New Volunteers

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TERRY!

On Sunday we got a lift with Lynn to Sandele, she now has the use of a car from Gerry and Maurice from Safari Garden and just needs to keep it road worthy. We arrived just after 11 o’clock Malcolm, Lynn’s son is spending three days at the resort. We went off to look for Maurice as they have a large conference party being held there so he is busy getting things ready. With no luck finding Maurice we set off on our walk along the beach. We had decided to walk along to the next village of Tanji via the beach. It was a lovely walk once into the next bay we stopped to eat our picnic of sandwiches for lunch. Bradley was finding the going a bit hard as he has suddenly developed a tickly cough. We rounded the bend into the next bay and could see the brightly painted pirogues of Tanji in the distance. There were some lovely beach side residences along the way. Once at the fishing boats we made our way in land along a dirt track my only hope was for it not to be as long as the sanyang beach road. It proved to be just the same and went on for ever with no shade from the sun. Eventually we came to the road and then had a walk to the gelleh station. We arrived home just after 4 o’clock very tired and Bradley was struggling to breath luckily we had some amocycillan from his last infection left so started him on a course of them, two days later and a day off school he was back to his normal self.

Lately the weather has been a little overcast and windy especially on a night so I have felt the need to wear a cardigan and we have had a blanket in bed. We have been told it is the start of the harmatan, sand blowing down from the Sahara Dessert, it wasn’t this cold last year. However on Friday we had glorious sunshine so we decided to take a dip in Safari Garden Pool. Whilst there I met a couple of the new volunteers who arrived yesterday.

On Saturday afternoon we made our way to Kairaba Hotel at Senegambia as we were having our meeting party for the new volunteers there. We had decided to go a little earlier to use the facilities of the pool. We found Jane and June sat at the poolside they had had the same plan as us. After a swim and some chatting Lynn arrived and we dressed and made our way up to one of the conference rooms which was to host our meeting. A buffet dinner was laid on as well as soft drinks. We introduced ourselves and sat chatting until it was time to leave.

A BIG HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO ALAN!

On Saturday afternoon we met up with Mick and Jenny at the Sandplover for a couple of hours. They were having dinner with a friend who has a holiday home at cape point. We spent the time chatting and drinking julbrew whilst the children played in the sea and sand, I was quite tipsy when we said goodbye a couple of hours later. When we arrived home at 7 o’clock some of the other volunteers were there Lynn had arranged a barbeque for Pete’s mother and brother who are here on holiday. Lynn was still waiting for Tom and Pete to turn up with the fish so was a bit worried as there was no food ready and it was already late. I quickly showered and then set about making pilaf rice as my contribution to the barbeque. The fish turned up and with Paul and Peter working the barbeque eventually at 9 o’clock the food was on the table. We ate a starter of huge tiger prawns followed by fish Caribbean style which Lynn had prepared and was delicious. The evening was spent in the garden and came to a close just after 11 o’clock.

Weekending, 22nd January

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JAKE!

On Sunday afternoon Paul was picked up by the college driver in a minibus, this was a first for Paul usually it is one of the four wheel trucks. He was away all week observing the teachers in the schools, luckily he was located around the village of Kerewan on the north bank so it was only one hour away from Barra ferry terminal. Each evening we received regular updates of how it was going, his sleeping arrangements were quite good only one night was spent on the floor however it does take some getting used to squatting over a pit latrine. He arrived home on Friday just before 1 o’clock so the earliest and easiest up country visit yet.

On Saturday we went out for a meal to Mama’s Restaurant. We had been sent some money from Cathy and James ex volunteers to go out for a meal, however the catch was we had to make and wear party hats. The meal was lovely we did get a few looks from the other dinners probably jealous of our party hats. We were also joined by Lynn and her son Matthew who is here visiting for three weeks.