And today my dear readers

A point form post! 

1) The Hospital has been a little “lazy” in the organizing of
permanent accommodation for us. For over a month now we have been lodging in
the Hospital’s Transit Lodge and as yet I have not picked up boxes and bed from
Lae. Sincerest apologies to my dear mate and volunteer Geoff whom kindly
offered to store my belongings in his house prior to my departure from Lae in
December last year. We now seem to be one step closer to moving into permanent accommodation.
In PNG nothing seems to go smoothly and as planned, this local quirk both
frustrates me and at times pisses me off no end. Today, I was shown a 5 bedroom
house, a little run down but secure and with a huge garden. I will take Eli
there tomorrow morning to get a second opinion and then we will decide sometime
in the afternoon.

2) The general inefficiency, poor business practice and an
extremely poor concept of service in this country is enough to drive a well
composed man to the brink of a breakdown. The unresponsiveness by Papua New
Guineans to a genuine business request, the “no return” phone calls policy and
the need to continually chase things up is beyond belief. I could cite many
examples but will not. Those whom know PNG will understand what I am talking
about and those that haven’t lived or worked here previously will not believe
some of the stories anyway.

3) Went into town today to get quotations for some office
furniture. The work side of things here at the Hospital are moving along slowly
albeit surely. My current work motto is: “slowly but surely – chip, chip and
chip”. Just got to keep plugging away and keep persisting. I still feel
confident about being able to implement some of the ideas I come here with. At
times very frustrating but I know that it is absolutely necessary for someone
to hang on strong to a strong IT vision for the Hospital and that person in
this project happens to be “moi”. Refurbishment has started on a Resource /
Training room and once we get this up and running I am confident that the
hospital will benefit greatly from the 
“slowly but surely – chip, chip and chip” motto.

4) I have said this before and I’m going to say it again, the
fresh food in Goroka is fresh as it is varied and as nutritious as it is cheap.
With Eli doing all of the cooking at home, it’s without a doubt that I eat like
a king and health freak all rolled into one. I am continually being introduced
to a new green, fruit, nut or bean. Recently and for the first time, I tried a
local nut called a “Pandana” or in  Tok
Pisin known as “Karuka”, one of the nicest nuts I have ever tried and like with
most fresh foods here in the Highlands – in
abundance. As seasons and the months come and go so does the richness, variety
and selection of locally grown produce. Another one of those really nice
“cojonudo” aspects about living in PNG. (“Cojonudo” by the way is a Spanish
word meaning…).

6) As far as a point form blog post goes, I think that four
points is enough for now. And as with all posts it is my privilege and my
privilege only to have the last say. Not negotiable, not now – not ever.

7) And if after saying: “Four points is it” – I continue to
write, five points or six points or even seven points, so what? If I wanted to
I could write 67 points, just like that. In fact why not? 67 is a nice round
number. 67 points? I’d be here all night…

8) Plus… Eli’s just finished cooking dinner!!