We are the champions!

Two things that really thrive in Ghana...

Well, this one didn't!

 

  Where I come from Frisco is brown and used in hot water.

We had a wonderful promise of a storm the other night but it didn't amount to anything.  The clouds were spectacular in the sunset but my photography doesn't do them justice.

 

I built a jungle gym for Gunds and he loves it. We play hide and go seek and he skittles into the pipes to get away from me.  Then I hide around the corner and he runs to look for me.  I go "waaaaaaa" and his little legs go as fast as they can back to the jungle gym. I know, I know, small things...........

 

Deon is arriving on Saturday 2nd November and his unfinished house is like Old Mother Hubbard's.  So we decided to go shopping again in Accra for him, Arno and ourselves. John, of Cape Point t-shirt fame, drove us there on Saturday morning.

Now there's a real Kingsley sign Porks!

 

The only thing I could get to read along the way.

 

We went straight to the Mall to do the bulk of our shopping, leaving the cold things, butter, cheese, meat and fruit and vegetables for the morning.  There was a fabulous CD playing in the background while we shopped, "House of the Rising Sun" and "I'm a train" by Albert Hammond whom I saw live with my old boyfriend yonks ago, in Pietermaritzburg nogal.

 

In "Shoprite" which you can see is fully stocked, I bumped into Sark supporter Brian Freestone from Pietermaritzburg and Durban and Rita, from Lithuania.  He wasn't as thrilled to see me as I him, but then he doesn't live in remote Bantama like I do.  If they did live here though, I wouldn't have been voted Ms Obruni Bantama 2013, she was lovely.

 

We tried to book into the Best Western Hotel, full. Then the Airside Hotel, full. Then we tried the Hotel Georgia where the chaps and I stayed when we left Porks behind in South Africa the last time, plenty space.  I think we were the only people booked in for the night. Bless, the happy manager welcomed us with a broad smile and eager attitude and we were taken to our room.

 

 

It even had a falling off the wall soap dish, making us feel so much at home.

 

We were given rough thin prison like towels but loved them as they were thoroughly absorbent!

 

Some of us had a guess what?..........EEEEEEEEE.......sleep! And the rest of us read and kept in touch with the Sharks vs Province match by bbm and whatsapp.  How exciting was that match? 33 - 19! We are the Champions!

 

I then had to jam a table up against the plug in the wall that was charging my empty cell phone otherwise it wouldn't stay in.

 

We decided to go to the Holiday Inn for supper, so went outside to catch a taxi.  We noticed that in the sky were literally thousands of black "birds" all flying in the same direction.  I tend to exaggerate somewhat, so I checked with Porks as to how many he thought there were and he said "millions". We looked and looked to try and find out what birds they were and realised that they were bats!  I would love to have been able to follow them and see where they landed as there doesn't seem to be enough vegetation around Accra for all of them to find a spot on which to hang.

 

Once there, we had a thirst quenching drink by the incredibly inviting pool, Porks had TWO!



 As you can see, Edward got hold of me again a few weeks ago, Scissorhands, that is!

 And I did a rendition of our ferocious winning team.

Inside the Holiday Inn was this wooden cut-out of the map of the world.  Both Porks and I would love one on our wall at home but with the correct climatic colours....any offers?

 

I don't know whether you can gauge by this photo but the bottom step is slightly higher than the others. We have come across a number of these in Ghana, a flight of steps having different heights.  Just there to keep us on our toes and wake us up as we either trip or step hard onto the step that is higher or lower than the rest.

 

I battled to sleep properly without a gentle little nose sniffing up and down my leg before settling down in a comfortable spot in which to curl up and sleep.  I tried to persuade Porks to emulate Gunds, but he wasn't that keen.

The next morning we were given coffee, a plain egg omelet with baked beans, toast, butter and jam and I noticed these two magnificent oil paintings on the wall.

 A close-up of one of the taxis in the picture.

 A typical market day in Ghana.

 Fabulous detail.  Pips, you would have loved them. 

We then went back to Shoprite to complete the purchases and jammed the approximately R16000 worth of groceries into the back of the Fortuna.  The prices are exorbitant though.  One 213gm tin of salmon was R80 and one lettuce R85.  Most things are more expensive than home but we have only done a shop like this once before in January, so its not too bad. And remember, we were shopping for four people.  I said to Porks that when we eat the salmon and lettuce, we'll just pretend that we are at RJ's with friends.



 

We left Accra at 10am on Sunday morning and on the way home, we saw two images pertaining to bovines. 

One seemingly relaxed, but I'm sure, not at all!

 

 And this one.......

So we checked our seat belts, rolled up our windows and locked the doors!

 

And the times, they are a changin'

There is less and less news to give you as Porks is working seven full days a week at the moment and he hasn't got the time or the vehicle to take me anywhere.  So I stay at home trying to make different things like....



 

.... mealie bread!

Thanks new food processor! 

The guys at the office planted a crop of mealies and we have been enjoying fresh mealies, mealie bread and corn as a vegetable for a few weeks now, yummy!

 

I had a pack of baby wool and knitted a fair dinkum blanket for someone special's baby!  Shhh!

 

 

John, our hospital helper, shopper and driver was wearing this t-shirt the other day and I got so excited.  When I asked him where he got it he told me "Kumasi".  He has asked to be one of the mulcher drivers so we'll have to get another driver to take us on our shopping trips.

 

 

 

 

There were some tough emotional decisions made this last week and they haven't been easy or happy ones.  Due to some personal reasons Neil decided to resign and go back to Scottburgh.  He flew out on Monday and has left a gaping hole for Porks as far as friendship and work goes and for me for some different, fun and understanding company. Anyone who loves Gundi almost as much as I do is a great human in my books! He is a hard working, eager and enthusiastic man and he supported Porks in all his work decisions and work plans for the future.  I was already sad about Genie and then Neil's resignation came soon afterwards. 

 

 

Porky and Neil were already working seven days a week together and now with Neil gone, there is even more work for Porks to do and I am seeing even less of him. 

 

The great news is that Deon is arriving early November to take over as leader. His wife Roz is coming up mid-November to have a look-see. Hold thumbs!

 

So there was one, then two, then three, then two and back to three, maybe four, and hopefully even five, six, seven with their children and another forester!

 

Com'on South Africans! 

 

My little Genie

My precious little Genie was getting more and more uncomfortable and I asked Porks to euthanize her on Wednesday morning.

 

When I got back from SA in July, she was unable to use her back legs properly.  We googled dietary requirements for her and found that we were feeding her most of the nutrients she needed.  I suspect that when I went away for so long she didn't play enough and as well as not having trees to climb she just got weaker and weaker and eventually stopped walking and at the end she was hardly eating.

 

It  was a very sad day for me but it was best for her as her quality of life was not what I would have wished for her. My one consolation is that if those children had not brought her to me that day, she would have been dead long ago.

Fortunately she needed Gundi more than he needs her, so he won't be too lonely without her.

 

 

Genes my baby, thank you for all the love and joy you brought to my life my special little girl. Your gentle nature, love and trust in me will live in my heart forever.

Nothing much happening

It has been more than three weeks since Mum passed away and nothing much has happened since then, just the same ol' same ol'.  To get out of the house and reflect on Mum's life, we went out into the field to see the malaria mosquito breeding ponds. 

We left the quad-bike on the side of the road and went for an half an hour walk to the tractors.  The storm in the distance hit us but we were not caught in the middle of it, just enough to cool us down. So refreshing!

The tractor was trying to pick up a tree but the tree was so heavy that the front wheels of the tractor were lifting into the air.  I didn't quite get the picture.

Porks on the quad-bike.  He rides this to work every morning, rain or shine.  His normal vehicle is being used for other jobs by other people.

We saw a lovely rainbow and were reminded of our beloved and much missed South Africa.

Some of you know Mike Kinsey from Richmond.  He made this sturdy, strong and reliable diesel tanker.

 

See Kelly..... Kinsey not Kinsley. Sigh. "Narisa", "Egland", "Kinsley".... dear Porkles!

 

The company have bought two new mulchers and Ricardo, from Germany but working in Italy, came to train the drivers.  This little chap followed him around and stole Ricardo's heart.

These trees were some of the first trees planted by Porks.  They were planted on the 10th June 2012 making them just over 16 months old.

 

 Can you believe how tall they grow without a dormant Winter season?

 

 

I was making curried mince for supper and sprinkled in some turmeric along with some sneaky little goggas disguised as peppercorns.

Then I stood over the hot stove fishing out the swimmers for over 15 minutes while they boiled to the top.  Our fridge is getting more and more full of our powdered ingredients which are vying for space with the fresh (?) vegetables and fruit.

 

My darling, precious little Genie is getting weaker and weaker but still insists on being with me when I am in the lounge or in bed.   

 

She cuddles into the top of my t-shirt or dress with her head hanging out the top.

 She is so gentle with me but when Porks or Neil try to love her she bites them.

 

Arno had to go to Brazil for an operation to his mouth.  He kindly brought me back this pretty little cactus.  It looks and feels like a tiny Christmas tree. 

 Gundi was fascinated by the new and strange smell and tried to eat the leaves.

 

Neil comes around often and just loves our Gunds.  He talks non-stop to him (Gundi to Neil, not Neil to Gundi).

 

Unusually Gundi even fell asleep on Neil's lap.  This doesn't happen with anyone else besides Porks and me.  I'm so happy as Neil will probably be Gundi-sitting when we go home over the Christmas period and I know how much he'll be loved.

  Look!  Voted "Ms Obruni Bantama 2013" by the one who knows everything. 

 

Don't roll your eyes, I came in 1st, 2nd and 3rd!    How's that?