1987

After I left there I visited my cousin Tam, in Glebe, a suburb of Sydney. Tam was stone deaf and had a ‘hearing dog’. He had been trained to let her know when the phone or doorbell rang and was a great friend and comfort to her. He was allowed on buses with her. While out for a walk, Tam slipped and broke her wrist, necessitating her going to hospital. I had to take the dog back to her home and put him in his pen but then I could not even find how to make a cup of tea. Fortunately Richard and Barbara were to pick me up that day to take me to his sister’s at Tamworth. First they made me some lunch, then we visited Tam in hospital to see she was comfortable and to give her, her house keys. Richard’s sister and family made me most welcome and then the next night, at the unearthly hour of 3:30am, Richard took me some distance to catch a bus to take me to Stanthorpe to visit my Father’s cousin Ilma. Ilma had visited us several times at Puketaha and also at Ohauiti so I was very glad to be able to return the favour.  By this time, though, she was in a Home so I stayed in a nearby motel, and her niece came and took us to her home and to the house that had been Ilma’s for many years. Then she took me to the bus to return to Sydney, almost an all night trip.  

A cruise on Sydney Harbour, a visit to the Opera House and to Bondi Beach, and then to Centre Point completed my time there. Bondi Beach was almost deserted and didn’t appeal, but the views of the Centre Point Tower gave some idea of the extent of the city.  Catching the plane at Sydney airport, we touched down in Melbourne and then left Australia behind and went on to Singapore.  I visited a temple and saw some lovely orchids, but when offered my photo taken with a snake around my neck, I flatly refused.  We went to Tiger Balm gardens where all sorts of fantastic critters were on show.  I don’t know what they were made of.  Next day, on to Amsterdam.  A day there and I was able to take a trip to Rotterdam, there a statue, no doubt of some special person, had a hole shot through the middle of him.  They said their town had had its heart shot away, so that was an appropriate icon.  Something that really did intrigue me was a building, about a story high that had windows facing in each direction, but instead of ordinary windows they were telescopic, and the boats that were out in the harbour, looked to be just outside.  Next day I took a boat trip to Marken where the women were all busy making lace- such beautiful work. 

 

Then on to Liberia.  It really was a shock to see all the very black men at the airport, but the sight of Doug among them, waiting for me, put my mind at rest. What a joy to be with them at last.  Doug was working on the needs of the radio station E.L.W.A.  During his time there he also taught three local lads mechanical skills.  After the coup these lads went back and ran a workshop.  Nellie was in charge of the Guest House- and a very busy place it was.  Many people were accommodated there, some just a few days, and others for a longer holiday.  Sunday services were well attended, and a big fellow called Moses made everyone welcome.  The school there catered for many nationalities and those whose parents were missionaries in other localities lived in a hostel and were looked after by a lovely couple.  The sea was very close and beautifully warm and a swim a welcome relaxation.  Phillip attended the school, but Steven, in form 7, received correspondence lessons from NZ.   

The guesthouse had a very good library and with more spare time than at home I did enjoy those books.  As it was nearing Christmas many of the houses were decorated with lights.  These were folk from America where the custom was in vogue, but when I got to Canada there were many more, one with Santa, reindeer and sleigh on the roof.  The family had adopted a civet. They had had it from a baby, but by the time I was there it was fully-grown.  It was about the size of a dashund dog and was black and white, the white being in rings around its body and tail.  It left to make its own way in the world, but they also had a small monkey, which was a real pet and very amusing. Like a small child it had its cherished blanket and wouldn’t go to bed without it. Doug had the use of the station vehicle and one day took a number of women folk to the Doe Stadium, a huge modern building, built to honour the new head of the area.  They attended a special women’s conference.  The roads were atrocious but Doug managed to keep out of the biggest holes.  One day we went up country.  First we visited a fellow worker and while walking around his garden someone nearly trod on a snake- just a little one, but it doesn’t take a big one to be poisonous.  Then we went on to another district and another family.  The children there had a pet mongoose.  It looked like a huge rat.  Its preferred meal was a snake!  Another day we went to Firestone.  There the rubber trees were ‘milked’ for the latex.  A cut was made in the bark of the tree, and a bucket attached below the cut.  The precious sap dripped into it. There was a big area of those trees. There we saw a cobra.  In the days of Adam and Eve, God decreed that the snake should crawl on its belly but these ones could stiffen their body and appear to stand, but at the sight or sound of humans quickly disappeared.  Thank goodness.