General Conversation

Since we last updated you all, we have celebrated three birthdays (Mum, Dad, and Dad), gone to an Orchid Show, seen my cousin Nissain walk for the first time, been selected for the national rugby squad, pulled my hamstring, and watched Tre grow rapidly. It has been extreme.

My Mum, Liz, and Nats’ Dad, Bruce share a Birthday on the 3^rd of August, and my Dads Birthday is the week after theirs. On Mums Birthday Nats and I made a big pancake breakfast for the family. We had to get up early because Breakfast had to be ready before everyone had to head off to work, but it all worked out great and mum was really blessed. That day Nats also made mum a Birthday cake, which by the way, was spectacular. It was picture perfect, and tasted better than it looked; so much so that dad placed an order for the same cake for his birthday the following week (only my Dad…..he’s a funny one!). Even though mum and Bruce share a birthday, because of the date line, Bruce’s birthday is actually the day after mums. So we had to keep that in mind when calling him to say Happy Birthday. For Dads birthday we got up and made breakfast as well, only this time we made a “Man” breakfast; eggs, bacon, baked-beans, toast and fruit. Ironically, that night DAD took US out for a lobster dinner – well, dad had the Lobster, I had a T-Bone and the girls had the buffet. It was a very nice evening.

Also this month, the PNG Orchid Society held its annual Orchid Show, to showcase the beautiful and unique orchids found in PNG. It was really beautiful, and this is the second year Nats and I have gone. Orchids are one of those things that make PNG special; there are so many different species here, and a lot of them can only be found in PNG.

Spending time with my cousins (Katherine and Nissain) has been really special. They are both young, and I have been absent for most of their lives; so getting to know them and building a relationship, has been nice. My youngest cousin, Nissain, has just recently started walking. It is now impossible to keep up with her.

Since being back in Port Moresby I have started playing rugby again. I have managed to get back into top grade club rugby, but to my surprise, I was approached by the coach of the National representative team (the “Pukpuks”) and asked to begin training with the squad. The first training session that I attended, I promptly pulled my hamstring. I guess the Pukpuks was not in Gods plan for me. I have not played rugby since, but I hope to make it back for the finals.