POURING at our abode – doesn’t that sound grand, abode? And as usual you can’t hear yourself think over the cacophony of the frog chorus. Any global observers who believe that the frog population has declined should drop in to our place for a cuppa. Bring ear plugs.
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WHEN we first moved into Bleak House we found a patch of lush jungle greenery nearby was home to a matronly green frog. We named her Brunhilde, since she appeared to have some of the presence of her legendary Wagnerian operatic counterpart. At dinner time, she would burst from her lush hideaway, legs outstretched and eyes blazing.
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ADMITTEDLY she bore some resemblance to a lime green Gladstone bag in flight, but what she lacked in grace was made up for by her impeccable four point landings. Once appended neatly to the veranda rail, she would keep a beady hooded eye open for moths and grasshoppers dazed by the light.
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THE months passed and sadly we realised that Brunhilde was seen less frequently, and then not at all. But shortly afterwards, we were delighted to welcome her progeny, Siegfried and Erda, who inherited their mother’s striking appearance and predilection for the verandah rail. Tiny little persons at first, they soon assumed their mother’s grand operatic manner.
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TODAY we remain proud hosts to the magnificent Brunhilde’s descendants – and a well-behaved bunch they are, a real credit to their distant ancestor.
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RIGHT, then – that’s dealt with the frogs. Now to matters Quizzical, and the subject of light rail in PNG. We were surprised by the lack of response; some of our regular Quizzers struggled gamely, but none provided exactly what we had in mind.
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THE town with a light rail system was Rabaul during the German colonial days. Our reference is that excellent book End of the Line: A History of Railways in Papua New Guinea, by Bob McKillop and Michael Pearson, published by UPNG Press in 1997.
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TOMORROW we’ll tell you the story of Rabaul’s remarkable tram service that linked the wharves to businesses, houses and even the Governor’s Namanula Hill residence. Cheers!
– Dee Nesenolis