So, we have now been back in Tarawa lagoon for nearly two weeks, time flies when you are having fun! Sitting at Mary's Motel last week, waiting for some fresh fish and chips, it was like we had never been away. We have bumped into so many people already, as one does in a small town, and it's been wonderful to see their delighted grins and warm friendly faces.

Some not so delightful things are to see how much worse the road is, with no obvious progress, choking dust cloaking everything. As in Majuro, January to April was very wet in Tarawa, making the road conditions even more unbearable, and many of the locally grown vegetables were in short supply as the wet overcast weather hampered their growth. Eggs, tomatoes, and the locally grown bok choy have all been difficult to obtain, and we heard all about the 'onion drought', thankfully over with supplies now back in the shops since the recent arrival of a ship. After the almost first world abundance of the Majuro supermarkets, it was sobering to see how only 400nm south things can be so different.

Tony and I have both been very busy this last two weeks, with work related meetings and making preparations/repairs for the next leg to Tuvalu. Thankfully Tony has got the wind generator working again, a simple cure this time after reading the manual and recognising that the sounds it was making were not those of a deceased unit, but indicative of a break in connectivity to the battery bank. He found the blown fuse, replaced it, and hey presto, welcome back wind gennie! Sometimes its clankety noise has been known to annoy me, but as it churned into life, catching the breeze and banking amps into our low batteries, I thought it a very sweet sound! If only all breakages were that easily fixed! Next a new sail slug sewn into the main, and resewing a few more that took a pounding during that 'scary' squall on the last leg. At this stage we are planning to leave for Tuvalu on Saturday 31 May, weather permitting.

Several consultants who we have been working with have been in-country over the last week, and its been great to catch up with them, our local colleagues, and friends in the volunteer community. Last Saturday night we were invited to a Minister's function at the Utirerei and were humbled when she mentioned us in her speech, thanking us for our contribution last year. As we watched the spirited traditional singing and dancing of the young people at this event it was hard not to be infected by their joyful exuberance. While there are many challenges facing the Kiribati people, their infectious good humour in the face of adversity is a powerful antidote to the pessimistic, angst-ridden concerns so prevalent back in Australia. Keep smiling peeps, more news next blog.