Travelling to Ghana

On my last night in South Africa, Roger and Melissa came round to say goodbye and to have fish again, yay! My last chance to take in succulent, meaty and delicious fresh food.  Roger's surname is Mann, so we were having fun with what he could call his children one day.  If they were boys they could be called, "Wadda" "Heeda" "Yoouda" or "Iymda".  If they were girls, their names could be "Needa", "Wanna", "Getta" or "Fynda".  Hysterically funny for us!

 

Saying goodbye to my girls and Kelly was difficult - we were all so sad!  The light at the end of the tunnel, though, was that Porks, Gundi and Genie were waiting for me on the other side and I was ready to go back.

 

 

Bye bye my darling girls.



I woke up on Tuesday morning at 4am terribly sore where my wisdom tooth had been pulled out, so on the way to the airport I phoned the dentist and he gave instructions to the chemist at the airport to give me a prescription for anti-biotics, mouth wash and pain killers.  We were flying at 9.50am and only had an hour and three quarters stop-over in Johannesburg, so this was my last chance to get assistance.  Thank goodness he and I have a great working relationship!  The two other South Africans flying with me turned out to be three and one of them handed in a second suitcase of mine as their luggage.  This time we insisted that they place a "priority loading" sticker on them!

                                                                 
Our last view of Durban. I had a window seat and an empty seat next to me but also a very helpful young guy on the isle who had a wonderful sense of humour.  We didn't chat too much so didn't feel I could be invasive, take a photo of him and put him on my blog.

 

 

We arrived in Johannesburg and Deon, Harold and Hans were waiting for me and looked after me, carrying my hand luggage until we had to board the flight to Accra.

Flying over Botswana, Mr and Mrs Orford and family!

I managed to get seat 55 K again, window seat in the front, and Derick Koekemoer was seated next to me.  He was flying to Accra to see if he could set up a Spur there as well as one in Lagos.  What a lovely sense of humour he had.  I told him about Wesley and his eksent and the sarks and he had to "one up" me. 
There was this Wesley-like chap riding a bicycle behind a very large man on his own bicycle. The guy behind shouted at him...."Hey jay, daar's `n fiets wat uit you gat uitsteek!" (npf)

                                                                                                                                                                   

So I told him one that we had heard.  A similar man was walking along the pier and noticed a man sticking his head out of a porthole of the ship. "Hey jay. Jay met die skip om jou neck!" (Well, we both thought they were funny and love the fact that this country is made up of so many colourful races!)
He continued to tell me amusing stories of his daughters, Kayleigh and Tyler who have taken on the saying "Oooo  e e" (with upside down v's on the e's) from the advert and eating food with their hands because of their new found friends as well as his Travolta-like showing off knee slides up to his wife Bridget on the dance floor and pulling his muscles (so it fell terribly flat!) 
One had to be there to hear his descriptions and see his facial expressions to really appreciate the humour. I was wiping my laughter tears away!
He suggested that one of Roger's sons names could be "Beer". Get it? 
If you are reading this, thanks Derick for making the 6 hours to Accra fun and light-hearted!


                                                       Our first sighting of Accra.

We arrived in Accra on Tuesday evening, had a quick freshen up at the hotel and then the guys and I went to another hotel for supper. We had an early start on Wednesday morning for the flight to Kumasi.  The men were told that they had a meeting in Kumasi first, before driving to Bantama, so my special driver, John and I took the trip home on our own.

I arrived home and a beautiful Orchid was waiting for me!  Porks, Gundi and Genie all remembered who I was and welcomed me with open arms, paws and gentle mewing sounds!!!

I opened the parcel that had arrived on Sunday (that should have been here in February) and there were some surprise "love gifts" from Pips and Hazel. Thank you my special friends.  I'm sorry they took such a long time to get here but you know how much they mean to me!

I started unpacking my suitcases and by the time the three guys arrived for supper after their meeting, I could hardly walk!  The "pulled muscle" that I got in South Africa was just on hold.  Whenever I arrive in Ghana, it just reminds me not to take my health for granted. Remember the last time?
Fortunately Porks had got Sarah to cook supper for the five of us so I didn't have to stand and cook.  We had some good bantering and some satisfying and supportive discussions and I hobbled to bed.

Thursday I just lay around, not eating or drinking and just wanting to keep still and sleep. I limped around the house when I had to, hunched over, holding my back and with shooting pains down my left leg right down to my knee. Agony!  If it would have helped to cry, I would have and very nearly did!

On Friday morning, Porks drove to Kwame Danso "hospital" to try and get a voltaren injection for me but no luck.  So he arranged for me to see a doctor in Kumasi.  We left at 8am, got there at 12 noon, left at 5pm and got home at 9pm.  It turns out it is a slipped disk and the doctor wanted to admit me to hospital for two weeks bed rest, lying flat on my back as well as physiotherapy!  No way Jose`, or anyone else for that matter!!!

We have placed a bed in the lounge so that I can watch TV and get to my computer and cell phone if I need to, when there is signal.  I have my ipad, (Mike and Von are life savers!) books from friends, water and medication and my Gunds and Genie to keep me company while Porks is at work.  I find it very difficult to ask for help and would much rather do things for myself, so this is going to be a challenge for me (and for Porks who doesn't enjoy nursing too much!)  If this doesn't work, I'll have to fly home and get the rest that is required for healing in hospital there.

Theresa, on Thursday, went home for lunch and came back with some "deep heat" smelling ointment for me to rub on my back as she had seen that I was battling to walk.  John, our driver, who offered his arm and shoulder as a crutch walking to, through and from the hospital has visited our home twice already today to see how I am doing. Another Ghanaian driver, Isaac, with whom I get on well, asked Porks every few days while I was away how I was.  He, too, has phoned Porks twice today to find out my progress and has come to see how I am. How can one not love these people?

I am presuming that this will be my last posting for a while as I am not going anywhere or doing anything! Unless of course you want to know exactly when I take my medication, which TV program I am watching or what Porks is making me for breakfast, lunch or supper?!

Home in South Africa

I forgot to tell you that on the flight home from Accra to Johannesburg, Wesley, the flight attendant with a very strong Cape accent was chatting to us. I asked him where he was from and he replied "Cayp Town".  I said. "How did I know that?"  He replied, "Because of my eksent."  So I said, "So you must support the Stormers then?"  He replied, "Nay, the Sarks!"

I love my country!
(So please think of me whenever the "Sarks" are competing!)

I have done Sandiswe's homework!  I asked Joyce what his name means and she tried to explain that it meant something like "extended" or "extra".  So Anele was born and he was named "Enough" (obviously enough children) and then the mom had another baby and called him Sandiswe, having not expected another child.

My Joyce is one of the most special people in my life and it was wonderful to catch up when she came to work on Monday morning!

Kelly and I went to visit my mother-in-law on Sunday.  She knew who I was but didn't ask me why I hadn't been to visit her.  I think "time" is confusing to her now.  She told the nurse that "these two belong to me, one is blood and one is borrowed!"

She squeezed our hands so hard, so we had an arm wrestling challenge as we couldn't believe how strong she was! She was so proud of herself!
                                                   
Her feet were a little swollen and when we left, we had told her to lie with her legs elevated and to make circles with her ankles. I peeped through the crack of the door and she was being very obedient! It distracted her from the fact that we were leaving and she didn't seem too sad this time.

On Monday I did a little shopping, went to the dentist and helped Joyce with a little cooking for the wedding next Saturday.  We were supposed to go to Roger's (Kelly's boyfriend) house for mealies but we all ended up at the Nicholson's.  Melissa had arrived from Australia and Emma from Botswana.  So we had Roger's delicious mealies as a starter with some 13 year old wine and a chicken dish as a main meal.  It was lovely to catch up with the Nicholson girls again although we were sad that Sarah (the youngest daughter) hadn't arrived yet.

I had some things to buy for Porks on Tuesday morning then went for a long, lazy, fun and chatterful afternoon with the new lucky granny Jenni Marwick, my kind, honest, master chef, eloquent and generous friend from Richmond.  (The blanket I knitted was for her daughter Bonnie and son-in-law Grant, who have since had a gorgeous little girl, Grace.)

After a wedding "meeting" at the Nicholson's in the early evening, we came home where Roger and Kell cooked supper and we all had a much needed fairly early night.


                                      
I went to lunch with Robbie MacGillivray on Wednesday. Robbie is my friend of 26 years.  She was the one who nurtured me to grow my wings to enable me to fly! and still does. (She hails from Rhodesia.)  She knows everything about me and loves me anyway!

 

Shan, Kerry Brown (a gentle, amiable and lovely but newish friend who it feels like I've known forever!) and Bridgette English, another caring, kind, generous and thoughtful friend from Richmond.  There must be something in the water there!

 I just had to meet up with Sean MacKenzie (Gundi's real dad) to show him videos on my ipad of Gundi calling me, playing with Genie and climbing up his ladder.

Roger cooked his fresh mealies and a delicious chicken dish at his house for Kell and me.  He is part owner of Gromor as well as selling seeds for "Seed Co".  I am hoping to take some of his seeds back to Tony in Bantama for him to plant on his "farm."  I have pictures of the mealie fields where Roger's seeds have been planted and they are 3 and a half metres tall!  If the seeds enjoy the soil there, I am sure the mealies and South Africa will be a huge hit!

 

Brian and Lyn Dales, Charleen Hulley and Hazel Hosking came to visit me on Friday morning but we were talking so much that I forgot to take some photographs.  So I have added in some from the past.

Brian Dales my special "g w a p", always positive, happy and concerned friend (AND one of the very few men in my life that seems to understand women!) at our farewell at our exceptionally accommodating friends Jenni and Craig Marwick's house before we left in November.

 

Charleen Hulley, Lyn Dales and Hazel Hosking (another ex Rhodie) at a Variety Show in Richmond a few years ago.   All these beautiful ladies are special, kind, supportive and loving friends for whom I am so grateful!

On Friday night we went out with the whole Nicholson clan for Melissa's birthday and to welcome home Sarah (from Johannesburg) and Angelika (Rohan's mother) from Botswana.
 
 Kelly and Melissa - "sisters" only 4 days apart and friends for 23 years.  (Where are you Brad?)


Shan and Pippa Nicholson my quiet, solid, humble and reliable, supportive sister-friend. (Another ex Rhodie - all these Rhodesian girls are so special (as are the men that I know from Rhodesia) that I am tempted to claim to be from there myself!)
                 
  

                   Rohan ("Orf") Orford and Emma Nicholson, the groom and bride-to-be.

  

Sarah and her daddy Bev Nicholson, a man of solid character and unwavering honesty.  He is an undemanding and supportive husband and a devoted father to his three beloved girls.

                                                              Roger and Kelly        

Angelika Orford and her son, Rohan.  She had flown down for the weekend from Botswana just to be with her daughter-in-law for her kitchen tea!  How special is that?

                                                                           

Saturday morning was Emma's kitchen tea.   Emma in the middle with her Mother and Mother-in-law to be.  Melissa and Sarah (her two sisters) had done a fantastic job of a beautiful recipe book made up of all the guests' special recipes as well as food, decorations and party favours of "buttons and owls", Emma's favourite things, besides Orf and Mabel their precious little black puppy.

 

I popped in to visit my m.i.l. on Saturday afternoon and she was complaining about sore toes and feet.  I told the nurse and she promised to get the podiatrist to come and see Mom.  I also asked the Zulu nurses who sit with the elderly in the lounge to make sure that Mom's feet are raised when she sits in the chair but didn't hold up much hope for their success.  Mom has been moved to bedroom number 2, closer to the lounge as firstly she left the basin tap running and soaked the carpet and secondly it is closer to the lounge and she hasn't got that far to walk.  She is really getting old and battles to complete her sentences as her speech is slower than her thoughts.
                                                                  

I spent Saturday night with the MacGillivrays as Kelly had a prior commitment and I didn't want to waste the opportunity to catch up on one of my oldest (time-wise not age) friend's company.

Robs and I went for a walk with her dogs on their beautiful farm "Gartmore" in the Karkloof on Saturday afternoon.

 

    Robbie, with her dogs, on her hill of solace and reflection.

My camera was playing up (I had inserted cheap batteries and the setting was incorrect) but I still managed to get fairly okay pictures. We are all MUCH better looking than this!!!  Saturday night was filled with laughter again.

Britt Stubbs our efficient, capable and loving and caring friend and neighbour when we lived in the beautiful Karkloof.                                 
                                     

Ren Stubbs, our funny, ("ha ha" not "peculiar", well...... open hand, palm down, wrist wriggling side to side.....???) interested and supportive dairy farmer friend and tease.
                                                                                            
Charlie MacGillivray, "Master Dairyman", sometimes author, banterer and quick-witted flirt!

                                   

Here is Charlie's "Master dairyman" trophy that I claimed as mine before I left for Ghana, not as a Master dairyman but as the best brony wife in Bantama. (If you know me then you'll know my actual claim but I won't go into that on a public domain!)

 

                                                         My darling Robs and me again.
                                      

On Sunday morning I popped back in to see Mom and lo and behold, she was sitting in the lounge in a "Lazy-boy" chair with her feet propped up! The helpers had not expected me back so soon, so I was thrilled to know that they had tried to help me and Mom although she probably would have argued. Her feet were already looking much better.  One of the helpers recognised me and said, "Oh, you are Mrs Laue's daughter!"  She remembered me from when I lived at Amberfield frail care during my own mommy's last days, nearly three years ago.

Monday was "getting ready for the wedding" day.  We painted bottles, nailed holes in tins and had a picnic lunch on the grounds of one of the local schools where Pippa teaches.  Monday evening we ate fresh mealies and mouth-watering fresh fish from and cooked by the good ol' Roger again and then ended the evening with fun and laughter with a game called "Cranium."

Kell and I got up bright and early to fetch Andrew from the airport.  There was an investigation of an accident on the N3, so the traffic was being diverted and it took us an hour and three quarters to drive the section that would normally take 3 minutes!  Just before we were diverted on to the by-pass they opened the main road again and we were one of the first cars to be let through.  We had "schadenfreude" at the cars that had passed us on the "emergency lane only" and that were already on the diversion when the road was opened so had to go the long way round!
Needless to say we were over an hour late fetching Andrew but sailed home with no hold-ups or hassles.

Roger has been my gardener, pruner, planter and lookerafterKellyer while I have been away but would not accept any payment for all the fertiliser, plants and herbs that he has bought.  His request was to be taken to "Little Mozambique" in Howick, so we went for Kelly's birthday with the MacGillivrays.

I have a long list of things to buy to take back with me to Ghana, so Wednesday and Thursday were taken up with that as well as seeing a few other friends.  There were also visits to dentists, physiotherapists and chiropractors for Andrew and for me.  We took Grandma out for tea and her eyes just shone with love when she saw Andrew. She knew who he was even though she hadn't seen him since November. Kell and I are convinced more than ever that boys are her favourite.


                                            

I went to the dentist and was reading the "Getaway" while I was waiting...



....see, my Ghanaian children are actually related!  No wonder they get on so well!

Friday morning and afternoon was spent helping set up for the wedding and being available for whatever the Nicholson's needed us to do.  Corrie Lyn is a superb venue if rustic is what is required and the owners are reliable, helpful and accommodating.

Roger has bought some land in Hilton, so late on Friday afternoon we went to see it and to celebrate with snacks and champagne on the way to the "Polterabend" in the Dargle.

                   

 

The "Polterabend" - polter (noisy) abend (evening) is a German tradition where the guests break plates and the groom and bride-to-be have to work together to sweep up the breakages.  It was hysterical to see that as they were finishing the sweeping, some guests walked through the middle of the pile and kicked it to make them start all over again.

 

                           

Unfortunately Roger was not feeling well on Saturday morning, so we went to buy him some medication. We hoped that he would be well enough to go with us to the wedding, but it was not to be.  Kelly, Andrew and I were chauffeured to Corrie Lyn and home again by "Macmillan", a Zimbabwean driver from Roger's work.  We were so grateful as we only left the venue after 1am having waited for him to take the bridal couple to their special honeymoon suite a few kilometres away before driving us back to Pietermaritzburg.

                   The beautiful Mr and Mrs Orford (and Jess, Emma's cousin's little beauty!)

 

Rohan's speech had everyone in tears including himself and everyone judged it to be the best groom's speech that they had ever heard! All the ladies fell in love with him and wished we could clone him!

 

Delicious food, simple décor, good music and wonderful company made for a memorable wedding but we missed our Porkles/Dad! 

On Sunday afternoon after a very late start the three of us went to lunch together - my best: laughing and catching up with my special children!

                                            


Sadly, Kell had to start teaching on Monday morning as the second school term has started.  Andrew and I had more things to buy for Ghana as well as sorting out a few requests from his Dad.

We decided to go out for Sushi on Andrew's last night here as he was flying back to Cape Town on Tuesday evening.

My beloved son who has never been afraid to readily show his love and affection for his mom.

 

 Roger, who has been in our lives for only six months is already a huge part of the family!

My cherished daughter who continues to help me to grow and to be a better mother and person. 

                                                                            

 

Roger, the wine connoisseur, mealie planter, fisherman, cook, gardener, wannabe farmer, chauffeur, buyer of many dinners, ......

Roger was so generous and stood us all to the sushi and excellent bottles of wine!!! (Try the Ernie Els range! "Big Easy") Eish!  So much of partying an' all!

Unfortunately Tuesday arrived and after popping in at Grandma for Andrew's last visit (and pulling a muscle in my lower back on the left side while lifting her up - this old age thing is not for sissies - mine I mean, not hers!) it was time for him to fly back to Cape Town.  Despite having been delayed in the traffic again, we made it to King Shaka and Andrew was able to catch his flight.

We met up with our trendy and chic friends Lyn and Brian Dales, their son Greg and his gorgeous wife Desiree at the La Pizza Pazza in Kloof for a birthday supper.

                                                                  Greg and Desiree

                                                                     Kelly and Shan

 

Brian and his stunning wife Lyn, always lady-like, mother of twins with the body of a dancer which she is, giver of the greatest gifts, aerobic instructor, wonderful daughter to her nearly 95 year old mother, beader, sewer of bikinis and cycling shorts, choreographer, chic dresser and concerned and loving friend.

                                                                          All of us

What an honour and a privilege to be able to spend my birthday with such loving, supportive and much loved friends. 

I  had innumerable calls and messages on my birthday and am constantly grateful and overwhelmed at how blessed I am to have so many amazing and wonderful people in my life!

Andre` and Sandra Nel, our very generous Vryheid friends who unfortunately we didn't get to see this time have been so supportive, loving and caring.  If I think of them I think of laughter, fun and the many times we went on exciting and unique holidays with them. They have two great sons and daughters-in-law and two very precious little grand-daughters! Sandra keeps me up to date with the little angels' progress and it makes me feel as though I am part of this loving family.

Angie, my bridesmaid, adviser, organiser, giver of great ideas, capable, birthday card poster, selfless mother and wonderful friend also phoned from the U.K.  She gave me an easy way to grow bean sprouts to give me the nutrition that I lack while in Ghana.  I am going to squeeze as much into my unstretchable suitcase as I possibly can. 

I miss and love you too, so much Haylee.  If I could wave a magic wand, you would live right next door to me and not in Washington my darling soul-mate friend! Sigh!.......anyway................

 

I had to do some more shopping on Wednesday (don't judge me.....remember where I live!) and was lucky enough to bump into special friends from Roselands where I used to work.  Amy and her brand new baby, Francois and her loving mother Rosheen Billett.  The whole family always makes me feel loved, unique and welcomed. (Not you so much Doug! ha ha!)  Seeing them again brought back so many happy memories of laughter and heart to heart discussions....how I miss the best job in the world with the bestest people!

Robbie and I had still not caught up on all our time away from each other, so had lunch together again.  We have so much in common that we find breathing a waste of time in between talking!  She is really my earth-angel friend!

Bridgie came to see me in the afternoon.  She is Tiki's (my dachshund's) grandmother and is one of the most generous, kindest and most helpful people I know.  I am careful when I tell her what I like or am thinking of getting because before I can finish the sentence, it has arrived wrapped up in a beautiful packet with a loving card and special words!

 

                                                                   
Kell and I felt like curry in this cold weather and decided we would treat ourselves to a meal out - we hadn't had one for at least 48 hours!!

We were laughing so much, I didn't see that the menu was over the candle until we smelled burning plastic and I scorched my fingers on the corner!  Oopsie!

                                               Look, it formed a heart shape, my own special sign!!!
                                                 

Jen and I still had lots to catch up on and chat about so we had one last lunch together on Friday afternoon.  Jen is full of good honest advice and friendship and I can always rely on her discretion and loyalty.  She has such a talent in telling stories that one can imagine the picture very clearly in ones head.

 

Thursday morning was a check up at the dermatologist and Friday afternoon was back to the dentist. I am going to go back to Ghana almost brand new (second hand).  What with dentists, doctors, haematologists, hairdressers, physiotherapists, radiologists and dermatologists poking, pulling, rubbing, sticking, extracting, cutting, filling, scraping, injecting, colouring and burning various parts of my body, I feel as if I have had a 100 thousand kilometre service and am ready for the next 10 000 k s.

 

I had still not seen our other friends the Higgs' and time was running out, so made arrangements to have an early supper at the "scorched menu" place on Friday evening while their daughter played hockey in Pietermaritzburg.  The Nicholson's also joined us.......

 

Bev and Tony, one of Porks' "boyfriends" who is one of the happiest people I know and always manages to make us laugh and to brighten our day. We all missed you though Porkles!

Pips, me and Lesley, who after 9 takes of the same photograph, still couldn't keep her eyes open when the flash went off.  After much hilarity we eventually gave up!

 

I had had one of my wisdom teeth extracted that afternoon and because I wasn't as clever as before, I forgot that I wasn't allowed to have hot drinks. So I tried to drink the coffee out of the side of my mouth so as not to irritate the healing wound!

 

The tooth fairy had left some money under my pillow that I found when I got home and into bed! (Thank you special fairy!)

Saturday morning arrived and I met up with Wendy Wilson and Barbara (Bo) Allison who have been my friends since Standard One.........48 yrs!  We went to the same primary school and high school together and lived in the same area, so spent every afternoon sitting on our suitcases on the corner chatting and laughing before going our separate ways home. You can imagine the history we have together and the stories, people and teachers we remember from all those years. (A young gentleman "chatted me up" in town when I was about 16 years old and I was so intimidated by his confidence and eloquence that I gave him my name but Wendy's address! We ended up becoming very close friends, and still are today.)  Wen and Bo even knew Porks when he was still a cocky young man at high school! So much has happened since then and we remain solid and supportive friends through weddings, deaths, divorce, births and other many wonderful life experiences.

                                          Kelly, who joined us for a little while, and Wendy.

                                   Barbara and me.


Mostly we remember how much we talked and laughed together. I don't have enough great adjectives to describe these two friends and I need to tell you how important these two precious people are to me in my life!  I am a seriously lucky and blessed little girl!!

Hans, the guy from Pietermaritzburg who spends the night with us when he comes to Ghana, was supposed to come up in February.  Kelly had given him a parcel for us including Porks' much needed glasses, some gifts from family and friends and some more knitting for me.  His trip didn't happen, so he sent the parcel in a box that included other's belongings with Willem Hattingh, who went up to Ghana on Tuesday.  Guess what?.....The parcel didn't arrive in Accra!  After many phone calls and some "chop", Porks and I managed to trace this important parcel and a driver was able to collect it and deliver it to Bantama on Sunday evening!

Hans and a lovely guy Deon coincidentally happen to be going up to Bantama on Tuesday (on the same flight as I am) for a company meeting.  Hans only likes to take hand luggage, so I have asked him if I could use his "hold" allowance.  I have been given a list by the people in Bantama (Tony, Jose` and Arno) of things that they need and I know how important it is to help them, so I am way overweight already, (me and my luggage allowance!) still having not completed my own packing!

Roger again caught and cooked fresh fish for Kell and me on Sunday night.  Literally the best fish I have ever eaten.  Kariba bream was outstanding but it was quite long ago, so the Lemon fish has now taken over!  We had seared Tuna for starters and then Lemon fish and salad for mains.  (I advised Kell not to throw Roger back now that she has landed him!)

 Lemon fish that we had tonight.  Little did it know how much we would enjoy eating it, otherwise it would not have smiled so much.

 Stone bream.

 Black tip or Yellow fin.

 The prepared tuna before searing it as a starter. Sigh, take it all in, Shan.

The lemon fish before cooking.

I met my colleague from Roselands and wonderful friend Hazel (the other Rhodie) for coffee on Monday morning before visiting Mom-in-law for the final time on this visit.  Hazel and I taught at pre-primary and then worked at Roselands together when our family moved back to Richmond for the second time. 

She and I compliment each other in our teaching skills and our common understanding of children and people.  We have laughed and cried together and we have shared confidences and secrets, making for a solid and life-time friendship.  Haze's two boys are sons of whom any mother would be proud! She is an aspiring poet, a philanthropist and an interested, caring, supportive, funny ha ha friend.  She inspires me to be a better person.

 

Mom wasn't too happy this time. She managed to speak to both her sons on the phone today although not very clearly. She was a little tearful so I gave her instructions to lie on the bed and to take deep breaths.  She nearly fell asleep while I was monitoring her breathing, so she was relaxing beautifully when I left.

I was still in pain with the muscle that I had pulled, (it was keeping me awake at night) so went to the physiotherapist this morning.  I was worried that it might get worse and there is no place in Ghana to get it fixed.  The fantastic news is that I have a gluteus medius! (I thought that after all the partying and eating, she would have called it a maximus but I was wrong.  Yoooo Hoooo!)

I have to sign off on this long post.  I still have packing to do and a few "business" things to take care of.  We have one last night of visiting and visitors and then leave early tomorrow morning for Durban for the flight to Johannesburg then Accra.  I'll sleep the night in Accra and then catch an early flight to Kumasi before the 3 or 4 hour drive back to Bantama, Porks, Gundi and Genie!  I'll be there on Wednesday afternoon and should be on my Ghanaian number again.

Thank you all for the calls, visits, feedback and love this holiday......All the things that I feel I am lacking in Ghana have been more than filled up!

I have spent quality time with my children
I have had my fill of salads and vegetables
I have had some lovely cold weather
I have hardly done any cooking and when I have, it has been in a cool kitchen
I have shopped whenever I wanted to
I have filled up my soul and my heart
I am strong and looking forward to another bout in Ghana.