16 February 2017
Wednesday 15 February - Banking & Banjul
On going out to the minivan I was delighted to see that Mr
Happy from the Atlantic Hotel had come to Sand Beach to bring his son's
letter form in person - it was so nice to see him.
Our first stop today was a much needed visit to the bank,
as we have managed to get through quite a lot of dalasis during the past
few days and were down to our last small pack of scruffy fifties by the
end of yesterday. Back to the hotel as I did not want to travel around
with so much cash in the car...
Then to Banjul and Unity Nursery to check on progress
there. They are doing very well but the head teacher has told the
contractors to come back and make a better job of the plastering, as she
was not happy with how they had prepared the surfaces. She may only be
a small lady but she certainly gets things done how she wants them!
She suggested that we should return next Tuesday or Wednesday to see the
"job done properly".
We were then invited to visit one of my very first
sponsored students, who is now a junior Inspector in the Gambian Police,
having gone into the force on an accelerated promotion scheme. He is
currently working at Police HQ in Banjul and took me and Yankuba up to
see his office - we felt very honoured.
Next to Albert Market for more Gift Token items: 47 large
mosquito nets, a cooking pot and two big serving bowls and eight
strong buckets (for carrying water in the gardens) were bought there
with ethical gift money and this was followed by some garden tools,
bought at some of the hardware shops in Kanifing. The tools bought to
date are rakes and some rather fearsome 'cutlasses' for cutting down
grasses. Wandifa et al were going to buy some hoes on their way home
through Serrekunda and then all the tools will be grouped with the
buckets into sets and given to some ladies' gardening groups.
A couple of visits to students, then back to the hotel.
Not very many forms to sort through today as some had been left at home
by mistake, so we will have a double whammy to do tomorrow....
Miriam and Richard's last evening, so we went out to dinner
at the very good Lebanese restaurant quite near to the hotel. Linda
came too and we had a very nice meal, enjoyed by all.
Thursday 16 February - Changeover
Today Miriam and Richard departed on the same
plane that brought Kathy and Andrew out. Not much else to report from
today... and I am now handing over to Andrew as far as blogging is
concerned. He has a very swish new camera, so you should get some good
photos.
