1st October

Monday 1^st October

Roger and Marilyn have been on diving holidays in most parts of the world.  They particular love the waters of Papua New Guinea.  A few years ago, however, they had a very unpleasant experience.

It was the last day of their stay at a remote diving resort on a beautiful little island, and it turned out to be a free day, no diving.  All was well; the resort people were taking them out in their big 4WD to watch Independence Day celebrations.  All well and good.  They were joined by a very nice woman who was a freelance photographer off to get some good shots for a National Geographic feature.  At the last minute in hopped Mr and Mrs Ulverstone, pleasant-seeming people, maybe in their late 40s.  These pleasant seeming people had possibly never been away from home before…

They got to the festival area quite early in the morning and it was, says Meriloy, quite wonderful.  No other dimdims (white people) at all, just locals, ready to have a good time.  The young men were up dancing on the flat tray their trucks, the local teenage girls were giggling and eying them off.  The women were spreading out a feast of produce from their gardens.  Clickety click went the camera, and Roger and Marilyn settled in to enjoy the atmosphere and chat to whoever wanted a chat. 

But…Where were Mr and Mrs Ulverston??  Why, locked inside the 4WD vehicle of course, looking terrified and wanting to leave.  Right!  Now!!  They obviously couldn’t cope with being surrounded by black people…Poor Roger, Marilyn and Ms Photographer had to get back in the car with the poor beleaguered driver and go back to the resort, where Mr and Mrs Ulverston heaved a huge sigh of relief and tried to be BFFs with the others, who were singularly NOT impressed.