Weekending, 18th December 2010

We have said a fond farewell to Rachel and Max this week, Rachel is returning to sunny Australia on Sunday making a stop off at Dubai to visit friends. As for Max he is spending Christmas with Marielle in cold Netherlands before returning to the Philippines. We have not seen the last of Max as he will be returning in February with the new volunteers as he has signed up for another placement. On the Thursday we went for a walk with Lynn to the shanty village near to Kotu quarry. Lynn had been given some clothes from holiday makers to pass onto needy locals. Once at the village we asked for the Alkalo, we were shown to an elder of the village as there is no Alkalo here. He invited us into his home and asked us to sit down. Paul explained why we had come and handed over the clothes with the possibility of more yet to come. He was very pleased and after a quick photo shoot we left for home.

Diana Mariam School Performance

I have had another easy week at school preparing for our school Christmas performance which is to be held on Saturday. We have been making crowns for the children to wear at the party and Christmas cards for them to give to their parents. As for the performance, in year two they are acting out a play which Aunty Ken has wrote and I have taught them the song When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney with added verses and actions. The grande section are singing a song to music which Aunty Ken has provided about days of the week as well as a little play. We have spent most days from 11 o’clock practising outside. On Thursday we were off as it was a public holiday to celebrate the Muslim New Year. I returned on Friday for our parents open day. By 12 o’clock I left to pick up Abigail and Bradley from school leaving everything with Aunty Ken as some parents had still not arrived to see their children’s work.

Saturday and the day of the school party, I spent the morning at home sorting out our clothes ready for our holiday to Senegal. Then at midday I made my way to the school to help with final preparations. Alberta had thought it would be a good idea to do some of the decorations on Friday so some of the teachers remained at school until 7 o’clock. When they arrived back on the Saturday most of the decorations had been blown down making more work to do just sorting them out. I busied myself blowing up balloons whilst Rosemary tied them together. Alberta was busy putting up even more tinsel which made it a bit messy and over the top. At 1 o’clock guests were starting to arrive and we were still busy tidying up. Finally the DJ turned up as well as a camera crew from the local TV station. Food was on sale for the parents to buy, some things were a bit pricey however they had a good selection, benichin, yassa, chakri, cakes, wonja and baobab juice. The children’s performances were due to start at 3 o’clock and I was surprised when they did actually start on time. The younger reception children presented first followed by the primary children. We were a little concerned as some of the children who had major parts had still not arrived. Everything seemed to be going okay Mr Ndoy was enjoying himself and getting all the children up onto the stage to dance, Aunty Ken joined in as well as some of the other teachers. Then Mary came over to me dragged me to the front of the stage so I was forced to dance to the music, very embarrassing. Just as year 2 were due to go on stage to present their play and song, Momodou arrived to our relief. The song went well but then the microphone battery died so the performance was stopped midflow whilst they ran off to buy more batteries. This gave me my opportunity to make an exit as we were also meeting Mick and Jenny with the kids at wishes for their Christmas Festivities. I found out later that the performance went okay but they still had issues with the microphone so decided to do it all over again. Then food was sold again as well as dancing so the evening didn’t close until 8 o’clock on the evening.

Wishes Festivities

I quickly arrived home showered and changed and jumped in a taxi to Palma Rima, Paul had left earlier with the children. I found Bradley and Abigail enjoying themselves on the bouncy castle with Teo and Mia. As they were getting off the bouncy castle a white limousine went passed tooting its horn with Santa hanging out the window waving. I quickly went and stood in the queue to see Santa whilst Paul and Mick went off to buy a ticket to see him. We were right at the front this year so after a little wait we were shown upstairs to his grotto where they all received a present. A photo with Santa was taken which we will be able to pick up from the store later. The rest off the afternoon was spent either on the bouncy castle, making crafts, throwing balls through a hole in a snowman’s tummy and tucking into snacks of pizza, sausage rolls, cakes and sweets. We did even get to see some snow, well imitation snow which was thrown down from upstairs the children thought it was great. The festivities were more staged down than last year but the kids still enjoyed themselves. We rounded off the evening with a drink at the nearest pub before heading for home.