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Back to the Kombo

Today is national clean up day. We have just arrived back in the Kombo after an amazingly quick taxi ride from Basse. The fare was only 300 Dalasi each and we found out why Gambian cars are always falling apart. The driver thrashed the car without a thought for tyres, suspension, gears or anything else which might fall off when hitting a bump at stupid mph. He barely noticed the poor road conditions or cared if our heads hit the roof or not. The taxis that make this trip hold 7 passengers and when you get into one they wait until the numbers are made up before leaving. Lynn and I decided to pay for one extra seat and therefore got off at 05:45. We arrived in Kombo by 13:00. It was wonderful and gave us all day to recover from the bumps bruises and travel fatigue, please note I did not say sickness.
So we arrived for national clean up day. The President ordered that this day be observed each month so shops don’t open, taxis don’t run and the police apparently wander around making sure that everyone is involved picking up litter and sweeping compounds. Taxis get cleaned and even trash cans on wheels, sorry buses, are cleaned out. That said the day makes no discernable difference to Basse so I am not sure how effective it is here. I guess though that showing willing is better than nothing.
Our arrival was further enriched by finding several packages from our friend Pam who decided to supplement out diet with tasty foods from the UK, albeit soya. We look forward to the taste of Lincolnshire sausage meat back in Basse. We also received three wonderful parcels from Sarah who sent us a Christmas tree, photo soon, as part of a homemade advent calendar of presents to take us to Christmas. It now the 19th so we intend gorging ourselves to catch up on every lost day.
So we are now back in the Kombo living in another volunteers house while he goes back to the UK. The Kombo is an area south of Banjul which is slightly less third world. It has supermarkets, restaurants, a wide variety of shops and even boasts a bookshop. Here we are constantly asked if we need a taxi, want to buy a phone card or bootlegged dvds. Already we are missing, Toubab, Alpha and Sira and of course the pounding of grain at 06:30. We are now sharing a compound with a VSO family with two small children which is great and will make Christmas special but of course make us miss our Grandchildren.
So the year ends with us taking a great big deep breath. Since returning to the Kombo I have been working in the IT department in Banjul, I have also lost almost two stone in weight and Lynn around a stone we are tired but still alive well and determined to make 2010 a great year. (Sorry to go imperial for you educators.) We miss all of you and wish everyone a very special Christmas and of course a wonderful new year. Sorry for the late publishing of this blog and thank you to Sarah who was kind enough to point out that it had not been uploaded properly, technology eh. One early warning, don’t forget that Lynn celebrates a very special birthday on January 18th. We will be back in Basse by then but I am sure she would appreciate emails from anyone kind enough to remember. Bless you all from both of us
Navidad Feliz a usted. Lynn y yo hemos vuelto a Banjul durante la Navidad después de un primer término agotador. El viaje era muy largo pero ha valido la pena volver para. Teníamos una Comida de Navidad buena en la casa de nuestro Director y disfrutamos de nuestra primera copa de vino en mucho tiempo.
Comenzaremos el trabajo otra vez la próxima semana y volveremos a Basse el 4 de enero. Deseamos a todos ustedes un muy feliz año nuevo 2010.