A Funny Thing Happened at the Supermarket!

It was the first Saturday. We were having coffee at the Supermarket and the lights went out (black-outs are regular). We had noticed the Aussie guy about my age sitting at the next table. The place fell into complete blackness - all we heard was the voice "Get your hands off me, Barry!" The generator kicked in - the lights came back - and he was still there alone at his table with his paper, but a wry smile on his (and our) face. We noticed him the next week as well - same table, reading the paper. We had coffee then did the trolley thing up and down the aisles. Thats when we bumped into another Aussie. Our trolleys met - he said he was ''Angus". I said "you must meet my wife with a name like that - she too has Scottish heritage". I mentioned our recent bike trip to Scotland, and before we knew it - he went and brought the other Aussie (the one reading the paper) - they were the nucleus of the Port Moresby cycling group! I found a new group. The bike would see the roads of Port Moresby after all.
The group is about 8-9 quite excellent cyclists. They mostly ride Mountain bikes, but one has a road bike. I missed the following week because my gear hadn't yet arrived (just the bike that came with me on the plane) but from the following Monday I was on my way in the dark just after 5am to the meeting point at the POM Yacht Club. Its a brisk 26k around the outskirts of Port Moresby with a security car in tow to keep an eye on us. We ride three mornings each week, with usually a Sunday ride to places much
further afield which doesn't always suit me. However, two weeks
ago we cycled out to Rouna Falls on the Sogeri plateau - the photo looks back to Port Moresby - a punishing climb over the final 1-2k on steep hills not meant for ordinary bikes. The group that day was Phil (from the Supermarket), Steve, Annie (an excellent cyclist!) and her partner David. It was a taste of the beautiful surrounds of Port Moresby, which is also the road out to the Kokoda Track - thats to come.
We have decided to make the Boroko Salvation Army 'our' church even though it is pigin speaking. It is also on the Boroko SArmy compound and only minutes walk from home. The people are so lovely. The singing is magnetic and uplifting - its in both english and pigin. The place is full every Sunday, made out of timber with glass louvred sides to allow the breeze. The 'pews' are hard, the weather always hot - there is no such thing as air-conditioning - but somehow it feels wonderful, comfortable and regrettable when its all over. The photos show John (our next door neighbour) with two precious people, the church building amidst the palms and trees at the front of our compound, and two precious girls - Julieanne and Gladys who are also our neighbours and whom we have easily come to love and embrace.