"Akwaaba" the von Beneckes

There was much excitement and expectation as we counted down the days to the von Beneckes arriving.  We had their beds made, their house swept, the water tank and gas cylinders filled and the air conditioners and their new fridge switched on.  The family had done a large shop in Accra when they arrived and sent it up with a vehicle while they flew to Kumasi and then drove to their new home in Ghana. We went early that day to check things were in order, unpacked some of their groceries that had arrived before them and made a few welcoming buns.

We then left and gave them time to come home, rest and unpack.  We returned later that evening with supper and welcoming drinks.

 Buddy was so excited to meet Emma and Hannah.

 

 

 We sat on the veranda and caught up on the von Benecke's news.

 

                                                                         Colin joined us,

 

 

as did Piet Moolman, who is here for a month training the chain saw operators.  He is from the Pietermaritzburg area too.

 

Porks even worked up enough energy to play table tennis with Hannah.  Deon and Roz have managed to buy a ping pong table, a badminton set and are in the process of buying a swimming pool.  Deon is adamant to make their stay here as pleasant as possible. Great Dad!

 

 I had left Buddy's water bowl behind so he learnt to drink directly from the tap.

 

On the way home, he rested his head on the window and let his little ears flap in the coolish breeze.

Roz and Deon had done some shopping for us that included a big bag of potatoes.  I was wondering from where they had been imported,

and voila...."maak vol tot hier" gave us the answer!

We gave a couple of well spoken male teachers a lift to a conference in Kwamo Danso the other morning and they were telling us about where they teach and how long they have been in the area.  As we were travelling past one of the smaller villages not far from Bantama, one little girl shouted "Bature" (pronounced Batoori) at us.  The men explained that it means "white person" in a Nigerian dialect called Hausa. It continuously amazes us that in the distance of a few kilometres the language may be different.

We find that the Ghanaians who speak good English in this area have adopted some words that have been passed down by the British.  "Stop here, I'd like to alight."  "We quenched the flames."   Isaac was telling me that his parents have died and that there are four children in his family.  When I asked him what number he was, he replied "The last but one."  Jeepers, these Ghanaians speak better English than some of us do! 
One of the Ghanaian gentlemen who visit us was telling us that he has been waiting patiently to be paid by a company.  After being friendly and patient many times, the next time he asks for his money he is going to "squeeze his face" to show them that he is serious about getting it this time.  I bet you are squeezing your face to see what he means!  How descriptive is that?

When we first arrived "Obruni, obruni" was shouted at us whenever we went anywhere.  It actually got quite tiring.  Times are changing though...we are now hearing "Porky, Porky, Porky" as more and more people have got to know us in the area.

  

On Valentine's evening we had a combined celebration. A farewell to Colin, Valentine's Day and our 33rd wedding anniversary.

The sweet girls had made us a card and gave us a chocolate.

 

We sat outside and the children from around the area kept popping their heads over the wall and calling "Obruni, obruni".....and "Porky, Porky"....., so much so that Hannah and Emma went inside as they were uncomfortable.  I explained to the girls that to these children we are like sharks in the sea, where everyone around points and shouts "shark, shark" when they see one. 

 

 Hannah and Em went inside to watch TV.

 

Colin's last night with us.  To assist Porky, he had offered to stay on until Deon came back.  What a first class man he is and we are extremely sorry that he and Audrey have left us.

 

Roz made us a cake and said that "I would never have served this in South Africa" -
a swimming pool cake with a shallow end and a deep end!  This made my whole evening!  What enjoyment and laughter.  At last another lady who experiences the same difficulties and now I don't feel quite so inadequate!

 

 

New flags have gone up at the office and its really starting to look well established.

 

                                             Norway, Ghana, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay.

                                                                Another Buddy body position.

 

 

  

Buddy's teeth must be very sore as he relentlessly chews everything.  As we are walking past him he has to have a quick nip at our ankles, shoes or my skirt.  If we are patting him he bites our hands, fingers or our arms.  We are convinced his DNA contains Pit bull or Teenager because he is tenacious and always has to have the last say.
If I point my finger at him and shout "NO!" sharply when he is biting me, he stops, stares at me with bright eyes for a few seconds and then has one quick last nip as if to say "You can't tell me what to do!"

 Thus spake Buddy!

 

This dear little chap should have been named "Shadow" as I can't move without him following me

BUT 

 

                                          hmmm, don't let this innocent little face fool you!

 

 

Buddy

 

Intermittent and irritatingly slow Internet connections as well as a repetitive daily routine has kept me from publishing a new post, sorry.

Colin took Audrey to Kumasi to put her on the flight to Accra and they managed to go to a vet (no vet available that day) in Kumasi and buy puppy food, a de-wormer, Bob Martins, shampoo and a collar and lead for Buddy.

 

 

He has an amusing array of physical contortions.

Stiff legged.

 

Spatchcock turnover.

 

Spatchcock.

 

Elongated.

 

 

Half pretzel.

 

He seemed very interested in watching a rerun of an Australian vs England cricket match on TV.

 

 He can "sit" on command. (See blurred wagging tail!)

                                                                             
I am holding a little tightly to my heart, although that is extremely difficult, as we will have to leave him behind with the other expats when we move on from Ghana. The idea is for Porks to take him to work on occasion to get used to the other people and to get him away from our confined walled area for a while. 

 

 We went to Colin's house for a braai and took Buddy with us.

Both men think that they are "machines" at braaing! (And they ARE!)

 

 

"Naa" (named by Audrey) the next door kitten came bounding across the grass to visit as soon as she saw we had arrived. Puppy love?

 

They were both interested in each other but Naa's tentative warning hiss soon showed who is the boss! 

 

We have had Colin around for supper many a night as he is on his own now.  Last Sunday he, Arno and Ian Crawford (from airport fame - he lives in Yegi, an hour and a half away) were here for tea and a fire was reported. The five of us all rushed out to go and have a look.

Porks watching a back burn they had put in.

                                                                    Colin in the smoke.

This "back burning" is a new concept for the Ghanaians.  A few days later there was another fire and doing their best to help, the workers just lit other fires willy nilly around it, as they had seen Porks and Colin pulling a fire near the first one that had taken hold.

One night last week we had to go out and get rid of a hive of bees that were worrying the workers trying to plant in the area. I do not like the idea of killing bees but I must admit, it was exciting!

In the few weeks that we have had Buddy, he can now "sit" on command, walk on a lead, fetch a ball and can communicate when he is hungry.  I take him outside for his daily excrement and he is inquisitive about the chickens, goats, sheep and any new people.

 

 

He digs and digs and digs.........

 

and then pulls so hard that he falls over, silly thing!

 

Two of the little girls next door came to visit when I was outside and he "wwoooowwed" at them and they wanted to run away.  I called them back and explained that he was just talking to them. They are wearing clothes!

 

  

His little teeth are sharp and my arm has taken a pounding.

 

He still has "puppy breath" which is so endearing. He is such a character and greets me in the morning, butt up in the air, head cocked, ears flat, boxing alternately with his straight little front legs and a puckered toothless grand-dad mouth going "wwoooooooww" in a deep voice.

He is truly becoming my "Buddy".