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.
Weekend drives to Lufa
Down the Highlands Highway with the family
Spectacular scenery
Mountains rise to the side
As we journey through the valley.
Returning one day
I learn the reality of a skid
No longer just theory
Luckily not on a mountain cliff.
Picnics with friends
Or just the kids
Spread the straw mat
Lay out food and coffee
As if by magic
We draw a crowd of locals
To observe this strange custom.
The Highlands can look empty –
Until you stop.
Small local villages
Enclosed by banis[i]
Seem designed to repel invaders
Round huts with thatched roofs
Built to keep in the heat
Smoke filters through and merges
With pig grease spread on the skin
Protects from the Highland weather
And gives that distinctive fragrance
Children curious about our passing.
An historic purchase from the co-op
The large grey Lufa woollen rug
Features in our home and
Will become a family heirloom
Its value in the memories it brings.
The perfect climate
Close to the equator but with altitude
Warm, not hot, in the day
Cool, if not chilly in the nights
Knitting rediscovered
As I craft children’s woollies.
Some memories are only snapshots
Jogged by a photo we took
Other details have become simply
A blank space in my mind after other experiences
Mipela lapun tru (I’m an old person)
Luckily two memories can be better than one.
Tok Pisin:
long long – crazy
lapun – old person
laik – like/want
laplap – like a sarong around the waist
liklik – little
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[i] Banis is Pidgin for fence
Family history across the seas 
I think it is marvellous that you are documenting these memories – it was another time as well as another place
Fellow A to Zedder
https://ayfamilyhistory.com/2019/04/13/l-is-for-leckhampton/
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Yes indeed it was Anne.
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Just when I thought the orange curtains were to be the family heirloom!!! Seem to remember having some similar ones. Thoroughly enjoying your memories.
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Thanks Carmel. Nope, pretty sure the orange curtains would be straight to the bin if they were still around….LOL.
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I like the idea of these little “snapshot” memories. I should try that because sometimes writing a complete story is either boring or overwhelming. That first photo with the clouds – gorgeous.
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Thanks Wendy. It’s not my usual style but sometimes the snapshots are disparate…and I’m desperate 🙂
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The thing that’s been overwhelming Wendy is finding so many photos I’ve scanned. I plainly need to do a LOT of sorting…and I thought I’d been methodical. Sigh.
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Beautiful pictures of Lufa.. reminds me of home. I am from Eastern Highlands by the way Kainantu more precisely don’t know if you have any old pictures of Kainantu, Aiyura maybe Yonki?
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Thanks Bob. I may have a couple in Kainantu…I know we visited there. My husband visited more places through his work. I’ll ask him about Aiyura and Yonki…I recognise the names but never visited.
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Thanks Pauleen, that’d be cool.
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I’ll keep an eye out for Kainantu. Peter says he never visited Aiyura or Yonki.
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I love these snapshot posts Pauleen. This one is beautifully written. I felt I was there
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Thanks Jennifer….very kind.
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