Sat 9th November to Wed 12th November

Saturday 9th

On my 60 day anniversary in Sierra Leone, we felt, in a word.....average. The night before had taken its toll and we awoke very slowly, Parksy, in particular, felt unmoveable.....how he loves to dance!
However, we were both excited (when I say both, I mean just myself) by the approaching football match between United and Arsenal and, eventually, we gathered enough strength to call for the car to pick us up, with the idea of travelling to our favourite football viewing haunt on Liverpool Street. On arrival, on what was to be an unlucky day for United (very unlucky) we realised that neither of us was in for a particularly enjoyable day. Both seated on a crate, in a narrow aisle alongside 60 Sierra Leonies, after 45 minutes of the stuffy atmosphere, fuelled by slight illness and constantly moving to view the TV screen, we called it a day at Liverpool Street and set off for the YMCA....United were 1-0 down at half time. At the YMCA, although the atmosphere was more relaxed, the day continued to have the happiness sapped from it by the powers that be....United went 2-0 down. As soon as the game ended, my head held high (wearing a sleeveless United shirt!) we left for home turf. I was less than happy, neither was Parks, though he was roused by my own displeasure briefly.....
The day passed in a gentle fashion from here on, neither of us in a particularly awesome temperament....2-1.....2-1....

Sunday 10th

We had decided, long ago, that this Sunday, we would take one for the team, and eat up an early morning Eucharistic service. We arrived at St Philips - Patton Street, at 7.30am, geared up to take on the world. Greeted warmly by one of our favourite Canons, Canon Coker, we sat down to enjoy the service. And enjoy......we did. 1 hour and 13 recorded minutes later, the shortest African service in the history of time had finished, we emerged, triumphant, cleansed, oh so happy, and free to spend the rest of the day as we wished; we set off for home. We arrived back at the lodge within 5 minutes, and still loudly singing Lionel Richie’s – Easy Like a Sunday Morning – (well, me singing, Parksy doing his best....) we settled down on the balcony, embraced by the cool sea breeze, to muse for a time what exactly to do with the unique, lengthy day. 1 hour passed......2 hours passed..........3 hours passed, and eventually, when we would usually be emerging from a church service, inspiration was consumed by laziness....we did nothing. We were expecting one of our Sierra Leonie brothers, Ansu, to arrive at 1pm as we were throwing a little birthday shindig for him, each of us wilfully intent on consuming Fatta’s prepared dish, maybe even dabbling in an Uno game or two, who knows!
Well, after we’d presented Ansu with his dirty dirty Liverpool shirt, and sung a quick happy birthday (that’s a bit of a lie, we’re both too manly to sing it man to man) we retired to the balcony again!
Some wine was consumed, and conversation was had before we turned to the more serious business of teaching the lad to play the sweet card game.......Ansu won......I lost......enough said.

Monday 11th – LAKKA BEACH

On Monday, finally, after weeks of preparation, our dream of reaching the remote, beautiful, idyllic Lakka beach had become an incredible reality. Needless to say, much time was wasted with high-fives (though no time spent high fiving another man is really wasted!) we set off for Lakka with old Pah Jalloh, the legend himself, as our escort. We were off!!
Now, I don’t want to give everyone at home a false impression of Lakka, so I’ll leave much of the interesting descriptions to when we return to the cold UK. However, Ladies and Gents, it is basically, truly.....awesome. We arrived just before lunch, which gave us a perfect period of time to settle into our room, settle into a hammock, looking out across the wide glistening expanse of the Atlantic, time to chillax with a beer in one hand and a book in the other. After this we both dined on some grilled Barracuda and chips, followed by another beer or so, before we set off to relax in the sea. This was indeed holiday, the first in 2 months.
And then for the day’s finale......the fishing trip! I can’t bring myself to describe it in written word right now, so you’ll have to wait until we’re both back. Yet, highlights for me included, Parksy’s capture of two fish on one line, my capture of a sheep’s head (better, and tastier, than it sounds) and of course, Iain’s attempt to get stuck in with bailing out the water we were taking on. Seizing the bucket confidently, he filled it, measured his throw; threw it straight over his shoulder......and straight back into the boat on the other side of him.....much laughing distracted the fishing for a time to come. On the return journey, as darkness approached, looking inland at the beauty of Sierra Leone’s “fresh green breast of land” I experienced a particular Gatsbyesque moment which I’ll never forget.
We triumphantly reached the shore in darkness, two humble fishermen, catch in hand....6 fish each!
What a day!

Tuesday 11th November

Well Lakka beach on day two what a strenuous day ahead. We were going to enjoy the relaxation that was for sure. We awoke around 8 so not to waste much of the morning. Breakfast was ready waiting, good old omelette then Lozza in particular could wait to get his lounger and settle down to some old man music and his book. It really was lovely but was really hot by 11 that we had to jump in the sea to cool off – I know what you are all thinking, they are really suffering out there! You’d be right life is tough. After losing three Frisbees to the strong undercurrent of the sea we headed back to the hotel for a rest before lunch. For lunch we were eating our own catch from the night before it was fabulous (even Loz enjoyed it). I have to admit I felt it would have been a crime not to enjoy a Lobster so I, for a measly £6, I decided to partake and it was good. After lunch we were heading back to Freetown for me to have a meeting with the development board, and in normal fashion we had a flat tyre, Pa Jalloh was suggesting sabotage, since he refused to park earlier in the day. Bad times! After another 30minute breakdown we were back on track. My meeting went smoothly and after just an hour I came out feeling well happy about what had gone on. On arrival at Bishops Court we had just walked in the door and Claire and the Kids turned up. It was fun watching Loz the babysitter and Ben the youngest having a face pulling contest, of course Loz won but then he would even with his natural face! We finished the day in the Diocesan Office and a small computer fix.

Wednesday 12th

It was about time we got back to doing some real work so we got on board the Green Machine and headed for Moyamba a school that has already been mentioned in this blog. It took us about 4 hours since the roads where bad but we finally arrive. We were greeted by all the children sitting outside and we had a lovely time. We had an opportunity to introduce ourselves which we duly did and they did some cultural dancing for us. It is great to see them as young as 5 dancing around in cultural dress. After this we headed back to the Guest House for some lunch and a relaxing afternoon. In the evening all the teachers came to share a meal with us. It was a shared plate of Cassava Leaf. It was a lovely meal; we in true English fashion used spoons while the local’s dag in with the hands. It really is a sight worth seeing.