Will he still love me when I get back from leave? (Let alone when I'm 64). That was the question I had in my head as 1968 was coming to an end.
At the time I was living and working in Papua/New Guinea. I had been there four years and enjoying myself except when the love of my life left me early in 1968 and I was heartbroken but by November I had a new boyfriend but I tried to keep my emotions under control, I didn't want to get hurt again. However, Bill was very nice and attentive and appeared to be in love with me but it was that time of the year for me to go on leave to Australia for two months. Would he find someone else while I'm away? In the last weeks of November we continued to enjoy each other's company.
On the weekends we had breakfast at a restaurant in town.
We drove up to Burns Peak and looked over Port Moresby and suburbs. A new oval was being constructed for the Pan Pacific Games.
We turned around and looked inland towards the Owen Stanley Mountains.
Of course you were lucky. Bill is a good bloke.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Colin
But ... she did not know that at the time, Colin!!
ReplyDeleteYou must own a lot of shoes, Diane.
I might need to come back to this, to find out what happened. Though, scanning through, I'm thing (and hoping) it all ended happily ever after!
ReplyDeleteI am smiling! But goodness, Bill's car floating away? That must have added to the shock of you leaving. Love the photos. There's just something about those old black and white pics that I think is so striking.
ReplyDeleteOf course Bill was going to wait for you! I can not imagine, seeing his car floating away. I just love these old photos.. Thanks for sharing, have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIs there a gap in your life that you could not punctuate with photos? How marvellous that you have such a good store of photos to match your memories. I guess the tall modern building is government offices? I note the TAA sign.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, the big white building was (maybe still is) the T&G Building. Insurance and Financial companies, not government. On the ground floor was one of only a few restaurants in Port Moreby, called 'The Purple Parrot' of which you'll read more in future posts, I'm sure.
DeleteBill, I have already heard of The Purple Parrot, but I can't remember when or the context. The building is rather different to the older art deco T&G buildings in Victoria.
DeleteA suspense journey in your life at that time for you. Great photos...
ReplyDeleteYou are building the tension, how will this end?......:)
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE the shot of you and your Dad there is nothing more special than listening to Dad and his wisdom.:) HUG B
ReplyDeleteoh no on the car being swept away. gorgeous views..
ReplyDeleteMore wonderful photos. Some of these surely show these places in their infancy. I bet that land doesn't look so barren today.
ReplyDeleteIt seems you both weren't have much luck with cars at the time.
I know how the story ends but you make it suspenseful to wait for the next chapter. :)
i like how you're making us 'wait and see...' ;)
ReplyDeleteI blog using this song when I first blogged. 64 is rather young. Yesterday, an 80 year old married a 77 year old woman.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I get the impression that those two months were the longest two months you ever experienced?
ReplyDeleteHA ---- I remember when George and I first fell in love, I had to leave and go to a wedding in Texas... That was the LONGEST 4-5 days I can ever remember. I wanted to get back to him ASAP....And--on my flight back to Nashville, the plane was late and when I finally got to the airport, I couldn't find George. Once I did ---I almost knocked him down jumping into his arms!!!!!! ha
ReplyDeleteSounds like that Bill waited for you --and didn't give up on you... Can't wait to read more!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
I'm glad Bill did wait for you! Young love is so romantic but "old love" is the don't you think? By now my husband and I know what each other is thinking :) Poor Bill losing his car in a flood! That was not a good time for him!
ReplyDeletePoor old Bill! Girlfriend swept away by an aeroplane, car swept away by floodwater and probably a hangover into the bargain!
ReplyDeleteYou capture the hopes and anxieties of young life perfectly.
The excitement is palpable. You were obviously a dab hand with that camera - I was hopeless with film.
ReplyDeleteAlways hard to eave someone behind that you love not knowing if they are going to be there when you return. Great photos again, and so lucky to have the photographic history. Have a good weekend. T'other Diane
ReplyDeleteI am super curious to know how this story ends :)
ReplyDeleteYeah it is a terrible thought when we think will he still love me................but when they love you they love you for ever................hopefully
ReplyDeleteYou left us hanging. But I am quite sure I know this story has a happy ending! Can't wait to read it anyway!!!
ReplyDeleteOh what a great story I think he will hang around will he, and his car flooded away? That's quite an experience. Nice you had a great time back then with your family
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's hard when you can't be in two places at once!
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of this romance sounds promising! I can't wait to see how things turn out! I love that you have so many black & white photos of the places you lived and visited and the people in your life. We have so few! I don't know why we didn't take more pictures! That makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrew & Marie - you're SO lucky to have all those photos! There are vast tracts of my earlier life where photos are few & far between. But I'm making up for it now :D
ReplyDelete