"Genie"

Tony and Ester, his lovely wife, came to visit us the other evening. She does not speak English, so it is difficult communicating with her. I asked Tony about the "pink chicken" we had seen at the market, and he told me they do paint them to "stop the hawks" from taking them. (Sorry Porkles.) We offered them juice or diet coke and they both chose cans of diet coke. Porky offered to open Esters for her and she said "No", she was taking it home for Paul. So I said, "and Cynthia". Little Paul definitely runs the roost at home and Cynthia takes second place but that is the way in most African countries.
                                                                 
                                                                    Ester, Tony's wife.

We really battle to obtain any sugarless drinks or healthy ingredients. We can buy normal coke and white flour, white rice, white bread, white pasta etc., but there is a shortage of "brown" of anything (ironically) and I really, really miss that!  

The local ladies are encouraged to run the home and fetch the wood and water etc., but the men, when they are not farming, sit or lie under the mango trees and socialise. So I think it is surprising for them to see me with Porks doing things together.

Unexpectedly, the pub man, Sarkwa, had told Porks the day before we went for goat to "Bring your wife next time you come." Wives are not often included in men's activities.

 We popped in to say hi to Tony on Sunday evening. He calls me "Shari", a combination between "Sharon", how I am introduced and "Shannie", what Porks calls me. We had bought him some bread in Atebubu in the morning. He gave us some Cashew "apple". Strange tasting. The skin was a little bitter and the inside was quite tough.

It has many nutrients and 5 times more Vitamin C than an orange, so I am going to force myself to eat it.

Apparently the shell of the cashew is toxic and that is why one only finds shelled cashew nuts in the shops.




                                                                     The cashew nut is attached to the bottom of the fruit!

(We hadn't been offered anything to drink, so as we were leaving on the quad-bike, I leaned forward and whispered in Porks' ear...."Lets ask for some milk and then we can take it home to Gundi.")

We had a lovely storm on Monday just after midnight. The first rains since I have been here. (There were storms when I got here and we could hear the thunder but we didn't get any rain.) The pelting rain on the tin roof was music to my ears!




I had to get up and open the windows and curtains as the electricity went off but at least this time there was a cool breeze.

Gundi and I stayed awake for a while. (Porks can usually sleep through anything but I am a very light sleeper.) He kept pushing his head up high, lifting his nose up and smelling the air, (Gundi, not Porks) so I took him to the window to watch the storm, just like my dad used to do with me! This rain smelled of hot wet dust and not wet grass, a scent that I dearly miss! Porks estimated that we had about 20mls at home, but they only had 5mls at the office where they need moisture so badly.

Well, since Monday night we have had a storm every night. On Tuesday the rains came early, so we were without electricity from about 5.30pm. We switched on the generator and had a "cold" shower then went to bed at about 8.30pm. Still having no electricity, we had to sleep with the windows open again but this time there was no breeze. At 12.30pm the drumming started. Then what sounded like metal spoons against tin lids joined in. Then rhythmical singing was added. As more and more people arrived and joined in, the sound got louder and louder. It was coming from across the road from us. It did not "Peter out" or "Fay'd away" until 7.30am! We found out that someone from that house had died that day and it is their tribes' custom to play music all night.

On Wednesday night, gusting (Really gusting, Melissa!) winds started that whistled through the closed louvres and still the dust managed to swirl in. Gundi hated the noise and tried frantically to get under the sheets but also tried to be with me! Porks switched on the generator and went to shower. I saw that the electricity had come back on, so went outside in the warm rain to switch the generator off. After I got back, the lights went off again, so I had to go outside and re-start the motor. Another night with no electricity. With no air-con, Gundi lying near me is just like a hot water bottle (and a bottle of bovril! Ha Ha!)

Last night......... again! Lights went off at 6pm. We went to bed at about 9pm, I was reading (luckily my Ipad has its own light) and the electricity came on again. So I got up, closed all the windows and curtains and switched the air-con on again. I got into bed, read and fell asleep and the electricity went off again. Up again, windows and curtains open, and back to bed. Some people in the middle of the night arrived in the road, hooted and hooted and then off-loaded some huge pieces of metal, banging and shouting for ages!

We don't hear much noise from outside if the air-conditioner is working.

When the rain abated (Is that right Em?) and I lay quietly, I realised that the white noise of the air conditioner is to silence the black noise heard from outside!

If the electricity goes off after 10pm, we know that it is off for the night and will only be switched on again at about 6am.

There has also been a shortage of petrol. Although Porks is extremely organised and we mostly have spare fuel for the generator, we cannot easily acquire more. Often Atebubu and Kwame Danso run out so we have to wait until they obtain refills. The petrol price has also gone up, so it has been difficult to justify the use of the generator for lighting, to keep cool, use my computer and to watch television.

Two little bibinis arrived at the house on Monday with a baby Genet. I was in two minds what to do as they wanted to sell it. If we had bought it, we would be responsible for the little critter until we leave but if we didn't take it, they would kill it, so what to do? Porks said, lets try and if it dies, it dies.



 So, heeeeeeeres ...arms spread wide, one up one down... ta daaaaaaaa, "Genie"!  (not you this time Sez!) ( Andrew named my new baby!)

Gundi meeting Genie for the first time. She is
interested and then nips at her ears and tail, wanting to play.

I am still getting to know this little creature, so I haven't much to tell you yet. She (?) is nocturnal but as she is still very young she sleeps most of the day and night. She is eating tiny bits of raw chicken. I have had to feed her milk and egg with an eye drop bottle but she is starting to try and lap up milk on her own.

I asked Porks to "trim" my hair, showing him 2 cms between my thumb and index finger. "Sure" he said..............cutting off 6 cms!!!  (Proving the joke about men and measurements!) HE is the one that likes me with long hair, so he is never again allowed to tell me when I come back from the hairdresser, "Your hair is too short!"

 

You are still my favourite, Gunds!

 

In three weeks time I will be on my way to Accra to fly home! Porks has chosen to go in July with me but I have a few commitments in April, so I am going alone this time. No count-down worm for me.....the last time was too traumatic so I am writing this very furtively!