Weekending 12th September 2010

On Monday I woke up with a cold no wonder after getting so wet on Saturday. We called at the police station to fill out a statement for my lost phone. Once that was done it was passed over to the CID division and we were taken into another room. All we wanted was a crime number so that Africel can give us a printout of used calls which then can be traced and may help to catch the culprit. Whilst there we were asked some questions and then one of the officers asked us for a fare we were surprised at this thinking it was another word for a bribe. Paul stood up and went to find the superintendent and queried the remark he explained that it was money for transport to Banjul as they need to obtain the crime number from there so if we want it quicker then they can take it today otherwise it will take a few days. We left without paying the so called fare and walked to Africel. Once there I cancelled my sim and obtained a new phone and sim card. We then called in Kariba Centre for a bit of shopping. It was raining on and off throughout the day which didn’t please Lynn as none of her washing was dried or ironed by Awa. This brought out some creepy crawley’s in our compound as we found a scorpion spider these are like scorpions but have large antenna instead of pinchers and don’t have a stinging tail so harmless.

I got a bit of a shock on Wednesday as when I went to buy my vegetables from the market I was told by Aunty Jenny’s son that Maria his sister had died on Sunday in childbirth. This explains why on Monday all the stalls were closed except one and the young lad told me they were at a funeral. The baby boy was okay and being looked after by Jenny however Maria had haemorrhaged and by the time they had gotten her any blood she had died. This was quite a blow to me and I was very upset, I have always gone to Aunty Jenny’s stall and her daughter quite often serves me and chats to us and gives the kids a banana. I know this could have still happened in the UK but it does bring home how undeveloped a country they are as it does happen quite often that the baby or mother will die.

On Thursday we decided to take a trip to the Tanji Nature Reserve. We jumped in a taxi to the turntable and then a gelleh to Tanji. Not quite sure of where we had to get off Paul kept checking the road he eventually asked them to stop and we got out. We walked down an overgrown path nothing much in the way of a sign to say we were at the right place. We ended up in an area which was reasonably open with trees and overgrown grass in places. Paul tried to make a path through the trees heading towards the beach my thoughts of snakes were in my mind all the way. Eventually we came out near a lagoon and managed to follow it before eventually getting onto the beach. Whilst doing so we heard a little noise of something crying and there in amongst some leaves and twigs was a baby otter no bigger than my hand. It quickly started moving off for cover Paul had thought he had seen something move into the bush earlier we thought maybe its mother. We carried on walking along the beach towards the fishing village of Ghana Town stopping on route to take a look at the site where Maurice is building some more lodges. They look very much like Sandele lodges only there are two apartments to each lodge. As we neared the village a pirogue was just coming in so we decided to see what fish they had for sale. They were a friendly bunch of locals and we were soon chatting to a couple of them. I finally ended up buying a large lady fish bartering (I am quite enjoying the bartering) the fisherman down to a good price with the help of one young local lad. He then said he would clean it for us so we followed him to one of the fishing huts where he gutted and scaled it. We followed him to the village stopping off to look at the huts where they smoke the fish. A group of lady’s were in one of the huts one of which started to talk to us in Mandinka, she was pleased when Paul could answer her questions. They were busy washing, boiling and smoking cat fish this has become one of Bradley’s much liked fish. We continued on to get a carrier bag for the fish from the local bitiko. The young lad then took us to the road side where he safely put us onto a gelleh and guess what didn’t ask for any money, we were very pleased that not all Gambians are on the hustle. Another couple with a young baby also got onto the gelleh with lots of buckets full of fish and produce which were placed onto the roof of the gelleh. They were on their way to Serrekunda market to sell their goods. When we arrived back home Paul set about filleting the fish some of which we put in the freezer for another meal luckily we seem to have had a couple of days with no power cuts.

Friday was Coroteh for the local Muslims the end of their month of fasting (Ramadan). We took Lynn off to Cape Point, getting on a gelleh to Bakau and then walking along past the British Commissioner’s residence. We made our way onto the beach it had changed quite a lot from just three weeks ago. There was a large pool of water on the beach cutting us off from the sea. We walked to the Calypso Bar and then it started to rain so we took shelter under one of the parasols until it was a light drizzle which eventually stopped. As we passed the pool at Calypso we spotted a small crocodile just on the surface of the water however as we got closer it moved further under with only its eyes visible. We decided to continue onto the Sand plover, this proved to be a wet experience as the tide was in up to the start of the mangroves. At one point we rolled our trousers up and waded through knee deep in murky water. I had decided to take off my shoes bad idea as I stood on leaves and grass and god knows what else. At the Sand plover we ordered some drinks and went upstairs to sit and look at the view. In the distance we could see some rather black clouds heading our way. The Sand plover looked very battered from the recent storms which we have had. The rain came and went so we decided to walk over the rickety bridge to the road and back up to Bakau where we jumped on a gelleh for home. On the afternoon we stayed in as it rained on and off most of the day.

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MANDY!

On Saturday it was another bleak day, dark sky’s and rain Paul did manage to take the children for an afternoon stroll bringing Adama back from the market for a cup of tea.

A BIG HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY TO MUM!

Today is mums birthday so we were up early to go to Le Palais, the connection was very good so managed to have a good conversation. Mum had received my presents bought via the internet however my letter and other present was still in the post. She was getting ready to go to my brother Alan’s house for an afternoon party with all the family I only wish we could be there to celebrate with her.

Weekending 4th September

On Monday I walked to La Parissienne to use the internet after thirty minutes and still no connection I decided to try my luck at Le Palais. This proved to be a good choice as I was connected straight away so managed to get my blog up to date and answer a few e mails. On the afternoon the plan was to take Tessa to Senegambia as she wanted to book a flight home sometime around the Christmas period so we were looking to call at Gambia Experience office. Unfortunately Bradley had been feeling a bit unwell so I stayed at home whilst he slept. Abigail said she would take Tessa so off they went. A couple of hours later they arrived back having had a successful journey as Tessa had managed to buy her ticket home with a three month window. Abigail had also taken Tessa around the grounds of the Senegambia Hotel spotting a large monitor lizard and also commenting on how dirty one of the pools looked.

On Tuesday Mia & Teo came around to play as Jenny had phoned on Monday evening to see if I would look after them for a couple of hours. Jenny needed to go into Banjul to get her residence permit updated and also try to find someone to replace a window in her car. They arrived just before midday so whilst I made them hotdogs for lunch they played in the compound. After lunch they continued playing in the tent which we had put up, this then turned into a water pistol fight. A couple of hours later Jenny arrived back she had had no luck with finding a replacement window for her car. I made a cup of tea and we chatted for an hour before they went home.

On Wednesday I took Tessa into Serrekunda she is a bit lost as she is waiting to go up country to her placement and most of the other volunteers have started work this week. We jumped on a gelleh and were soon at the gelleh station in Serrekunda. We had gone looking for foam for Lynn’s chairs and I was looking for a top for Louise, Awa’s daughter as it is her birthday. I soon found a man selling clothes and found a couple of nice tops and a pair of shorts for 35 dalasi. They are imported second hand clothes but if you have a good look through them you can find some which look brand new. Tessa found a lovely white linen sleeveless blouse for 10 dalasi (25p) bargain. We eventually found a couple of shops which sold the foam one wouldn’t budge on his price and the other I walked away when one of the guys started swearing. When we arrived back home we decided to call at Safari Garden for a dip in the pool.

On Thursday I took Lynne into Serrekunda so she could get the foam for her chairs and also pick up some material to cover them and some curtain material. After a good look around we found the foam shop the guy recognised us from yesterday and started apologising for the lad who had been swearing, he apparently thought he was with us. This is sometimes what happens as a local will latch onto you taking you to a shop and then they will get some commission from the shopkeeper if they get a sale. We bought four pieces of foam and then looked for material. Lynn wanted a cream voile for curtains the first shop we tried was very expensive so we looked further. We eventually found some more I still thought it was way too expensive but Lynn just wanted to get it sorted. We then found some nice yellow gold fabric for chair covers this was a much better price. All loaded up we headed back home stopping at Filas, was known as the Blue Bar for a drink. Later on the afternoon I took Lynn to the tailors so she could get her curtain and cushion covers made.

On Friday morning we all went to the VSO office, Paul wanted to pick up his e mails and I wanted some reading books from the library. Then on the afternoon we decided to walk to Senegambia. When we reached Kotu stream it was too deep to cross so rather us getting wet pants we cut through the Kombo Beach Hotel grounds. From here we made our way along the road and across Kotu bridge. We then had to walk down a track to Palma Rima Hotel to bring us out onto the beach at the other side of the stream. As we were walking a coach from the hotel passed us we were told it was the Namibia football team who were staying at the hotel. As we headed into the next bay it started to rain so we took cover under the lifeguard lookout hut. The rain soon passed so we continued onto Senegambia cutting through the grounds of the hotel. The hotel looked very quiet just a few guests were sitting around the pool and bar area. As we crossed the hotel gardens we spotted a Woodland Kingfisher and some Robin-chats. I decided to have a look in their bikini shop as mine is worse for wear. I ended up trying one on which I liked, the top was okay but the bottoms were too skimpy. We then looked in a shop called Whydah’ on the high street again with no luck. We jumped in a taxi to take us back home.

On Saturday morning Abigail and I took Lynn off to Senegambia for a girly morning, Bradley stayed at home with Paul. Lynn wanted to check out some beauty salons and enquire on flight availability to east Africa. We called first at the beauty salon at Senegambia Hotel and Lynn decided to get a pedicure. Abigail stayed to watch whilst I went to check on flights at the Gambia Experience office for Lynn and also ourselves as we are thinking of having a holiday over the Christmas period. We had looked into travelling to Saly in Senegal by road or possibly to somewhere along the west coast of Africa like the Ivory Coast by air. On enquiring at the office they only do flights to Gatwick however they suggested I call at Brussels Airways on the main highway. After quickly popping in to tell Lynn I set off for the Brussels Airways office at first heading in the wrong direction. Finally finding the office I was told you can get a flight from Dakar to Tanzania which is where Lynn wants to go however you also make a stop at Ethiopia and it was cheaper to fly back to Gatwick and then onto Tanzania. As for ourselves I managed to find out if any flights went from Banjul airport to the Ivory Coast, they do however the price was much too high. I headed back to meet up with Abigail and Lynn and we quickly called into Whydah’s so Lynn could buy a holdall then we jumped in a taxi just managing to get home before it started raining.

Namibia v The Gambia

On the afternoon we made our way to Bernie and Pete’s house to meet up with all the new volunteers as we are going to watch our first international football match Gambia v Namibia at the Independence Stadium. We had put on our cagoules as it was still a bit drizzly. Lynn was walking with us, Paul had decided to take us via a short cut this was okay if it had been dry however the rain started to get heavier. We ended up walking through puddles of water up to our ankles. Then one of Paul’s flip flops broke so he was walking barefoot to make it easier. When we arrived at Bernie’s the other volunteers were already there, Paul managed to borrow a pair of Pete’s flip flops so we set off for the stadium. The roads were busy with cars and locals walking and at one corner of the stadium there were lads climbing over the fences to get into the grounds. At the front of the stadium we waited in a queue and then had our bags checked by security. We had paid to be in an area which is covered thinking of the sun or rain. Once inside it was already so full that there were hardly any spaces left to sit so we ended up splitting up. We found a space and I put my cagoule down for us to sit on as the cement terrace was very wet. Although we were in an area which was covered the rain was coming towards us so we sat there getting wetter and wetter. Talk about miss wet t-shirt competition I was glad it wasn’t a white t-shirt. With the stadium filled up to bursting point (no health and safety issues here) even the aisles were full of locals standing the game started. Fifteen minutes into the game Gambia scored its first goal followed by another shortly after, the crowd went wild standing up and whistling it was very exciting. Across from us there were a group wearing the Gambia colours dancing and getting the crowd going a bit like mascots. In the second half we scored again, the final score was 3 – 1 to The Gambia. We decided to wait until some of the crowd had disappeared and watched as lads jumped down from the balcony to the ground to make a quicker exit. We eventually left via the front entrance and made our way towards one of the streets which leads to the traffic lights walking through muddy pools of water yet again and totally drenched. As I was walking I suddenly realised that my trouser pocket was a bit lighter, I had had my mobile pinched. Lynn took Abigail and Bradley home whilst I quickly went to the police station to report my theft. They took some details and asked me to come back on Monday. Later on that evening Lynn told us that amongst our group two phones, one camera and one wallet had been stolen so we had been toubob targets for some lucky local thief.