Malau again

Hilary, one of the Solomon Island nurses, had asked us many times to revisit them in Big bay.
So freshly back from Banks islands and after a lovely weekend at Aore we set off on a grey blustery Monday morning. Two hours later we left the truck at Matantas and were met by Hilary and his son Hamish. The sea and sky were grey but with kagools it was not cold. The ride across was  bumpy.

We were greeted by Haema his wife and their daughter Haish who was delighted to see us.

Hilary and Haema showed me round the clinic again and we sorted out some probems.

Meantime Annie watched as a laplap was made. First the manioc was grated into a paste and then spread on banana leaves and coconut cream spread on top. A parcel was then made and the lot put on the top of hot stones and covered with more banana leaves to keep the heat in.

They did the same with island cabbage.
About three hours later it was ready to eat and was delicious. 

Late afternoon we went to the beach to go swimming with Hamish and Haish. The surf was strong and we quickly retreated, not before Annie and Haish were knocked over and lost one of the masks into the surf. We abandoned it to the sea but next morning Haema went down at low tide and found it had been washed up onto the shingle!!

Hamish enjoying the  rain

A happy twin

That evening a woman came in with a retained placenta. (The last one I had dealt with was forty years ago! Fortunately Haema is a good midwife.) She had delivered at home four hours before and had walked and taken a boat to come to the clinic. She was cold and tired. H and H put up drips, gave appropriate medication and tried to remove it but it would not budge. Hilary called  the obstetrician in Luganville who advised transfer . But it was now 8pm and the surf was up so we advised 'stay here'. Just as well as out it came 30 minutes later with no bleeding.

Later the relatives said they wanted to call their baby after Annie and asked her name. On being told it was 'Ann' they were not impressed but were much more enthusiastic about 'Isabella'.

Next day we had hoped to go back but we could hear the sound of the surf from the clinic. Closer inspection revealed some impressive breakers and there was no hope of launching the boat.

Even that evening was no better. So we spent an extra night and early next morning the boatman Glenden reckoned it was reasonable to try. So off we went in our lifejackets. Haish was sad to see us go.

The first two breakers came straight into the boat over us but we were then free. However it was five minutes before the engine started. It was a brain bumping ride back and we were expertly landed on the beach through some much larger rollers. So off Glenden went, though they almost capsized when his helper sat on the stern (with out board motor and driver) and the boat lifted to almost 70 degrees taking water in over the stern. They disappeared off into the greyness as we found the car. (The passenger well was inches deep in water as there is a leak but since we were soaked through it didn't seem to matter)

The visit was worthwhile, it was good to meet up with some old friends and to be with Hamish and Haish. It was good to end our touring on a damp note so we are reminded that it is not all plain sailing!


For the sake of remembering good times these photos were taken 6 months ago when Laura was with us
see http://rupnannie3.blogspot.com/2011/09/malau-clinic.html and
see http://rupnannie3.blogspot.com/2011/09/hemma-hamish-and-haiish.html