This week has been the opposite to last week, very busy especially owing to the fact that we had to spend two nights at Safari Garden. It was Paul’s birthday on Wednesday so we were up early to hand over some presents, leather flip flops and elephant tie die trousers then off he went to work. The children accompanied me to school as it is the National Gambian Exams for the older children so they are off school today and tomorrow. When we arrived home some guys were there laying a new pipe for our toilet. We have been having problems with smells and standing water when we flush we were told it is possibly blocked due to roots. Luckily we didn’t have any issues with smells as they did the work we just made sure we entered the house from the side door. When Paul arrived home the work men had left so he went to check on the job. He suddenly came storming in and told me to keep the children inside. He then told me that the workmen had only smashed up the old pipe and scattered it in the compound near to our door. The issue with this was that the pipe was an asbestos pipe so very dangerous when disturbed. Paul decided to remove the pipe and then took it up to the office in such a rage. They didn’t believe it was an issue as not really clued up into the effects of asbestos. With much persuasion and looking up on the internet to update them on the risks they decided to do a risk assessment and phoned London VSO office emergency phone line. Would you believe there was no answer, they finally got an answer on the usual office number and were told that the emergency line was not manned due to the football however she would get in touch with someone and phone us back. Hadi the office director suggested we stay at Safari Garden for a couple of nights whilst the issue was sorted. This ruined our evening plans of birthday cake and DVD better to be safe than sorry though, after we finished dinner we packed a few clothes and walked the short distance. We checked into our room and whilst doing so received a call from VSO London. The children thought it was great to be back at the Safari Garden and were straight in the pool staying there until we put them to bed at 8 o’clock in the evening.
On Thursday after school I had to pop home for a few more clothes I entered then opened the side door for Abigail and Bradley. I noticed fresh sand had been laid in the compound near our door. Paul then arrived with Hadi and Ebrima they finally decided to cement over the area to make it safe. We spent the rest of the day at the Safari Garden pool. The weather was a bit overcast so I had a quick dip in the pool then changed and sat reading. On the evening Courtney decided to do a last minute get together for everyone which solved our issue of cooking. We arrived just before 7 o’clock and were introduced to Rachel’s boyfriend who is over from Australia visiting for a month. We ate a very nice variety of vegetarian dishes as Courtney is vegetarian.
I had managed to sleep much better than last night so we were all up and in the pool for a quick dip before 7 o’clock. We then went for breakfast the sky was overcast and looked like rain. I quickly decided to leave so as to get to work before the rain. Paul would take the children to school and then drop our clothes back at home. As I neared the war cemetery the heavens opened and by the time I had got to the school my skirt was soaking wet even with the use of an umbrella. The rain continued for about two hours and I felt rather chilly having gotten wet. When I picked up the children they said they didn’t get to school until after nine as they waited until it had eased off. On the evening we had arranged for Amy and Emily to baby-sit. Abigail and Bradley were really looking forward to this I decided to make them all a pizza and some popcorn for them to have with a DVD. Paul was very late home as they have been invidulating exams at the college also he had waited for Tom to arrive at Brikama and travelled back with him. Tom will be staying at John’s again until he leaves on Sunday. We finally arrived at the restaurant just before 8 o’clock we had decided to have an Indian meal at the Jewel of India at Senegambia. A couple of hours later we were ready to leave after a lovely lamb and fish curry. Being in the Senegambia area there are more bumsters and it didn’t take long before we received the usual come and look at my shop routine. As we got in our car a guy then came up to us saying he was security for the car park, it was obvious he was trying to get money from us for parking the car. Paul asked him where his ID was to which he replied back in the office, this guy had no uniform on just jeans and football shirt Paul laughed and we drove off. As we left the Senegambia area Paul decided to pullover at one of the tourist police checkpoints. After explaining to the police man he asked us to take him to the car park. The youth was pointed out and eventually after a big discussion with him and his friends he was placed in our car for us to take him and the police man to the office for further questioning. Paul put over his side of the story to the sergeant on the desk which the youth denied it even being him he had since put on a hat to hide his dreadlocks. After an hour and an officer turning up as well as the youth’s boss they were taken into a back room. Twenty minutes later the youth left followed shortly behind by Paul. Paul had dropped the charges and the youth had been reprimanded with the view that they were now watching him. I would say this is the first time I have felt a little unsafe here in The Gambia especially when the youth got in our car behind me even though the police man sat next to him. I had a few choice words to say to Paul about this.
Today we were up early as we have been invited to the graduation day at the college for the university and college students. Amy and Emily arrived as they are also going, would you believe it the car wouldn’t start so we had to make the trip by gelleh. Once at the college we went to the VSO staff office Anne arrived with Secco her husband. Anne is going to be in the procession which Paul and Amy should also be in but decided to just sit and watch. We took some books from the office to amuse the children and then found some seats quite close to the front. The Chinese, American and British high commissioners were seated close to us. Paul had the pleasure of the British commissioner coming over to chat to him. We then waited and waited the procession of students and teachers finally started and went on and on as they were all seated, well over an hour. Then the president arrived and we all had to stand to attention. The next two hours were taken up by speeches as the new university chairman was enrolled. Amy and Emily decided to make a break for home and thirty minutes later we did the same as Abigail and Bradley were getting bored. It was good to see but it was obvious it was going to go on for a long time, I later found out it was gone 7 o’clock before it finished.
On Thursday after school I had to pop home for a few more clothes I entered then opened the side door for Abigail and Bradley. I noticed fresh sand had been laid in the compound near our door. Paul then arrived with Hadi and Ebrima they finally decided to cement over the area to make it safe. We spent the rest of the day at the Safari Garden pool. The weather was a bit overcast so I had a quick dip in the pool then changed and sat reading. On the evening Courtney decided to do a last minute get together for everyone which solved our issue of cooking. We arrived just before 7 o’clock and were introduced to Rachel’s boyfriend who is over from Australia visiting for a month. We ate a very nice variety of vegetarian dishes as Courtney is vegetarian.
I had managed to sleep much better than last night so we were all up and in the pool for a quick dip before 7 o’clock. We then went for breakfast the sky was overcast and looked like rain. I quickly decided to leave so as to get to work before the rain. Paul would take the children to school and then drop our clothes back at home. As I neared the war cemetery the heavens opened and by the time I had got to the school my skirt was soaking wet even with the use of an umbrella. The rain continued for about two hours and I felt rather chilly having gotten wet. When I picked up the children they said they didn’t get to school until after nine as they waited until it had eased off. On the evening we had arranged for Amy and Emily to baby-sit. Abigail and Bradley were really looking forward to this I decided to make them all a pizza and some popcorn for them to have with a DVD. Paul was very late home as they have been invidulating exams at the college also he had waited for Tom to arrive at Brikama and travelled back with him. Tom will be staying at John’s again until he leaves on Sunday. We finally arrived at the restaurant just before 8 o’clock we had decided to have an Indian meal at the Jewel of India at Senegambia. A couple of hours later we were ready to leave after a lovely lamb and fish curry. Being in the Senegambia area there are more bumsters and it didn’t take long before we received the usual come and look at my shop routine. As we got in our car a guy then came up to us saying he was security for the car park, it was obvious he was trying to get money from us for parking the car. Paul asked him where his ID was to which he replied back in the office, this guy had no uniform on just jeans and football shirt Paul laughed and we drove off. As we left the Senegambia area Paul decided to pullover at one of the tourist police checkpoints. After explaining to the police man he asked us to take him to the car park. The youth was pointed out and eventually after a big discussion with him and his friends he was placed in our car for us to take him and the police man to the office for further questioning. Paul put over his side of the story to the sergeant on the desk which the youth denied it even being him he had since put on a hat to hide his dreadlocks. After an hour and an officer turning up as well as the youth’s boss they were taken into a back room. Twenty minutes later the youth left followed shortly behind by Paul. Paul had dropped the charges and the youth had been reprimanded with the view that they were now watching him. I would say this is the first time I have felt a little unsafe here in The Gambia especially when the youth got in our car behind me even though the police man sat next to him. I had a few choice words to say to Paul about this.
Today we were up early as we have been invited to the graduation day at the college for the university and college students. Amy and Emily arrived as they are also going, would you believe it the car wouldn’t start so we had to make the trip by gelleh. Once at the college we went to the VSO staff office Anne arrived with Secco her husband. Anne is going to be in the procession which Paul and Amy should also be in but decided to just sit and watch. We took some books from the office to amuse the children and then found some seats quite close to the front. The Chinese, American and British high commissioners were seated close to us. Paul had the pleasure of the British commissioner coming over to chat to him. We then waited and waited the procession of students and teachers finally started and went on and on as they were all seated, well over an hour. Then the president arrived and we all had to stand to attention. The next two hours were taken up by speeches as the new university chairman was enrolled. Amy and Emily decided to make a break for home and thirty minutes later we did the same as Abigail and Bradley were getting bored. It was good to see but it was obvious it was going to go on for a long time, I later found out it was gone 7 o’clock before it finished.
British High Commisioner
Anne
Mr Touray (Diana Mariam)
President Ya Ya Jammeh
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