Port Moresby connections

The Port Moresby General Hospital, or the Taurama Hospital as we knew it in 1969. Same place, but very different:Carol is again escorted to 'the Ward' and Bed number 6 especially:Yes sister, this is the ward and this is the bed. Lo and behold, yet another mum waiting for twins - must the 'TWIN' bed!But it looked a little different on 20 March 1969 as this photo shows:Actually, this was the photograph that appeared on the front page of Papua New Guinea's National Newspaper, announcing the happy news of Tim & Heather's arrival. Was it really that news worthy? Ah, that is another story.

But what I do want to show is the 'labour ward', or in today's language, the 'Delivery Suite' - some suite, and where is it? Only the foundation and floor remain. The new delivery suite has 24 separate 'cubicles' that are just curtained off and they deliver about 33 babies on a QUIET day. Here are your origins Tim & Heather!Tim & Heather were born among a people that we greatly love and admire. For them it was the first time they consciously set eyes on them and immediately related to them. Just to show you a few of the faces they met. First, some of the children:There was even one in a bilum, the traditional way of carrying babies around:Thanks to Tim for most of the above photos. They are marvellous.

Then there were the adults, like MichaelAnd KaloAnd a group that Heather chatted to in Mabata Street:Our sightseeing included touching base with a Highland man and a Hula man, both guarding the embassies and the former PM:Carol found an opportunity to do some serious shopping in the 'open shopping mall'. The Market in Boroko. She surely had lots of fun reconnecting with this Highland lady:For us both, we connected again with a friend of 45 years ago - way back in our Agarabi days. It was good to see Barry (now Sir Barry) Holloway. There was heaps to talk about:Mr Miria was a special meeting. His wife Tammi, a wonderful lady who worked for Bible Societies for many years, recently died. Tammi and her husband (in the pic) were responsible for the Bible Studies at the Bomana Prison - PNG's most secure prison complex. He was very emotional and told us how much he missed his wife. Then he showed us a pic of the two of us holding our little granddaughter Ellie. A touching moment:For Carol, it was a first meeting with a dear lady who also works for the Bible Society. Grace and Carol just clicked. Here they are:As no doubt you can gather, our emotions certainly were upfront. The days were long. So.....at the end of the day, a drink together in the club bar upstairs was more than welcome.


Watch this space for the next great chapter of our Port Moresby experience!