The wind has got up again, bringing fine sand from the Sahara,
covering everything in a layer of dust.
Fontou, the lady who cleans for us is fighting a losing battle, but
trying to keep the dust under control.
We leave her battling the elements and head out.
Our first port of call this morning is Naata nursery school
with boxes donated by Windhill C of E school in Bradford. We arrive at the school and are met by the
caretaker, Ibraima, coming to ask us how Steve’s foot is. Ibraima had a hernia operation in April last
year just before we left and it seems that he is fully recovered, but not
lifting things quite as heavy as before.
Classes are taking place and we just put our head round the door and
greet each of the teachers in turn.
Ibraima helped Steve unload the boxes and we open them for the staff to
see what we have brought. Mr Jallow
arrived a little later and we had a short meeting with him about the
school. Class sizes have been reduced
this year, they had grown to unmanageable levels last year. Abi is back teaching after her second baby
which is being minded by Ibraima’s wife.
We had a photo taken with Mr Jallow and Yorro who has grown and is now
attending the Upper Basic school just near Naata and had arrived on the back of
the motorbike with him. A list of
requirements is drawn up and then we leave.
We had an email reminding us that we had not paid the port
for the container in December, so we then head to Banjul
to sort that out. Ousman has been in
touch and asked us to call and see him when we are there. Everywhere is still quiet, very few tourists,
and so very few taxis on the road, the journey to Banjul
is quicker than usual. We arrive at the
new National Assembly
Building and ring Ousman to let him
know we have arrived. We are invited
into the foyer, a first, we never went into the old building, we used to wait
on the road outside for him. The
building is new, enormous, stylish and air conditioned. We have a long discussion sat on a very
comfortable sofa in reception, interrupted by various of his colleagues coming
to see who we are. We agree to get a
letter for the port authority, discuss future plans and arrange to meet him on
Wednesday evening for dinner with his new second wife.
A short drive then takes us to the shipping office where we
get a copy of the invoice and head off on foot to the bank to get the
money. We stop for a late lunch at Ali
Babas café in Banjul on the way to
the bank. We collect the money and then
take a taxi back to the shipping office where we pay and collect the truck to
drive home, even though we drive through the main tourist areas the roads are
still quiet with many taxis parked at the side waiting for clients who do not
arrive. Many of the hotels and restaurants have closed or open for shorter
hours than normal. Staff have been
reduced, sometimes by a third to try and save money.
We spend the rest of the evening at home, watching another
film with Kebba.
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