Tiny Bird

This morning we were up early to go to La Parisienne for the usual skype and internet. When we arrived home there was a hive of activity in the compound, Lucy’s nephew is getting married so she has organised a small event at her home. There were quite a few women busily preparing food and they had a huge pot cooking over a fire outside which is the traditional way of cooking here. The children amused themselves playing outside on the swing whilst we prepared our lunch. Abigail suddenly ran in to tell us there was a tiny little bird in some trees, we went outside to take a look it must have been a very young bird as Paul got so close he touched its claw. When we had finished lunch Lucy arrived with a plate of chicken legs in an onion sauce for us, this is the second time she has done this in the last fortnight she is definitely warming to us.

Wishes Christmas Celebrations

This afternoon we took the children to Wishes Christmas Party the car park at the front of the store had been cordoned off by barriers and a member of staff was collecting 175 dalasi as payment for visiting Santa and also entry into a raffle to win a bike. On entry into the car park they had various things for the children to play on a bouncy castle, slide and trampoline as well as prizes to win on the lucky duck and lucky straw and a lady who was painting the children’s faces all of which was free. All the staff were dressed up as elves and there were a couple of staff dressed up as Barney and Batman who were greeting the children. As we walked around Batman decided to grab my arm and took me and Bradley off around the car park skipping and flapping his arms very embarrassing. Whilst Bradley made for the trampoline Abigail and I stood in the queue for the face painting. We then tried to win a prize on the lucky duck both children came a way with a little present. We then tried our luck with the lucky straw Abigail picked a winner the second time around which upset Bradley, however we did eventually pick a winner and he was pleased with his prize of Lego. We decided to get some drinks as it was a very hot day so we made our way to the entrance to Wishes, they had set up tables of nibbles, mini pizza, brochettes, pies, biscuits, cakes, popcorn, prawn crackers and to top it off marshmallows and a chocolate fountain. We ate some of the nibbles Abigail and Bradley enjoyed dipping marshmallows into the chocolate fountain and Bradley ended up with more on his face. There was then a big announcement that Santa was coming, we looked down the road and Santa was in a cart being pulled by a white horse. He was then ushered upstairs to his grotto as children and parents formed a queue to visit him. Whilst I stood in the queue Abigail and Bradley went off to make a crown and angel on the craft stall, when they returned we had a short wait before we were ushered upstairs to the grotto. By this time it was nearing 7.00pm so when we entered the grotto to see Santa a quick photo was taken and a present was handed to Abigail and Bradley, I think Santa was very tired. Abigail and Bradley finished off the evening by a ride around the car park in Santa’s cart. Santa then left his grotto for home and handed out balloons to the children as he went, Bradley was desperately trying to hand Santa a picture of Rudolf but to no avail. We then left for home before the raffle was drawn as it was now 8.00pm the evening was a big hit with the children and was a credit to the store for a very well organised event.