Aah Haa!

So there WAS a surprise for me on our Anniversary!  Porks walked in with my "lost" makeup bag!  John had gone to Accra and had found it in the bakkie.  I now know what happened.  On our way to Accra, we stopped on the side of the road as the one seat belt was stuck under the seat.  Porks had to lift the whole back seat up to get it out for me.  When I realised I had misplaced my bag, we stopped again to check under the seat.  Porks looked (I couldn't see around him) and he said it wasn't there and it turns out it was! Either he was "looking like a boy" looks (hey, Pips!) or he deliberately hid it from me in order to give it to me for our anniversary! ("Mmmmmm", eyes squinting and index finger on cheek!!!)
Aah Haa!

I am thrilled to have it back as there were even more items in there than I had thought, so smiles all around again!
(Kelly sent me her own replacements in the meantime.  I was so grateful for those, thanks Kell.)

Gundi does like the smell of me.  When I put him on the bed this time he made a bee-line for my T-shirt!  His hearing is his best sense though as he can hear my walk and starts calling me even before he sees me!

Theresa was eating a sweet potato the other day, so I asked her to buy one for me the next time there were some in Bantama. She managed to get one for me (cooked) for 40 peswas. We were so excited but we were disappointed as it was bitter so we won't be ordering any more. I am so sad about that! 

On Sunday, Porks, Gunds and I went to check on the watering of the young planted seedlings.  We parked and waited as the workers walked towards us.  I had Gundi on my shoulder and they just stopped and stared at us! So I took a photo of them looking at Gundi.

Then they went on their way to water the plants. Each plant is given a cup full of water by hand!

Luckily it was one of the coolest days we have had since I have been here.  It was still 31 degrees but at least there were a few white and grey fluffy things in the sky to block out most of the heat!  The rain is due to arrive in March so we are waiting with bated breath.  (What does bated mean anyway?)

 .
  

 This is the pump on the outskirts of the village (just past our house) where everyone gathers to collect their water for the day.

 

The rest of the people wait in line for their turn to collect water.

We bought two colouring-in books and crayons from Accra for Paul and Cynthia.  We gave the gifts to Tony on Sunday morning when he came to visit us.  We went past their house in the afternoon and there they were with all their friends, and the pictures were nearly all coloured in already!  

Here is the tiny little granny - Tony's mother - who is supposedly 81 yrs old.

Cynthia, her friends and the colouring in book.
I was also touched by unselfish these little children were, allowing their friends to help them colour in.

Paul and his colouring in book.  He is standing on the area outside Tony's house where everyone congregates to cook, bathe the children, socialise and eat.

I had my first plate of baby spinach from my "garden" yesterday.  The rest of my vegetables died when I separated them, so I have had to start again! Where are my Dad's green fingers when I need them?  It was delicious though! I could virtually feel the iron and vitamins entering my system! 

This is the second time I have tried this dessert recipe and it flopped both times.  I may have found the problem as I baked a Raisin Loaf at the temperature that the recipe advised and it hadn't cooked in the middle after 50 minutes.  So I think that the temperature on the gas oven is lower than I am used to.  This "Swans Down" pudding has to be baked slowly at a low temperature and it didn't seem to cook at all.  So I will try again at a higher temperature next time.  Uuuuggghhhh!




              The "twice cooked" and nearly burnt raisin loaf that turned out fairly nicely in the end.
                                  

Kelly sent me up some wool and I have finished knitting a baby blanket for my friend Jenni's daughter, Bonnie, who is due to have her baby any time now. I really enjoyed having something to do with my hands and it was really satisfying to see the finished product.  Willem (Hattingh met `n "h") has been here for just over a week and is leaving tomorrow (Thursday) morning. He lives in Pietermaritzburg so we have asked him to take it back for us. Hopefully it will arrive before the baby does!

On Monday we didn't have electricity from lunch time until lunch time on Tuesday, about 22 hours.  It is the first time since I have been here that we were without power all night.  Eish!  Even with the windows open and no pyjamas and no sheets, it was still sweltering and we had a terrible night!  There wasn't a breath of wind and the heat from the day just sat like a heavy blanket on us all night.  Even Gunds lay flat out near me but didn't touch me like he normally does!  We have a very loud generator but we have neighbours with little children and even we battle to sleep with the noise, so we had to switch it off.  We can't understand the reason but the electricity goes off every single day and often a few times a day.  Sometimes its just a surge which messes up the television and any taping we might have or it can be hours and hours at a time.

                                                                               
                                                          These names amaze me!
                                                                (Shaking my head!)

Kahunas!

Gundi has KAHUNAS. I have now resigned myself to the fact that she is a boy.  I can also decipher what he is doing when he comforts himself to sleep. (Reminding me of Casper, Mandy!) I am going to try very hard to call her a him from now on but forgive me if I throw in a few feminine words about him inadvertently every now and then!

Porks and I went to Atebubu on Sunday to get out of the house and to buy some tomatoes.  On the way we saw three monkeys crossing the road.  They looked a little like vervet monkeys but had different colouring.  One adult had a baby clinging to it.  We stopped and reversed to take a photo but by then they were too far away! (So you'll just have to take my word for it!)  We see very little wild life here as anything edible, is!

This is preparation for a wedding.  There are many funerals we have witnessed but have not taken photos.  Mourners wear black and red and the whole village stops working to pay their respects.

There were also blue and white balloons but I didn't get them in the shot. No matter where one comes from, all brides want their wedding day to be special.

At the market there was the strangest looking chicken.  Porks said he thought it had been spray-painted but I don't think the people would waste their money on a chicken.  Very pretty, just like a bridesmaid or Lady Gaga!  I felt like asking, "Who are you wearing?" like the red carpet.

 

Then we went to have a look at how the houses are coming along.  There are three two-bed roomed houses being built and one three-bed roomed house.  The two-bed roomed houses are nearly finished and here you can see Porks in front of one of them.  The rumour is that more people are arriving at the end of February and early March. (So exciting!)  Jose` and another Brazilian, Sergio, sleep in single rooms at the office (where Porks started off) and I am sure that they will want to move in there first. I am happy to stay here at the moment.

Here is another house.

And a side view of the same one.

We let Gunds walk around and he investigated on his own.  When he couldn't find us he ran from room to room screeching.  I kept saying "here I am Gunds" and he replied with a call, until we found each other. I don't let him get to far out of sight when in the open though, as I am concerned about the birds.

On the way back to the truck, we let him walk as he doesn't get enough exercise and I could HEAR him following me with his patter patter on the ground, dust rising as he drags his tail behind him.

He was exhausted on the way home and had a rest on Porks' shoulder. When we go on long trips and Gundi wants to urinate or defecate, he gets very agitated and tries to get off of us and onto the floor of the vehicle.  We understand him now and we stop the bakkie to let him out to relieve himself on the ground.  Sometimes we are too late but we are getting better at speaking Gundi.

As I have said, Gundi loves to sleep on the bed during the day and is quite comfortable to stay there on his own.  He actually asks to get up if I am running around and he is unable to sleep on my lap.  He curls up next to our pillows and can spend ages there in the comfort of knowing that he is safe.

When he walks slowly, he lifts his feet deliberately.  Porks says it looks as if he has sore feet and I describe it as he looks as if he has gumboots on.   

I don't always have a good night's sleep as he has to touch me when he is sleeping and I either feel his tail brush my leg or his little nose smelling me as he tries to find a place to settle.  Then he either curls up right against me or puts his head over my leg and goes to sleep. A few hours later he is looking for another place and then he starts rummaging around again either in between my knees or against my hip or tummy.  I wake up every time as I am so frightened of squashing him when I turn over.                               

The other day, I took off my nightie to have a shower and he asked me to put him on the bed, so I did. When I came out of the bathroom, he was curled up in my nightie and not next to the pillows as usual - I'm sure he is comforted by the scent.

Its our 32nd anniversary on Valentine's Day (tomorrow) and our dear friends of 26 years, Robyn and Charles MacGillivray, celebrate the same number on the same day!  The ladies organised a get away to Mkhuze Falls Private Nature Reserve for our 30th.  I also planned last year's anniversary celebration for Porks.  So this year I have told him it is his turn to surprise me......let's see what he can come up with in Ghana!
Much love for a happy Anniversary and Valentine's Day to our very special friends!

                                                      Happy Valentine's Day to you all. 

I think...

Jose` has found a possible solution to keep me busy.  The office often gets visitors from other countries who end up staying for lunch.  The local cook, Sarah, only knows a limited amount of recipes.  So, he asked me to come to the office and teach Sarah some new recipes.  He has given me the use of the quad-bike when it is available and I can come and go as I please.

 

Jamie and Sarah

Some visitors are arriving today (Wednesday) and there are no ingredients in the office kitchen.  I was sent yesterday with Sarah, Jamie the cleaner and Isaac the driver to Atebubu to go and stock up.

 

The three of them gabbed away in their local dialect and the only time I understood what they were saying was when we passed the local "force" and the words "bribery and corruption" were blurted out at least 6 times. (I had to smile to myself.)

 

We spent more than an hour at the market and managed to get some of the items required. (John, the other driver, had to go back to Accra, so he also went with a list.)

I gave instructions to Sarah to make a chicken dish and to start it when she got to work (at about 7am) this morning as the food here needs to be cooked for ages if one doesn't want to break ones teeth.  I said I would come along later to help and to check up on the flavour.

 

I arrived at 9.30am and she was still cutting the onions!  I helped her with the bread and butter pudding and then told her I was leaving.  She was quite upset and concerned about who was going to taste the food.  I told her that if she had listened, then I could have done so then and that I had to go home and prepare for my visitors tonight.  

 

I did go back at 11.30am to check but I now have an inkling of how frustrating it is for Porks working here sometimes.

Luckily I did as she had added far too much ginger and that's all I could taste!  I counteracted it with a little honey and it seemed to work.  She tried hard though and is keen to learn so we will keep trying.

 

It takes me about 5 minutes from home to the office on the quad and it is fun although hot and sweaty underneath the full helmet. The dust as a car passes or comes towards me just billows and blocks my view.  Benji helped me put the helmet on and the strap was loose so I asked him to tighten it as "I am a very precious person....I have two children that I love and that need me to stay safe!" (Tiki and Scruffy!)

All bluffs...............................Kelly and Andrew!

 

Another really disappointing thing happened!  The fresh vegetables at the Accra Mall were either too expensive or of poor quality, so we bought three packets of McCain frozen vegetables.  We placed them in cooler boxes with ice for the trip on the way home.  I used one packet the other night and they were rotten!  I want to try the other two packs but if I find that they too are inedible, then I'll be disappointed again so I am in denial and am pretending that they are fine. Hold thumbs!

Thursday:

 

Hans (from SA) and Benji (from Israel) remember? came for supper last night.  Jose` was also invited but he wasn't feeling well.

 

I made a beef stew and some home-made bread!

Are you as impressed as I am?

 

Here they are "proving" but I am still trying to work out what!

 

 

 

 

Here they are cooked (?).  My gas oven either bakes from the bottom or grills from the top, so when the dish is cooked, it is still pale on top unless I grill it for 5 extra minutes.

 

Then I made Robbie's pudding that flopped.  So I had to make a quick chocolate cake that took 10 minutes! (That is why I would never enter Master-chef......oh, I just thought, I might enter Master-chef Ghana though!)

                                                          See the great presentation?

 

Kelly sent up a dish with Hans that can go in the micro-wave.  I have a 6-minute chocolate cake recipe so while the guys were showering I quickly made one and it was ready by the time they were finished, iced nogal. She also sent up some icing sugar and knitting needles - Hans was concerned that the authorities would think it was cocaine and some traditional weapons.

 

He managed to squeeze a few things into his luggage, including Kelly's Christmas presents for us. Last night was the first night that Porks has read before going to sleep......."Zapiro", from Kell, his favourite! (Book that is and daughter!)

She sent up Trevor Noah dvd's for me and we are waiting for this weekend to watch! Thanks Kell! Look at how happy Dad is!

 

When Gundi wants to get down from the couch, she mews at me.  So I built her a ladder out of a piece of plank so that she can climb up and down at her will.  I will try and get it on video but she is so quick that it is difficult to capture it.  Here she is climbing up.

 

 

 

 

 

and getting ready to "slide" down.

 

and down she goes!

 

If she is on the couch with me and I get up to go to bed, I have to run as she is so quick that she catches up with me and gets in between my feet.  She looks up, realises that I am going, runs to the plank, slides down and takes off after me, squealing along the way.  I'll get Porks to try and get it on video one night.

                                    Here Gundi is stealing a notebook out of Porks' pocket.

 

I think that Porks thinks that you think that I think that Gundi thinks that I am the only special one here, so he sometimes asks me to take a photo of him and Gundi so that we can all stop thinking that!  

Accra

We had some more visitors last Monday night.



Heinz Reinstorf from George in the Cape who is a nursery designer came to have a look at how this nursery is going and he brought along ....

Magnus Phersson who is from Sweden.








We are mutton stew and an adapted "Lazy Housewife's" tart with custard that was a huge success.

Benji joined us again.

As did Arno.

Porks was here too (big smile).


Gundi loves my hat and she was crawling over the table when she found it and fell asleep.

There was a festival here on Tuesday and Wednesday where the chief gets carried around on a chair and they celebrate "Mother Earth", shooting rounds from shotguns off into the air!  There were no workers so we took that opportunity to travel to Accra (400kms) on Tuesday morning.  We left at 7am and got there after 2pm.

Because we were sleeping away and I knew Gundi would miss us, I put my hat into her box hoping that that would comfort her. Theresa came in three times during the day to feed her and give her water and milk.

There is a Woolworths near the Mall and we just popped in to have a look.  It is a smallish one with a very small food section.  No fresh fruit and vegetables, just a few Woolies items but we didn't buy anything.



Just behind the Woolworths building is the Accra Polo Club.  The only green vegetation in Accra is the grass on these fields.  They seem to be beautifully kept and we saw a few horses being ridden but took the photograph as we were driving past.

We spend the rest of the afternoon shopping at the Accra Mall that has a Shoprite, a Game, Mr Price, Truworths and Identity besides other shops.  One can buy most things under one roof which is such a pleasure compared to Kumasi. All very expensive though...a tin of tuna in water cost R25.

We found stale marshmallow mice - just as we like them, Sandra and Andre`!

And my darling son's favourite sweets!




We checked in at the Airside Hotel (where we slept those three nights while we were eating for our luggage to arrive) and then went to the Holiday Inn for supper.  The food at the Airside is dodgy and the Holiday Inn is too expensive to sleep, so we had the best of both worlds.

We sat at a table next to the pool and a gentle breeze was blowing, just cool enough to remind us of sitting at the Durban beachfront on a Summer's evening.  We could have been in South Africa.  Really good welcoming service and delicious identifiable food.

Porks had a pizza.....

and I had my favourite...Fish.  Succulent, mouth-watering and moreish!

A bottle of Lutzville Merlot wine from South Africa set us back R250.

The packet in the background was holding the doggy bag.  Porks couldn't finish his pizza!!! (Eyes wide and eyebrows raised!)  

We went back to the Mall the next morning to buy the last of our groceries and fresh fruit and vegetables but had to wait until 9am as that is when the shops open.  Others open at 10am.

We spent a fortune at Shoprite buying most of the items that we have really been missing while we have been here, costing us at least double what it would have cost us at home. Everything has to be imported and then we still have to multiply by 5.

500g pack of fresh broccoli  37.49 Gc x 5 for SA Rand!  

One lettuce cost 18.99 Gc.

Needless to say we didn't buy these!

.John, our driver, drove home while some of us slept and we arrived home late on Tuesday afternoon.

I am battling as all our linen and clothing smells of smoke.  All the vegetation has been burned or is being burned and there is a constant smell of smoke in the air.  I have decided to dry the pillow cases and my clothes in the bathroom as I don't feel clean if I smell of smoke.



.

The contractors have been working very hard on the road past our house and to Kwame Danso and it is such a pleasure to travel at the moment.  It has probably cut down the travelling time to about 15 minutes!

I somehow lost my makeup bag on the trip to Accra but I have no idea where.

.  In it was all my special beautifying items like a Sh'zen emery board, good tweezers, nail clippers, good eye drops, lip ice etc.  One cannot buy anything of that quality here so I am really sad. (I have an emery board from the Airside Hotel that was with the bathroom samples but I am certain it is not doing my nails any good.) Our darling Kelly has been running around trying to replace some of these items as we have heard that Hans is coming up this week and perhaps he can bring some items for us! Hopefully Pork's fixed glasses also arrive. I'll let you know!