some unknown reason we double over and run in case a squadron of Zeros or Betsys decite to attack the stranded aircraft on the tarmac. We make it safely into the terminal.
The terminal. Well, I think it was the same one McArthur walked into during WW2. AN historic building complete with the most advanced cooling fans in the world, not.
Still, all is well and we made it.
Arrived in Brisbane at last
Saturday 8th September.
Sitting in the departure lounge at Perth airport, who do I see but a guy I play indoor cricket with. He and his wife are on the same flight to Brisbane.
They are sitting up the pointy end, I wander back to cattle class for the uneventful flight to Brisbane.
In Brisbane, I manage to meet the guy who is coming to the Solomons with me and catch up with a couple of friends for a pizza and a couple of drinks.
All in all a gentle start to my adventure.
Sitting in the departure lounge at Perth airport, who do I see but a guy I play indoor cricket with. He and his wife are on the same flight to Brisbane.
They are sitting up the pointy end, I wander back to cattle class for the uneventful flight to Brisbane.
In Brisbane, I manage to meet the guy who is coming to the Solomons with me and catch up with a couple of friends for a pizza and a couple of drinks.
All in all a gentle start to my adventure.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
First Log
Well preparations are well under way. I have bought a heap of drugs, antibiotics mainly, plus insect repellant as Malaria is endemic to the area. Have my Anti malatria tablets and on Monday get the final injection for the trip.
Have to get some sunscreen as the malaria tablets make you more suseptable. How does that work?
Have to get some sunscreen as the malaria tablets make you more suseptable. How does that work?
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