Well after a difficult 10 hour journey from Kupang our guests Sam and Jo arrived for Christmas bearing food, alcohol and kerosene - we would have been pleased to see them even without the merchandise! They will both stay at my home - cosy.
25 December 2008
John came over with some of his presents – he had some decorations including lights. It took three of us to put them up – the effect is great really, feels festive. He also had a chocolate selection box which was put into the fridge for later. Justine - a doctor who works in a remote PUSKESMAS - Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat - healthcentre - came over about 10:00 and we put together the food for our BBQ. It was nearly 11:00 
when we set off to walk down town. We were about half way down when a bemo came past and we were able to get a lift. When we got to town and tried to pay and it was declined with a 'Selamat Hari Natal' - Happy Christmas. Brought some drinks then walked towards the far end of Baa. Found some sweetcorn husks and collected these as kindling. Round the bend out of Baa we walked through some grounds and dropped down onto the beach. There was a lot of debris on the beach and not much shade. Walked quite a l
ong way and round a slight outcrop and found a cleaner bit of the beach with a tree for shade and fantastic views. I laid the fire whilst the others cleared an area in the shade and put out the sheet to sit on it. The fire went really well and then we started to cook the food, sausages, aubergine with pepper, oregano and fish. Had bread and tomato sauce to go with it. Then we had banana and chocolate cooked over the fire. We were outside a house on the beach and had an audience of children th
roughout the day. The owner of the house came out and took photographs of us on his mobile phone. When we started to cook he brought over some corrugated iron to put over the flames to then put our tinfoil on. Then when we started eating he brought out a bucket of water and a bar of soap. The weather was wonderful, sunny with a breeze off the sea. We had a couple of paddles and lazed about. As the heat started to go out of the day about 16:30 we started to walk back we had only been
back on the road a short while when a bemo came past and we squeezed on board. The music was particularly load which made it very difficult to hear when my dad then ran me when we were halfway back up the hill. We had coffee and cake when we got back to the house. During the late afternoon and evening we all had phone calls from family, Sonya and Gordon both phoned me. Then after a wash we went out for a meal
– unfortunately Queen Steak House was closed – despite having made a reservation, so we had a roast chicken take out from the local rumah makan - restuarant; although this is a rather grand title for it. John went back to his house for the meal as the family had invited him specifically. Whilst he was away Ibu Dese – sister from the childrens ward came round with her fam
ily. When John returned we had some drinks and then Justine came back and we played cards. She went home about 12:00 and then Sam brought out some fireworks and sparklers which they had great fun setting them off. It was well past 02:00 when we went to bed having all agreed it has been an excellent Christmas day.
28 December 2008
when we set off to walk down town. We were about half way down when a bemo came past and we were able to get a lift. When we got to town and tried to pay and it was declined with a 'Selamat Hari Natal' - Happy Christmas. Brought some drinks then walked towards the far end of Baa. Found some sweetcorn husks and collected these as kindling. Round the bend out of Baa we walked through some grounds and dropped down onto the beach. There was a lot of debris on the beach and not much shade. Walked quite a l
ong way and round a slight outcrop and found a cleaner bit of the beach with a tree for shade and fantastic views. I laid the fire whilst the others cleared an area in the shade and put out the sheet to sit on it. The fire went really well and then we started to cook the food, sausages, aubergine with pepper, oregano and fish. Had bread and tomato sauce to go with it. Then we had banana and chocolate cooked over the fire. We were outside a house on the beach and had an audience of children th
roughout the day. The owner of the house came out and took photographs of us on his mobile phone. When we started to cook he brought over some corrugated iron to put over the flames to then put our tinfoil on. Then when we started eating he brought out a bucket of water and a bar of soap. The weather was wonderful, sunny with a breeze off the sea. We had a couple of paddles and lazed about. As the heat started to go out of the day about 16:30 we started to walk back we had only been
back on the road a short while when a bemo came past and we squeezed on board. The music was particularly load which made it very difficult to hear when my dad then ran me when we were halfway back up the hill. We had coffee and cake when we got back to the house. During the late afternoon and evening we all had phone calls from family, Sonya and Gordon both phoned me. Then after a wash we went out for a meal
– unfortunately Queen Steak House was closed – despite having made a reservation, so we had a roast chicken take out from the local rumah makan - restuarant; although this is a rather grand title for it. John went back to his house for the meal as the family had invited him specifically. Whilst he was away Ibu Dese – sister from the childrens ward came round with her fam
ily. When John returned we had some drinks and then Justine came back and we played cards. She went home about 12:00 and then Sam brought out some fireworks and sparklers which they had great fun setting them off. It was well past 02:00 when we went to bed having all agreed it has been an excellent Christmas day.28 December 2008
Well after another couple of leasurly days and late nights Jo caught the ferry home. Jude had invited the rest of us down to his house to watch the sunset and eat with him. We had mushroom and asparagus soup, king fish filets, battered squid rings with onion sauce and spicy pickled squid rings followed by lychee blancmange and bananas. It was an excellent meal and Jude was on good form. It was gone 21:00 
when we set off to walk back up the hill but had only gone a short distance when the doctors pulled up and gave us a lift.
when we set off to walk back up the hill but had only gone a short distance when the doctors pulled up and gave us a lift.Well Sam leaves in the morning and we will have to start to settle back into routine island life.
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