Now we must come together as fans to find and consume beers from Papua New Guinea
“Usually I enjoy Japanese beer, but given the situation, if I was objectively watching the game, I wouldn’t care if it was Japanese beer, American beer or beer from Papua New Guinea.†— Ichiro
Being nothing if not devoted, near-slavish zombies who worship Ichiro here at USSM, I feel we must now carry out his will and find beer to drink while we cheer (and boo)(we boo with love). American beers are available at every corner mart. Japanese beers, still no problem. But as all good followers do, we must now take the words of our hero too seriously and locate places that carry the only beers from Papua New Guinea, all brewed by South Pacific Brewery Ltd:
- South Pacific Export Lager
- SP Lager Beer
- Niugini Ice (this is obviously lower priority, as chances are the others are a lot more drinkable)
From the SP site, this is what
SP Lager Beer:
Niugini Ice:
The ice beer has its own website “Devoted to the Niugini chillout culture“. Maybe that’s what we need to do: chill out.
So here’s what we need in the comments, so that I can put up a good tracking page for dedicated Mariner fans who want to make it through this season:
- confirmed sightings of these beers, with prices and stock details if you can manage it
- pictures of you with purchased SP Brewery products. Bonus points if you’re at Safeco Field (warning! open container laws mean you should probably keep them shut, though obviously… yeah) and super bonus points if you can get pictures of you, the can/bottle/etc with Ichiro. In fact, you’ll pretty much be my hero if you can get a picture of you, Ichiro, and SP Lager.
- other helpful information related to tracking down these beers, like “I called the SP Brewery and they’re distributed in Seattle by Esposito’s Entirely Legitimate Import-Export Business”
That’s it. We know SP Lager might suck. And I don’t want to hear that this is a stupid project, or Ichiro sucks, or anything of the sort. If you’re not on board with this noble endeavor, then I feel sorry that you can’t get on board with this potentially fun activity born out of this season’s horrible start. Please take your negativity elsewhere, because we have beers to find.
Thank you.
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Maybe we can all pitch in and send a case to Ichiro.
Well, the local grocery store up on first hill has nothing of the sort. Maybe I should head over to Wallingford and check that imported beer store.. hmm.
I almost feel wrong going to Safeco field, because by directly give them money… it’s like supporting the reign of Chuck Armstrong. Watching games on TV is my little strike against the current ownership.
So normally, my first reaction would be to head down to K’s Beverage Mart in Bellevue, which is where I used to get all my insane, obscure beers, but they’ve been out of business for a while, so my first option is out.
In a previous thread, aaron c said
There’s got to be better info than that.
Trader Joe’s did not have it.
[not helpful to the quest]
Bottleworks doesn’t have it, based on their site information.
There used to be an interesting little store down in Capitol Hill that had quite the selection of “beers of the world”. Don’t think they’re in business anymore though, unfortunately.
That’s also not helpful. Even if you were thinking of the Stumbling Monk.
What about the beer-tastic convenience store on 105th and Aurora?
Niugini Ice sounds particularly liver-damaging.
I’m going to Trader Joe’s tomorrow, I’ll check there. They often will have obscure booze, although this might be a little out of their milieu.
I think there should be extra points if you can get pictures of Ichiro with a can of Sprite, along with the beer.
Again, I didn’t see it in my Trader Joe’s. Your luck may vary.
Hey, Derek…I occasionally make it into the Central Market up in Shoreline (155th/Aurora). They have quite the selection of hard-to-find beers and wines…so if I make it by there sometime within the next few days, I’ll let ya know if they have any.
Oops, I missed that you’d said you’d checked there. Maybe I’ve been hitting the Niugini Ice already and am just keeping it to myself.
I’m only 17, so yeah… But I can still look around
Let me look around Bellingham this week and I’ll get back to you if I find any.
Go! Go forth and look! Right now! Don’t stop to see what the next sentence says! Go!
I’m going to go check out the local Whole Foods myself, as they have the best imported beer section outside Trader Joe’s near me.
Also, I wonder if Uwajamaya in the Int’l District (or Bellevue) might have any?
There’s another natural market-type thing right around the corner from the Trader Joe’s, so I’ll check there, too.
I don’t think I’ll have much luck at 11:45 at night, though.
[not helpful!]
[thanks, but this is not helpful to our noble quest]
That’s a good point. Okay, so I’m signing up for:
- Uwajamaya, Bellevue
- Whole Foods
And possibly the beer shop in Redmond if I get down that way.
Well, if we’re really desperate:
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1083296
100 USD for a case shipped…ouch!
If it’s not already entirely apparent, I was entirely serious about the comment thread here.
That wasn’t a wisecrack by the way. That store on Aurora is supposed to have a great selection.
I can’t say for sure since I usually find what I want at the Ballard Market.
oh god, how sad this is what our season has come to!
I’M IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, and I almost forgot, you should change that tag to read “if you enjoyed this post, click here to buy the author an SP lager!”
was that the one at Crossroads?
does PFI in Sodo sell beer?
anyone know the Big Star Beer Market
I live a few blocks from the place at 105th/Aurora; I’ll check there tomorrow.
And then I’ll run inside HT Market (aka the old Larry’s) since they seem to carry lots of random world foodstuffs.
That SP Export label looks really familiar. I know I’ve seen it in the states before.
And yes, that is the Big Star Beer Mart, E of Aurora on 105th.
It looks like Heineken owns an interest in South Pacific. Wonder if that means their distributors could get hold of it.
Heineken’s local distributor is Alaska Distributors. But they do not carry SP.
I’ll hit up the Gravity Beer Market in Olympia when it opens tomorrow. They’ve got quite a selection of imports, so who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky
Just e-mailed SP Brewery to ask if they had an American distributor.
Checked online at 99 Bottles in Federal Way http://www.99bottles.net/beer/ and I did not see it listed but if someone were to give them a call it would be a good bet that they could track it down. They have over 850 beers from around the world.
I looked today in Los Angeles. Even BevMo didn’t have it. Nor Trader Joes.
On another note, if you google Niugini Ice, this thread is #4.
I’ll keep looking for some SP stuffs. Maybe Ill buy a pack and fidn some way to ship it to Dave and one to DMZ, so they can enjoy the fruits of their minions lol.
There is a party tomorrow. I am going to aforementioned beer market. My mission is clear.
Its rather pitiful that I misspelled “find” in my previous post, but my spell check ok’d it. I hope I didn’t add it to my dictionary somehow. That would be embarrassing.
On the beer quest, I called about 5 friends from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia. They all said the SP lager is bad, Niugini Ice was ok. However, none knew where to find them in the States.
This could be a real head’s up for beer-aisle managers in the Puget Sound this summer… and SP Lager’s export division could make a killing…
Actually, I’m a little pissed off at Ichiro. He might have referred to some fine English pub ale, for instance and we’d all be looking for a Boddingtons, or something…
But I guess it’s poetic justice: to be a fan of the M’s at this hour, which I still consider myself, is like flagellation.
Bring on the SP Lager. I figure, starting somewhere from the fourth inning onwards, one can per inning is requisite.
Are you kidding? This is the most exciting part of the season so far.
This looks bad
The phrase ‘home markets’ does not inspire confidence.
But we must never give up.
How about World Market in Bellevue right next to Bellevue Square? I know the store is basically imported goods, and have a large selection of imported beers and wines. I am under 21, but I can still look if I am in the area.
Benne: Not to be a raging alcoholic, but of all the beer distributions in Bellingham, I can’t think of a single one that carries this currently. And yes, I know most of the stores that would carry this type of beer.
And yes, I know what they all have in stock right now
side beer note: Kona Brewery has a limited edition summer wheat release brewed with passion fruit. Surprisingly good. I suggest it to many people.
Doesn’t look like it’s available anywhere in the US.
“South Pacific Export Lager from Boroko, Papua New Guinea used to be imported by Pacific Paradise Imports of Santa Fe Springs, California. The bottles and cans had a colorful logo with the bird of paradise on the label. This beer grew fast and furious like the fern bars of the late seventies it was served in. It has been about 10 years since this was available in this country.”
That being said, and me being pretty lit right now after a nice night out, I ordered 2 cases online. Steep, but what the hell.
You, sir, are a legend. If you’re at the USSM/LL meetup, you are owed a beer. And not just by me.
Slightly to the side of the topic: You don’t really think of Papua New Guinea as a prime barley and hops growing area. Where do you suppose they get their materials? Given the geography, it’s actually quite possible that they import them from eastern Washington. That would make one of Ichiro’s favorites practically a local product.
Or maybe they just brew it from coconuts. Hmm…
I will be searching here in Ontario, Canada.
In the meantime, I found some reviews. haha
Brisbane, Australia:
1.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
3/10 2/5 3/10 1/5 5/20
Mar 31, 2008
This was the other South pacific,not so popular,gold in colour.small head good carbonation.Aroma is wet straw gone off smell,not hops.Flavour chewey bamboo like,slight bitter ever so slight,finish bland and slight bitter,but watery.
…and my favorite:
Glen Iris, Australia
Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
2/10 3/5 1/10 3/5 5/20
Jan 28, 2007
Horrible aroma similar to stale crap and sweat. Clear amber colour with poor head and lacing.
Much like this season, I fear that we now know what the future holds once this elusive beer is found!
wonder if the fine PNG beers are served in Japan, or if it might be something that harkens back to Ichiro’s time in Hawaii …
I’m in Japan. I’ll look for it here, and if I find it, I’ll be sure to give you all a description.
Evidently we are not the only ones crusading to get this stuff. Check out this thread at backpacker.com
I have seen several references online to people getting it in Hawaii.
I know of a place here in Vantucky that might just have it………Biggs Beer!
I’ll have to check it out.
I could swear I saw the canned version for sale at one of the many delightful markets in White Center. I used to work at the brewery down there and would hit up those places often for delicious lunches and wacky fruit drinks. I never really paid much attention to the beer selection but when I was there showing a friend of mine who had recently returned from a south pacific vacation, she went bonkers over all the stuff she had never seen for sale in the US. Just a thought. Anyway the trip would be worth it just for the food.
Oh yeah and if you do find it, realize it’s probably not really supposed to be for sale on their shelf so…do with that information what you will. L.L.S.S.
Wait, wait, wait, where did you find it online to order it?
I called Pike Street Beer and wine, no luck. I emailed them brewery through their website. Eagerly anticipating…
Here’s the thing: do you think Ichiro didn’t know it would be hard to find SP beers? Absolutely he knew. He knew that this quest would give us something to do, something to focus our energy on and make progress on as a team, together, in the service of a common goal, avoiding the common infighting and squabbling we’ve seen too much of in game threads.
On an more on-topic point: I’m — seriously — going to see what Vancouver BC has, with their different distributors if this doesn’t pan out quickly. If in a couple of months I’m running an import firm, well, you’ll know where it started.
The best part about it is the name ‘SP’. Perhaps you are on to something that he knew what he was saying since if there is one position on our roster that night in and night out seems to be sucking the life out of Mariner fans all over is SP. Next time anyone else emails the brewery suggest ‘DH’ for their next label.
No luck. Ichiro damn well knows how unavailable beer from New Guinea is in the States. He knows the blogosphere will diligently try to find this beer so they can “drink it and boo…”. Great sense of humor that guy.
I wonder if Taphouse has it on tap.
and knowing that Ichiro knows these things, you have to think he knew this:
“SP Lager is about ‘Respect for Things Proven’, ‘Loyalty to Your Team and Mates’”
from the otherapbbrands.pdf on the apb website…drink and boo ironically?
44: SP’s hops probably come from New Zealand. Hops are also grown in Tasmania, so that’s a possibility.
OK, I’m going to Big Star in a few minutes when they open.
I went to Big Star yesterday the minute they opened. They don’t have it. (It’s in the comments to an earlier thread). The gal’s going to freak a little if people keep asking for it.
Oh, and
also describes the 2008 Mariners perfectly.
The gal’s going to freak a little if people keep asking for it.
Or she’ll order 10 cases.
DMZ: I’d not be too optimistic with that trip. From what I know of BC, their beer selection is only outdone in horribleness by their beer prices. $12 for a 6 pack of generics… Ugh.
Looks like someone is going to have to go on a plane trip and pick up a pallet.
@42, I’m sure that you can find takers right here to ease that financial load. Those beers are costing you $4 each. I’ll give you ten for one of them.
I’m heading down to Uber by Greenlake as a shot in the dark.
Now, if you’re hard core, you’ll sign up for June’s SP Brewery Promotion Trek, nine days on the famed Kokoda Track, ending with a brewery tour. It’s a mere AUD 1950 per person (about $1,870) plus AUD 500 for a “potter” (bearer?). Oh, and you’ll have to find your way to Port Moresby too: http://www.fuzzywuzzy.com.pg/files/_spb%20promo_owers%20to%20kokoda.htm
This is great. A much better homework assignment than the one I am supposed to be working on.
I’m about to go check the Beer Stein (in Eugene, Oregon) home of over 800 beers…
SABRcat,
Do you know about Galco’s in Highland Park in LA? Try that. I’ll swing by there when I’m back up in town after the weekend and see if they have any of our holy grail of beers – SP.
Also, anyone in Olympia to check out Rocky Top out Mud Bay Road. http://www.rockytopbrew.com/ They may be able to ask a distributor.
Another good thought on this front was that of fin190. Cost Plus World Market has a great selection of world beers. There are 11 of them located around the puget sound. I can check out the one next pike place market tomorrow. And for your convenience here is the link to world market with their store locator:
http://www.worldmarket.com/custserv/store_locator.cmd
PS this is the first time I have posted all season. Thanks for getting me reengaged DMZ.
Man, that Trek sounds cool. Port Moresby is not to be taken lightly, though. Not only is it dangerous as hell (especially after dark) out in the bush they have gang wars where people get killed with bows and (poison-tipped) arrows.
That said, my 70-something mother went through there on her way to visit some missionary friends. But she’s Scottish, and a bad-ass (at least as far as travel is concerned). I have some cool tribal headgear and jewelry she brought back from that trip. If I find the beer, I’ll wear it in the photo.
I have a friend from Laos who said they’ll try to pull some strings.
Has anyone checked places in the International District? One of those Asian stores could have some. Maybe on my way to the game Tuesday I will look.
Can I have an @ussmariner.com email address if I sneak a bottle into Safeco and take a picture?
If I ever said that Niugini Ice looked like a beer that would taste good, I would have to punch myself in the face, because I am lying.
(Sorry guys, I couldn’t resist.)
Well I play baseball for a school in Hawaii (Our home field is actually one of the two Hawaiian Winter League fields). I come back to WA in a week for summerball, but I will be looking for SP while I am still here. If the elusive SP is anywhere in the U.S. it has to be in Hawaii right?
joser – my old anthro professor, and a great friend, spent over twenty years in PNG. He worked for the national medical school and took med students out in the bush.
One time he was driving with a few students when they came upon a tribal battle – spears flying both ways. One guy came out from each side, told him that they could pass (the road ran right through the middle of the combat zone) and as soon as they passed he looked in the rear view mirror and saw spears flying both ways again as soon as they crossed the field.
After that, of course they all stopped and drank Niugini Ice from a nearby cliff enjoying the show…
I checked Central Market today, but no joy.
I’ll check in Kona on the Big Island in a few weeks, if no one has found it before then.
If it tasted good, it wouldn’t represent the Mariners very well, would it?
If I got some, I’d leave it out in the hot sun for several days before enjoying it. And I’d drink it out of my shoe.
Supposedly it’s connected to Heineken somehow, and Heineken boffins come out every three months to check on it, presumably to make sure it’s got that famous Heinie skunk aroma.
The sad thing is this might be the happiest thread of the year…
Sometimes they have beers like this on tap at the Toronado on Haight Street in San Francisco. I no longer live in SF but perhaps somebody here does…
If your havin baseball problems I feel bad for ya son I got 99 bottles but SP lager ain’t one?
Checked the Taphouse, no dice. I live in the ID, I’ll check some stores today, including Uwajimaya.
Wife and I checked Belmont Station in Portland. Over 1000 beers…and nothing Papuan. He suggested we contact the brewery to have them look for a distributor.
I suspect friends in the South Pacific will be the way we get our first Papua New Guinean (Papuan?) beer to Safeco Field.
Or else we can organize a trip to Port Moresby over the All-Star Break. We’re flying Qantas:
Leave Friday, 7/11 at 6PM. Connect in LAX and Brisbane, arrive in Port Moresby on Sunday the 13th at 1:40 PM.
Leave Thursday, 7/17 at 6:40 PM. Connect in Brisbane and LAX, arrive the same day at 12:10 PM.
The last leg is operated by Air Niugini. You KNOW they’ll serve Niugini Ice on board.
All for the bargain price of $4610 per ticket on Travelocity! We can add four nights’ stay at the Holiday Inn Port Moresby for only $800 or so. Who wants to share a room?
HT Market doesn’t have it, though they have quite an assortment of Chinese and Thai beers.
I’m nursing this defeat right now with a Pyramid Curveball.
The three beers that you are seeking are nigh on impossible to locate here in Australia. I have had some of the Niugini Ice and it is a pretty decent beer, but again hard to find in Australia so good luck in Seattle.
I was surprised to find that it won a silver medal recently here:
http://www.beerawards.com/pdfs/2006-catalogue-of-results.pdf
giuseppe Post # 69
Haven’t been to Highland Park much. I try not to drive all that much, I stay pretty close to school to save money. I didn’t see it at the Beverage Warehouse today tho. I wonder if maybe a Chinese of Filipino place in Monterey Park would have it? But I am not about to brave the 60 over there. I hate the 60.
Also for post #75
I’m from Hawaii, in Honolulu, and I swear I’ve bought alcohol from every store in town and in Mililani. Can’t say I’ve ever seen it.
On another note, a lot of places will order stuff for you. I’ve ordered using BevMo, went in, asked for a beer, they didn’t have it, they ordered a couple cases for me. For my 21st bday party. Man that was epic. Wish I could do that again.
Ok, I’ve got a list of places nobody else needs to check:
- The markets in White Center (at least in the “downtown Delridge” strip where the New Angkor Market is).
- Uwajimaya in the ID
- Every asian market on Jackson between Little Saigon at 12th and the King St station.
I have to say, I’ve done a fair bit of traveling in Asia and I still managed to find drinks I’ve never seen before, including juices made from things that I don’t think technically produce any liquid. Grass Jelly? Soy beans? Basil Seeds? The high point, beer-wise, was the Viet Wah supermarket which stocked BeerLao. Yes, beer produced by the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos.
No South Pacific, alas.
That SP Export label looks really familiar. I know I’ve seen it in the states before.
You know, I thought that too. But now I think I was mislead by its resemblance to Kingfisher, which turns up at a lot of Indian places around town.
Ok, some ideas for further research:
- If it really is available in Hawaii, it’s possible one of the Hawaiian restaurants around town know a way to get it. Pick one near you, go in and try the food, and ask. (I’d hold out more hope for some of our readers in Hawaii getting lucky, however)
- Bottleworks can special order stuff if there’s a distributor for it (and sometimes even if there isn’t). Somebody should call them, or stop by, and ask. It’s possible there will be a minimum order quantity, but I’m sure we could put together a group order.
- It’s a long shot, but if anybody lives down around Kent you might try the Great Wall mall down there. There was all sorts of weird stuff the last time I was there (and in the strip malls in the immediate neighborhood. I mean, this place is across the street, so who knows what you might turn up).
Niugini Ice looks yummy. South Pacific kinda looks like pee, but if its anythign like Corona, I will like it as well.
They have Lao beer at Big Star. But no PNG beer. This is going to have to come from overseas.
#86
If you guys don’t have L & L Drive Inn, I fear your Hawaiian restaurants aren’t that good
Any local will know what I mean haha.
PS. Order a Loco Moco with your S&P if you find some. I love Loco Moco.
Steve T., I think I might have beat you to the Big Star Market–I was there about 6 pm and found no love at all. (I live within walking distance, and the weather was so nice I walked…). They are good on Asian, European, and Western American beers, but but weak on most other areas. They have a very small Australian section, and nothing from South America, the Caribbean, etc.
Anyhoo, I wonder if you got a reaction from the woman there, because I explained the whole thing to her. (“Do you know who Ichiro is? Yes? Well, in the paper yesterday he said….”) She didn’t seem to totally get it (she’s not a native English speaker, you can tell) but if enough people ask her about it she’ll catch on
Steve, if yer the guy who lives in the neighborhood, we should grab a beer sometime at the Piper’s Creek Pub on Greenwood and 106th. They have a very good beer selection and big screen for the Ms games–God knows it’s better to be able to drink good beer and commiserate with a fellow fan if we have to (against all logic) follow this lousy team.
Luckily, I have a colleague working in PNG right now. He is bringing back as much SP Lager as he can legally sneak back to Sydney, Australia this weekend. So the good news is that I will be fully stocked with SP Lager, the bad news is that I can’t share it with people in Seattle very easily.
So now I can drown my sorrow in “style”. What will happen first: I get my SP Lager or McLaren gets sacked?
Now how to boo effectively from Australia?
Long time lurker, first time poster…
I too thought the South Pacific Export bottle looked familiar. In fact, I know I had some back in the late ’80s at UW. I would have got it at the U Village Safeway. That would seem to no longer be an option.
However, I also remembered that I owned and was able to locate one South Pacific Export Lager ballcap. I probably bought it in Hawaii in the late ’80s or early ’90s. So, at one point (almost 20 years ago) SP Export was apparently available enough in Hawaii to merit ballcaps in souvenir stores. Anyway, I am committed to wearing this cap and not my M’s one to any and all games I attend for the remainder of the season.
So the good news is that I will be fully stocked with SP Lager
We must have pictures. Perhaps you can print out a lifesize photo of Ichiro (or at least his head) and put it with the beer.
Now how to boo effectively from Australia?
Bury pictures of Bavasi and Lincoln and McLaren in a Cassowary nest, maybe.
Nickster, if you mean 6pm Friday you beat me. I was there when the doors opened at 11 on Saturday.
I didn’t mention Ichiro to her, but her reaction to “Papua New Guinea” was amusing, as she stood pretending to think if she had any.
Sorry, I don’t live in the neighborhood. A beer at Piper’s sounds like a reasonable idea, though. Can’t be today, unfortunately.
92 (Clyde): Wow, it sounds like you guys are having trouble getting a hold of the stuff even in Australia…
Chances are, you’ll be the first to sample this pure liquid gold. Feel free to send us a review…inquiring minds must know!
94 & 96: When I get it and drink it, I will be sure to publish the proof here as well as a review. I am hoping that I will understand a little more of the Ichiro Zen in the process…
No SP love at Galco’s in LA.
I may head east soon and explore some strange Asian groceries.
A friend is arriving in Seattle from Brisbane (that’s in Australia for the geographically challenged) on Monday. If he can find a bottle, he’ll bring it along. I’ll let you know if his search is successful…
Just wanted to add that SP is gold in a bottle. I’ve had it when I’ve been on trips to PNG, Indonesia and Japan. It’s the first thing I look for. I’ve always tried to get it here in Seattle, but for some reason stores don’t want to bite. I’ve even told them I’d buy cases every week. Guess it’s too expensive to import. By the way, get the green label. The one with the bird and nuigini ice aren’t very impressive. Those are the ones I’ve found in Japan. If anyone knows someone living in PNG or Indonesia, I think we might be able to get Ichiro a case. Sorry, my PNG hookups haven’t been able to get anything for me in the past.
I traveled PNG in ‘90. Unbelievable beauty/culture, but a hell of a dangerous place to go in search of a beer. That said, I’d still go back.
I put a few South Pacific Export Lagers down while in Mt Hagen and Madang … and many more before while bartending in Tucson during college from ‘82-’87. (Anyone been to the Fat Chance Bar & Grille?)
I don’t remember SP Export Lager being “stale crap” or “wet straw”-tasting at all — it was actually good. Seems the brewery had problems but are now back to brewing, showing, and winning some awards. I can’t find an importer anywhere either, and have emailed the brewery several times with no response (http://www.sp.com.pg/feedback.html) I called once but got the time wrong and had to speak bad Pidgin to a drunk night watchman for 5 minutes. He was no help whatsoever.
I sucked it up and ordered the $100 case from ecrater.com (http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1083296). By the way, thanks OCELOT … how did you find that site? BTW, they don’t charge shipping — which actually can’t be cheap if there are no domestic importers left selling it.
Great thread. Thanks for the info. Will send photos if I can get Ichiro throwing one back….
Happy to see all yous talking about PNG beer, unfortunately you all being on the other side of world….if any of yous still interested in trying to get some over I am happy to help…my email address…….david_moala@bat.com