Resident in Kununurra

We have had a few days without access to internet since arriving here, where our wireless is no use.  So it seemed rather difficult, since the computer is also a little out of date.  Today with some advice from a young man here during uni vacation from US, we found that there is a place here in the common room (Oasis) where we can plug in. So we are off again on this interesting story!

Sunday was also a busy day.  We went to Anglican/Uniting with Mary and Howard J, which was refreshing, lots of young families and of course (at this time of year) some travelling nomads, mostly grey. The assistant (fyi Trine) is a previous associate of Carolyn & Roger at Lithgow, so it was good to talk to him about their work in KN.  We then went with M and H for coffee and lunch at one of the pleasant cafes just outside the town on one of the farms.  We sat in the shade of Mango trees.

Back at HCJB (which is no more than 7 ks out of town to the west, just over the diversion dam) we had time to catch up a little and then gathered with about 20 or so others to have a tour of the property.  Tours are offered every Sunday afternoon at 3.  Though we had done this 4 years ago, we'd forgotten much of that, and this is now developing rapidly.  A talk, a look at the transmission room and observing the towers that have been in operation for some years, then a drive 'out the back' to the second property (leased) where new buildings have been constructed in prep for more transmission units, and where many more towers and curtains are being constructed.

Monday morning was the start of the working week.  I should have been up early enough to photograph the men leaving at 6 a.m.  Actually if we go to bed early enough it's not so hard.  Roger enjoyed his first day, sorting components (in the shed) with Howard.  He wasn't outside in the heat too much today.  They all come back in a couple of trucks for morning tea and talk and encouragement for all of staff, volunteers to attend at 9.30.  They go back to work about 10am and then lunch is 12 till 2pm, but maybe a little less.  Work is finished about 4 pm when back the trucks come.

I did my share of morning tea this morning by baking 2 (packet) sultana loaves (Sunday night).  I'm rostered for Monday so got my first one out of the way.  I found some difficulty getting the oven in the communal kitchen working, but got it going after a few tries, and then found it difficult to turn off later and had to recruit help. I was also later shown the banana selling procedures by Mary, and later in the day sold my first 2 kgs of bananas!  We had to sort the ripening from the over-ripe, and from the very green.  They are really nice to eat, though that has it's limits.  How many should be the limit in any one day?  There are a few paw paws and bales of hay for sale.  There is also a vegetable garden with produce available to staff and vols - lettuce, tomatoes, beans, pumpkin.  Things grow well, plenty of water.

We have a constant problem with ants.  They are waiting for people to set up camp, and then climb rapidly to find out what tasty morsel they can.  I have some lined up drinking water at present from a plate, with a bowl, and a container of (leftover) cake balancing on top.