Zenith Sports Day

The Sea Snake I caught on the fishing trip.

Zenith Sports Day

On Wednesday it was Zenith’s sports day which was being held at the stadium. I had managed to get the day off work so at 8 o’clock we walked to the stadium making our way to the front entrance. Most of the children and teachers were already there waiting to enter the stadium. Paul went off looking for the PE teacher as he has been helping to organise the day’s events. Finally at 9.30am all the children were asked to get into their team houses, they then walked into the stadium behind their house banner singing the Zenith song as they went. They then had to do a small circuit of the field singing their house song as they marched. While this was happening Paul was busy putting out equipment around the field for each of the events. Eventually over the loud speaker the teachers were asked to get their classes assembled ready for their first event. Paul had organised eight events so each class would be participating at the same time before then moving onto the next event. Also Vicky had organised some of the stadium staff to help collate the event results with the teachers. Bradley’s first event was to throw a tennis ball underarm as far as he could. As the children were throwing I helped to take measurements and return some of the balls back to the children (whilst one teacher stood doing nothing). We then moved onto the next event which for Bradley’s class was the sack race. It was now after 10 o’clock and starting to get hot, I quickly ran back for my bag to get some water for Bradley who was saying he had a headache. Luckily I just made it before it was his turn for the sack race. He was doing really well until the two other boys decided to cut across the lanes and head towards the teacher. So Bradley decided to follow them however he was in the lane furthest away so had further to run hence he came last which did upset him a bit. Bradley moved onto the next event where they had to sit and throw a football over arm as far as possible. At this time I decided to check on Abigail only to find she was in between events and standing around. Paul was busy controlling the high jump as one of the stadium staff had disappeared, I quickly gave him a drink. I was then shocked as I watched a teacher giving some children glucose powder. Paul spotted this and took the powder off him saying it was not good for them. This became a heated debate with them saying it was bought by the head for the children. The next event for Bradley was a team event where they had to move a ball from a cone and then run to the next cone and swap over balls. Bradley enjoyed this event and his team managed to finish first. At the same time Abigail was doing the seventy five metre run I just managed to catch the back of her as she ran passed. She then had the high jump whilst Bradley had another team event where they had to pass a ball through their legs to the back and then run to the front. It was now past midday and the children were hot and thirsty so we broke for a quick lunch. Up to now everything had gone really well with all the children involved in some activity, most of the events after lunch were running events for the older children. The last two hours were pretty much like last year very disorganised with children running around dropping food and annoying Paul by standing on the track whilst he was trying to organise a baton race with the best runners from each class. I could see him getting very wound up this resulted in him shouting at the teachers asking them to organise their classes by getting the children off the track and back to the stands. Finally the day ended at around 2 o’clock with the house team steadfastness first, quality second and excellence taking up the rear. Abigail and Bradley enjoyed it much more than last year however it was still very tiring for them in this heat. I think it would be much better with less events for the children then maybe they wouldn’t get so hyper.

On Friday I had my hair highlighted at Yok Salon by Miranda who is Suelle’s sister, I was very pleased with the end result. Suelle had flown to Germany with his mother as she had fallen and broke her hip so needed a hip replacement. Paul on the other hand was due to play a rugby game at MRC with his Gambian team. The Gibraltar regiment are currently out here training the army so he had managed through the British High Commission to organise a game with them. He arrived home just before 7 o’clock saying it had been a very good game and all seemed to enjoy it however no one from the commission had turned up.

On Saturday morning I went with Lynn to Serrekunda market. She was looking for material as after borrowing my traditional dress she decided she would like the same style of dress making for herself. We had a good morning also managing to buy some material to make trousers and tops for her son and boyfriend who are due out here in the new year.

Tobaski Celebrations

On the Sunday we had a pleasant lie in. We finally got up and Paul set about washing some clothes and sheets whilst I started making pancakes, this has become a bit of a weekend treat for us. We then walked to Kariba shopping centre at Palma Rima for a bit of shopping before returning for lunch. On the afternoon Paul decided to check out the tent which Sukey and Greg had passed onto us. The tent was quite large and we were all able to fit in as long as Abigail laid at our feet. Abigail and Bradley spent the rest of the afternoon playing in it. On the evening they then asked if they could sleep outside in the tent, I was a bit reluctant however I finally agreed making sure we left the door open for them. Abigail slept on Paul’s Mattress whilst Bradley slept on the cushions off the chair, along with pillows and a blanket it was quite cosy. We sprayed some fly killer in the tent and then settled them down. Within an hour all went quiet I was expecting them to come in around 10 o’clock. I finally took myself off to bed and spent a night waking up and listening every couple of hours. Paul checked on them before he turned in and all was quiet. At around 3 o’clock in the morning I heard Abigail at the front door. When I opened the door here they were with lantern in hand, Abigail was remarking how beautiful the stars were and gazing up at the sky. They quickly climbed into bed and fell a sleep. The next morning they said they weren’t frightened however Bradley had remarked that a scorpion was scratching the tent.

This week is the Tobaski Muslim holidays I am off all week however Paul and the kids are off only Tuesday and Wednesday. We had arranged with Mick and Jenny to have our own Tobaski celebration to avoid having to spend a boring day in someone else’s compound. We were going to their compound at Lamin as they have recently moved in. We weren’t sure if we would have trouble getting taxis so Mick was on standby just in case, however it proved no problem. Once we were dropped off at Lamin we walked down one of the sand tracks and headed in the direction of Lamin Lodge. We then new we had to turn right so started walking down another track none of which looked familiar. Finally defeated Paul asked a young boy if he new Toubab’s Mick and Jenny, he did and gave us directions. We had to cross a football pitch, then someone’s compound and then down a hill. We new we were close when we spotted some bee hives within a wooded area. We continued on a path through what we later found out was the women’s gardens. Finally we arrived at their compound complete with traditional hut houses three of which have the thatched roofs completed. The shower, toilet and second storage room are still to complete. On the right as you went in was an open kitchen area the hut on the left is used as storage and straight a head is an impressive hut which they are using as a bedroom. Inside there were steps up to a loft area where Mick and Jenny sleep in a double bed with Teo and Mia sleeping downstairs. The toilet is a hole in the ground toilet with cesspit, it would take me some getting used to having to squat all the time. We unloaded the cake and wine which we had brought and then had a tour of the grounds. Ten years ago the area was used for holiday lodges however most of it is now ruins or just disappeared. In one of the ruins Jenny has made it into a chicken and duck coupe, there were a couple of eggs which the chickens had laid waiting to be collected. We then went to an area which they call the big tree here they have some of their hives suspended in the air. From here we could look right across the river to Banjul, what a view. We then looked in a circular roofed structure which they are hoping to refurbish into their own living quarters at some point. The ceiling of which had tiny coloured glass lights very pretty with the sun reflecting through it. We made our way back so Mick could check on the meat. They were roasting a couple of pork legs in an underground oven, very impressive set up. An oil drum was dug into the ground and then poles suspended so there were three levels to suspend trays on. Mick took the lid off and checked on the meat it looked and smelt very good. The potatoes were placed in first so they could roast up, then the meat and finally the vegetables before recovering. We then opened up one of the bottles of wine which we had brought and chatted whilst the children played. Danny and his girlfriend Jenny who is out here visiting arrived at around 2 o’clock then one of Mick’s Gambian workers who had completed the thatch to the roof of the huts arrived. Lunch was finally ready at around 3 o’clock the meat had been in since 10 o’clock that morning. It was well worth waiting for even the pork skin had crisped up nicely, Albeno tucked in with relish he is a Christian so no problems eating pork. We had a lovely day and at around 7 o’clock Mick dropped us off on the main road where we quickly managed to get a taxi to take us all the way to the traffic lights. The roads were busy with Gambian children dressed in their finest clothes for the Tobaski celebrations.

Kitchen and Storage Hut

Bedroom

Paul Wathcing over the Pork

Underground Oven

Do you think he's missing Pork.

The children were back at school on Thursday so I took myself off to Timbooktu to see if I could get on the internet to update my blog. I spent a good hour trying with no luck what a waste of a morning. On Friday the children were at the new school site which is at Kannifing they are practising for their sports day which is to be held next Wednesday. Paul has given them some advice on what events to do so hopefully it will be a bit more interesting than last year. As for myself I went off to Le Palais to use the internet. I was there for 8.30am and had a very clear phone call to my mum. The internet was also very good at uploading my blog photo’s that was up until I went to post one set of them and it showed up with a url error so I had to start all over again. It was then time to pick up the kids from school I asked if I could leave my laptop behind the counter as I would call back on our way home. Bradley was grumbling about having to walk back to Le Palais however the promise of a cake did the trick before heading for home.

Good Housekeeping Guide

This week was very exiting as we were sent a copy of the December issue of the Good Housekeeping guide. They have written an article about us living in the Gambia however on reading it all I would say is how untrue some of the statements are.

The rest of the week was spent with Abigail colouring the fish on one of her t-shirts in permanent crayons (another birthday present) you then have to iron the shirt so as to set the colours. Bradley on the other hand not only coloured his pirate t-shirt but also decided to draw love hearts on his white underpants oh bless.

Coco Ocean

The highlight of the week was on Saturday, we had promised Abigail a birthday treat so she decided that she would like to spend the day at Coco Ocean Hotel and then go out for a pizza on the evening. We arrived at Coco Ocean just after 10 o’clock and walked through security into the lovely grounds. We thought it wise to make our presence known at the reception also we wanted to check if we could use the internet at the poolside. The hotel is set on a slight hill so you have a lovely avenue of shrubbery to walk down. We set off walking down the avenue at various points there were wicker settees set out for you to relax in. First off all you arrive at a courtyard around which are various rooms, reading, breakfast and pool lounge all set around a small fountain and pool. You then can go around or through the pool lounge to another pool and sun bed area. The pool is over three levels each running into each other with sun beds dotted around. We found ourselves a couple of sun beds and took ourselves off to the changing room to put on our costumes. Paul tried to get internet access however the signal was very poor so he went back up to the reception area even this wasn’t very good so he finally gave up. Abigail and Bradley played around in the pool whilst I sat and read. The hotel was holding a large fundraising dinner on the evening (some volunteers had paid for the privilege to go) so they were busy erecting a stage and setting out tables on the lawn. Abigail and I decided to explore the rest of the grounds first taking a walk to the beach. At the beach more sun beds were set out under their very own little marquee, very nice. I took a few photo’s and we then headed back up the hill arriving at the spa and salon, Abigail wanted to have a nosey so we had a quick look in. We then made our way back to the pool. The rest of the day was spent in and out of the pool we finally started to get changed at about 3 o’clock to set off for home.

Avenue to the Courtyard

Poolside Lounge up the Steps

Pool Side

To the Beach

Fundraising Dinner Preparations

Beach and Sunbed Marques

Reading, Breakfast & Pool Lounge Courtyard

Yes it is a hairy caterpillar on Paul's lip for Mo-vember, I carn't wait until December!

Once home we washed and changed before jumping in a taxi to Palma Rima junction as we have been recommended a pizza restaurant there. The restaurant was small and more like a coffee shop however the Italian owner seemed pleasant. He had decided to leave Hull and come out here as he has recently married a Gambian girl. We picked a couple of pizza dishes and a pasta dish to share between us all of which were very tasty. The only down side was the owner was a born again Christian so he had decided on a policy of no booze. As we were leaving he gave the children a couple of doughnuts as he also supply’s bread and pastries to some of the restaurants in the Senegambia area. We decided to have one drink in the Commin to see the end of the Liverpool v Stoke game (shouldn’t have bothered), once over we jumped in a gelleh for home. When we got out of the gelleh there was a lot of commotion, across the road one of the electricity cables had caught on fire however it soon went out on its own, ugh would this mean no electricity for us tonight, yep.

Weekending, 6th November 2010

On the Sunday morning we walked to Le Palais to use the internet we have stopped using La Parisienne as they have recently started charging 75 dalasi for an hours use with a complementary drink. Then after lunch we made our way to Safari Garden to meet Vicky Taylor. She is one of the VSO staff from the UK and is the lady who actually found us our placement. When we arrived Rachel was already chatting to Vicky, we introduced ourselves and then spent the afternoon chatting about our placement and the ups and downs of life in The Gambia. Abigail and Bradley spent most of the time in the pool along with a weird looking insect which was clinging to the steps. It was quite large and round with a long spike on its tail and six legs. The front legs where very much like a claw and at one point we did wonder if it was a type of scorpion. Paul decided to take it out of the pool picking it up by its long tail and prising it off the step which it did not want to let go off. When he put it down it crawled about a bit and seemed very awkward on land. We left it there and went back to talking, about an hour later the insect was still there and when we checked it again it was dead. We think it maybe was a water living insect so we had killed it by taking it out of the pool. We also had a short visit at the pool by Alpha he was over from Kenuma visiting his cousin. At 5 o’clock Paul went off to rugby taking Vicky along to watch. She is going out for a meal with Pete, Bernie and Tom after they have finished playing rugby. Vicky has worked with Pete in the UK VSO office so is quite keen to find out how his placement is going.

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NAOMI!

Abigail's Birthday

The rest of the week was spent preparing for Abigail’s birthday. Dale had already brought some things over so we just needed a couple more bits. We had also arranged a barbeque party for her on the Saturday afternoon and invited the VSO volunteers as well as Mick, Jenny, Teo and Mia. On the Friday the day of Abigail’s birthday we were all up early watching her open her few presents a couple of DS games, a CD bought out here with about ten kids films on some of which we already have, a cross stitch monkey to sew, crayons, colouring book and a Gambian insect book. On the Afternoon whilst Abigail played with her new DS game I set about making a chocolate birthday cake. Oops I ended up burning it so had to make another one, luckily the faithful carrot cake turned out okay. Oh forgot to mention we now have a new member of the family in the house. Whilst Paul was locking the door one night this week he said something large flew in on investigating the next morning we found a large praying mantis sat on the curtain pelmet. We watched him as he sat licking his antennae and eating a fly which he had caught, so along with Freddy the skink (we think the gecko has made its way outside) we are a family of six.

Bradley in Middlesbrough Rugby Club strip, Paul had had some kit sent by the club and this was just his size.

A little skink which keeps coming in and out the house, Abi was tickled pink when it went on her foot.

Abigail's Party!

Saturday morning was spent rushing about making pasta, coleslaw, salad, pizza and cooking chicken legs ready to then be put on the barbeque to warm through. As I was cooking the chicken legs I suddenly noticed flames in the oven, the juices from the skin had caught alight. As I flapped Paul sauntered in and got a wet cloth whilst I ran out of the house with the kids as by now the kitchen was filled with smoke, luckily the fire went out by itself. For the rest of the morning Paul was busy pottering about digging a couple of holes to put the buckets of drinks in, sorting out the barbeque and setting out some chairs under the plum tree. The party was due to start at 3 o’clock and the first guests to arrive were Mick and Jenny. The kids went off to play in the tent which we had put up. Within the hour most guests had arrived, Abigail had received a lovely present from the volunteers a wind chime to make and scoobidoos which are a plastic string plaiting craft game. Whilst Paul set about cooking the burgers, veggie burgers, sausages and chicken I started to set the table with the rest of the food. As usual I was trying to keep the doors closed and everything covered because as soon as there is food about the fly’s just appear from nowhere. Once everything was prepared we all tucked in and sat outside under the shade of the tree as it was a lovely sunny day. The kids enjoyed themselves playing with some of Abigail’s birthday presents, at one point she did get a bit upset about this because they were her toys. Yet again we then had a game of pin the tail on the donkey. Abigail really enjoys this game and we all had a good laugh as everyone tried to walk straight to the target not easy when you have had a couple of drinks and are made to walk in a circle around a broom. I then set the kids off looking for stars which I had hidden around the compound earlier, unfortunately Mia and Bradley didn’t get a look in as Abigail and Teo found most of them. We then had a game of pass the parcel no guessing who got the presents we had parcelled up a little present for each of the kids so no one felt left out. By now it was dark so most of the volunteers were making moves to leave whilst we brought the last of the things in. By 9 o’clock everyone had left Abigail and Bradley were in bed and everywhere was clean so we could finally relax after our busy but enjoyable day.