Our Gambian Adventure: BeeCause Charity Event

Over the course of the night Bradley had developed a bad cough and was feeling under the weather so a trip to Africmed was called for where he was given amoxicillin for a chest infection yet again. On Wednesday Lynn invited me out to dinner as she had a couple of friends over staying at the Sherraton Hotel. Alison had met up with a past Gambian boyfriend and had gone off to meet his family. Lynn, Sally and myself went off to The Blue Kitchen where we had a girly evening chatting over a nice meal whilst Paul and the children watched a DVD and ate pizza and popcorn which I had made them before leaving. Bradley having finished his course of amoxicillin seemed all fit and well however on the Friday I received a phone call from the school to say he was unwell. I left school early to pick him up and as soon as we arrived back home he started to be sick. Over the course of the afternoon he developed a headache and a temperature. On the Saturday morning he seemed okay so we thought it must have been a tummy bug, but by midday he was ill again so we decided another trip to Africmed was required this time he was given coartum for suspected malaria. Today was also the big charity event for Beecause at Mick and Jenny’s. We had planned to stay overnight in the tent and I had been busy baking a selection of cakes for them to sell at the event, carrot cake, lemon cake and flapjacks. Due to Bradley’s illness Paul stayed at home whilst Abigail and I made our way to Lamin. Mick was waiting with Mea to take us the rest of the way to their house. What a difference they have made since we were last there, they have now moved into the house on the top of the hill. They have also been busy all week erecting flags, hung from these were kerosene lamps for lighting. Everything was well organised down to a makeshift bar area, table and chairs, raffle tickets for drink and food purchases, guess how many bees in the jar and a tug of war game. Jenny was also selling her honey, peanut brittle and homemade soap and candles which were made from the bees wax. Abigail quickly went off to play with Teo following behind was Mia you can tell she loves having a big sister to play with. I sat chatting to Lucy, Max and Pete who were the only ones to have arrived. Over the next hour quite a lot of Peace Corp turned up, David who works with Mick and Jenny is a Peace Corp volunteer. Once all the volunteers and friends had arrived there were possibly sixty people in total so quite a good turn out. The beer, soft drinks and food were selling well including my cakes which I was pleased about. At around 8 o’clock we all made our way up to the bantabar area, Max, Jane and Dean were going to entertain us with some music and singing. Dean who is Gambian has lived in the UK for the last thirty years and was in the music industry but never really got that big break. He was singing along with Jane whilst Max played guitar and Brendon a Peace Corp volunteer helped with the drums, he is out here doing a Arts and Culture programme. Jane was an amazing jazz singer and Dean sang a couple of songs by Coldplay, David Bowie and a rap songs. Then we had a jamming session where we all joined in singing songs by the Eagles, Beatles, Animal’s etc. We were all enjoying singing along and it was announced a couple of times that we were to get into teams of four to have a game of tug of war. Reluctantly we made up teams of two boys and two girls. Myself, Lucy, Dean and Tom made up a team, we were the first to have a go with Dean as the back anchor man. We had a good rhythm going so won the first game however the rope was too thin so it was burning as we tried to pull and grip it. We then had to play against the winners from each group. Eventually we were in the final against Bernie’s team and although hard we did manage to come out as overall winners dragging Bernie across the floor which must of hurt Ow! It was getting very late but Abigail was still going strong, we were getting a lift home with Lynn so at 11 o’clock we left leaving the party still in full swing it didn’t end until 2 o’clock in the morning with a few volunteers staying over. Lynn had to drop Sally off first at the Sheraton which was in the wrong direction hence we didn’t arrive home until gone 12 o’clock, Abigail had already fallen a sleep in the car however she was soon settled down in bed. Bradley was settled in bed however Paul said he had been very restless all night.