Mama's Restaurant

On the evening as an extra birthday treat we had a meal out at Mama’s restaurant as requested by Bradley, I think he chose it because of the African animal theme.

Sheriff's Fairytale Mansion

Abigail and Bradley have both been very bored this week, due to them having exams last week the teachers have spent this week writing their reports this has meant that they have not been taught anything all week. The same has happened at Diana Mariam, however at least the children were given some games and pictures to colour to keep them occupied. Also on Monday and Wednesday the Diana Mariam children were taken to a pool to swim, I accompanied them on both days managing to get a dip in the pool myself on the Wednesday. The pool is owned by Sheriff’s father one of the children in year 1. Sheriff was adopted from a poor family and as you can see from the photos it is very much a fairytale come true. We all jumped in a couple of cars and were taken along Atlantic road passing the VSO office and stopped outside a large white gate where it was then opened by a security guard. As the gates were opened I was amazed the house was huge with many pillars and windows, and set in a large garden area. We walked along a path at the side of the house to the pool which was set out on a balcony overlooking the sea with its own flight of stairs to the beach. The children were quick to get in the pool and all seemed to enjoy themselves. I took a few photos then joined them, as soon as I did they were all around me wanting to splash me or hold onto me. Sarah the little Lebanese girl from year 1 could swim so we both climbed into the deep pool to enjoy a couple of lengths swimming together. When the children had to get out of the pool it was a mad scramble trying to find their clothes before returning back to the school for the boys then to have a turn at the pool.

Aunty Alberta

Year 2 & 3 Girls

Sarah & Kumba Year 1

Sports Day

Then on Friday we held a sports day event which I thoroughly enjoyed much better than Abigail’s back in October. All the children were in coloured houses, red, green, yellow and blue. I was placed in the red house along with Mr Conateh. From the start the teachers and children seemed very competitive running around shouting their team colour. The children were given Rambo house coloured head ties and then we all seated ourselves around the grassed area to await the events. Aunty Alberta had organised all the events catering for the reception and primary sections. The first event was for the reception children they had to get as many bricks in a basket as possible and then run to the finish line. The event was quickly won by the red house with more bricks than the others. This was followed by threading beads onto a string of which we came second. Then sorting out blocks into house colours, within this event two houses were disqualified for not sorting them correctly so again we took first place. We then entered the bursting a balloon running race. The children had to burst a balloon between their hands then run to the finish line. As the whistle was blown for the girls to start our team just stood there so we ended up being disqualified. Unfortunately the same happened with the boys hence we lost some valuable points knocking us off top spot.

It was then time for the primary section the first event was a potato basket race. The potatoes were positioned at various stages of the track and they had to pick all three up one at a time and place them in the basket then run to the finish line. Fatou for the girls and Sheriff for the boys both won for the red team. These were then followed by a filling bottles with water event then running to the finish line, passing water along a line of children with cupped hands to a bucket event, hanging out washing race, lime and spoon race, and picking up a lime in your mouth with hands tied behind your back race. As we were nearing the end of the day the red and blue house were competing for first position. The next event was the tug of war event each team competed until a knock out was reached and overall team winner. We first competed against the green team winning easily and then won overall against the blue team taking first, the red house were so excited as we were now back in the lead. As the last event one legged race finished with us taking second place we thought we must be overall winners for the day and were all cheering. Unfortunately due to us falling down in the one legged race we were disqualified so we ended up taking second position two points behind the blue team. Mr Conateh was quite upset by this result asking for a rematch event. However all the children seemed to enjoy the day with everyone getting into the fun aspect including myself who at first thought Oh No when teachers were running around shouting however by the end of the day I was doing the same, cheering on our red team Brilliant day.

Fatou

Sheriff

James, Sheriff, Awa & Fatou

Bradley's Birthday Party

Today we have arranged a party for Bradley so I was busy all morning with the final preparations. I was happy with the finished results setting the table with pizza swirls, garlic bread, sausage rolls, corned beef pie, butterfly cakes, coconut tarts, pasta, coleslaw, tomato salad and the usual nibbles, I am so glad we decided to buy an oven. At 3 o’clock the party started as the volunteers arrived, Kathy brought along her friend who was out here visiting her and James. Also Emma’s dad had come back out for a couple of weeks as he was looking to hire a bike and travel up country having enjoyed his first visit to the country back in February. After we had finished eating we played some party games which Bradley had requested, pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey and pirate treasure hunt in the garden. As usual all the volunteers got into the swing of the party games and made it enjoyable for both Bradley and Abigail. The party finally came to a close at 7 o’clock with Bradley blowing out his candles on his cake. As the volunteers left Paul and James left for Churchill’s bar as they wanted to watch the six nations rugby tournament.