Week 2 and Getting some Work Done

Our week has been partially productive. Martyn eventually got access to the computer files he needed, lost access, and then got it back again. He is still in the process of trying to get the information for 2014 onwards from the bank the bank charges exorbitantly for them!, so will need to resort to Plan "B". 

I have been working on bits and pieces:

• The proposed PWMU Training Hostel plans are underway by the wonderful local Engineer who is doing it for free.
• 2 separate grant applications are underway
• Writing lesson plans for the Village Health Worker (VHW) training course (this was due to start in mid Jan originally but will now start in April most likely). Thought I'd left writing lesson plans behind when I left Wintec 😆.

• I helped out by taking the banking down to the ANZ bank, and sat for an hour waiting to be served, as is common at certain times of the day. Not sure what all the balloons were for that day. I'm happy to go again next time as it is air-conditioned in there!

• I also attended the signing of the contract between Ministry of Health and Korvan for the VHW course. You may remember that I was involved in preparing a tender for this late last year, which we found out had been successful just before we went home. The signing marks a big step forward, and we have to get everything ready quickly now for the course to start, even though we don't have a definite start date yet. If this year's course goes well, there should be more to come in future, which is very exciting to be a part of.

 R - L Pastor Allen, the Minister of Health, and a representative from Australian High Commission. Australian Government are funding the course, as they have been for many years with other organisations delivering it.

 Ps Allen and the Minister of Health Jack Kalmet

 Nicola Young (also working through PCANZ), Iou from Ministry of Health, Elder Jara and me. Elder Richard took the photo. Nicola is a Kiwi nurse with a Masters in Public Health, she will be assisting a local nurse to deliver the training.

Here is the article in Monday morning's Daily Post newspaper.

• I also attended our first Building Committee meeting for the new office project this year. Unfortunately the Chairman and others from outside PCV staff did not attend (we had this problem at least once last year) so we did not manage to progress very far. It is very frustrating.

At the flat, we have a new front fence to keep the dogs off the terrace! Here are before, during and after shots. We are really impressed with what Chris, at Tony's instruction, has built for us 👍

Ignore the red chair and small fridge on the terrace and the black chair in the driveway - they have all been moved. Don, that's the same chair you used to occupy, but in much worse state now.

So no more dogs on the terrace, except the puppies are getting more mobile and adventurous each day! We didn't expect Tony to do this for us, we're blown away.

Cyclone Linda has slipped away without affecting us, and although we still get heavy showers now and then, it is mostly fine and much easier to get washing dry. I washed the mosquito net over our bed the other day, wrestling it a bit at a time into a wash bowl, getting myself quite well-washed at the same time! I won't try doing it when Martyn is at work next time, it's much easier as a 2 person job.