For the next three days…

…I'm going to be flat out !!

- The PNG University games are on
this weekend starting today. Teams from most tertiary institutions
around the country have turned up for three days of competition and
sport. Will try and make it to a few games of Rugby, Netball and womens
touch.

- Will totally avoid the “big men” speeches. The longer
I'm in PNG the less tolerance I have for their big words and lengthy,
substanceless speeches. It's not the speaking that irks me but the fact
that it is just talk and alot of hot wind. Action needs to back up talk
and here in PNG most big men are master talkers but juveniles when it
comes to action.

- Coronation College in Lae is having a
Cultural Day today and will try and pop in for an hour or so this
afternoon. Apparently there will be some Sing-Sing groups and other
activities. Worth a quick squizz.

- Farewell drinks for Nathan
down at the Yacht Club tonight. The Yacht club… one of those venues
I'd much rather avoid nevertheless Nathan (one of the other volunteers)
is leaving Lae this weekend and tonight will be my last opportunity to
bid him farewell and good luck. I have enjoyed Nathan's company and
although we have not “chummed” it we have had some quality and fun
times together. It will be sad to see him move on.

- Saturday
morning… Koru is going to drop in home for a coffee and a chat (and
perhaps some of Eli's pancakes if I'm lucky). Koru is an ex PNG rep
rugby player and also brother to one of my colleagues in Business
Studies. Koru represented PNG at rugby league in the early 90's and
when I bumped into him a few weeks ago at the local coffee shop, I
introduced myself (after Eli told who he was), we had a brief chat
about my decision to stay on in PNG and the need to find work. Koru is
an architect and apparently has some contacts in Moresby that I might
be able to tap into.

- Between everything else going on it is
also PNG Independence Day tomorrow (Saturday). I believe some
activities are planned – not sure what, where or when. How much can a
“Koala bear”?.

- Saturday afternoon – Eli and myself have been
invited to a Mumu (bbq) in the Madang Compound – commonly known as The
Block. My ex haus meri's daughter Maree and her family have invited us
over for lunch. Guess what…  I'm supplying the chook! There's always
a catch is'nt there!

- And on Sunday afternoon…  I have been
invited to speak to the board of Duna Elementary School. I've decided
to fire a small rocket up their arses. There is an unfinished classroom
which has being sitting idle for 6 months and everyone seems to be
waiting for someone else to finish the job. I try and bring some focus
to the group and get them motivated enough to put in some energy so
that this classroom can be finished.

- Between all of the above: some shopping, more marking and prepping lessons for next week.

No rest for the wicked !!