Nearly Home for Christmas...Maybe

Denise and I love getting all the email responses to our blogs and the stories of other people's adventures and experiences.  Please keep them coming as some of the stories we get make our stories look normal.

The other day somebody sat beside me on the bus when there were still a few spare seats remaining.  Believe it or not, that wasn't the reason why I am mentioning it, although it is a significant step.  As she was typing something in Kiribati on her iPad I happened to see something she typed and it contained the word corrupt.  I checked twice and yes, I had read it correctly.  Now I am intrigued to know what it was about.  Probably never know.

The work bus is treated by some on it like it's their own personal transport.  Some of the examples include:

·         Driving in to some place just to pick something up or drop off.

·         Bringing the kids to/from school

·         The old, just wait, this won't take long

·         Back up or go forward 10mtrs so I don't have to walk

It is currently winter, the wet season, but the rains are not here yet.  Tarawa is in drought, as is most of Kiribati.  We get the occasional shower but need some drenching tropical rains.  Something like Fiji is getting now.  I will regret writing this, but if it brings rain, great...and guess what, you will then get rain stories and everything associated with rain.  The first thing I see happening is the road becoming potholed and to make matters worse the road contractor is supposed to be leaving Kiribati, so who knows how it will be repaired.

Non-road things for a change

Parliament was back for two weeks and it seems that the whole of Kiribati listens to it on the radio.  It sounds to me as exciting as listening to Australian parliament, not that I do that either.

Work is frustrating as I can't really do anything while I wait for the delivery of supplies.  They were supposed to be delivered by the end of November.  Yes, I know it's half way through December.  Once delivered it has to be counted (not me) and then, if it is different to what was ordered (good chance me thinks), I have to recalculate the allocation quantities.  I also have to see how many items are in each box to see if the allocation changes a second time.  That bit will mean burning the midnight oil to ensure it is completed for the next day.  Then it's hand over to the packers and go on leave.  I am guessing I'll come back to a total mess - anything better will be a bonus.  I am also hoping it is all delivered before I go on leave, but that is not looking too promising at this stage.  That will mean working while on leave.  If I do have to work I will claim those days back to use for another break.

The biggest surprise was discovering through a third party that the work I have been doing for the last 14 weeks may be a waste as somebody above me has decided to change the way things are procured without even mentioning it to me or anybody else, or at least the others are denying any knowledge of it.  I think I need a break.  I have requested a meeting to understand the full meaning of what is being proposed so stay tuned.  That won’t happen until January.

I have decided my seat at work is uncomfortable but I can't find any seats that I can "borrow" so maybe I have to put up with a sore bum.  I might get a little more proactive in finding another chair.

The weekend just gone was a long weekend, the 2^nd in two weeks, for us to support Human Rights.  Luckily we didn't have to attend any functions so instead there were about four or five expat functions planned for various reasons.  I like having two additional public holidays in December.  It makes the time fly so much quicker.

The week leading in to Christmas I only work Monday & Tuesday as we fly out on the Wednesday afternoon for 2 days in Fiji before going home to Brisbane.  It seems about time we had another dose of first world.  That assumes we go, as todays flight was cancelled due to Fiji weather and Tarawa’s lack of fuel.

It has been one of the highest tides here lately and that means water levels close to the road with kids making the most of it swimming everywhere.  Luckily we don't get strong winds causing a storm surge. That would make things really interesting.

Denise was invited out for dinner by a preacher the other evening so I went as she had never met him.  It was as a result of her involvement with the Days for Girls program she is involved with.  The only problem was we sat on the floor in a little hut outside the house when I noticed there were perfectly good chairs inside.  We were entertained by the preacher and his adopted son.  Inside the house was his wife and real son.  Apparently this is customary that the wife is happy to stay out of the way.  Note to self, teach Denise that.  I can feel the whack as I write this! Hahaha Peter!!!

Days for Girls is a project Denise wishes she had been involved with in Tanzania.  She is a qualified Ambassador for the Days for Girls program is assisting locals to become part of the program. Please look it up on the internet, I think it is a very worthy cause.  Rotary money has gone to this initiative, hence the ad below.

Denise is trying to sell 2017 Rotary calendars that have some great photos of Kiribati.  I want all readers of the blog to buy one ($10) to help support the local initiatives in Kiribati.  Send an email stating how many you would like. I will post from here as the postage, surprise, surprise is cheaper!!

Well I’m getting excited; well I was until last night when they cancelled the flight for today because of some cyclone.  Inconsiderate I say.  So now we wait and see what Mother nature has up her sleeve for us.

I have not posted much on Facebook because the internet is so ordinary.  Drops in and out and then decides it is just not going to turn up at all.  I have managed to put some photos of our weekend in Abemama there, which is now just a fond memory.

I have a list of things to bring back, just so it makes life just that bit more comfortable.  Cheese, Bath mat (as Peter hates feeling grit on his feet), a wire brush to start a recycling project and bloody sandpaper.  Hunted the island for it!  I suppose I could always use the coral off the “beach” to rub the rust away. The beach in inverted commas means a very loose term for the ground that is near the water but isn’t really a beach.  Lava outcrops that are so sharp that if I have a senior moment and lose my footing I get damaged.  Adventure is what it is about!