It would be far too easy for me to make myself the actor in this little scene. And it’s very difficult to avoid the temptation. It’s not often that one gets to be so intimately involved, in such a positive and enduring way, in the lives of one’s closest friends. On Saturday, I was privileged to be the Registered Celebrant at the wedding of Trevor Hattersley and Karen Simmons. Here is the cover of the Wedding Program:

Trevor and Karen chose every word spoken in their wedding ceremony. Trevor said that he had thought about it “for weeks” and came up with a program over which they toiled for perfection for a few days. I much prefer that couples write their own ceremonies. These two did the job perfectly.

Fiona Buffini read The Selfish Giant  by Oscar Wilde. It was wondrous to watch faces progress from puzzlement to comprehension as the story unfolded. It’s a wonderful tale of transformation.  Then I said my little bit to get the show rolling. Trevor and Karen read their identical vows in unison, again speaking their own words. The mixture of laughter and tears during this brief performance was most touching and not a little amusing:

The formalities and Signing of the Registry being duly completed, we proceeded eventually to the Cake Cutting:

Pascal’s “Best Man’s Speech” was one of the tamer of those that I have heard. I have to commend Dr. Michon for showing remarkable restraint.

Here’s a nice shot of Trevor, Karen and Alexander:

And, the obligatory Wedding Party Scene:

Plus the obilgatory bigger wedding party scene:

And now we get all of the women with Trevor:

And all of the men with Karen:

I can’t say any more. It was Trevor and Karen’s day. What it meant to me to be honoured by them in this way is obvious. To put words to it would be to diminish it.

So, I’ll close by wishing my dear friends all of the happiness that life has brought to me through my marriage.

It should happen for all of us.

A small mob of dedicated enthusiasts showed up at Blueblood on Sunday to bid farewell to Tracey Lee. Though she is notoriously camera-shy, I managed to get this “Fine Wine” shot of her:

The label reads “Winery of the Year.”  Here is Tracey Lee and Carol Dover at Planet Rock:Another day, another dive. Here is Tracey leading the way:Fun in the sun, warm silky water, and a little vino are all it takes to make this mob happy. It’s Tracey, Eunie, Trevor, Karen, Mike, and Carol:The “Floating Bar” is a nice touch.

Tracey is handy with a camera, so I asked her to take some shots of me. She got it right on this one:

I like to Photoshop myself to disguise my age. Here the Poster Edges filter makes it difficult to see that I am actually the “Thousand Year-Old Man”.

I am going to miss Tracey. She is a reliable and steady-headed dive buddy, a friend that one can count on, and invaluable at a party.

Auf Wiedersehen, mein Schatz. At least until the next time.

It’s been a long, long time coming, but it appears that Madang may enjoy some relief from the severe power shortages, at least for a while.

I won’t go into the long history of complaints, excuses, arguments, whining, whingeing, general apathy, and outright incompetence that have preceded this happy day.

The old generators in the power station are nearly unrepairable. Parts are scarce or non-existent. Here is one of the giant old beasts:

Here Matthew Mesmin leads a mob of dignitaries and hangers-on to the switch panel for the new generators:

In this shot we have (left to right) Francis Irara, Director of Natural Resources; Bustin Joseph, Manager, PNG Power, Madang; Eunice Messersmith, Secretary/Treasurer, Madang Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Matthew Mesmin, Project Manager:

After the obligatory ribbon cutting ceremony, in the absence of Stotick Kayma, the President of the Madang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Eunice was chosen to switch on one of the generators for the ‘first time’:

Honestly, it looks as if she’s praying, “O plis Papa God, mekim dispela genset i pairup sitrong tru.” (Oh, God, please let this thing start.) It did, to the relief of everyone present.

Phillip Lucas Peter Metzdorf, (Sorry, Peter. I got your name wrong in the first posting. See comments.) Project Engineer from Energy Power Systems in Australia is at the left in the yellow shirt. For a guy who has dealt with power problems and solutions for more than 28 years, he’s pretty well-balanced and humorous. He had some very amusing stories:

And here are the stars of the show – three spanking-new CAT 16-cylinder gensets:

Peter Metzdorf said that it was a lucky break that we got these babies. With the two forever-wars going on, gensets like these are nearly impossible to obtain. Somebody in Moresby who was awake at the moment noticed the triplet coming up for grabs and grabbed them. Good on ya, mate!

We’re not all the way out of the woods yet. It’s my understanding that PNG Power can now supply all of the power that Madang needs at the present time as long as they don’t need to send it to other centres and as long as big users (we all know who they are) are willing to pull their fuses and run on their own generators.

Anybody willing to face facts can understand that this is not the preferred solution. Though it is a big step in the right direction (and a minor miracle), it does not address the lack of capacity in other centres and it still leaves several major users being forced to pay more for their electricity because they have to go on gensets as soon as Yonki drops the load.

Hey, for now I’m willing to just be happy and stop complaining for a while.

Until the next blackout at my house in the middle of a shower.

Going through my ancient videos that I’ve transferred to digital media, I came across this amusing, but not very action-filled segment of a big crane straining to lift an Air Niugini F-28 from the water in front of our house:
The indicent happened in 1995. There was a huge thunderstorm that dumped an enormous amount of water on the runway. The plane came in long (too far down the runway) and hydroplaned off the end.

It ended up with one wing in the water. People got out the door, walked up the wing to safety, and (presumably) got down on their knees and kissed the tarmac.

The sound of the crash woke us up, but we thought it was just one of the huge long peals of thunder that we hear all the time.

As you can see, they have painted out the logo and company name with white paint. Here’s a spoofed shot of the plane taken before it was defaced.

Despite the most dreadful all-day wet misery that I’ve seen for a long time, a huge group of people turned out for Madang’s participation in World AIDS Day for 2008.

I was but a humble journalist at this event – camera in hand. I thank Heather for providing the details and selecting the appropriate photos:

THIS FROM: Dr. Heather Young-Leslie

World AIDS Day in Madang (Dec. 1, 2008) was uncharacteristically wet and grey: Rain drizzled all day, almost as if the sky was crying in solidarity with those affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The rain presented challenges, but didn’t dampen the spirits of those assembled to mark the day. Everything began with a parade. Floats and marchers representing NGOs such as Save the Children, Volunteer Services Overseas and the Red Cross, local schools including the Maritime College and the Madang Teachers College, and businesses such as Lae Builders. The Disabled Association, the Creative Self-Help Centre and both Provincial and Urban Councils of Women were also active partners in the events of the day. Tingim Laip organized a musical lyrics contest and Bates Oval in the centre of town was filled with umbrella’d people, visiting displays and listening to the music and speeches.

For Madang’s Prov. AIDS Committee Secretariat, the highlight of the day was the Dedication Ceremony for the new HIV Information & Resource Centre. As Matricia Mari, the HIV Response Coordinator for Madang said in her speech, making the Resource Centre a reality has been a truly cooperative affair: The funding came from the Global Fund and Big Lottery Fund, based on a proposal written by VSO. It was built by Lae Builder. The soil for the garden was provided by Shorncliff, and the river stones used to mark the boundaries and pathways were provided by Amri Transport. MPACS staff & volunteers did the landscaping and planted the garden. The day before the Dedication Ceremony, men from Yabob village, along with volunteer condom distributors calling themselves HEPRAI (“Help Reduce AIDS”) appeared with all sorts of bush materials. They decorated the inside and outside in traditional Yabob-style. You can see the long poles constructed of bamboo, croton leaves, and banana stalk in the first photo (They did an equally impressive job on the inside of the Resource Centre).

Madang Prov. AIDS Committee Secretariat Office, decorated in traditional Yabob style

As to be expected, the Dedication Ceremony featured speeches. Matricia Mari, HIV Response Coordinator, spoke of her intention that the Resource Centre be open to anyone who wants to come & learn about HIV. She invoked “the Spirit of the Centre”, and made special reference to the example of Judy Michael, the first woman to go public (in Madang) about her HIV+ status. Judy became the first Care & Counselling Coordinator, and she was generally highly regarded by all who knew her. Acting Provincial Administrator Ben Lange read a speech for the MP Buka Malai Goli, who was supposed to attend, but was delayed in Port Moresby. The speech was based on the saying that “It’s not the mountain that defeats you, it’s the pebble in your shoe”. If AIDS is the mountain, those ‘pebbles’ are things like stigma, gender-inequality, violence, under-education, lack of access to health and justice services, and lack of leadership. Mr. Lange also added a reference to the 6th Commandment (re: adultery). It was quite good to hear a government representative saying these words. The main question is, will those politicians remember the speech when they’re asked to fund and assist with expediting the work of the Provincial AIDS Committees in 2009? We noticed a dramatic lack of political or upper administrative presence at any of the World AIDS Day activities.

Ben Lange, Provincial Administrator (Acting)

One of the most touching moments of the ceremony was when Mary-Anne Guam, a volunteer with Tingim Laip, read two poems written by children affected by AIDS: “My Brother” by 10 yr-old Lauren and “What is AIDS?” by 17 year old Sally Montas. With predictions of 1 in every 20 rural people in Madang province becoming HIV+ within the next five years, these poems about AIDS, written by young people affected by AIDS, served to remind us all just how serious and far-reaching the epidemic can be: the ramifications go far beyond the person infected with HIV. That’s why stopping the epidemic is as much a political and national development issue as it is a personal health issue. (FYI: the poems Mary-Anne read were part of the AIDS Poetry Project, directed by Sandra Isham Vreeland. For more information visit this website.)

Mary-Anne Guam (Tingim Laip) reads poems by children affected by AIDS, from the AIDS Poetry Project

Every year, Madang’s PAC Secretariat tries to do something special for World AIDS Day. Last year, they printed T-Shirts with a Pen & Ink sketch by a Tusbab High School Student. This year, to promote World AIDS Day and the new HIV Resource Centre, they sponsored an Art Competition. Artists were invited to submit original concept pieces for a mural to be painted on the front door of the Resource Centre. The concept had to “represent positive living, affirm PNG Culture and inspire hope and friendship”. The Prize was K1000.00. A committee consisting of Lady Janet Barter, internationally-recognized Madang artist Larry Santana, and two members of the PACS staff – Conrad Wadunah, the Provincial Care and Counselling Coordinator, and Dr. Heather Young-Leslie, the HIV Capacity Advisor – judged the entries. They awarded the prize to young Ritchie Garkana, of Riwo. In the second photo, Matricia Mari has just announced Ritchie’s name and is congratulating him on his prize-winning entry. Ritchie will begin painting his mural on the front door of the new Resource Centre on Dec. 3, 08. I wonder how he’ll spend his winnings?

Matricia Mari (HRC) Congratulates Ritchie Garkana, winner of the Art Competition

The Dedication ceremony ended with a neat little ritual, playing on the idea of jettisoning the ‘pebble in your shoe’ and the potential of dropping a pebble in the sea of ignorance to create ripples of understanding and hope: Tiny white pebbles collected by Raikos District’s Wesley Tapper from the shore near Saidor were shared out to everyone who attended the Dedication. Guests were asked to think of the pebble as a small prayer for the work of the Provincial AIDS Committee, or a stone dropped in the pool to make waves, or one of those personal ‘pebbles in their shoes’ that they wanted to throw away. Taking this positive step, people were invited to place the pebble someplace in our garden, thereby putting their ‘handmark’ into the landscape of the place, and joining us all together in the work of the PAC and the intentions of the Resource Centre.

Thanks, Heather, for the time that you took from your busy schedule to provide this information for Madang – Ples Bilong Mi.

I feel that I am in danger of becoming a hermit.

Latino Night at CWA is the second major Madang party that I’ve missed in a row. The first was because the tickets were sold out. I missed Latino Night because I was “too tired” – translation: Too embarrassed to admit that I am hopeless at any sort of Latin dancing.

Fortunately for the patient reader, I have this fine report from our budding journalist, Lorraine Collins along with a nice kiddie photo and a couple of others featuring some very fine legs.

This from Lorraine Collins:

Hola! CWA hosted a Latino night for all its Amigos and Amigas. Based on previous successful, fun-filled CWA events, the tickets actually sold out days before the function (quite a rare event in Madang). A flotilla of volunteers slaved away cooking and decorating for the fiesta to make it as bueno a noche as possible. Guests received an uplifting Caipirinha upon arrival; a not-too-shabby cocktail of white rum, brown sugar, and freshly squeezed limes over crushed ice. It was yumliscious and full of Vitamin C, therefore making it an exceedingly healthy drink.

The evening’s entertainment started off with a posse of brave little children doing a dance from Bolivia. The miniature stars were Grace McCarthy, Lottie Beschel, Lilani Mackie, Chloe Senn, Alice, and Mathieu Senn as the token boy. They performed perfectly a beautifully choreographed dance involving scarves. I reckon they will be looking for an agent soon.

Food was then served, most of it being a vegetarian’s delight; Spanish Rice, Vegetarian enchiladas, Vegetable Salad, Mexican Vegetable Stew and Beef Enchiladas for those who needed some carne. For those who had some space left, pudding was Spanish cake with rum-soaked raisins.

Next up were Heidi Majano and Pascal Michon (our naughty little Frenchman in Paradise) demonstrating a very sexy and fast moving Salsa. Man, were they impressive! They shimmied and salsa’d, twirled and strutted and shook their bootie to a fine tune. The audience was very impressed (especially yours truly) and I think Salsa classes should definitely be something in the future. Good exercise plus “sex” that you can perform in public.

That stunning performance was followed by “The Saucy Salsa Sisters” strutting their stuff to a slinky little number from Cuba. We should probably have been introduced as the “Sauced Salsa Sisters” as co-ordination was lacking slightly, but we tried to cover it with excessive bum wiggling and boob shaking. That usually works.

From then on, it was a free for all, with all the Madang Señoras ‘y cabaleros Salsa-ing the night away, learning new moves from Heidi, our resident Latino from El Salvador, and gaining confidence with every red wine.

It was a magnifico noche with all the ingredients for a great night; healthy cocktails, sumptuous food, great dancers, sexy music, and lots of booze. The night would not have been possible without all the volunteers that made the food (Heidi, Lorraine Collins, Eunice Messersmith), decorated (Heidi), danced (Heidi, Lorraine, Cessa Beschel, Fabiana Ponting), and most-importantly, filled the eskis with booze and ice (Trevor Hattersley). The CWA staff and Committee Members that helped in all the preparations were also an integral part of the night’s success. And, of course, Heidi herself, who taught all the big and little girls their moves and hopefully a large part of the Madang Community too! Who said CWA is boring? It’s “The Place To Be” – fun-filled events with all the profits going to worthwhile, Feel Good Charities.

Well . . . I feel as if I had been there.

Here are the kiddies doing the scarf dance:

Gotta admit that Mathieu is a brave lad.

And here are the ladies getting it on over a Frangipani strewn dance floor. Hey, we’ve got it all in Madang:

And one more leggy shot just for fun:

Please don’t ask me why Lorraine is balancing a clock on her fingertips. I wasn’t there and she didn’t report it. It must be a Latino thing.

Adios amigos.

Having missed this milestone event myself due to abundant sloth (didn’t get my tickets before they were sold out), I depend on our own local Society Reporter and dive buddy Lorraine Collins to recount the festivities.

This from Lorraine Collins:

A groovy night was had by all who attended the 60 Year Celebration of the Madang Club. The theme was come dressed in 60’s attire and man did we see some outfits…! There was everything from early 1960’s dress elegance flowing on to the Mary Quant look closely followed by several hippie love dudes.

Wonderful food provided by The Madang Lodge was accompanied by some groovy tunes. Several speeches were made reminiscing the old days of the Madang Club. These brought many memories flooding back to the “Long-Termers” and was great info for the post-60’s groupies! BJ Kramer wandered down Memory Lane as did Peter Hill. Dr. John, Gim, Nancy, also put their two bobs worth in.

Prizes were given out for best dressed, with Lorraine Collins winning Best Dressed Female. The outfit comprised of a fuchsia pink and black pretend snake-skin knee length coat and black shiny trousers and no shoes (they’d actually broken apart on the way to the event!). Our British correspondent in Madang actually said that The Coat is all the vogue in London right now. Aaaaah! The high fashion of the Madang Boutiques does it again…!!! Best Dressed Male was won by Trevor Hattersley although it was hard to tell if he was actually in fancy dress…!!

Other super-cool dressed dudes were Shane McCarthy in a very flattering lime green shirt and bandana, Karl McGeorge in skin-tight orange patterned shirt (lashed out a whole 50t for it, well worth spending that extra little bit as it didn’t even burst as expected…), Julie-Anne McGeorge in matching ensemble with Californian flowers in her hair, Karen Simmons sporting a dark Mary Quant look proving brunettes REALLY do have more fun… Richard Coleman looked well cool in his black shades, black shirt, black leather jacket and imaginary Harley parked outside… As John Mackerel quipped, “Black is ALWAYS in fashion”…!

The Madang Club put on a great effort and a big thank you to the Entertainment Committee and all the groovy dudes and dudesses that helped decorate the place so tastefully. And of course, a big thank you to Madang’s Tom Cruise and his cocktail shakin’ hands, Gary McGowan. Never knew a Slippery Nipple could taste so good…

So, on to the photos.

Here are Trevor Hattersley and Karen Simmons looking as groovy as one can get in Madang:

Shane, Karl, and Julie-Anne look as if they’re headed for San Francisco:

And, here are Tony and Lorraine keeping the faith, baby:

I may only presume that the good times rolled.