Why did I write the book?
Looking back past the end of my working life, it was clear that one position had been the most inspiring to me, because of a combination of youth, adventure, a beautiful and unique location, great people, a great company, a great salary package, and a great lifestyle.
The job was at Bougainville Copper Limited (B.C.L.) on Bougainville Island. I knew many others felt exactly the same way.
I found several Facebook pages featuring that place and began to share my pictures & memories there. After a few years of that, it occurred to me to consider the possibility of writing a book. Many people seemed to like the idea and many donated additional pictures to add to my collection. I started the book (my first and last) and over a period it gradually expanded to today's book as ideas & memories came flooding back.
I was born in the early 1950's in Britain, by the late 60's some of my friends were going on adventures and returning weeks later, frequently suntanned & happy. It occurred to me to do the same but it wasn't until my company decided to ask for paid voluntary redundancies that I actually got serious about the matter. I decided to do the job properly and set off on the ''Hippy Trail'' to Australia. After about four challenging months I arrived in Perth West Australia. I got a job immediately but a few weeks later an opportunity in the desert below Kalgoorlie showed itself. Six months there and a job in Papua New Guinea (P.N.G.) showed itself, by then the desert was pretty cold and P.N.G. sounded warm and exciting. I arrived July 1974 and finally left December 1988. I was employed in the power house so didn't have to worry about the cold there, as parts were over 50C. After my P.N.G. time I worked until retirement on the Gold Coast in a local government position. Whilst in P.N.G. and in the years that followed, I have continued with my travel adventures.