Sunday, August 5, 2007

Papua New Guinea book

In case anyone's googling away on googleblog, I thought I should mention the book I'm writing on my father's survey business that began in Papua New Guinea in partnership with Graeme Arman, in 1965, and which continues (sans Arman) today. I'd love any contributions anyone might have on the topic of surveying in PNG and Arman larmer Surveys, if, indeed they know it.

I'm almost finished and I think it will make an interesting read (all 150,000 words of it). Admittedly, the book gets bogged down occasionally in intricate—and necessary—survey details but it's also a fascinating look into life in a 'new' country and how that has progressed over 40-plus years. I use the word 'new' tentatively as I appreciate that the Papua New Guineans actually existed and happily enough, long before white surveyors happened upon their door steps, cement pegs in tow. But it was a very different world to the one these surveyors had left, and an incredible eyeopener, too. From stalking crocodiles to mozzie-infested jungles, from irate, spear-throwing locals to the mammoth gold and copper mines, it is quite an adventure and one they experienced firsthand. Long before road builders came along, the surveyors were donning their boots and trekking through...

The book is due out next July.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Luddite no more

Hello...

Anyone who knows me well knows one thing: I'm a techno-phobe. I don't own a mobile phone, I've never sent a text message in my life and my answer to DVD was, "Well what the bloody hell was wrong with VCR?" (Watch me writhe in agony when the little red circle appears each time I try to skip the piracy warning).

But here I am, with my very own Blog and I feel shamelessly With It. Perhaps there's hope for me after all. Not sure, yet, what the hell these pages will include, but I do know i have my 'mad Welsh mate' Elaine Davies to thank. If it wasn't for her dragging me to the session on blogging at the recent Byron Writers Fest, I may never have given it another thought.

Speaking of which, here's a thought to leave you with until tomorrow (yes, I'm easing in gently)... when I was living in NY I recall my now-hubby's mother calling at all hours from Australia to ask him how to work the video machine. It appalled me. How pathetic. Fast forward 20 years and I can picture my own boys tsking at my ignorance. No thanks. It's time to EMBRACE.

xo Christina
PS: I do have a vague idea what these pages will include. For stray strangers: I'm a writer/journalist/mother/wife/friend/sister/daughter... Future posts will include tidbits from all of the above.