PNG

OK, so I've been a tad inactive on the blog this past year. But I promise things will be different in the coming year as I will be based at the Institute of Business Studies in Port Moresby, PNG. I had been planning to fly out on Tuesday but the visa which I thought had been issued and was just waiting for me to pick up at the PNG Consulate in Brisbane, hadn't actually been issued at all. However, it should be processed and stuck in my passport which I couriered up to Brisbane last Friday with various documents proclaiming I have no police record, I don't have HIV or TB along with other docs, sometime this coming week. At this stage I'm hoping to fly up in about ten days or so.

I will be seconded to IBS and my role is Academic Director, largely overseeing the delivery and examination of two SCU degrees. My role also has capacity building and mentoring aspects to it, and I'm looking forward to a somewhat different role this coming year. Of course I'm also hoping to be able to spend some time exploring this amazing country and seeing some of its extraordinary wildlife. So buckle your seat belts - 2016 could be an adventurous ride!

Some animal observations

This bell is home to four micro bats, possibly bent wing bats. They took up residence in the past week or so, their occupation betrayed by the droppings that had accumulated on the railing and decking below them. Initially we thought rodents but then when we carefully peered inside the bell, we saw the four little faces of the bats.  Occasionally they have a bit of an argument just as they leave the bell for their nocturnal hunting.
We have also had a pair of whip-birds resident along the southern side of the house where the hydrangeas grow. Both birds are often visible sitting along the railing outside my office or even peering at their reflection in the sliding glass door of our bedroom.  It's lovely to see these birds so close to the house.
I was stung by a bunch of paper wasps as I mowed under the calistemon from which their nest dangled, yesterday. Enough said.
And Steve saw a python behind the shed yesterday as well.

Rainfall Figures for 2015

January      160.5
February    352.5
March          74
April          107.5
May           194.5
June             65
July             34
August        37
September  92
October     107
November 179
December  150.5

Total 1553.5

2014: 1029.5
2013: 1638
2012: 1573
2011: 1777.5
2010: 1687
2009: 1500

So, wetter than last year (which was by far the driest year we have had) but broadly similar to the rest of the years we have been here. The most distinctive feature of 2015's rainfall was the wetter winter and spring.

Max

 Max was our HelpXer who arrived in late November and stayed until the 30 December. He comes from Paris and enjoyed Larnook life very much. We hadn't had any HelpXer for quite some time so there was plenty for Max to do, especially since we had had a wet spring. That means lots of weed growth and lots of grass growth.  Soon after Max arrived we surprised him with his very own pile of mulch (15 cubic metres to be precise) which he spread over the Big Bush Garden with enthusiasm and dexterity. He also dabbled in the kitchen, creating this very delicious quiche lorraine.

 
 We were able to take Max on a few trips while he was here. I took him up to Border Ranges National Park to walk the Barr Mountain circuit and to enjoy the view from the Pinnacle Lookout. We also took him to Brisbane so he could enjoy his first live theatre (musical of course) performance - Les Miserables. While musical theatre may not have been to his particular taste, he still enjoyed the experience quite a bit and was able to follow the story. We stayed in a cute little airbnb place just near Southbank.  Max also enjoyed a Very Markwell Christmas, and is no doubt still enjoying the many boxes of chocolates he received from the various members of the Markwell clan.

The last Big Adventure was with our friends, Grant and Kelly, who stayed with us for new years. I took them all out to one of my favourite national parks in the region, Bald Rock, where we walked the Bald Mountain summit trail, having lunch at the summit in the company of Cunningham's Skinks. Not content with this walk, we then embarked on a walk to Little Bald Rock, about 4 kms from the picnic area. It was a great view from LBR and following a munchy break we decided to continue walking the Carol's Creek Walk, which Grant, Kelly and I were sure was only a few kilometres until we came to the end of the loop.  How wrong we were!  That circuit was 23kms in length and we didn't get back to the car till 5.30. I dreaded driving the 2.5hr drive back home, but we made it safe and sound around 8.00pm.  Although Max was a tad anxious as we walked the track, he was triumphant when we finally made it back home.  He had never walked so far in one day all his life.
We drove Max back to Gold Coast airport on 30 December where he flew down to Melbourne to enjoy NYE and catch up with some French backpacker friends. He is now enjoying a HelpX position in Cairns. We plan to visit Max and his family when we visit France in 2017.