oa-didi remembers kipuli

Miss Oa-Didi is the only one in ricebag's life who has crossed over and knows initimately ricebags lucky-lovely world outside PNG and ricebags incredible heritage and complex familial ties within the sheer walls of her mountained province in the highlands of PNG ... we lived together in a land downunder where long days felt a little bit sweet and smelt of fresh linen and life really can be good and she came 'home' 'home' 'home' Enga-home with me not so long ago and stuck it out through some of the strangest times of our lives where we learnt more than was our fair share. She is a bit of a beautiful rock and I am so very privileged she calls me her good friend.

oa-didi wrote to say:

Ohhh ricebag-ohhhh, Sad sad day indeed. I wont forget that cheeky twinkle nor his teddy-bear t-shirt ... nor the time we shared Liklik Wopas and chicken cheesy pop things in the Panda Cafe ... nor the time we shot a bit of stick with the BigMan in the Irelya pool hall. I raised a few beer to the memory of Kipuli.

Well, I'd love to raise a beer too but some fo the most frightening exams of my life are aorund the corner ...

MyMama attended the funeral and she said it was a really good day - people from all over Enga travelled to Irelya for Kipuli. It was so packed there was no room to move on the battered football-pitch/mumu-ground at the top of Irelya ... such a respected leader, in the old traditional way.

May Kipuli rest in peace.