Weekending, 25th September 2010

Teo's Birthday Party

On Sunday we were invited to Teo’s 7th birthday party at Cape Point Beach. Jenny had asked us to meet at the house and then we would walk round to the beach. We arrived at the house just after 2 o’clock and Paul helped Jenny load up the car as Mick is still in the UK and will be arriving back tomorrow. We gave Teo his present which was a large water blaster he was pleased and went off to fill it up with water to give it a try. It had three nozzles so we all got caught with some of the water. Whilst Jenny drove around in the car to the beach we set off walking with Teo, Mia and a few Gambian kids who had turned up. We helped unload the car and found a spot under one of the beach umbrellas. As we were getting the barbeque lit one of the staff from Calypso said we would have to move as the umbrellas were for customers only. It was a bit annoying as there were no customers as it was out of season and Jenny remarked about all the money she usually spends in Calypso’s. We moved further along the beach and the barbeque was lit. A few more children turned up then Mick and Jenny’s boss Peter and finally a young lad called Daniel who is helping them with their project. The Gambian children stripped off to go in the sea whilst Abigail, Bradley, Teo and Mia started to build a giant sandcastle. Jenny handed out some beers and then set about putting beef sausages on the barbeque for the Gambians and then pork for the rest. I helped making hotdog sandwich’s once they were cooked and handed them around with the ketchup and salad. This was followed by watermelon, popcorn and peanut brittle. After lunch we decided to all go for a dip in the sea with the Gambian children. They ended up hanging off us and splashing water at us, one little girl called Fenda at one point was going a bit too far in and Jenny had to rescue her. We then went back up for some birthday cake. Jenny put the candles on and tried to light it in our tent which we had brought. This would have been okay however all the Gambian kids decided to push there way in as they wanted to blow the candles out themselves. We eventually got them back out to the entrance so Teo could blow his candles out. We ate the cake and chatted for a while before packing everything back in the car as it was now nearly 7 o’clock. We set off walking back to Jenny’s were we unpacked the car and then she took us home.

Mia & Teo

Fenda Complete With Juju Around Her Waist

Jenny Dishing Out Watermelon

Water, Water Everywhere

On Monday I had my worst day ever, on entering year one class the floor was covered in food the children had had their break in the classroom due to it raining outside. We then had to wait for the cleaner to sweep up all the rubbish so sent the children outside as it had now stopped raining. This resulted in the lesson starting fifteen minutes late, we eventually got the children back into the classroom and Aunty Ken started the lesson. The children were still hyper and Aunty Ken was having trouble controlling them I was glad when it was 1 o’clock and I could go home however on entering the house I was in for a nasty shock. As I opened the door I could hear running water, on investigating I found the kitchen tap turned on with the plug still in, water had spilled out over the sink and onto the floor. This wouldn’t have been so bad only it had been running all morning so the water was nearly up to the second step and my knees. I could have cried I’d had such a bad day at school so this just topped it off. I quickly got into the water, sod my trousers and started to bail out the water with a bucket into the sink. Paul arrived with Bradley to the shock that it was him who had left the tap running he quickly started to help out. Two hours later after sorting through food which had also been damaged we left the room and cupboards to dry out.

Naming Ceremony

On Wednesday when I arrived home from school the compound was full of people as Aunty Lucy is having a naming ceremony for her nephews baby. At the back of the compound women were busy preparing the food in huge pots and over open fires of lighted wood. I asked if I could take some photos of the cooking and they showed me what they were making, benechin, yassa, dumplings and rice pudding. They all had there own jobs to do one was stirring the benechin with the biggest wooden spoon I’ve ever seen about the size of a boat oar. Another was taking the chicken out of a pan with a holed ladle the size of a dinner plate. I took some photos and then went for Abigail and Bradley. When we got back I sat on Lynn’s porch chatting to Tessa as she has had to come down from Bassa to do her resident permit. Whilst sat there Paul arrived home followed by Lynn. We sat discussing work as Lynn is finding it hard to find things to do at work. We had a good laugh as she explained what it is like in her office and how she keeps asking for a little project to do. Whilst sat there Abigail and Bradley were busy playing with a couple of children who were with the naming ceremony guests, and Tessa had a little girl who joined us and decided to sit on her knee. Aunty Lucy then sent one of the women over with bags of doughnuts and a bowls of benechin for us all, the benechin was gorgeous although I have the recipe it never tastes the same.

Adding Abergines To The Benechin

Taking The Chicken Yassa Out Of The Pot

Saturday was cleaning day and it proved to be a very hot and sweaty day. After lunch we decided to have a couple of hours on the beach. The water was lovely and the children played with their body boards in the surf. We were back home for 6 o’clock and ready for our dinner of pizza, salad followed by the yummiest water melon as they are now in season. The mango season has been a bit disappointing this year as when we have cut into them they have been bad so we have given up buying them or picking them from the tree.