What a send-off!
 
After 9 years spent working in West Africa, Jer’s time has come to go off to the Ukraine... just because he is worth it.  Everyone expected him to leave with a bang, and so he did.  What a send-off ! I have carefully selected a few pictures,  which, even after censure, should give you a fair idea...
 
With Jer gone, the preparation for the trip back to Europe can start in earnest, i.e. sort out all the paperwork on the car (not as simple as it might sound here), check and prepare said car (filters of all sort, servicing, etc...).  We have also packed up half of our gear to free up some space in the boot, which we will fill with stationary and clothes for the children’s villages we will visit along the way.  Oh, and there will be a few cubic inches left for cadeaux, the only valid laisser-passer for the inevitable police checks we will have to clear...
 
Other than that, here is a selection of facts and quotes of the past couple of weeks,  in no particular order:
 
  1. ✦ Yesterday, Elias almost ripped the tail of a baby rabbit to see if the story in one of his favourite books was true, i.e. animals going to the market to buy their tail. Rabbit blood was spilled and a few tears were shed...
  2. ✦ Last Tuesday, our fishing efforts in Ada we rewarded with a 6kg baraccuda.  The beast bit Jerome as he was trying to extract the hook from the mouth.  Once again, blood was spilled !
  3. ✦ Jerome’s farewell party:  40 peoples, 48 bottles of champaign, 36 bottles of wines, 15 kilos of couscous... and then we went clubbing. No blood this time !
  4. ✦ Ghana splashed 20,000,000 USD to celebrate 50 years of independence last week. 90 cars (Mercs and BMWs) were bought to drive the guests around.  At Jerome’s house in East Legon we were a month without water.
  5. ✦ Kufuor, the President of Ghana, was on official visit in London yesterday to see the Queen.  The Queen had been invited to Ghana for the independence festivities but politely (and rightly) declined.
  6. ✦ President Kufuor is being challenged in some newspapers because he was not wearing the traditional Ghanean outfit (kente) when visiting the Queen.  Maybe they don’t know that it gets a bit cold in London at this time of the year.
Pictures are here.
 
 
Off to the Ukraine
Saturday, 10 March 2007