800 Days

We are back again in Ghana and have been for over two weeks. 

We had a wonderful time in South Africa and celebrated a fabulous Christmas and New Year with our family and friends. 

Roger's little nephew, Keegan, turned two and we had managed to get him a little wooden Ghanaian aeroplane which enthralled him. 

We celebrated our fabulous couple's engagement with their friends but unfortunately some very important family members couldn't join us.

So Pippa photostatted and cut out those missing family members and we had them on sticks. Jokes were bantered about how "legless" they were and how they couldn't hold their heads up in our company!  So actually, Porks and Andrew were there.

  

As were Sarah, Orf and Emma and the Holt family - Brad, Melissa and the very precious and much loved little James. (Lovely scarf hey, Britt?)

Roger has bought a property of land in Hilton and during the time we were there, Porks and Tony helped chop down some pine trees that were blocking the view.  What a lovely outlook now.

My four South African children!

Once we were all in one city, the four of us spent some much missed and needed family time together and I took every opportunity to record these precious moments. I really do have a wonderful family and am so, so grateful for them all.

Unfortunately the time to leave came around far too quickly and we had a last minute "selfie" at the airport before we flew off in our different directions.

On the flight back, I was gently reminded of my two little canine girls as I found Scruffy's hair transferred from my jersey to the airline blanket!

As we flew from Accra to Kumasi the following day, there was a distinct line where the dust from the Harmattan winds met up with the clear sky.  Its a dry wind from the Sahara, charged with dust that blows along the northwest coast of Africa.  The airport had been closed for at least three days as the dust made for poor visibility. 

Getting back to Buddy was my saving factor.  The Bantamanians have really taken to him and have his well being at heart.  Apparently while we were away, Augustina couldn't find him one day, so a BOLO was put out over the village's loudspeaker and he was soon returned home.  I am relieved to know that he still loves to wander around the village, eating scraps and chatting to the villagers, even while we are with him, so that pacifies me when we have to leave him behind.  Augustina has left us to go back to "school" to study Home Economics.

When we arrived home, the house was covered in dust. Every surface has to be cleaned daily as even if the winds don't blow, it is so dry that the dust from the dirt road drifts in to the house. "Close the doors and windows" I hear you shout. But....the doors don't close properly as the wood has shrunk and the louvres don't fit snugly anyway.  I am constantly washing my dirty hands and cleaning all the surfaces with assistance from my new helper, Lizzie.  Apart from the dust, this is the season to burn everything and the bits of burnt grass also somehow enter the house.   This one is for you Kell, to show you Ghana is not always so green.

 Porks has been coming home later than usual as he has had to fight some ferocious fires.

We were watching television one evening when there was a sudden spontaneous roar from across the road.  I said to Porks that Ghana must be playing soccer, so we switched channels and continued to watch our home team get annihilated by the Ghanaians.  I am not really a soccer supporter so it gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that our little village had some joy in their lives even though it was to our detriment.  When Ghana scored a second time, we switched to mute to listen to their excitement. Porks had the sulks though as he loves to win!

I had downloaded some new pictures from my trip to South Africa with some friends that you haven't yet met like Karl and Di Penzhorn and Graham, but after deleting them from my camera, I couldn't find them again on my computer! Sorry my friends, next time.

We have arrived back to the mother of all load shedding, people!  Porks said that the electricity has been off more than it has been on and I agree.  It often goes off for 12 or more hours at a time and yesterday was off for more than 15 hours.  It is so erratic and unreliable and that is partly why I have been discouraged from writing a post as the Internet also seems to be affected by it.  It is definitely getting worserer and worserer! But that is the reason why we are here to plant trees in Ghana! I am also reluctant to use the generator for that length of time as petrol is not always easily available in our remote village.  

I have also eschewed writing a new post as there is so little to tell you.  I have not left the house except for an half an hour's drive on Sunday and therefore there are no new photographs to show you. The great news is that I am going home early to help with Roger's and Kelly's wedding planning. 

Despite the ongoing Sturm und Drang here, I am managing to hang on because of your continued love and support. Thank you all again!  All being equal, minus the days we will spend in South Africa, we have just over 800 days left.

What makes you think I have been reading a lot, like, a lot, a lot?