10 Thoughts I had on Xmas day 2008

The speed at which time flies nowadays is just unbelievable – Xmas 2008 has certainly come in a hurry and is now almost over. Although a christian festival – most folks around the world celebrate Xmas in one form or another – some folks write Xmas letters whilst others send cards – families get together and give each other presents – and how could we forget the Xmas parties at work and social clubs?

Xmas 2008 has certainly been a quiet one for me – a normal day really. The sun still rose and set at the same. And the dog next door still barked almost to the point of annoyance. No large family gatherings nor a roast, no xmas presents nor did I bump into Santa Claus. Just another normal day.

Having said that I did do a little reflecting throughout the day and here’s a few of my thoughts on Xmas 2008 for what they’re worth:

• It’s great to be removed from the commercial aspect of Xmas. No presents and no heavy spending! One thing nice about PNG – other than the christian aspect of this time of year one does not really notice the arrival of the “silly” season.
  
• I did feel a little on the sad side not being able to spend time with the family back in Sydney. I’ve now been away from “home” for two Xmas’s.
  
• The number of volley-ball competitions around town has quadrupled over the past week. A good excuse for neighbours to get together and interact.
• Ah yes… I did purchase a small gift for the family – an email address each! But not just any email address. I recently purchased a new Domain : “schi.lt”. I’m not going to divulge the email addresses I gave-away but I will share with you mine – any of these email addresses will reach me: “robert@schi.lt” or “rob@schi.lt” or “r@schi.lt“. (Pretty cool eh!).
• A day off work… how could I not do some work on the blog!! The latest plugin I installed is called: “Snow and More” – if you go to the Home page you will see falling snow flakes… how cute. Will switch this off early in the New Year.
• The same number of drunks were cruising the streets as per a usual weekend. If there’s one thing that’s ripping the social fabric of PNG apart and depriving the youth of a hope filled future – that is alcohol. As a rule – most locals do not know how to drink in moderation and they will keep on going on until either the money or the beer has run out.
• I reckon that Xmas day sees just as many car accidents, violent deaths, births, lottery wins, broken hearts, laughs, heart attacks, hunger pangs and rapes etc… as any other day of the year. The human clock and suffering don’t just stop because it so happens to be the 25th of December.
• And yes… I remembered the eating (or perhaps gouging would be a more appropriate term) that people generally indulge in the the so called West. From the time they get up right through to bed time. Folks just eat, eat and eat!! In these neck of the woods… many a folk went hungry. Santa Claus doesn’t come down everyone’s chimney.
  
• Business as normal in Goroka town today. Most stores were open until midday and the main markets… well they go 365 days a year (except when someone has just been killed in the vicinity or the local lads decide to have a stone fight.
• No local news papers today! Heaven forbid… no crosswords and no comics!!

On this Xmas day – 2008… goodwill, joy and peace to all humans.