Sunday, November 28, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Hot and sweaty.
Gee those little google map pins annoy me. One light brush of the mouse in a way that the map doesn't dig and suddenly the map is telling me where the park in the Melbourne CBD is in relation to Argentina. When you see those dotted red lines that indicate where you are in relation to the equator, you know your map pin has gone global. Not very helpful if you are just trying to work out where the off-street parking is.
After suffering all week from what can only be described as a mystery tropical illness that has so far defied all traditional medical investigations, I was ready to hit the road again with my trainer. Since we last met, her pregnancy has obviously progressed .... and there I was, dragging my tired ass behind her pregnant belly once more. With a spring in her voice and step she announced that we were doing 'Pyramids'. No - I had not heard of it either. If I may translate: her happy and fun 'Pyramid' was in fact 30, that's t-h-i-r-t-y laps of the oval in the foul morning sun. Never had it looked more like a jail yard to me. Hell!
It is seriously hot at the moment. When every day is basically 30 degrees or so, it does seem quite odd to single out particular hotties. This week I have declared on at least two occasions (with questionable authority, given that I live in an air-conditioned palace) that 'It is HOT today'. A few things set these days apart, and I know on waking. The air feels prickly, it just isn't nice to be skin to skin with my baby, touching the curtains to open them is unbearable because the fabric is just too damn blanket-like and I find myself squinting and reaching for the sunscreen when I am making a cup of tea at 7am.
My arms are outstretched and ready to embrace the wet season ... any time now!
After suffering all week from what can only be described as a mystery tropical illness that has so far defied all traditional medical investigations, I was ready to hit the road again with my trainer. Since we last met, her pregnancy has obviously progressed .... and there I was, dragging my tired ass behind her pregnant belly once more. With a spring in her voice and step she announced that we were doing 'Pyramids'. No - I had not heard of it either. If I may translate: her happy and fun 'Pyramid' was in fact 30, that's t-h-i-r-t-y laps of the oval in the foul morning sun. Never had it looked more like a jail yard to me. Hell!
It is seriously hot at the moment. When every day is basically 30 degrees or so, it does seem quite odd to single out particular hotties. This week I have declared on at least two occasions (with questionable authority, given that I live in an air-conditioned palace) that 'It is HOT today'. A few things set these days apart, and I know on waking. The air feels prickly, it just isn't nice to be skin to skin with my baby, touching the curtains to open them is unbearable because the fabric is just too damn blanket-like and I find myself squinting and reaching for the sunscreen when I am making a cup of tea at 7am.
My arms are outstretched and ready to embrace the wet season ... any time now!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Hills and me.
Well, not everyone can say Hillary Rodham Clinton has driven past their house.
I can.
Her motorcade went one way into Town (not a general place, but actually a proper noun for the Port Moresby CBD) and then it came back about 55 minutes later. Off she goes! On her way back however I was ready to count cars.
So many ... I think I got to 29 before I realised I was counting the actual traffic. It was dark, I struggle with distances at night and I suppose at some stage the red and blue flashing lights of the mighty USA somehow morphed into the vastly more common flashing-for-no-apparent-reason hazard lights of a beaten up Toyota Sunny.
In any case, I can say for sure there were at least 15. And as they sped through the SVS Harbourside roundabout, past the local park, the group of seriously dedicated Christians that have been camped there for the last 3 or so nights marking some important time in the Church year kept singing and pounding that little PA system for all it was worth. I wonder if they even turned around.
Two worlds definitely collided for a minute or so tonight in the little view from our bedroom window.
Bye-bye Hills! Hope someone remembers which order/direction all your cars go in to get back on the plane.
I can.
Her motorcade went one way into Town (not a general place, but actually a proper noun for the Port Moresby CBD) and then it came back about 55 minutes later. Off she goes! On her way back however I was ready to count cars.
So many ... I think I got to 29 before I realised I was counting the actual traffic. It was dark, I struggle with distances at night and I suppose at some stage the red and blue flashing lights of the mighty USA somehow morphed into the vastly more common flashing-for-no-apparent-reason hazard lights of a beaten up Toyota Sunny.
In any case, I can say for sure there were at least 15. And as they sped through the SVS Harbourside roundabout, past the local park, the group of seriously dedicated Christians that have been camped there for the last 3 or so nights marking some important time in the Church year kept singing and pounding that little PA system for all it was worth. I wonder if they even turned around.
Two worlds definitely collided for a minute or so tonight in the little view from our bedroom window.
Bye-bye Hills! Hope someone remembers which order/direction all your cars go in to get back on the plane.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Sec and the Saw.
Honestly, it seems as though the only tradies who are actually pulling a full day's work in Moresby are the ones above and around my house with the rotating saw. As I understood, from trusted sources and from on-the-ground first hand research experience - very little happens after lunch, EVER.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is on the ground as of this afternoon. This is big news! When I was explaining to our haus meri who she was, I did not want to say "Bill Clinton's wife" .... but it was unavoidable. It did help the penny drop, but I didn't feel good about it. Sorry Hillary, I know how much that pisses you off. She is visiting PNG for what appears to be hours not days, doing a circuit from the airport to Government and Parliament House and the US Embassy. What I can't believe is that maybe Hillary will drive past Boroko Foodworld. That seriously blows my mind.
Thing you see in PNG that is never a good sign #48:
A group of men running with large sticks and/or metal implements towards waiting vehicle. (Hope they have made their getaway before Hills comes through this afternoon)
Thing you never want to see as a mother #24:
Your kid who cannot walk and has never had an interest in the stairs before - at the top of the stairs smiling down at you looking quite chuffed, but as though she is really in need of a rest and is about to recline ... into the vacant air.
Hillary Rodham Clinton is on the ground as of this afternoon. This is big news! When I was explaining to our haus meri who she was, I did not want to say "Bill Clinton's wife" .... but it was unavoidable. It did help the penny drop, but I didn't feel good about it. Sorry Hillary, I know how much that pisses you off. She is visiting PNG for what appears to be hours not days, doing a circuit from the airport to Government and Parliament House and the US Embassy. What I can't believe is that maybe Hillary will drive past Boroko Foodworld. That seriously blows my mind.
Thing you see in PNG that is never a good sign #48:
A group of men running with large sticks and/or metal implements towards waiting vehicle. (Hope they have made their getaway before Hills comes through this afternoon)
Thing you never want to see as a mother #24:
Your kid who cannot walk and has never had an interest in the stairs before - at the top of the stairs smiling down at you looking quite chuffed, but as though she is really in need of a rest and is about to recline ... into the vacant air.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Just another Monday.
I met with my trainer this morning. I pay her to make me do things I hate. As we ran around the perimeter of Airways Hotel surrounded by the scent of rotting mangoes (quite off-putting for an already very off-putting situation ie. running up massive hills in tropical heat), I dragged my sweating exhausted ass behind her and felt shame. Shame that at 6 months pregnant - she was still beating me. Shame that the guy pouring the concrete looked at her scoot on by then looked at my panting life form some 5 minutes later and began to laugh. This woman is only part human.
And to this evening ...
My poor overworked H-band-to-be dragged his tired ass into the sanctity of the home only to be met with more 'friendly reminders' from me about some further deadlines he had this evening. Hello wedding planning. In full swing.
As I write this I am trying not to watch 4 Corners but cannot help it. They seem to be running a feature on a 'dodgy telco sham' that involves a Nail Bar and lots of women who need to get their roots done. Umm ... ABC, I don't know how to say this but you look a little bit Today Tonight.
To close - our lovely baby uttered her first sentence today. I admit that it passed me by ... but luckily for Emerald her other Mummy figure was there to advise me of massive milestone.
Drumroll ...
"I want biccy."
A few points:
- Further work on 'please' required.
- Mummy needs to start leading by example and stop eating so many 'biccys'.
Over.
And to this evening ...
My poor overworked H-band-to-be dragged his tired ass into the sanctity of the home only to be met with more 'friendly reminders' from me about some further deadlines he had this evening. Hello wedding planning. In full swing.
As I write this I am trying not to watch 4 Corners but cannot help it. They seem to be running a feature on a 'dodgy telco sham' that involves a Nail Bar and lots of women who need to get their roots done. Umm ... ABC, I don't know how to say this but you look a little bit Today Tonight.
To close - our lovely baby uttered her first sentence today. I admit that it passed me by ... but luckily for Emerald her other Mummy figure was there to advise me of massive milestone.
Drumroll ...
"I want biccy."
A few points:
- Further work on 'please' required.
- Mummy needs to start leading by example and stop eating so many 'biccys'.
Over.
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