It is 5 am and I leave for week 2 on the island in about 40 minutes. Week one was a baptism of fire! We drove to Nguiu on Bathurst last Tuesday to meet and fly the students to Pickertaramoor. The school is not finished and we are in the middle of the monsoon rains. When we arrived at the school with the students the reality of the lack of resources hit home: no classrooms, no where to take them outdoors and no indoor facilities.

Despite the difficulties with the weather and lack of facilities, we have run classes and have worked hard to get to know each student.

Nicole and the kids are in Darwin at the Free Spirit Resort during the week. On Saturday we were due to fly home but the weather stranded us on the Island. When the storm clouds roll in the planes don't leave Darwin! This was frustrating, particularly for Nicole who had been at home flying solo for the week and who was expecting me back on Saturday. By midday Sunday the clouds had cleared enough to get out of Picker.

We don't have effective communication on the island so there is no chance to get on the net. Hopefully we will have satellite set up in a few weeks and will be able to update this blog more regularly.