On the Sunday we had a pleasant lie in. We finally got up and Paul set about washing some clothes and sheets whilst I started making pancakes, this has become a bit of a weekend treat for us. We then walked to Kariba shopping centre at Palma Rima for a bit of shopping before returning for lunch. On the afternoon Paul decided to check out the tent which Sukey and Greg had passed onto us. The tent was quite large and we were all able to fit in as long as Abigail laid at our feet. Abigail and Bradley spent the rest of the afternoon playing in it. On the evening they then asked if they could sleep outside in the tent, I was a bit reluctant however I finally agreed making sure we left the door open for them. Abigail slept on Paul’s Mattress whilst Bradley slept on the cushions off the chair, along with pillows and a blanket it was quite cosy. We sprayed some fly killer in the tent and then settled them down. Within an hour all went quiet I was expecting them to come in around 10 o’clock. I finally took myself off to bed and spent a night waking up and listening every couple of hours. Paul checked on them before he turned in and all was quiet. At around 3 o’clock in the morning I heard Abigail at the front door. When I opened the door here they were with lantern in hand, Abigail was remarking how beautiful the stars were and gazing up at the sky. They quickly climbed into bed and fell a sleep. The next morning they said they weren’t frightened however Bradley had remarked that a scorpion was scratching the tent.
This week is the Tobaski Muslim holidays I am off all week however Paul and the kids are off only Tuesday and Wednesday. We had arranged with Mick and Jenny to have our own Tobaski celebration to avoid having to spend a boring day in someone else’s compound. We were going to their compound at Lamin as they have recently moved in. We weren’t sure if we would have trouble getting taxis so Mick was on standby just in case, however it proved no problem. Once we were dropped off at Lamin we walked down one of the sand tracks and headed in the direction of Lamin Lodge. We then new we had to turn right so started walking down another track none of which looked familiar. Finally defeated Paul asked a young boy if he new Toubab’s Mick and Jenny, he did and gave us directions. We had to cross a football pitch, then someone’s compound and then down a hill. We new we were close when we spotted some bee hives within a wooded area. We continued on a path through what we later found out was the women’s gardens. Finally we arrived at their compound complete with traditional hut houses three of which have the thatched roofs completed. The shower, toilet and second storage room are still to complete. On the right as you went in was an open kitchen area the hut on the left is used as storage and straight a head is an impressive hut which they are using as a bedroom. Inside there were steps up to a loft area where Mick and Jenny sleep in a double bed with Teo and Mia sleeping downstairs. The toilet is a hole in the ground toilet with cesspit, it would take me some getting used to having to squat all the time. We unloaded the cake and wine which we had brought and then had a tour of the grounds. Ten years ago the area was used for holiday lodges however most of it is now ruins or just disappeared. In one of the ruins Jenny has made it into a chicken and duck coupe, there were a couple of eggs which the chickens had laid waiting to be collected. We then went to an area which they call the big tree here they have some of their hives suspended in the air. From here we could look right across the river to Banjul, what a view. We then looked in a circular roofed structure which they are hoping to refurbish into their own living quarters at some point. The ceiling of which had tiny coloured glass lights very pretty with the sun reflecting through it. We made our way back so Mick could check on the meat. They were roasting a couple of pork legs in an underground oven, very impressive set up. An oil drum was dug into the ground and then poles suspended so there were three levels to suspend trays on. Mick took the lid off and checked on the meat it looked and smelt very good. The potatoes were placed in first so they could roast up, then the meat and finally the vegetables before recovering. We then opened up one of the bottles of wine which we had brought and chatted whilst the children played. Danny and his girlfriend Jenny who is out here visiting arrived at around 2 o’clock then one of Mick’s Gambian workers who had completed the thatch to the roof of the huts arrived. Lunch was finally ready at around 3 o’clock the meat had been in since 10 o’clock that morning. It was well worth waiting for even the pork skin had crisped up nicely, Albeno tucked in with relish he is a Christian so no problems eating pork. We had a lovely day and at around 7 o’clock Mick dropped us off on the main road where we quickly managed to get a taxi to take us all the way to the traffic lights. The roads were busy with Gambian children dressed in their finest clothes for the Tobaski celebrations.
This week is the Tobaski Muslim holidays I am off all week however Paul and the kids are off only Tuesday and Wednesday. We had arranged with Mick and Jenny to have our own Tobaski celebration to avoid having to spend a boring day in someone else’s compound. We were going to their compound at Lamin as they have recently moved in. We weren’t sure if we would have trouble getting taxis so Mick was on standby just in case, however it proved no problem. Once we were dropped off at Lamin we walked down one of the sand tracks and headed in the direction of Lamin Lodge. We then new we had to turn right so started walking down another track none of which looked familiar. Finally defeated Paul asked a young boy if he new Toubab’s Mick and Jenny, he did and gave us directions. We had to cross a football pitch, then someone’s compound and then down a hill. We new we were close when we spotted some bee hives within a wooded area. We continued on a path through what we later found out was the women’s gardens. Finally we arrived at their compound complete with traditional hut houses three of which have the thatched roofs completed. The shower, toilet and second storage room are still to complete. On the right as you went in was an open kitchen area the hut on the left is used as storage and straight a head is an impressive hut which they are using as a bedroom. Inside there were steps up to a loft area where Mick and Jenny sleep in a double bed with Teo and Mia sleeping downstairs. The toilet is a hole in the ground toilet with cesspit, it would take me some getting used to having to squat all the time. We unloaded the cake and wine which we had brought and then had a tour of the grounds. Ten years ago the area was used for holiday lodges however most of it is now ruins or just disappeared. In one of the ruins Jenny has made it into a chicken and duck coupe, there were a couple of eggs which the chickens had laid waiting to be collected. We then went to an area which they call the big tree here they have some of their hives suspended in the air. From here we could look right across the river to Banjul, what a view. We then looked in a circular roofed structure which they are hoping to refurbish into their own living quarters at some point. The ceiling of which had tiny coloured glass lights very pretty with the sun reflecting through it. We made our way back so Mick could check on the meat. They were roasting a couple of pork legs in an underground oven, very impressive set up. An oil drum was dug into the ground and then poles suspended so there were three levels to suspend trays on. Mick took the lid off and checked on the meat it looked and smelt very good. The potatoes were placed in first so they could roast up, then the meat and finally the vegetables before recovering. We then opened up one of the bottles of wine which we had brought and chatted whilst the children played. Danny and his girlfriend Jenny who is out here visiting arrived at around 2 o’clock then one of Mick’s Gambian workers who had completed the thatch to the roof of the huts arrived. Lunch was finally ready at around 3 o’clock the meat had been in since 10 o’clock that morning. It was well worth waiting for even the pork skin had crisped up nicely, Albeno tucked in with relish he is a Christian so no problems eating pork. We had a lovely day and at around 7 o’clock Mick dropped us off on the main road where we quickly managed to get a taxi to take us all the way to the traffic lights. The roads were busy with Gambian children dressed in their finest clothes for the Tobaski celebrations.
Kitchen and Storage Hut
Bedroom
Paul Wathcing over the Pork
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