A Big Happy Birthday to Hayley!

Smile Camp

Today we took the children along to smile camp which was being held at Bakau Upper Basic School which is close to the stadium. The smile group run a variety of activities for children in the local area. On arrival we registered the children they were put into teams Abigail butterflies and Bradley ants both of which were drawn on their arms. We then joined a group who were playing catch with a group of locals. The idea was if you dropped the ball then you lost the use of a limb, i.e. arm, leg. If you then caught the ball you regained them. This game was then followed by duck, duck, goose which was where someone goes a round the ring tapping each person saying duck when they say goose that person has to chase them and try to catch them before they get back to their place. We then split up into two groups of older and younger children to play a game of British bulldog. The children really enjoyed this running around making sure they crossed the line without getting caught. I new it wouldn’t last as Bradley took a nasty fall grazing his knee and arm. Songs were next sung and then we went into one of the classrooms where we listened to a story which was acted out by the smile group. Abigail was pleased when pictures were handed out for her to colour. When one of the smile group suddenly produced a tray of chocolate spread tapalapa’s she was mobbed by the children. After much pushing the tray was removed and Paul had to step in as bouncer whilst the tapalapa was handed out. Then we were given mangoes with much of the same performance until they had run out. We have now resorted to eating the mangoes as the Gambians do peeling the skin back like a banana. They are so juicy and delicious, you do get in a bit of a mess though. We returned back outside to play bucket ball, basket ball with buckets, read stories or play football. Finally the day came to a close at 1 o’clock, we headed for home helping to carry some of the equipment back to the smile compound.

Smile Leaving Party

This evening we have been invited to the leaving party of the group called smile. They are a Christian organisation from the UK who every year send out a group to work in local schools for five months. Paul became friendly with a couple of the boys through his Sunday rugby games. From this he also got them involved playing with the Gambian rugby team which he coaches on a Tuesday and Saturday. They live in a compound behind the war cemetery so not far to walk for us. When we arrived all of the Gambian rugby team were there, after introductions we were presented with a plate of chicken yassa. After eating Abigail made her self at home with some of the girls, whilst Bradley was busy playing with one of the lads from the team throwing a rugby ball about. We ended up staying for a couple of hours before leaving to put Abigail and Bradley to bed.

Gambian Rugby Team

Chris

Tim

Butchers Shop Restaurant

Today we met up with Cathy, James, Felix, Sam, Emily and Rob for a meal at the Butchers Shop restaurant. On a Sunday from 10 o’clock until 4 o’clock they do a buffet breakfast and lunch eat as much as you like. We arrived just after 10.30am to find Cathy, James, Felix and Sam already there and tucking into their second plate of food. We ate a variety of dishes not necessarily in the correct order, bacon sandwiches, chicken, beef, quiche, Spanish omelette, pasta, stuffed peppers, coleslaw, potato salad, cake and pancakes covered with a lovely rich chocolate sauce yum yum. We needed a break between courses, so out came the games we had brought to play uno, pass the pigs and Nintendo to keep the children amused and ourselves. The restaurant was very busy probably due to later finding out that it was mother’s day for the Gambians. We left just before 3 o’clock feeling very full and tired having over indulged we won’t need to eat for the rest of the day.

Much Loved Brother In Law & Uncle

It’s been a very sad week this week as my brother in law Peter passed away on Tuesday after a year long battle against cancer. One consolation is that he died peacefully and he was at home with Lynne and the girls as he had wished. I know Abigail and Bradley’s will remember him as he was before we left the UK, having not seen him when he was poorly. I think they are still too young to understand but I’m sure they will miss his playful antics. Only last week Abigail made me laugh when she asked how does Uncle Peter make money come out of our ears. They did enjoy the games he used to play with them. I remember the way he would get them screaming which annoyed me and Lynne because we couldn’t hear ourselves talk. And just before I was due to leave for home he would wind them up so they were all excited for the rest of the evening. We had some laughs especially when he had to change Bradley’s nappy as Lynne was out he ended up with pooh up his arms. Peter and pooh just didn’t go together and he would be balking at the smell.

He was a great brother in law and such a big help to me running the kids to and from school it made my work life so much easier. I remember his sense of humour especially when he would be winding one of us up, which was so easy when it was mum. I know if dad had still been here he would be very sad as they got on so well other than the time when they fell out for a week. I know it drove dad crackers as he enjoyed his chats with Peter so they soon made up.

I only hope he enjoyed the many photos we posted of the children and our adventures here in the Gambia, especially those of birds as he was a keen bird lover even resorting to building an aviary in his garden. I think my sister just had to accept his unusual animal phases, lizards, snakes, owls, to name just a few. He loved his garden and would spend many hours potting seeds in his greenhouse ready to re plant. Usually overdoing it so the hanging baskets would be bursting with colour and we would all end up getting a share of what was left over. The garden seemed to attract the wildlife, frogs in the pond which would spawn every year so Paul would call with bucket in hand for a supply. Blue tits nesting in the trees and at one point a pigeon even adopted Peter and as much as he tried it just wouldn’t go away. I know he will be sadly missed by family, friends and especially by Lynne.

Paul's Up Country Trek

On Sunday Paul was packed and ready to go up country as he is doing his teacher observations again. Amy swapped her week with Paul as her friend was visiting her from the UK, unfortunately her flight was cancelled due to Iceland’s volcanic ash. Paul was due to picked up at midday so we decided to go for a quick walk. We crossed the golf course and headed towards the stream. There seem to be pigs everywhere now, on the golf course, streets and in the taxi car park area, we have even found an area which is used as a pig sty in a corner of the golf course. At the stream a group of boys were busy swimming some of which weren’t wearing any trunks, they didn’t care. We headed back for home as Paul was due to be picked up.

The vehicle was only thirty minutes late picking up Paul which was a big surprise after last time. He won’t be travelling as far this time as he is visiting schools within what is called the lower Niumi region which is just across the ferry to the north bank at Barra. Once across they went straight to the village of fass which is close to the border of Senegal, this is where he will be staying the night. From there he visited the villages of Kanuma (Alpha’s village), Sitanunku (Nuha’s village) and Juffereh (Roots). He managed to get a lot more observations done than when he was last up country. He also managed to walk around the villages without getting hustle from locals or children shouting toubaub at him. On one evening he stumbled into a large compound where there was a TV and a number of Gambians sat watching the football he was asked to join them and sat talking to a guy. At half time he got up to go and pick up a torch from his room saying he would be back shortly. When he returned to the compound it was in total darkness the TV had been turned off and chairs stacked up, he laughed and went back to where he was staying. When he phoned to update us on Wednesday he was a bit fed up, he had spent every night sleeping on the floor so was very tired. He was also expecting to be home on Thursday evening however he was told they would be staying until Friday so he may not make it for Georgia’s pool party.

On Friday afternoon I took the children to Georgia’s pool party at Safari Garden. Georgia is going back to the UK on Sunday so this would be her leaving party as well as a few drinks on the evening which we won’t be able to attend. We were one of the first to arrive along with Chris and Mel, we ordered drinks and a plate of chips and chatted until others arrived. Abigail and Bradley spent most of the afternoon in the pool with some of the volunteers playing with a blow up ball. At 4 o’clock I got a text off Paul he was hoping to get on the next ferry and had already been waiting for two hours. Unfortunately he didn’t make it to the party and finally arrived home at 7 o’clock very tired after having spent most of the afternoon waiting to cross the river.

Brikama College Picnic On The Beach

On Saturday Brikama college were holding a beach picnic for all lecturers which we had been invited to. When we arrived at 1 o’clock there were already quite a few other lecturers there including Amy, Rachel and Emma all of which were busy playing scrabble with some of the Gambians. We joined their table helping ourselves to some coffee and breakfast which consisted of a sausage, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Whilst there a film crew from GMTV were busy filming for a competition to win a holiday to the Gambia, this meant we had to turn the music down and talk quietly whilst this was taking place. Paul, Abigail and Bradley ventured into the sea with their body boards whilst I sat and watched. The weather was very windy and a little overcast however Paul still managed to get sunburnt whilst chatting to a couple of local lads. We had hoped that some of the lecturers would bring along their children so Abigail and Bradley would have some one to play with. The afternoon was spent sitting around which is the norm for Gambians. Bradley was starting to get a little bored and decided to lay in one of the hammocks, they were also feeling a little hungry as no food had been served. Amy, Rachel and Emma decided to give up and leave at around 4 o’clock. Ten minutes after they left the picnic started to liven up as the music was turned up and people got up to dance including an old bloke who must have been in his seventies, gosh these people can move. We waited a little longer and suddenly things started happening as bowls of food were brought out and drinks. The picnic consisted of fish benechin and vegetables. Bradley has surprised us both by really enjoying eating fish dishes, so it was no surprise when he tucked into the benechin with gusto. He is now eating most fish whether battered or not including sardines and prawns. Once lunch was finished the teachers gathered around as some announcements were made and some sparkly unalcoholic bubbly was passed around. One of the lady lecturers got up to dance and she went around everyone making sure they danced with her including Paul and me. At around 6.30pm we made our exit to leave only to be given a doggy bag, foil tray containing meat and noodles and a canned drink for us all.

Rachal & Emma