This series of blog posts is part of the A to Z 2019 Blogging Challenge in which I will write snapshot memories of my early married life in the then Territory of Papua New Guinea.
Low flying aircraft scares the cockatoos,
Clouds drape the mountain ridges.
Villages, jungle, new faces, new names.
A far cry from suburban Brisbane.
Five trade stores, government offices, a new town.
No TV, radio telephone…“over”.
Slow combustion stove
Chopping wood.
Eighteen hour power
Kerosene lamp explosions.
Dependent on deliveries by trawler or aircraft
Christmas Dinner circling overhead as we wait
Landed, we head to the airstrip among the copra plantation
Site of battles and conflict in War.
Acronyms abound and cause me confusion:
The ADC told the DC that the ETA on the DC3 was 0900.
So much to learn amidst such a different environment,
So familiar to him, but confusing to me,
The price of love and commitment.
Explanatory Note: Alotau was the relatively new headquarters of government administration in the then Milne Bay District in the then Territory of Papua Guinea.
Pidgin (or Tok Pisin):
Aftarim – fancying another person and pursuing/flirting with them.
Aigris – giving someone the eye if you fancy them.
Apinun – afternoon
Family history across the seas 
I like this idea of snapshot memories.
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Thanks Wendy.
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Great post! All sorts of new terms to learn (I think I need a pronunciation guide)! :o)
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Thanks Lenore. Pronunciation is much as it looks but perhaps needs more of an English accent than American 😉 eg the “a” is a soft one.
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A ton of images in such short sentences and fragments. Love it.
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Thanks Joan.
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Very evocative and terrific photos.
My husband’s father was at Milne bay during the war.
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Thanks Anne. There are other stories on my blog about Milne Bay and Alotau if you’re interested…just use the search box on top right.
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This post brings back memories of our time sailing in the area in 1980. Learning pidgin was essential as we traded for fresh veges and fruit with the villagers where ever we went. One great pidgin saying we saw then was a sign on the Customs office door ” Don’t killim door”
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Love the sign! It must have been great fun exploring the whole beautiful area.
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Welcome. Finally got here to read your A post. I know little about PNG so looking forward to the snapshots of your local fe there.
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