Brufut Marathon

This morning Paul has entered the Brufut marathon which was starting from the traffic lights. walked over to check out the timings of the race and pay his entry fee he returned with a t-shirt with his entry number written on in black marker pen. Just before 9.30am Paul left to join the other runners at the traffic lights, myself and the children set of walking towards the golf course and headed through the farmers fields only to be met by three little piglets trotting along the path when they saw us they made a slight detour and then continued on their way. We continued on passing the ghetto and then saw one of the palm wine tapers up a tree I did manage to discreetly get a photo as they don’t like you taking their photo. We exited the fields onto the main Senegambia highway as we thought this would be the best place to see the race. After waiting a while we decided to start walking towards the traffic lights as we could see Paul walking towards us, he said the bikers were to start first. At 10.00am the bikers started with a police motor bike escort. We waited and waited eventually word came that they had set of the women runners who were starting further on down the course and the men would have to wait for the ambulance to return. When 11.00am came and went the runners were getting very annoyed and surrounding the organisers car, I decided to leave at this point as I was making sausage rolls for tonight’s party and Abigail wanted to put up the Christmas tree which Jackie had borrowed us. Paul then turned up shortly after us he and some others had asked for a refund. Paul was later told by a guy that he had seen him on Gambian television as they had highlighted the race and disagreements

Volunteer Christmas Party

Due to the car being off the road we walked onto the main Kariba Avenue planning to get a taxi to the party, the road was at a stand still as the president was travelling, also the baton was on route to Senegambia. We decided to wait to see the president and baton, chatting to one of the runners at the traffic lights where he was waiting to take over the baton, he is back here from England where he is currently studying. After a twenty minute wait we decided to continue our journey as we will be able to see the president another day and the baton had been stopped on route due to this. When we arrived at Sukey’s we were handed some mulled wine and a mince pie, the decorations which the children had helped to put up were very festive including the nativity scene which they had drawn and stood up. Abigail then changed as she had been given a green Christmas tree dress by Sukey which belonged to one of the volunteers which I had managed to alter so it fit better. There was the usual crowd of volunteers including some of the VSO office staff and from the UK the VSO country director who put in an appearance. We ate a lovely buffet of chicken Albodo which is a Philipino dish, benechin, lamb curry, coleslaw, grilled chicken and fish, potato salad, pasta, rice and sausage rolls and drank the usual Julbrew. Then we had a special visit from Santa Clause Abigail and Bradley were very excited as he was reading their letter which they had sent to him, eventually when we were all gathered around Santa he gave out the secret Santa presents. Bradley was very pleased to receive a football Abigail some wobbly rulers and stencil kit, myself I was given a fabric bag which had been made and Paul a can of Becks lager. After a stiff Whisky Santa went to tend his Reindeer and we next sang some Christmas carols accompanied by Max on guitar and Nap on the drums. When we sang the twelve days of Christmas Angela gave us the Australian version which was very funny, Kangaroos, Plata pusses and Wombats spring to mind. By this time Bradley was very tired so I laid him down on Sukey’s bed to sleep. Next was a quiz which was in three parts, music, general and picture clues we all split up into teams and the best team name would receive extra points. Paul’s team Tampon won best name as an anagram made up of their team initials. After the quiz we shared out the Christmas cake which Georgia’s friend had brought out from Marks & Sparks and drank some egg nog which was made by Canadian Courtney and tasted gorgeous. With the night coming to a close and all of us having enjoyed ourselves including Abigail who was still jumping around we woke up Bradley to go home as it was now 11.00pm.

Secret Santa

Santas little helpers

Sukey & Santa

Max & John