Change of Plan

Do you have ever have those times when it seems like a number of things are going wrong at the same time and you have to make a big decision based on information that keeps changing? Well, that is what these past few weeks have been characterised by for us!

Without boring you with all the details, the upshot is that Duncan is returning to PNG in a few days, but Reuben and I are staying in the UK for a bit longer. His visa hasn't arrived and he has to have some more vaccinations. Duncan needs to get on with his training, but will pop home again (is it possible to 'pop' 8,000 miles?! I'm not sure, but it makes it sound less serious...) for Christmas, after which we will all go to PNG in the new year. We have always HATED being apart and it doesn't get easier in spite of previous training! It feels different again now that Reuben is on the scene, but hopefully our reunion will be all the sweeter!

Smiles

Hello everyone!

Apologies for our recent quiet patch - we have been visiting and visited, which has been lovely. Reuben is loving his adoring public and is doing well. He is over 10lbs now and is full of smiles.



I know we are biased, but he's pretty gorgeous isn't he?

Reuben Report

Reuben's adventures over the past couple of weeks:

Working out in the gym

Getting clean after all that exercise

Being introduced to Mummy's favourite shop

Getting to know the family

It's all so exhausting!

Building Bridges

Back in March we took building materials and tools into a remote location, to assist the building of a new bridge.

Off-loading cement...

...and tools

The landing site, to the right of the thin bridge across the river

One of the items we took in was a generator, which we were then asked to lift back out again when the new bridge was complete. That gave us a chance to see the finished article.

The old bridge

 



which I didn't much fancy crossing

The new bridge

 

a much safer way to cross 

 The old and the new

The generator rigged and ready to go

Taking the sling gear off the generator

 From the air

We were then asked to take the local MP and Governor to the official opening ceremony. As well as the government, the charity responsible for building the bridge and the Australian development agency (who funded it) were represented. This was a big occasion as an agreement was signed to build more, similar, bridges. The nearby village put on a great singsing (show) for the event.

The dignitaries were greeted by a procession of chanting warriors

 wearing traditional dress

 

A ceremony was then held to mark the official opening, and agreement to build more bridges 

No second chances

Enough of babies - back to the important stuff!

A few weeks back I took a flight in one of the SIL Kodiaks to better get to know an area the helicopter rarely (but occasionally) goes to. Our destination for the trip was Masa. Masa is one of those decently-sloped one-way runways that PNG specialises in. The sort that is on a ridge with a drop-off at one end and hill at the other.

Amongst others, we took in one of my colleagues whose family lives in the area. It took us 40 minutes to get there by aeroplane; it took him 3 days to make the return journey by foot, truck, boat and public transport!

Here's a short video of the landing and take-off...

I also recently went to Nahu in the Kodiak. It's another of those sloped runways which suddenly ends in mid-air!

These are the places that make me happy not to be a fixed-wing pilot! [Though I'd like to say they're all terribly well trained and good at the job.] If they make a mistake at the wrong point - there are no second chances...

Beach Babe

Last time Duncan and I walked down our favourite local beach, we were about to leave for Papua New Guinea. We had no idea I was pregnant! Yesterday we returned to the beach as a family. Ukarumpa is completely landlocked and we do miss the sea, so it was a joy-filled walk for a number of reasons.

First Days

Here are a few pictures from Reuben's first week.