The Count...

In case you were wondering... this is The Count. He plays in the BDO, which is very different from the sexed up Sky Sports PDC (get me with my darts acronyms). I find it slightly scary I have heard of The Count, but never watched BDO darts. Too many Thursday night darts nights perhaps?

Football, islands and nomads

So Friday's match didn't go so well, although Senegal support didn't falter. My football knowledge is increasing greatly... mostly through Spearsy, but also through some observation. I am now well versed on what (in Spearsy's opinion) England need to do to win on Wednesday. So should Capello call me then I will be able to advise.

Senegal staff flying the England flag

Half time... I think Spearsy looks a bit like "The Count" (from the darts)

Saturday was fun. We went on an outing to Goree, a small Island just off the coast of Dakar. Was lovely wandering around the narrow cobbled streets and enjoying the art and views... and an ice cream too :O) Goree played a role in the slave trade... although the extent to which it did is somewhat debated (according to source of all knowledge - Wikipedia).

Fort on Goree with Dakar skyline in the background

Kids splashing around in the harbour!

Goree harbour. Slightly reminiscent of St Ives, Cornwall, UK I think (OK... perhaps not super reminiscent... )

Steps in the fort

Old mottled building

Huge canons! According to Spearsy these were built to keep the Brits off the island... but I'm not entirely sure this is an actual fact or a Spearsy fact.Atlantic art

Bougainvillea everywhere!

Old fire hydrant!

Saturday night I learnt to cook Yassa Poulet (chicken and spicy onions) and played around with these kids! I also witnessed Anna having her hair done. For a 3 year old she was super patient... sitting in a chair for several hours whilst 2 ladies plaited her hair into hundreds of very thin plaits and put little plastic multi coloured beads on the end. In the photo the kids are sporting their UK gifts: Anna is covered in Dora the Explorer stickers, Ludo has a huge bubble wand, and Babocar is wearing a Ben 10 watch type thing!
On the move... we passed literally thousands of animals (goats, sheep and cattle) making what is apparently a twice yearly 600-800km migration (on foot), to different pastures and markets.

The cattle are just beautiful, albeit skinny... and at +$200 a piece they make their owners very wealthy...Nomad support carts follow the herders carrying water (sometimes in inflatable rubber dingys - random), supplies and the women and children. Despite their families wealth (in terms of animals) these children are always on the move and are therefore rarely, if ever, in school.At Hotel Paradise Spearsy attempts to emulate the herders...

It is a slightly random place. Not quite as random as Family Kingdom in Freetown... but the walls are covered in murals... feels like we are at pre school!

Alas, despite the colourful wall paintings its not exactly a classy joint... here it seems a bird has made a nest in the bathroom window... nice.

And to finish the long blog of many photos here are 2 Senegalese mini munchkins

Strawberries

These are some of the strawberries we are growing, and that Anthony ate last night... I think we have more coming fortunately.

The slightly worrying thing is that for his diner last night he ate these 2 strawberries some raw carrots (apparently they taste better that way) and some cheese. So now I am the guilty wife, abandoning husband to fend for himself on cheese and raw carrots! Perhaps I should never leave the country again and chain myself to the kitchen to ensure that every day I can present delicious and nutritious meals for my man... But then he is more than capable of fending for himself AND I left some curry in the freezer, so hopefully I won't return home to a poor famished Geer.

post script

It would seem that generally speaking the Senegalese were pleased the French lost.

17th June

I'm still enjoying the Laguna Beach Resort. Not been in the pools tho... but the view at least makes you feel on holiday... even if the logframe fuzzy head feeling reminds you that you aren't. I'm reading "Sophie's Choice", which is compounding the feeling of surreality. It is really good... but with a fair chunk of the book set in Auschwitz is also reasonably distressing (I've had to wiki the plot and alas it doesn't look like it will get any better). On a slight diversionary note we are going to a wedding in Krakow next month and have a few days holiday either side. My husband informed me some years ago that one of the major tourist destinations in the area is... a salt mine (sounds thrilling)... but more importantly a salt mine with a salt statue of the old pope in it. The renounced Catholic that he is wants to visit... anyway... I also understand that Auschwitz is relatively close too. I wonder should we go? With my mind full of smoking crematoriums and twisted Nazis etc. I'm not particularly keen... but perhaps we should... to be reminded of mans capacity for evil... hmmm will ponder that one.Anyway lest we become too depressed here are some more of the Tesco England wrist bands on tour. Outrage as Nigeria lost to Greece today... people were seriously angry with the bloke who got the red card... and thought the Nigerian team deserve to go out of the contest due to their indiscipline. The feedback on France's match with Mexico will be interesting. Most people sort of support France, especially as half the team is West African (so they say... I of course know nothing and am mostly experiencing the world cup vicariously as I get updates on match status from one person or another)... we will see... I'm sure I will be given a detailed low down over diner!

Crabs and Coupe du Monde

Am enjoying my 2nd Senegalese mini break in the space of a month. Have managed to watch parts of 3 football matches (with French commentary) which is a world record. Can't say I'm particularly interested... although I do feel a slight pang of sadness that the north Koreans are not going to make their dear leader happy with a win over Brazil :O(

Here is Spearsy indoctrinating me into the ways of England football hooligan!He is also converting the Senegalese... here are Marthe and Khady proudly holding the flag!

Went for a mini walk on the beach and saw hundreds of large crabs... fortunately they seemed quite scared of me. This one however didn't have a hole to hide in and so I was able to get a close up snap whilst it played sleeping lions in the hope I wouldn't stamp on it!
Crab sunset
just lovely... aren't I lucky to be here!!
slightly dodgy bridge leading out to sand island
Bougainvillea... wish my plant (a donation from Al) would flourish like these... am thinking the English clime could be the problem... it is hot here, but the sea breeze makes it seem quite pleasant really.

Patriotic update

Fortunately the England flags have been removed and dispatched to south Sudan (truly), where they may well right now be flying high on Misty's landcruiser... or traded with a Dinka for something exciting (like a dinka beating stick or spear).

I leave the country this weekend for another Senegal minibreak... and to avoid the World Cup madness. However I understand from Spearsy that he is flying England flags from his landcruiser too, and that work shall pause for England matches. I guess it will be good to be in Afreeeka for the World Cup, even if Senegal didn't make the finals!

The Princess (Di) is doing well... flowering nicely.