Robert@PNG

Eli has been working a little market of late, ice blocks mainly but occasionally some buai too. The ice blocks Eli sells are the best in the business, sweeter, colder and juicier than the competition. Many PNG women work small income to supplement the income of their husbands, most are the sole breadwinners for their families.

Those days when I am home and Eli is out the front doing her market thing, I will make a coffee and go and sit out the front with her. Passersby stare and smile as its an unusual sight to see a white man in PNG sitting down with his partner working a market. Rare indeed - probably a first!!

I have been encouraging Eli to do something that will give her an independent income. I suppose an ice block market is a start. What I would really like to see is Eli making and selling something that others are not yet doing, a first if you like.  This concept of PNG nationals doing or making or selling something different is a difficult one for them to grasp, they find it easy to copy and replicate what someone else has already done. Markets everywhere in PNG all seem to sell the same items: ice blocks, buai, flour balls and smokes. I believe that something original would take off and do really well.

It's also a money thing and Eli needs to learn the “art” and “science” of managing cash. Budgeting, saving and not giving everything away to wantoks. I'm certainly no master at money management but definitely much more skilled than most locals.

On a different note…

“Gelo” the dog just bit the fuck out of Uncle Joel's leg! (he's staying with us for a couple of nights). In fact, “Gelo” has bitten the fuck out of a few of the relo's already, Uncle Joel not being the first. Not such a bad thing I suppose as it deters visitors and guests, it seems to have put a stop to the continuous stream of folks knocking on our gate . Plus it has has given us a certian peace of mind since we had thieves jump the fence and steal our water pump a few weeks ago. On the other hand, it's not nice having a dog that attacks our family, friends and welcomed visitors. All in all, “Gelo” is good value and I would not get rid of her for quids, no matter how many legs she has the odd chew on.