Mother's Day….

Today is Mother's Day….

I rang Mum this morning to wish her a happy mother's day and also to tell her that I loved her. I borrowed Henri's mobile phone and we spoke for about 10 mins. When I got off the phone I realised how much I miss the family and folks back home. Even as I write, I feel the pain of seperation and distance. This in only an insight into what a lot of people around the world must be feeling on this day. To feel pain is to feel human and it passes.

Returned to the Baptist church this morning, two weeks in a row. The congregation welcomed me again with open arms. The service had a special theme for mother's day. There were flower arrangements all around the church and the sermon (baptists love sermons) focused on mothers and our relationships with them. Many nice things were said about mum's and there were songs too (baptists also love to sing). At the end of the service the men and boys got up in front of the congregation and gave testimony and stories why their mothers were so special. This brought a tear to my eyes. The 1st young man that got up, cried during his story, it really was a moving experience. Although they had organised a traditional melanesian bbq (pig and yams cooked in the ground), Henri, Peter (a local), the Pastor and myself were “whisked” away for lunch at one of the hotels in Lae. Pastor's shout !! So it is true, what goes around comes around !! In a way, I would have preferred to hanf around and eat pig and yams and mix with the locals. I did take some photos and will publish these another time.

I popped into work to catch up on asome emails and blogging. Will now go back to my “compound” and prepare for this weeks lecture : “Business Continuity”.

Before I forget, yesterday I had a real,bad case of the “Pek pek warras”, which in Tok Pisin means a bad case of the shits!!! 1st time since arriving, so I am doing OK. Hope I don't get this malaria thing, sounds nasty it does. Most of the locals have had it many times and from what they say, it is not a very pleasant experience.

My friend Alison gets back any day from Nepal and Tibet, I hope she had a great time. As I did'nt get any emails from her, I can only assume that there are'nt any Internet Cafes at Everest Base Camp !!!

Hope you are all welll and to all those mothers out there : Happy Mothers Day !!!