One piece of hightly important information was missed to the end of this blog, of course it is that of the final epic two month Uno result. You will understand why it was missed off by Loz when you read it.
Parks - 11659 v Lozza - 15132
I think you all might agree he took quite a hiding. Never mind son enjoy the cold!
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Monday, 1 December 2008
Monday 1st December
I would just like to begin, quite reluctantly, by announcing that today, the 1st of December 2008, will now be, the last EVER blog day. With my departure tomorrow; and Parksy’s world renowned laziness, it is time to draw this 3 month work of genius to a close. And what have we learnt my friends? Well, firstly, that Africa is a place unlike any we’ve both experienced. Both hot and amazingly beautiful, Sierra Leone is home to some of the most genuinely wonderful people we’ve ever met. Yet at the same time, torn apart by a rebel war which has left its mark on both the people and the country itself, we both wonder if there is a solution, complex or simple, to Sierra Leone’s many problems. On a personal level we’ve learnt something even MORE vital. The truth that......an irritating young Southern fairy lad (loz)- supporter of the godly United, CAN co-exist with that older wiser northern money Parksy from Boro – supporter of Boro.....of course.
It’s been a blast, we’ve loved it, both surreal and sensational; Sierra Leone (Take 1) has been an experience that we’ll both remember for years to come.
67 schools and countless churches visited, 3 months down, in YOUR face Dunc, Parksy and Loz over.....and out.
It’s been a blast, we’ve loved it, both surreal and sensational; Sierra Leone (Take 1) has been an experience that we’ll both remember for years to come.
67 schools and countless churches visited, 3 months down, in YOUR face Dunc, Parksy and Loz over.....and out.
Saturday 29th November
This Saturday, we’d both decided (in the usual laddish Saturday spirit) that we’d play some football. However, unfortunately, neither of us had taken into account the fact that we are, both, ridiculously lazy. We woke, tired and in no state of mind to play such a game, thoroughly hoping that Pah Jalloh wouldn’t turn up......he didn’t. After dancing (that’s a lie we were too lazy) and praising Jesus for a while due to the fact that he’d answered our hasty prayers; we set about sorting out all things technological: i.e. the blog and our vast accumulation of pictures (don’t worry you’ll all see them when we get back.) And after this it was off to CAS Travel to sort out my helicopter ticket for Tuesday, (that’s right folks, due to various financial “difficulties” i.e. bankruptcy, I’m deserting poor Parksy a week early, sorry about that, and that’s right mum, I did say helicopter.....don’t worry it’s relatively safe.....relatively...haha)
After CAS travel we sped off to Mama Sue’s for a final gritty African meal, even meeting the legendary “Big Muma” herself, before heading off to Lumli beach.....for a swim and some eagerly anticipated Frisbee action! Needless to say, after nearly 3 months it was a brilliant, yet sad occasion to be hitting Lumli for the last time. And after successfully losing a few Frisbees, due to Parksy’s erratic throwing, we were off home. Once there we decided it was only right to toast the occasion with the consumption of recently acquired pound wine. And so, in anticipation of a slightly lengthy dedication service the next day, we drank a little...then drank some more. And suddenly, everything was right in the world.
After CAS travel we sped off to Mama Sue’s for a final gritty African meal, even meeting the legendary “Big Muma” herself, before heading off to Lumli beach.....for a swim and some eagerly anticipated Frisbee action! Needless to say, after nearly 3 months it was a brilliant, yet sad occasion to be hitting Lumli for the last time. And after successfully losing a few Frisbees, due to Parksy’s erratic throwing, we were off home. Once there we decided it was only right to toast the occasion with the consumption of recently acquired pound wine. And so, in anticipation of a slightly lengthy dedication service the next day, we drank a little...then drank some more. And suddenly, everything was right in the world.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Friday 28th November
On Friday we did manage to leave early, we met at church at 7am in order for Canon to hand on some second hand clothing for the locals and then on with the journey. Our boat departed the dock at 8.30am and on we headed to Yago. On arrival we were greeted by almost the whole village after an hour there we hit the road. The journey went without a hitch, and it included a few stops for Duvui. We finally arrived back in Freetown at 6.30pm which was nice. Fatta had prepared an evening meal for us which was pleasant all that was left was to had a shower and enjoy having our own beds again. What a week and wonderful visit to a beautiful Island!
Thursday 27th November
One last job for our visit remained, that was a visit to York Island a even smaller, more remote island if you can believe that! Before we headed off we met Canon on a walk around the old folk of the Island. It was a pleasant experience visiting them in turn in their own homes, these folk where the stalwarts of the parish of old and have all spent their whole lives on Sherbro Island. As we were heading back for breakfast we were reminded that we were due to met with the Mayor at 9am and we were already late so we made a quick visit to him. When we arrived at the town hall, basically an old beaten building on the sea front we were greeted by the Mayor, two councillors and all the council staff. We then proceeded to a meeting around this surprisingly large table surrounded by 12 executive chairs, not that we were allowed to sit on them, we were on the wooden ones! The Mayor welcomed us to the Island and told us of his plan to start a process for Visa applications to visit Sherbro Island (He did add we wouldn’t need one though as we are now seasoned visitors) and also made a request for us to get power to the Island. Not sure if we will manage that but suppose if they don’t ask they don’t get. We left him and headed for breakfast and then on to the boat. Today’s boat trip was a much shorter one only a thirty minute trip. We spoke to the head on board the boat so our visit to the school wouldn’t need to be too long and on arrival went to meet with the Chief. The Chief of York Island was a lady, the first we had come across in Sierra Leone; she had inherited it from her father. After this we headed around the Island to the school and to the site were the old church use to be. It now has no roof and is in a really bad state of repair because if this they are now meeting in an old store room, that smells really bad. When we arrived back in Bonthe we had lunch and it was then time for relaxation and packing since we were leaving early the next morning. It was a really wonderful afternoon; we spent some time with our host family and then headed to catch a glimpse of a local football match, which was in honour of the RC Archbishop of Freetown and Bo’s visit to the Island. Not long after returning from the match, he appeared by our house and we quick chat before heading back for our evening meal and some more Duvui. It was then early to bed.
Wednesday 26th November
Canon Coker’s voice outside our door woke us early on Wednesday.....we were less than pleased.
We leapt out of bed and were soon walking, for there are no cars on Bonthe my friends, south to the local port to witness the morning catch! After this exercise we plodded over to the prison and radio station where we met some of the local bad-boy prisoners, one wielding a machete! A quick stop later and we’d met the local enigmatic DJ, let’s call him DJ cool, and we were off for some late breakfast. By 11 we were off on a boat trip to Manya, a local rural village to the west of Bonthe. A serene boat journey later, and a quick stop to collect some all important duvui and we were in Manya itself. And this was “really” a complete insight into African culture. A village completely isolated from Westernisation. We greeted the local chief, handing over 20 pence to grant us safe passage across his village and then set off across it to reach one of the only beaches on Sherbro Island (where Bonthe is capital.) The journey through the bush under the beating sun took its toll on Parksy’s shoulders, now without a shirt on, his red arms and white chest gave the illusion of him actually wearing a white wife-beater....he wasn’t though....just very burnt. The beach itself was idyllic, but lacking fresh water supply due to the obstruction of an offshore bar, a LOT of manky waste had collected along the water-line. Walking home, our driver, Monsieur Jalloh, leapt a mile at the sight of a snake in the bush, the rest of us being manly just looked on with interest. We spent some further time with the town chief and his coconuts, before setting sail for our temporary home at Bonthe. Once there, the day being late, we felt it was only right to take the time to talk on the Canon’s balcony and before long, some duvui, chat and duvui later and it was that dark time again, time to sleep and prepare for the trip to York Island on Thursday!
We leapt out of bed and were soon walking, for there are no cars on Bonthe my friends, south to the local port to witness the morning catch! After this exercise we plodded over to the prison and radio station where we met some of the local bad-boy prisoners, one wielding a machete! A quick stop later and we’d met the local enigmatic DJ, let’s call him DJ cool, and we were off for some late breakfast. By 11 we were off on a boat trip to Manya, a local rural village to the west of Bonthe. A serene boat journey later, and a quick stop to collect some all important duvui and we were in Manya itself. And this was “really” a complete insight into African culture. A village completely isolated from Westernisation. We greeted the local chief, handing over 20 pence to grant us safe passage across his village and then set off across it to reach one of the only beaches on Sherbro Island (where Bonthe is capital.) The journey through the bush under the beating sun took its toll on Parksy’s shoulders, now without a shirt on, his red arms and white chest gave the illusion of him actually wearing a white wife-beater....he wasn’t though....just very burnt. The beach itself was idyllic, but lacking fresh water supply due to the obstruction of an offshore bar, a LOT of manky waste had collected along the water-line. Walking home, our driver, Monsieur Jalloh, leapt a mile at the sight of a snake in the bush, the rest of us being manly just looked on with interest. We spent some further time with the town chief and his coconuts, before setting sail for our temporary home at Bonthe. Once there, the day being late, we felt it was only right to take the time to talk on the Canon’s balcony and before long, some duvui, chat and duvui later and it was that dark time again, time to sleep and prepare for the trip to York Island on Thursday!
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