It seems like ages since I have participated in a weekend coffee share. It feels good to be back and you are welcome so come on in for a cuppa – tea? coffee? and lets have a chat.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that I returned from my cruise to Papua New Guinea with a chest infection/asthma/flu – I didn’t go to the doctor for diagnosis assuming that I would get better and although not 100% I seem to be over the worst of it and this week I started all my normal activities again – yoga and dancing, book club and art appreciation, toastmasters and of course my office work – writing and photographs.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that the cruise was good but not as good as the one to New Zealand. Having lived in a similar society I found Papua New Guinea depressing as even the cities were in poverty struck states with begging common (at least whilst the cruise ship was in town). Last year they apparently had 14 ships visit and this year 10. Two of the destinations we were scheduled to go are not going to be included in future trips. We didn’t get into Madang due to an anthrax outbreak. Apart from the ships I don’t think there is any tourism and there isn’t a lot of evidence of industries starting. Of course there was evidence of exploitation. The Taiwanese fishing boats were there in force with refrigerated ships, helicopters to spot the shoals of tuna and wahoo and small boats that went and netted these entire shoals. I don’t think the local people have any understanding at the dire consequences of this over fishing.
© irene waters 2018
There was many beautiful or interesting sights as well and the boat was a well behaved crowd. Most had some connection with Papua New Guinea whether from the war or having lived there before independence. Any way it is time to move on – I am doing enough posts during the week on the trip not to take up all the time here.
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that on the boat we used the gym every day so on our return we decided to buy an exercise bike so we could continue once back home. The contraption we bought turned out to be an instrument of torture. For the first time my muscles hurt and I have certainly worked up a sweat. Perhaps on the ship I didn’t because it was airconditioned but the effort now is so much greater. Lets hope it gets me fit. If it does it will be worth it.
© irene waters 2018
If we were having coffee I’d tell you that Roger and I both have had birthdays – mine today – so Mum took us out to lunch. It was a miserable day
© irene waters 2018
but that didn’t matter as we stayed nice and dry and ate what I consider to be the best food in Noosa.
© irene waters 2018.
We then went for a drive to look at the big surfs and then came home and walked the dogs in the rain. A perfect day.
© irene waters 2018
Enough about me. How was your week? Has your weather been warmer/colder, wetter/drier. Have you read any good books or seen any good films? Thank you for dropping in for coffee, it is lovely to see you. Thanks to eclecticali who is our host of the weekend coffee share.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Happy bday
LikeLike
Happy birthday Irene. Looking forward to reading more of your posts. Just a quiet-ish week here. Not enough coffee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coffee can be easily fixed. Thanks for the birthday wishes. I used to ignore birthdays but as I get older I feel they are quite an achievement. Have a lovely week. Thanks for dropping by for coffee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy birthdays! So much celebrating going on.
I have enjoyed your essays on memoir writing by the way. And I finally got and read the CR volume 1 anthology. It was quite good, you all did a great job. Of course I gave it away so want to replace it. I gave it to my friend Sean Prentiss who co-edited a book you might like, The Far Edges of the Fourth Genre: An Anthology of Explorations in Creative Nonfiction.
I got to spend a week North where the ice is still two feet thick and went snowshoeing and romping with family. The snow was on its way out and the maple sugar season had begun.
Today a story of mine is live at Flash Fiction Magazine, so that’s kinda cool.
I have oodles of school work that I seem to not do, so…
Welcome back, and thanks for the coffee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks D for both. I am interested in watching for a transition between volume 1 and volume 2 in our writing. I know mine has got tighter (most of the time). I purchased the Far Edges of the Fourth Genre awhile back and have enjoyed all the essays I have read so far. I am savouring them.
Your week in the north sounds cold but a lot of fun. I love maple syrup. Fresh I imagine would be out of this world. Congratulaltions on your story being published. Can you give me the link please.
You’ll get it done – the school work I mean. Thanks for the welcome back and dropping in for coffee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://flashfictionmagazine.com/blog/2018/03/11/the-cardigan/
Now I’m nervous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t be. It was a lovely story and what an honour to be chosen. Well done.
LikeLike
Happy Birthday Irene .. to you and Roger! Your cruise sounds interesting so shame it wasn’t as good as NZ. I’ve been visiting Mum and posted about that … still got a day in Cronulla tomorrow and then the trip home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate. I’m glad I did it. I learnt some stuff but it was so similar to where we used to live that in some ways it was too familiar. Still I got something from it and it was an experience and I believe all experience is good so I should stop sounding as though I’m complaining. I’ll look forward to reading about your visit to your Mum. Have a safe trip home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol reading this at the airport now but got an adventure ahead to get home … thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a good flight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
finally landed after long delay with medical emergency … now packing up my things in Tweed to drive to Ballina where I now live and have a job interview tomorrow morning … things are shifting for me at last!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope the job interview has gone well. Glad to hear that things are looking positive for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
big changes with this relocation, if this one isn’t successful I have another next week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good. Hope you get the one you want.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol let’s see what my karma is … they certainly make you jump through hoops even for voluntary work down here!
LikeLike
Happy birthday. There are times I think I need an exercise bike, but the only ones that I’ve found that I like are very expensive.
I hope you have a good week and that the vestige of cold/flu/whatever goes away soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Trent. This exercise bike (we were told) cost $1500 new but its wealthy ex owners wife wanted the garage space and we got it for $80. It will do the trick I think if it doesn’t kill me.
Constantly improving. Hope you have a good week also.
LikeLiked by 2 people
How disappointing that you did not enjoy your cruise too much. Seems like you got a new exercise regime out of it though 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the exercise is here to stay (I hope). The cruise was good but the destination depressing and in many respects too much like where we’d lived for four years. I wouldn’t have missed the experience though. Thanks for dropping by for coffee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Birthday to both of you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you had a good birthday, even though the weather didn’t cooperate. It has been very busy here with my grandson’s birthday during the week and a trip out of town to celebrate it. My head is still spinning. Maybe it will be a little less busy here this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another march birthday. Hope he enjoyed it. We did. Have a good week Corina.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Birthday. The Papua New Guinea trip must have been amazing..sorry it left you ill. Get well soon. Thanks for coffee.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m on the mend. Thanks for dropping in for coffee.
LikeLike
Hi Irene,
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a great meal, even if the weather wasn’t ideal.
Your cruise to PNG sounds “interesting” and I guess there’s that whole question mark of going to undeveloped countries or places where the economy is struggling and it can leave you uneasy. Hopefully, the cruises are bringing some income to the local people.
My husband used to go to PNG regularly for work and I’d be interested to go there to see the places he mentioned as well as the Kokoda Trail. Something like my 4th great Grandfather’s brother, Alexander Johnston was apparently the first white man to find gold in New Guinea and he lost his travelling companion and only ended up finding his boots. Alexander had a gold mines on Woodlark Island I think it was. He was a real adventurer. He built the Suspension Bridge in Northbridge, Sydney. Here’s a link: https://www.livinglocalguide.com.au/the-long-gully-bridge/
I’ve also been struck down by the chest infection but it migrated to my sinuses and is proving difficult to get rid of. I flushed my sinuses about 15 minutes ago, which wasn’t as bad as I thought but wanted to let it settle before I go to bed.
So, let me wish you goodnight.
Best wishes,
Rowena
LikeLike
Happy birthday to you and Roger! You look smashing in that blue and peach top. Beautiful colors to match your smile! What a blustery day, though. I do enjoy looking at the surf when it’s agitated like that although our inland seas remain locked in ice for now. I’m glad you returned from your interesting cruise, though sad to recognize the plight of an exploited culture. We discussed that on another one of your posts. People need purpose, access and to be valued by others in the world. To be taken advantage of by the Taiwanese fishing industry is an injustice especially in light of the local poverty. On a cheerier note, enjoy your new fitness equipment and return to activities!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Charli. The dress is as old as the hills but I always feel like I’m on holiday when I wear it. We had lovely birthdays and I get a buz out of watching rough seas. It stirs something up in me.
I liked the organisation you worked for that looked out for the local people. Exploitation is no good for the locals or the world.
If it doesn’t kill me it is going to do me good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Hope it does you good, then!
LikeLike