tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60640307669437334122024-03-05T17:37:41.031-08:00The Scrawl Of The WildA sort of what Chris Ripple did, and what he did next...Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-20826026804833177162015-12-29T13:19:00.001-08:002015-12-31T09:39:47.492-08:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2014 (PART FIVE: THE FIRST TRIP TO RED CROC')<br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So the following morning as early as we could make it,
Haddy, three noisy and excited girls and me got a taxi to Bakau.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The African Village Hotel is shut and so we won’t be
going there, so it looks very much like a trip to Ocean Bay is in order ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wouldn’t you know it, they’re shut too as they are
renovating a few bits including the swimming pool.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
AAAAAAARGH !!!</div>
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Ok, where next ?</div>
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Red Croc’ is suggested by the Ocean Bay staff so we might
as well have a try since we’re in the vicinity.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yaay !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Success.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re going to charge us the same as Ocean Bay would,
and what’s more they’ll supply dinner.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They only have about twenty guests at the present moment
because one lot has just flown back and they’re not expecting anybody else until
a lot later tonight and we’ll be gone by then so it looks like we’ve got the
complete pool area to ourselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nice one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least the girls won’t get jostled while they’re in the
water and they can all splash about to their hearts content.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hopefully it’s going to be a nice relaxing day ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we’ve told Mariama, Jalika and Ida they can have about
an hour in the pool and then we’ll have lunch, after lunch they can mess about
for an hour while their lunch goes down and then they can go back in the pool
until it’s time for us to go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It sounds about right.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t see them wanting to get out because when you put
the three of them next to water then they do tend to become water babies for
the duration, but we’ll see ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They know the score anyway, they’ve been doing it for
long enough now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here we go… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTub-XVk_Q37H-A3b0XH0zLq0PyDzUQX9nXrkNPtF0lSQBmoIAWCsahO02xPXUYk0JjvoXpoGgAf8k3wtceDq_2fdl8Ua85DWgBDITiEVV6IsaOj_WDfkW_1CXSKUUJwLTAGLHlIBtzA/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTub-XVk_Q37H-A3b0XH0zLq0PyDzUQX9nXrkNPtF0lSQBmoIAWCsahO02xPXUYk0JjvoXpoGgAf8k3wtceDq_2fdl8Ua85DWgBDITiEVV6IsaOj_WDfkW_1CXSKUUJwLTAGLHlIBtzA/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right... Let's go...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalika in the blow-up dinghy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRzFJm4baPxeVSZKvJEND-z4XFtn96jyMr8eoeLgfyQduEJj95PCMN8NJ4iougkbnHXCD-PY7uJLBs0JSSYAIieldwaHMJuKw7iVZsy3n7XctiNrBx4LCjFm1M7HtD7BB2ShxJDoS0A/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRzFJm4baPxeVSZKvJEND-z4XFtn96jyMr8eoeLgfyQduEJj95PCMN8NJ4iougkbnHXCD-PY7uJLBs0JSSYAIieldwaHMJuKw7iVZsy3n7XctiNrBx4LCjFm1M7HtD7BB2ShxJDoS0A/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariama relaxing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ida has now got the dinghy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_fu3vYZekzyKDqIEx-8OKZK2RpZ_vkXH4PAxfaRveBBE2-NO8zp9vY3ZnGyoJ_FGdXPpKY9u2-ZIhEtiuGUo9K1pueCah5lmsx2joZ6b14NYAGOfRPu7RciIQ2ibxlPD9Ej11gxbcw/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_fu3vYZekzyKDqIEx-8OKZK2RpZ_vkXH4PAxfaRveBBE2-NO8zp9vY3ZnGyoJ_FGdXPpKY9u2-ZIhEtiuGUo9K1pueCah5lmsx2joZ6b14NYAGOfRPu7RciIQ2ibxlPD9Ej11gxbcw/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalika with the 'surf-dinghy'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LFKlZxXjJLbtVDzW6wRtAJd82FNxgiCFZQyaDWNS9qKpFZ9jJMFTETOEr9K4z0M4FqQLUdU8aqtbI7w_b5nrIL4u4kD4VYhWtBqFSnaY25GkHLL09jp8eig0P_BaPJkYjs_wasbUng/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LFKlZxXjJLbtVDzW6wRtAJd82FNxgiCFZQyaDWNS9qKpFZ9jJMFTETOEr9K4z0M4FqQLUdU8aqtbI7w_b5nrIL4u4kD4VYhWtBqFSnaY25GkHLL09jp8eig0P_BaPJkYjs_wasbUng/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And finally I'm in...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lads are doing a bit of tree lopping...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddy relaxing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2kA_-v5mFT0OKTzhW-9LLoFcysaHX7eUBU3gdrm7iIDBF6EmwaA9-5FmBCK9VIkmoY5Oq_SPJ-008mizGbClXnVCFg61jQp0Ns3XY7rGViAtUmMaxIt6TLkCdbU33n3E33l5fSTaig/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2kA_-v5mFT0OKTzhW-9LLoFcysaHX7eUBU3gdrm7iIDBF6EmwaA9-5FmBCK9VIkmoY5Oq_SPJ-008mizGbClXnVCFg61jQp0Ns3XY7rGViAtUmMaxIt6TLkCdbU33n3E33l5fSTaig/s320/050.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awa visiting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ogr3j8H-9IdV9xOzqfwOmTSw9tVTNB67mAMjvsIUGpD-WAlglkrsPqJu_2tGCFPB6Eq3ehzUOk7iK5H6KQ8MPdu9FYGbUSjZG2MrswL1aUspVuKUZ82cxT-hi3sRG19y2ZcpCk-Clw/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ogr3j8H-9IdV9xOzqfwOmTSw9tVTNB67mAMjvsIUGpD-WAlglkrsPqJu_2tGCFPB6Eq3ehzUOk7iK5H6KQ8MPdu9FYGbUSjZG2MrswL1aUspVuKUZ82cxT-hi3sRG19y2ZcpCk-Clw/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right. We've ordered lunch so where is it ?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, let's eat...</td></tr>
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Right, well that will give you some sort of idea...<br />
And just before we ordered, big sister Awa who is currently part-timing at Ocean Bay as opposed to her full time post decides to walk up the road and pay us a visit.<br />
She's taken some time out to get one of her relatives shops up and running.<br />
It's a dress shop with material from the USA, Senegal and anywhere else she can get the fabrics from and she seems to be doing quite well at it.<br />
I can see her finishing at Ocean Bay if it carries on being as successful as it seems to be at the moment. <br />
Oh, and food was chicken, chips and salad x4 and Nasi Goreng x1 just in case you were wondering what the food was ?<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After lunch we went for an exploring session as we’ve
never been here before.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin09agwEAOpkPCHxGqhTaFuuV5o4NLUyD08RlJJThvAtp2ZURPRZan_B359Xw19jpaIzsI4zHRusSifIT2czaznMptyiv_UBWVKF2GWyFybABaBNoFF10wm_2toZv8WYmqxvusWnDgRA/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin09agwEAOpkPCHxGqhTaFuuV5o4NLUyD08RlJJThvAtp2ZURPRZan_B359Xw19jpaIzsI4zHRusSifIT2czaznMptyiv_UBWVKF2GWyFybABaBNoFF10wm_2toZv8WYmqxvusWnDgRA/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And that's why it's called 'Red Croc'</td></tr>
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It’s definitely quite a nice place to relax in that it’s
got a few hotel businesses that you don’t usually see such as the ‘Holistic’
studio, and the beach itself is quite near to the poolside area. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScvz2Bpxn2uy-3QTlQ0u53J7K36bnD8Mgoyky4DBT0U3DGettDO9BkzF8HhK8iJtKASf53D1vVcIlAd4LYJ8If8fdnOBXmG1r6TrLQr-ale-jONonsJkMKI_znWX9ZUy0bsB4BswLkw/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScvz2Bpxn2uy-3QTlQ0u53J7K36bnD8Mgoyky4DBT0U3DGettDO9BkzF8HhK8iJtKASf53D1vVcIlAd4LYJ8If8fdnOBXmG1r6TrLQr-ale-jONonsJkMKI_znWX9ZUy0bsB4BswLkw/s320/075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don’t know what it’s going to be like when it’s chock-full
of guests but there seems to be enough space to accommodate them.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKDKHhZE2VO7RUdHk4mUep1gxvHxf_JKWdzCubFHWA_9Iv-W9X2bxq4jjcfhpftRH6PC_H593dUsqzJRqKvaPgcJx5F0OOM7lj7QK2FX0zFNF3MLkOkNawdPpLHqyIbPaAIQ0hROWww/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKDKHhZE2VO7RUdHk4mUep1gxvHxf_JKWdzCubFHWA_9Iv-W9X2bxq4jjcfhpftRH6PC_H593dUsqzJRqKvaPgcJx5F0OOM7lj7QK2FX0zFNF3MLkOkNawdPpLHqyIbPaAIQ0hROWww/s320/068.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grow your own fruit...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Right, dinner’s gone down so it’s back in the pool…
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZXx2_tUTEvARnC2Zl8zo7IMzxb4OyED5PZxA2GJvqMqyaQIhCsJcpK1VINglDnuLUZ72nEFyRi5PXbCpfcAxauCrahkgrQ6sR7nn8-A05fzMZ5CRVL18lNW6ZevGYnsNy7cpFBRYPA/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZXx2_tUTEvARnC2Zl8zo7IMzxb4OyED5PZxA2GJvqMqyaQIhCsJcpK1VINglDnuLUZ72nEFyRi5PXbCpfcAxauCrahkgrQ6sR7nn8-A05fzMZ5CRVL18lNW6ZevGYnsNy7cpFBRYPA/s320/122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfj0YR2O6T0mVP_bMYQGEMh7IOG-RHeCg1v6xEKDJjKs5UFTlYx5hnkS6HfJY_XvFnLJwZd2bjleOpzpBsWyZLqxy3YRv2kjRkFSFFbw3_zqhm4V9P_1KKbYT9wxCK0jyYzPvGpHINvw/s1600/128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfj0YR2O6T0mVP_bMYQGEMh7IOG-RHeCg1v6xEKDJjKs5UFTlYx5hnkS6HfJY_XvFnLJwZd2bjleOpzpBsWyZLqxy3YRv2kjRkFSFFbw3_zqhm4V9P_1KKbYT9wxCK0jyYzPvGpHINvw/s320/128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqliOdfgtA3GYtbIrnIXrwFpMhtpnGNqS38F0GfQXOmTlQX-MwalSjd0-VVl17U_6drI8RtmQcbjtDk73jGcIwzCF2JsWEIQLV5Y-0aONW6xIDzSPSZaMqA_O0of8iP3cr0mmcl0F9A/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqliOdfgtA3GYtbIrnIXrwFpMhtpnGNqS38F0GfQXOmTlQX-MwalSjd0-VVl17U_6drI8RtmQcbjtDk73jGcIwzCF2JsWEIQLV5Y-0aONW6xIDzSPSZaMqA_O0of8iP3cr0mmcl0F9A/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're supposed to stay on it, not fall off it...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to go...</td></tr>
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And that was our first trip to Red Croc’.</div>
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We left at about four-thirty after doing what we’d hoped
to do.</div>
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We’d had a very relaxing day out but then when you get
back you realise that isn’t going to last because everybody wants to know where
you’ve been even though they’d all been told and we’d got a compound full
including Sainabou and Adama.</div>
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Oh well, looks like it's time for a bit of music and a beer ?</div>
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And we've definitely got another dancer in the family...</div>
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Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-45498193861125032802015-12-22T15:03:00.000-08:002015-12-29T13:19:07.038-08:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2014 (PART FOUR: BLOOD SISTERS)<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->It had taken a fair bit of work during the week but Haddy
had finally managed to get most of the clothes we’d sent out given away to
those she felt had needed them.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The only things left now were everything we’d sent out for
our lot and those that were going to Killy, which would be going at some time
the following week along with whoever was free on the day ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, we get to Saturday having warned Ida’s family that at
some time in the morning she’ll be required for a ‘fitting’ session and
probably a few photos as well ?</div>
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After all, if you’re going to act like a rock band then
you may as well dress the part…</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d managed to keep Mariama and Jalika away from
anything that they felt that they might want and also managed to persuade them
that the clothes we were giving away weren’t actually for them, which was more
difficult than it sounds as both of them, but Mariama in particular, were quite
vociferous on the ‘I like this so I want to keep it’, front.</div>
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But finally Ida had appeared and so we opened the last bag
and started handing out those things we’d put by and bought for them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok girls, use the spare shop as a changing room and let’s
see what you look like shall we while I go and get all your instruments
because you might as well have a few ‘props’ if we’re going to be taking photos ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So with Hassanatou acting as Chief Wrangler to actually
get them doing it with a sense of purpose, Haddy and I waited with bated breath…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Although with the words that we were hearing through the
walls, maybe Chief Mangler is a better description of Hassa’s job ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apart from the things that Haddy and I had managed to get
from some of our friends with daughters the same age-ish, we’d scoured the charity
shops back in the UK for things in good and reasonable condition that would
look appropriate, and if we hadn’t managed to find anything suitable then we’d
look in the cheaper younger fashion outlets.</div>
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T-shirts had been a particular bugbear as although we
could always find something that fitted Mariama and Ida, Jalika being that much
smaller was very difficult to find things for, especially if we wanted three
matching shirts.</div>
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It had been difficult but I think we finally managed it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It would seem that Medium, Large and Obese are the three current
UK <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>t-shirt sizes in shops, even for teenage girls...</div>
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The ‘Rock Band’ t-shirts had been the biggest challenge
as it seemed nobody did ‘Small’ and if they did it was closer to medium as far
as size went, but finally we’d cracked it at Primark of all places and although
the girls wouldn’t have a clue who the band were, as they weren’t played on
Gambian radio, at least they could listen to the three albums I had on the
computer just to check them out.</div>
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Right… Come on kids, let’s be seeing you…</div>
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Good God !!!</div>
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It’s been said sometimes that ‘clothes maketh the man’
(or woman) but nothing had prepared us for what came out of that room.</div>
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If they had wanted to be a band then they needed to feel
like one and getting the right clothes puts you some distance toward achieving
your objective.</div>
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Three young girls had walked up those steps to change
clothes but a band had walked back out with all their own personalities encapsulated
in what they were wearing.</div>
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Talk about a transformation.</div>
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Right, grab your camera darling and let’s get some pic’s…</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Band and Management...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody is not taking this seriously...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Rhythms Of The World' t-shirts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spy with my little eye...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVKPnj3n7Wkq8GpNdJ-Bsrva1ym7U3xASEUBZm1ERsoDYEOIhF_sw9KVxVNUVpLxhUmwCJ_O_4V86uk9vDwLfCaJxzmIdBCM5BQo-jyTUm3IlwVGs3qJHWsMUNa5lNA0eVv0K5fqXaA/s1600/DSCF0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVKPnj3n7Wkq8GpNdJ-Bsrva1ym7U3xASEUBZm1ERsoDYEOIhF_sw9KVxVNUVpLxhUmwCJ_O_4V86uk9vDwLfCaJxzmIdBCM5BQo-jyTUm3IlwVGs3qJHWsMUNa5lNA0eVv0K5fqXaA/s320/DSCF0169.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Band, the 'Drum Roadie' and the 'Management' </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG5t0eHqJsGcugqaxoQ_AxBMyARQPtAg2bKu0j6Br7L3YO9CyaOQIN6xMKhoeltnTg5VDqW3IbGkggUTAgOSuw32ngP2ceAhHxt6vkNiHpttNP6P1cvb1DWeUp1OwLxxdnbJQdDxHFQ/s1600/DSCF0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG5t0eHqJsGcugqaxoQ_AxBMyARQPtAg2bKu0j6Br7L3YO9CyaOQIN6xMKhoeltnTg5VDqW3IbGkggUTAgOSuw32ngP2ceAhHxt6vkNiHpttNP6P1cvb1DWeUp1OwLxxdnbJQdDxHFQ/s320/DSCF0180.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWJ09uvmzl37re_th-eDkNJKYj1f7Q0Pj0mI12KniIpVZ-Xtm9IL1jOtxpI0KVccyzbl17tPK2JgRgZnnpTIBCh8A65lF_3tDS1arJoX5L64ZifvWHzNdXgBcJO8d5NgjzGTMF-jf0Q/s1600/DSCF0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWJ09uvmzl37re_th-eDkNJKYj1f7Q0Pj0mI12KniIpVZ-Xtm9IL1jOtxpI0KVccyzbl17tPK2JgRgZnnpTIBCh8A65lF_3tDS1arJoX5L64ZifvWHzNdXgBcJO8d5NgjzGTMF-jf0Q/s320/DSCF0187.JPG" width="239" /></a><br />
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Between four of us we managed to fire off about three hundred and fifty photos that morning.<br />
Hassanatou was using her 'phone and Awa, Haddy and I were using cameras and nobody had any inkling as to whether any of them were going to be of any use as none of us are professional photographers, but you always hope that you get the one picture that encapsulates what the subject is all about, whether at weddings, parties or indeed for any subject(s) that you are taking.<br />
One thing we did get were a few examples of Jalika's 'subversive' humour when she is being photographed, and there are two examples above.<br />
Whilst it is true to say that she's a lot quieter than Mariama and thinks before she speaks, when she's sure of her ground then her irrepressible and totally subversive humour surfaces and it certainly did that morning.<br />
Where she gets it from nobody knows, but it's there. <br />
So did we get the 'iconic' shot ?<br />
Well this is the one that's now on their t-shirts...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP9-oXrwgzivddHPPERcczC7c-pTePW6Kh9VQJGUeP7OmNQwcoOR5RKjI3kjqHIkFsLobVksZODRfjP4RFvJJyCV5_d-5BaD3kwbbFcKjZY5kU4hngD2UqILPLE6kL-22uWzRY57IrQ/s1600/DSCF0140+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP9-oXrwgzivddHPPERcczC7c-pTePW6Kh9VQJGUeP7OmNQwcoOR5RKjI3kjqHIkFsLobVksZODRfjP4RFvJJyCV5_d-5BaD3kwbbFcKjZY5kU4hngD2UqILPLE6kL-22uWzRY57IrQ/s320/DSCF0140+%25282%2529.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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So yeah...<br />
I think maybe we did.<br />
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Which of course brings up the obvious question that followed...<br />
'Uncle Chris... Who are The Ramones ?'<br />
'They're an American punk band. There's three albums on the computer if you want a listen. They're all dead now, the last survivor was the drummer and he died recently of cancer... Very sad'.<br />
'Ok, can we listen now ?'<br />
'Yeah, go on, the computer is in Mum's bedroom, just plug it in and wait a couple of minutes. You know which bit to press for the music, click on artists if it's not on that and then type in Ramones at the top. You've nicked it often enough to know...'<br />
'Thank you' (in chorus) and off they went...<br />
Half an hour later they were back.<br />
'Uncle Chris it's not like the music that we know...'<br />
'Is it a bit fast ?'<br />
'Very... But we like the first track'<br />
'Which is ?'<br />
'Blits something Bop...'<br />
'Blitzkrieg Bop. Well what I suggest is that you go back to that track and give it a good listen then work out how you can play it with what you've got if you want to ? Don't try and copy it, do your own thing with it and make it yours. Make it more African...'<br />
Which they promptly did and were back in under an hour with a completely re-written song.<br />
Jesus !<br />
What have they done to it. Where did this come from ? <br />
This isn't a punk track anymore, this is an out and out protest song, and by the look of the words that they'd written out was directed totally toward the UK government and the European Union...<br />
'We liked the beginning, is it alright ?'<br />
'Yeah... It's fine, good even. Want to give it a try singing it ?'<br />
'Not yet, but we think the words are right'.<br />
'I suggest you change one word, change racists to apartheid, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other but I think that's what you are trying to say. You know what apartheid means ?'<br />
'It's when they won't let black people have rights'<br />
'Well done, that'll do... Yeah, just change the one word and it's there... You've got it, well done'.<br />
Well that was totally unexpected, I hadn't expected that at all.<br />
Later on that afternoon I found out why they'd re-written it as they did ?<br />
Three lads whom they'd known, one of whom, Jally Backary, who lived over the road in the same compound as Ida and was one of our 'extended' family, and the other two from fifty yards down the road, had decided to go 'the back way' and do the migrant route over the Mediterranean to try and get to Europe.<br />
Jally had made it and got to Italy but the two brothers had perished when their boat had capsized and they'd drowned...<br />
The news had come through about three weeks previously and so the girls had taken the 'Hey Ho Let's Go' intro' and used it to comment upon what they knew...<br />
Jesus ! This ain't good...<br />
I'd thought he was still working away from home which is why we hadn't seen him ?<br />
But no, he'd taken his life into his own hands and gone 'The Back Way' as the route is known over here, and there were a lot more thinking of trying to do it.<br />
Has it really got that bad ?<br />
Talking to people locally we found out that it had.<br />
Nobody could get jobs and the Gambian economy had dropped down a big hole because nobody else wanted to invest in the country.<br />
The tourism industry has taken a battering because of the recent Ebola scares and even that has fallen way down on what it used to be.<br />
And what was the President doing about it ?<br />
Not a lot, apparently.<br />
The army was the only institution that could be sure of getting paid every month but because he brooked no criticism and would happily arrest anybody who protested against his methods, nobody wanted to stand up to him.<br />
Fuck !<br />
This definitely isn't good.<br />
Things were getting bad last year, but now it's ten times worse and survival is now the only game in town.<br />
Keep your heads down and try not to get noticed.<br />
No wonder Jally and the others tried to get out...<br />
It's a seriously scary place to be right now.<br />
Of course as soon as we find out about all this stuff then people that we know open up about what is going on and none of it is good, but what can we do living in the UK as we do ?<br />
It's frightened Haddy, I know that much, and I can only imagine what is going through her head with the children here ?<br />
It's not really the best time to unleash an all girl Gambian punk band on the world, is it ?<br />
Still, tomorrow is another day and hopefully we'll have a good time as we're going to take the little ones to one of the hotels for a swimming session...<br />
That is if we can find a hotel that's actually open ? <br />
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Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-22747581625862939292015-12-21T10:14:00.000-08:002015-12-29T13:18:48.110-08:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2014 (PART THREE: 'CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES...')<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s strange, some of the things you notice when you’ve
been away for a bit…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The twin's <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Wonjor
making system seems to be going great guns in that they are selling out on a
daily basis, but some people have started abusing it and have decided that they
will pay when it’s convenient to them rather than at the point of sale.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s going to stop as soon as I can get a word in
edgeways.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Plus, the whole local ‘culture’ thing is putting a fair
bit of strain on the younger ones who are being used as skivvies by some of the
local young men, and that is beginning to piss me off somewhat so that is going
to stop NOW and there aren’t going to be any arguments unless they want one
with me ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here’s an example of what I mean…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Its late afternoon and Haddy and the twins are out
somewhere, I’m in the compound with Jalika who is sat peacefully doing her
homework.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The gate opens and some youth who I don’t know from Adam
walks in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His first words are ‘Jalika, get me a drink’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now I appreciate that the word ‘please’ doesn’t come into
it, but his attitude sucks big time because as far as I am concerned when the
younger ones are doing their school assignments then they are doing just that
and their time doing so is NOT going to be interrupted by some arrogant prick
who seems to think he can just walk in uninvited and demand their attention.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Had he come in and just sat then I would have offered him
a drink and Jalika could have gone on doing her homework without any
interruption but it didn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There was this implied attitude that because she’s a girl
then she can just run and do his bidding when he demands it and I’m not happy
about that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is their culture.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A ‘man’ demands and the woman or child runs to fulfill it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It flies in the face of every reason for girls to get an
education.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If the culture is not going to move forward with the
times then the times have to move forward without the culture.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, I made mental notes and told Haddy about it when
she returned.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She says it’s difficult because that attitude is so
ingrained in that it won’t be changing anytime soon and so I said that the next
one who does it will incur my severe displeasure and will be told that when the
younger ones are doing their homework then they are doing something a little
bit more important than being used as a slave by an uninvited so called
‘guest’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She says that she’ll talk to the twins and Awa about it
because she does actually agree with me, but that it’s going to be difficult… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of our regular guys who pop round know better than
to get into an argument with the twins because they know they will never win
it, but there’s bound to be one or two who decide that because they are male
then they have certain ‘rights’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In which case they can exercise them in their own
compound and not ours, can’t they ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But first things first…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Hey girls, who’s not paying for Wonjor because it seems
that not everybody is ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently all the locals and their children do, but some
of the guys seem to think that they can help themselves and maybe forget to pay
when the time comes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Fine, so we put the lock back on the freezer door and it
becomes no money, no Wonjor, that’ll cure it. And next time ‘Tufa comes in
because he’s the worst offender, tell him he owes us for five large bottles,
One hundred and fifty Dalasi… We have to pay for the ingredients to keep
production going and he’s not helping one bit.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just ask him to settle his bill. If he won’t then he’ll
have to find another supplier because right now he’s just taking the piss…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Uncle Chris, you can’t…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Who’s paying for it ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘We are’. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘He’s got himself a job which seems to pay reasonably, so
he can stop scrounging off those who haven’t’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sorted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No money, no Wonjor.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s possible that the spare freezer that they’ve managed
to get working again will have to be moved anyway, as Fatou has been talking to
the twins about opening one of the shops as a hair dressing salon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’ll pay for and supply all of the bits needed and the
twins can work in it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not such a bad idea as there isn’t really one
locally and because it’s on site as it were then they would not have to travel
anywhere to work.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That is of course providing the girls are up for it and
there is no guarantee that will be the case ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But she’ll be out here anyway three weeks after we’ve
flown back and so she can do her own bit of persuasion.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’s coming out with husband Vincent and Vincent Jnr so
that the family can meet her son and Jalika can meet her little brother, and
that’s going to be interesting.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that’s not our concern right now, the little ones
homework is, however…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A couple of days later it occurs again and it’s the same
guy, but he got me instead.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The gate swings open and in he walks like he owns the
place…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Jalika, get me a drink…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jalika just carries on writing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Jalika, didn’t you hear me, get me a drink’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jalika looks up and then carries on doing her homework.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At which point I get up from where I’m sitting and ask
him what his problem is ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Can he not see that she’s doing her homework and if he wants
a drink then there’s a shop opposite which sells them but if he wants water
then there’s a tap over there in the corner and he can help himself but please
don’t just come in and disturb people who are busy doing what they are supposed
to be doing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The look of shock on his face was a joy to behold.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh the joys of being a toubab.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The reality is he wants an ice cold bottle from the
freezer but unless he learns not to throw his weight about he won’t be getting
one, and that’s the bottom line.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He looks startled, probably because nobody has actually
told him to fuck off before.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok, so you want a drink or what ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He stammers something then turns on his heel and leaves
the compound without a drink.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, if I’m going to be the bad guy then I might as
well go the whole hog ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know I’m going to hear about it when the twins get to
know about it because he’s definitely one of their circle.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which I did, courtesy of the power of mobile ‘phones
about ninety minutes later…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Uncle Chris, what did you say ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I told him Jalika was doing her homework and was not to
be disturbed while she’s doing it…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I then told him that if he wanted a drink then there’s a
tap in the corner and to help himself. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course we could always just shut the gate and then he
wouldn’t come in and demand…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that’s what pisses me off, the fact that he thinks he
can just turn up and demand.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If I turned up at his family’s compound and did the same
thing then they would think me rude and impolite, so what’s the difference ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If he had just come in and sat then I would have offered,
but he didn’t did he ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He demanded, and THAT is not just impolite it’s downright
rude, so I won’t be losing any sleep over it. People have to learn and if they
can’t do it the easy way then they have to learn the hard way…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the other thing is that you and your sisters, including
Jalika who is the youngest, are no man’s slaves while you are in your own home
and please remember that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I understand the welcoming and politeness dictates that you
offer, but it wasn’t like that, was it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This was just sheer arrogance and very rude and it stops
now…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, It’s going to be a major talking point later on
tonight, and I reckon it’ll be all around the village in just over twenty four
hours ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, make that two hours…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The strange thing is, most of the older women think I did
the right thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The guys are a bit dubious but they say they understand.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Even if it’s NOT a man’s job to see to guests comfort...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-59302333517256078162015-12-08T09:54:00.000-08:002015-12-29T13:18:23.401-08:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2014 (PART TWO: 'AND I LIFT MY GLASS TO THE AWFUL TRUTH...')<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->So…<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re back in The Gambia after only a year being away and
not much has changed apart from the children have got a bit bigger all around
the village.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Times have got a bit harder for the population because it
would seem that all the money goes to feed and pay the army and everybody else
gets to wait.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is definitely an undercurrent of desperation all
over, and we, living in the UK as we do, are regarded as rich.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s a laugh because if they only knew what we have to
go through to get it, then maybe they wouldn’t think it, but because Haddy is
in touch with most of them by ‘phone our closer friends know the truth.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, we don’t live under a dictatorship but the way things
are going UK wise right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if we flew back to find
ourselves in one ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s hard wherever you are right now and nobody is
winning it would seem, except politicians and bankers…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we go through the congratulations on new babies and
commiserations over family bereavements and try and stay sane in the face of it
all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because everything has been done in a bit of a rush we
haven’t had any time to order anything up for Tobaski, but one of our
neighbours has sorted some lamb out for the kids and now we are there we can
chip in for some chicken for the following day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once Tobaski is out of the way we can relax.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sainabou and Granddaughter Adama are going to be with us
along with Baddou and most of his family and in all honesty that will do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKxTRIFfmPFORy3Chgd_zWrvgHiNRNuW02PqvIruFh3GWOQFcPziM3fr5fCmQwgqYRRbpWa5HC-OCzNZp4erS5XjsNApEW65V5-tM1T_3dPkWw86yERiR02gNEXHesh92UfSI4G66Rg/s1600/DSCF0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKxTRIFfmPFORy3Chgd_zWrvgHiNRNuW02PqvIruFh3GWOQFcPziM3fr5fCmQwgqYRRbpWa5HC-OCzNZp4erS5XjsNApEW65V5-tM1T_3dPkWw86yERiR02gNEXHesh92UfSI4G66Rg/s320/DSCF0038.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sainabou and Adama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mariama and Jalika look very pretty in their matching new outfits as does Ida when she pops over to join them, but Awa cannot decide which of hers to choose ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajep9PeU1vSD5YCz_6VPb2Pux3jhYdLRBXayA8QEYEr2Iqk4q517wWZKBzFY6v8932hQyWx986KVgk7Y2ygYvG1_Dolwd-kpO_jKvG6TtgFpWgs9xv5fJdoeDAeRWCAXU25rs_bgSMQ/s1600/DSCF0050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajep9PeU1vSD5YCz_6VPb2Pux3jhYdLRBXayA8QEYEr2Iqk4q517wWZKBzFY6v8932hQyWx986KVgk7Y2ygYvG1_Dolwd-kpO_jKvG6TtgFpWgs9xv5fJdoeDAeRWCAXU25rs_bgSMQ/s320/DSCF0050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariama, Jalika and Ida</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Her husband had sent her money for one and she'd got the other done herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Decisions, decisions... </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MNL-fzTKtbkKzDVwRDBqBpJsZ_UlhT2o6xcYDuFbkuhdVwFKrEyRLS63h3U6xgeZndtzYp5TCFKUwyhdbsAp1M1Cazonw2AELVohGdL0BS1vOkiHsoDKpiaS7nI9pYp-jeNYeLr6WQ/s1600/DSCF0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MNL-fzTKtbkKzDVwRDBqBpJsZ_UlhT2o6xcYDuFbkuhdVwFKrEyRLS63h3U6xgeZndtzYp5TCFKUwyhdbsAp1M1Cazonw2AELVohGdL0BS1vOkiHsoDKpiaS7nI9pYp-jeNYeLr6WQ/s320/DSCF0066.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awa and Mum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEdqor_2ed3rdCU7li1xNe7S2-sfLiwt9rjqEvDR8_FWD0fubxwRnBdg3esiN0UVfDewHL7xi-QU0clEl_v5ScABFa2nkMGv4PGG9z8PKtuRrVG4MnxxaiZlhHvgTC-YImz2daSy5rw/s1600/DSCF0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEdqor_2ed3rdCU7li1xNe7S2-sfLiwt9rjqEvDR8_FWD0fubxwRnBdg3esiN0UVfDewHL7xi-QU0clEl_v5ScABFa2nkMGv4PGG9z8PKtuRrVG4MnxxaiZlhHvgTC-YImz2daSy5rw/s320/DSCF0071.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
Much to their disappointment the twins matching outfits were still at the tailors shop and not finished and so they were a little put out to say the least.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know who WON'T be getting the contract to make them next year, so let's leave it at that...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some of Baddou’s family are visiting friends.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAIBQ4M23jud6VHjxKD84a_sqaVAF0Hc01zp7vaHVxBg-qX68EOTfRh1np9vYCxJKhWnR7SrRvdMTNg1aiDowETM_A71NAm5CXSCClGe0Sko-Cf_gTxhtEChrcXkVMB2RepdhhJZVqQ/s1600/DSCF0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAIBQ4M23jud6VHjxKD84a_sqaVAF0Hc01zp7vaHVxBg-qX68EOTfRh1np9vYCxJKhWnR7SrRvdMTNg1aiDowETM_A71NAm5CXSCClGe0Sko-Cf_gTxhtEChrcXkVMB2RepdhhJZVqQ/s320/DSCF0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the compound with some of Baddou's family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Omar, the lad who had ‘nutted’ one of the nuisances last
year was back but in Western clothes this year. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzKG8NXf7JIeULWKh_1XNGW2aaYviVOvnht5Cfx8ulgJK2wGbBCxho9NHUrnItkozo1BQ9wl8H5xhUd5ZbRUdHSfo3IvOQeNoyl4sAKDRUWLOQt9LnTPad-k4slN8x0a9BlqBa0UvJw/s1600/DSCF0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzKG8NXf7JIeULWKh_1XNGW2aaYviVOvnht5Cfx8ulgJK2wGbBCxho9NHUrnItkozo1BQ9wl8H5xhUd5ZbRUdHSfo3IvOQeNoyl4sAKDRUWLOQt9LnTPad-k4slN8x0a9BlqBa0UvJw/s320/DSCF0046.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omar on the left and friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He’s off with one of his mates and won’t be hanging
about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Too many and nobody will be able to get a word in…<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHgsfse4Lz2fcHoNMjq2j8lb56WQAt6ov4UwyEbio_Hfdtb7dzTeIt8IjNC19MO0YBZNJQNC2lqIKVB85z58UukMd4CRi03boochs26r-4h2G1LxT54zEPH6ax5dDsyvY6m_Epnf4AA/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHgsfse4Lz2fcHoNMjq2j8lb56WQAt6ov4UwyEbio_Hfdtb7dzTeIt8IjNC19MO0YBZNJQNC2lqIKVB85z58UukMd4CRi03boochs26r-4h2G1LxT54zEPH6ax5dDsyvY6m_Epnf4AA/s320/125.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baddou's eldest daughter Haddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Still, everybody who’s been told we’ve arrived seems
happy to see us again and that’s a plus.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The minus is that I got put in charge of some of the
cooking.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj47J5TnnmI8exKu5A7hoL4fSElhvYWxR9Y5BnsN7G3lYHtnKgsvxoUlMgiUtxPIcctD7yN6qmiYtbZrDArlqtAhNAfLv6_FWSiNuDlg4x1WTBrNrURL7Mbr8ZN-4R4-Zl7IsYDFIgPw/s1600/DSCF0079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj47J5TnnmI8exKu5A7hoL4fSElhvYWxR9Y5BnsN7G3lYHtnKgsvxoUlMgiUtxPIcctD7yN6qmiYtbZrDArlqtAhNAfLv6_FWSiNuDlg4x1WTBrNrURL7Mbr8ZN-4R4-Zl7IsYDFIgPw/s320/DSCF0079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now let’s get one thing straight from the start.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I CAN actually cook.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My problem is cooking with charcoal.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s alright being told how long to do it but the
variables that come up regarding how much heat you are going to need mean that
if I do it then it’s not going to be foolproof and it could come out a burnt
mess ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It didn’t, but I listened to Sainabou…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Uncle Chris, stop cooking it now or it will burn…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok, I’m on it’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for our Granddaughter Adama, she still hasn’t got used
to me and even cries if I give her wonjor, but she’ll get used to me
eventually…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hopefully ?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kawsu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tufa</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDutYZAqQjVqmqOUWB4ay9oVtJNMhKr6BP7BpjAxdPuR3yq5FAd0GeVTOBDgMA-HzpFBRqXLKJ7-o_rZw83GMI9z8B8_al_dDzB61ycErG7pZ4Tzw44qaI7cT6u2ADpcaeBv-W_GWFRg/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDutYZAqQjVqmqOUWB4ay9oVtJNMhKr6BP7BpjAxdPuR3yq5FAd0GeVTOBDgMA-HzpFBRqXLKJ7-o_rZw83GMI9z8B8_al_dDzB61ycErG7pZ4Tzw44qaI7cT6u2ADpcaeBv-W_GWFRg/s320/050.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHo-ibzqcdaCBraqkgIh1p3cRVGQILqPdMbaOPlH-y4F7jmWgOJiBjgOBgtt52l-pVwicdlSXm9m4RFSTY1JeWjGLZV7YY-5oe0B6Vb0YQDYkt1l30bRPdEbN0dYn49_qyM3yEUDSoqA/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHo-ibzqcdaCBraqkgIh1p3cRVGQILqPdMbaOPlH-y4F7jmWgOJiBjgOBgtt52l-pVwicdlSXm9m4RFSTY1JeWjGLZV7YY-5oe0B6Vb0YQDYkt1l30bRPdEbN0dYn49_qyM3yEUDSoqA/s320/067.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buba' Sanneh</td></tr>
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And let's not forget all the children...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGnDUzJC6fFGsPoO2Z50b_s9DJf85kXFXtcd0Aq2mKilo27aEiEa-QL_2ZEk5ylGeQOOQJz1knvCbbc60M4EPtYPWFuLg6tPTeeOWJX5YC_VrUvFDSZPWmEYAQ5IfWUkjucJl27SLuA/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGnDUzJC6fFGsPoO2Z50b_s9DJf85kXFXtcd0Aq2mKilo27aEiEa-QL_2ZEk5ylGeQOOQJz1knvCbbc60M4EPtYPWFuLg6tPTeeOWJX5YC_VrUvFDSZPWmEYAQ5IfWUkjucJl27SLuA/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little 'Tapha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliCvGcea_ZE1lsmlCrY-jOFbVkjGT4zo-J2xW67h-TTGW-fCazWKpJLGwUFRxnPpXJmUlOB58p4wAMIQFm7LK21Ug_-z_O6o2V3I1Nr2cePl7ARitDxCDXox4h8HTFuJTvJNePrLueA/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliCvGcea_ZE1lsmlCrY-jOFbVkjGT4zo-J2xW67h-TTGW-fCazWKpJLGwUFRxnPpXJmUlOB58p4wAMIQFm7LK21Ug_-z_O6o2V3I1Nr2cePl7ARitDxCDXox4h8HTFuJTvJNePrLueA/s320/120.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bubacarr</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKAIyDZvGDA_abggAaJnUahiy_t0D8VHvqtzAINQIIvUPG4o-OOvWwSuShH7yXjc7IWcs6WCR0bQA2souNyiHX8zz1BMG2Tm7FAlH7AQ0DDWE9BziPLtsEFr10MCzSTPS2BJM03iD7g/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKAIyDZvGDA_abggAaJnUahiy_t0D8VHvqtzAINQIIvUPG4o-OOvWwSuShH7yXjc7IWcs6WCR0bQA2souNyiHX8zz1BMG2Tm7FAlH7AQ0DDWE9BziPLtsEFr10MCzSTPS2BJM03iD7g/s320/118.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pa Musa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And then there’s the cat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A very heavily pregnant Princess is definitely about to
drop kittens which she proceeds to do on the second day of Tobaski.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViH_5hi61WnLN4sDuGV_hz24Ttur4CphBoWRwFwQ1E2bxwgvwGY615tKSCopDz4jxw5WnkahB4x0inM9LGiUajycn1vOu_9x7vxRukD019emYQnnMnrvwoP-SrcIfEJsCPzzuBZxOHg/s1600/DSCF0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiViH_5hi61WnLN4sDuGV_hz24Ttur4CphBoWRwFwQ1E2bxwgvwGY615tKSCopDz4jxw5WnkahB4x0inM9LGiUajycn1vOu_9x7vxRukD019emYQnnMnrvwoP-SrcIfEJsCPzzuBZxOHg/s320/DSCF0209.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If it’s not one thing, it’s another… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d made herself a bed in the darkest corner of one of
Haddy’s two unrented shops where we store all the stuff we send out there, and
about three days later she’d proudly picked up her kittens one at a time and
taken them all into the house and into one of the girl’s bedrooms.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unseen by any of the family of course, and so the first
we knew about it was when the girls heard their piteous mewing when Princess
had gone to eat…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Aaaaaarrrgh !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok you lot, out you come...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Much to their Mother’s annoyance of course.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But now they’re back safely in the corner of the shop.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47oEjHLhCx0u9dIlINeqK0ib7SOI1mbqNWy9p3gCCGjL9pkrOs5Z7s2q4a92chNJ2sUEai0k4-M9rraohi3DaJoS3e-s2Cfr4GplpqCRLBqBasrijqLbim83d14rrA7Cawd0ix-Pm2Q/s1600/DSCF0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47oEjHLhCx0u9dIlINeqK0ib7SOI1mbqNWy9p3gCCGjL9pkrOs5Z7s2q4a92chNJ2sUEai0k4-M9rraohi3DaJoS3e-s2Cfr4GplpqCRLBqBasrijqLbim83d14rrA7Cawd0ix-Pm2Q/s320/DSCF0215.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess, the other new 'Mum'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Poor old Princess looks exhausted, as well she might with
six new babies so I think we’ll have to do a cat food run on Monday when all
the shops re-open.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so Monday we went to the bank and then went shopping or at
least we tried to, but everything we needed they were sold out of or they’d
stopped selling it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What the fuck is going on ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, it’s the end of the rainy season and the tourist
season starts in about three weeks hence the astronomical air-fares but you’d
think…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hang on…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s The Gambia so DON’T think, just go with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which we would if we could, but it seems impossible ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Try another supermarket…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Same as.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And another ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That one is shut and looks like it’s closed down…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re not doing too well here, are we ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let’s go home before I blow a frigging gasket…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So back we go with pretty much sod-all of what we went
out for.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We definitely need advice as to where to shop because I
have no intention of going all the way to Sennagambia just to buy a few bits
of food for us and the cats especially when they will all be marked up for tourists.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, we’ve taken advice and and neither of us has
actually gone to where we’ve been sent, but we’ll have a go this afternoon …</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Taxi back to our bank in Westfield and then a couple of
roads walk and Voila !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There it is, but has it actually got anything we want ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes, it has at least sixty per-cent of our shopping list
including cat food.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think we’ll have to ask somebody what’s going on when
we get back because this has never happened before, well, not to us anyway ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What an absolute pain in the arse.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve wasted nearly one whole day trying to find
somewhere that has a few ‘specialist’ food bits, like a small jar of Basil,
some frozen chicken frankfurters and even cat food, but at least this place
seems to have some of them, including the cat food…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right… That’s that, so let’s get home before the rush
hour starts, shall we ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, that was a first-class failure.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are now totally jammed in, cars are stuck front,
behind and right.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I haven’t the faintest idea why it was so heavy on the
road and neither has Haddy but the truth is that if we hadn’t had the shopping
we could have walked it quicker than that taxi ride, but finally we’re back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
God knows what time Sibo will be back from school if it
carries on like this ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
About nine fifteen and the poor girl is exhausted...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come on Sibo, just get in the top twenty five and all this will stop.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's going to be easier said than done if it carries on like this, though...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The reason the supermarkets haven’t got any stock is
because they all seem to be changing hands ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently the President didn’t like the fact that most
of them were Liberians and sending money home to their families.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So he basically ‘asked’ them to leave the country and that
occurrence was quite recent, hence no bloody stock…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So now we know.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The following day is spent sorting out the boxes of
clothing that we’d sent out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are three boxes going to Killy, mostly children’s
clothes and the rest will be given out in the village to those that Haddy knows
need it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you’ve ever tried sorting out eight boxes of clothing
into male and female and then approximate sizes then you will know what it does
to your arms and back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Needless to say, I don’t recommend it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The only thing we’ve kept back is the one bag from one box
which are the clothes for the girls and which we’d bought specially, and those
will have to wait until the following weekend when at least we can all be
together, although the possibility is that we’re hitting one of the hotel’s
swimming pools with the younger ones on one of the days ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It hasn’t been decided yet but it does look likely.</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-81057023950561929822015-10-18T15:18:00.003-07:002015-10-18T15:18:51.052-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2014 (PART ONE: 'IT'S A LOSING PROPOSITION BUT ONE YOU CAN'T REFUSE...') <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It feels odd flying into Banjul that bit later than
usual.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Instead of the middle of the afternoon plus an hour-ish
if there wasn’t a wind, that being the case we’d usually be there bang on time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now we’re heading in very late afternoon into that early
evening bit which never seems to last that long in The Gambia ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that’s what being closer to the equator does for you.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Grab the bags when they come off the belt and promptly
get a ‘pull’ for bringing in food.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There’s a bloody great ‘F’ chalk-mark on my suitcase now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is true. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve brought along some of Haddy’s chillies to prove to
the kids that we can grow hot ones in Britain too…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which, strictly speaking, I shouldn’t have done without
filling in a bloody great form that I’d probably have had to pick up from the
High Commission in London, so I’d thought…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yeah… You know what I thought, don’t you ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And here comes another miscreant…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently my wife has been ‘pulled’ for drugs… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And there’s a bloody great chalk marked ‘D’ on her
suitcase !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Yes Officer… Yes, it is my wife… Honestly mate, I’m not
making this up, this lady is definitely my wife…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You couldn’t make this shit up, could you ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The one bloody time that she didn’t bring a prescription
for her diabetes pills.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve got mine for my heart pills, ok it’s not been
changed since last year but the pills are the same, and all my wife has is her
name printed on the box label without the covering script.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The word ‘BOLLOX’ springs to mind… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ten minutes with the ‘Official’ who gives us both a
reprimand for ‘smuggling’, and we’re outside getting in the taxi and only one
hundred dalasi and a couple of British chillies lighter…<br />
So please, if you have to take any form of prescription medicine and you are traveling to The Gambia, remember to take a copy of your prescription about your person and honestly you can avoid all this. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
See…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not always WHO you know, is it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sometimes it’s what you know…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I really do dislike that way of doing things because you
never know what you could possibly be getting into, but it seems to be a fact
of life here throughout most of society.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We ask our driver to stop at the local supermarket at the
top of the road where I can load up with a few drinks for me and the kids, cheese triangles and
some biscuits and whatever Haddy wants, and then it’s a quarter of a mile down
the road…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we got there a day earlier than they were expecting
us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hahahaha…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The look on their faces was priceless.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then we’re covered in hugs…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hi kids, we’re home… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody is there, even Sainabou and Adama are there,
but Sibo is still at, or on her way back from school. </div>
Apparently her new school has a system where all the
Christian children get the first shift (there are two) and only the top twenty five of
each year if you’re a Muslim ?
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not sure she’s going to like that system because she’ll
never see Ida or Jalika until late and she's stuck in the house doing jobs until lunchtime when she goes to school. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, she knows what she has to do to change it, and by
the end of the first term too…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That is going to be a bit of a bummer to say the least.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As is the fact that the children’s schools will not be
closing for a Tobaski holiday as the President has decided to take that week of
celebrations and move it to the week that he and his celebrate their
coup-de-tat anniversary…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which is definitely going to be an even bigger bummer !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Six fucking days with the little ones ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Is that it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Six fucking days out of three weeks ???</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well I guess we’d better suck on it because there sure ain’t
anything else on offer ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was right…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You couldn’t make this shit up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course by the time Mariama finally gets home the word
had got round and we’ve got a compound full…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s going to be a late night, I can feel it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think I’d better have a beer…</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-66307464500014099382015-10-15T02:48:00.000-07:002015-10-18T15:10:36.086-07:00TOBASKI 2014 (THE PREAMBLE)<br />
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<br />
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Three weeks later it’s my Mother’s birthday and a week
after that is the date of her wedding anniversary with my late Father.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not surprisingly she’s at her lowest ebb at this time,
feeling that she has nothing to celebrate without Dad being there, and so we’re
going over to see her on the wedding anniversary weekend.</div>
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She has said that she wants to go to the Garden of
Remembrance and lay some flowers so we will be accompanying her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was, as you can imagine, one sad day and that is likely to continue as we both know it's not something that she will ever come to terms with.<br />
All we can do is be there as much as we possibly can.<br />
Not the easiest thing in the world when you are having to work as much as we are to feed the children and we're seventy miles away...<br />
But we do what we can.<br />
<br />
As soon as we get back from Mum’s, Haddy puts in for her
final ‘Englishness’ test.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is the spoken one where she has to converse and ask
questions while she is being examined as to her comprehension of speech.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She has to talk non-stop on a specific subject chosen by
the examiner for a period of five minutes,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
the subject to be determined on the day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It doesn’t seem too insurmountable as there are times
that my wife could talk for The Gambia were it to be an Olympic event…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Check out the rules for applying... <a href="https://www.gov.uk/english-language" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/english-language</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we have a couple of practice sessions at home on three
of the specifics from their list of ten.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not bad…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She can do this.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so she takes another day off to go to Euston for a
ten minute examination.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As soon as she gets there, the staff warn her that the
examiner she has been given only ever gives C’s to E’s which are failures…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nice !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s a confidence booster…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nobody needed to worry though, before she’d even
officially started in the ‘Name, Address, Passport I.D. and How are you getting
on bit’, the conversation had already started.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d got music as a subject in which she had to answer general
questions and to keep the conversation going on for five minutes, remembering
to ask the examiner at least one question whilst it is going on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When the examiner asked her if she liked any artists in
particular, she’d come back with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton as particular
favourites, both here and in The Gambia and hopefully she’d get to see one if
not both of them someday ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That turned into working at Rhythms of the World Festival
and having just come back from Cropredy</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Festival (Festivals being another possible question on
the list) so she didn’t do too badly, did she ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bearing in mind she could have got ‘Transport’ or ‘Family
Occasions’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At the end of ten minutes, the examiner calls a halt and
actually said ‘Ok, you can stop talking now…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Told you she could talk for her country…)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then she said that it was quite obvious that she
would be perfectly alright living here, and that her speech was definitely one
of the best she’d heard in months and she had absolutely no hesitation in
giving her an A plus mark for her efforts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then, and this is the final clincher, she told her that
she had absolutely made her day and it was a wonderful change to actually meet
somebody who could actually converse and not just come back with stilted
answers, and well done because she had passed with distinction.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that was it. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy of course, walks out of the examination room as if
she’s on cloud nine and is immediately asked by the staff how she got on ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘A plus’ says my wife.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘No… ‘</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Yes, A plus…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then the examiner herself came out and said to all
and sundry ‘I wish everybody who came here was as good as that. That really has
made my day…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t particularly want to go into the politics of it,
but it does make you wonder why, if they cannot converse in English, some people
are trying to gain UK citizenship ? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But at least now she can apply for hers because she’s
passed all the tests.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whilst we’ve been doing all this, the World news has not
been good.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There has been an Ebola outbreak in West Africa and it's been getting worse.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sierra-Leone, Guinea and about three other countries are
affected and Senegal has just announced that they think they have a victim too
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Gambia is stuck in the middle of the lot of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a killer, and people have been dying by the hundreds
on a daily basis and will do so until screening and quarantining takes effect</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, give me a chance to do some overtime and we could be
there at the end of October or maybe the beginning of November ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Either way it’ll probably be for Tobaski again which is
definitely not the time to go if you’re trying to save money…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That is, of course, if we are actually allowed into the
country ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The President has closed the borders of The Gambia and
currently nobody is allowed in unless it’s through the airport at Banjul.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This has put a complete spoke in the wheels of the
Gambian economy because so many traders go to Senegal and the other outlying
countries to buy their merchandise for their establishments.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The kids, obviously, are as frightened as anybody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy has told them to keep the gates to the compound
shut.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nobody who has recently been travelling is allowed
through those gates regardless of whether they are family or not, and nobody
who has relatives who have recently been travelling is allowed in either.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It might upset and annoy a few, but I wouldn’t give them
a cat in hell’s chance of trying to influence Hassanatou on that one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If they push their luck she’s likely to use boiling oil…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Common sense is common sense after all and she will
enforce that decision down to the wire…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have to admit that the way things are going I’m scared
for them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ebola is one of those diseases that the area is prone to.<br />
Caused by infected animals, most of which we would label as 'bushmeat', it is spread by flu-like symptoms, one cough and you could be
the next victim.<br />
Check out the details and symptoms here... <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The airlines that fly to the infected areas are all
shutting down their flights and nobody can now get in, and right in the middle
of the whole infected area is The Gambia, which, so far, has not yet had a case.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy has put in for a holiday at work but because it is
in school time and not an official holiday period, has been refused.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She works in the kitchen for Christ’s sake.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not as if she can’t be covered for three weeks, is
it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But no…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The refusal stands.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, you want to play that game and not take into account
any compassionate considerations then screw you.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not as if we can bring them here, what with
Parliament’s complete refusal to do anything other than support the members of
the European Union and shit on everybody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So the letter goes in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Bye… I’m leaving… The children are more important, so
stick your job…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The staff cannot believe it, but she is adamant and quite
honestly I think she’s right.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They cannot get it through their heads that they are now
the enemy…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Along with six hundred and fifty parliamentary pricks,
the European Union and the Human Rights Act which does not seem to accept that
Africans are human too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My attitude is the same as it has always been.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Act reasonably and we will do the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Act unreasonably and you loose the whirlwind…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And when that occurs, shit happens.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To use Mariama’s expression, if it is ‘unjust’ then you
fight it because if you don’t then the injustice continues.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fuck ‘em.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least they were a lot more understanding in her second
job.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All they asked was that she take care of herself and
they’d see her when she got back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They understood.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s family, and you don’t fuck with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They can go home after work and see their children but my
wife cannot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She would be able to if she wasn’t being discriminated
against by the UK government and their slavish wish to remain as part of the
European Union which stops African children coming to the UK to be with their
parents, but allows any and all Europeans to do so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that, as they say, is the problem in Black and White.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
White’s in and Black’s out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Check all the European Union’s members census results if
you don’t believe me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
An apartheid system by any other name.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, come the end of October we’re flying out so long as
the Ebola thing doesn’t spread and the plane can still land ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which has definitely not pleased my Mother.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But at least the Senegalese victim is now thought to have
been suffering from influenza and not Ebola and so the Gambian border has now
been opened again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, it’s a start…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the truth of the matter is, I miss the kids terribly
so God knows what it must be like for her ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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It’s the end of October and we’re ready to go.</div>
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I don’t really know how we managed it, but we’ve got a
Monday flight out in the late morning ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is all well and good but it’s a pain in the arse
getting to Gatwick through the traffic at that time of day.</div>
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Not only is the M25 busy but so is the motorway to Gatwick and to make
matters worse I managed to miss the turn-off for the long term parking.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’ve sent instructions as usual as to how to get there
but unfortunately there seem to be one too many roundabouts on the
instructions…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eventually, after doing the turn off instructions twice I
give up following them and guess it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nearly made it…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just shot past the turn-off but at least we’re off the
motorway, so turn around yet again and drive back to the last roundabout and
have another go…</div>
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And finally we’re parked up and getting their courtesy
bus to the airport.</div>
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Jesus, I could have done without that.</div>
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But at least we’re there now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sitting in the departure lounge after going through all
their security checks which, to be quite honest, are an absolute pain.</div>
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I know of no other country where you have to remove your
belt and boots, and now the laptop has to be packed separately…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Security is a fine thing, but I can’t help thinking
somebody in the government who makes these things up has never actually had to
do it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, it is apparently for our own safety so I’ll go
along with it, but when they open one of the cases I wear over my shoulder I
begin to wonder if it’s not just a bad dream ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'It’s a minidisk recorder... That’s the microphone and that’s a
stand to rest it in and those are minidisks, </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
the headphones are in my hand luggage, ok ?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
God help us !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t possibly be the only passenger who’s ever carried
one to listen to something worthwhile on the flight, can I ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Who knows ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But finally, after the usual half-mile walk to the
aircraft, we are ready to board...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We started off this morning at about four-thirty and now
all I want is a sleep.</div>
<br />
<br />Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-33232918515972528882015-09-10T09:43:00.000-07:002015-09-10T09:48:57.972-07:00CROPREDY FESTIVAL 2014<br />
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Sorry about the delay in keeping the posts up to date
because we are now over a year behind but we’ve had ‘family stuff’ going on and it
tends to get in the way of whatever free hours I’ve had to do it, but finally
we seem to be coming out of it and it’s been a bit of a bastard to say the
least.</div>
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But don’t worry, you’ll get to read about most of it in
the forthcoming posts…</div>
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CROPREDY 2014</div>
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THURSDAY</div>
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So… </div>
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Cropredy…</div>
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It felt really odd setting off after being back at work
three days after Rhythms.</div>
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It was like there was something missing ? </div>
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And there was…</div>
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There was no ‘build up’ to it.</div>
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It was like we hadn’t stopped even though this one was all
pleasure and no work.</div>
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Apart maybe from putting up the tent, which is the one
thing actually guaranteed to start </div>
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arguments !!!</div>
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When discussing it with some of the others I knew were
going, and that’s not just our lot but members of the other two intrepid groups
from our part of the world who I tend to bump into when I’m actually working,
there were a few divisions.</div>
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It’s far too ‘Proggy’ was the one I subscribed to</div>
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as against</div>
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It’s brilliant. </div>
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Marillion, Steve Hackett and… The Australian Pink Floyd
!!! </div>
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Fuckin’ A… I’m in heaven…</div>
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Which I didn’t.</div>
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I’m afraid my serious ‘Prog’ Rock’ days were over back in
about 1974 when we’d gone to see Jethro Tull tour their ‘Passion Play’ album.</div>
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Tull, as always, had been great but I wasn’t sure about
the material ?</div>
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That was definitely when I’d lost all inclination to see
another Prog’ Rock band.</div>
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I suppose being in attendance at the Genesis ‘In Concert’
recording for the BBC hadn’t done me any favours either ?</div>
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Genesis, who I’d always been in two minds about came over
as too clever by half, and were blown away by the support band, who, a couple
of weeks previously, had managed to drive their tour bus off an alp…</div>
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Honestly, I’m not making this shit up, they really had.</div>
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Everyone in the bus had survived the crash but not
necessarily without breaking a few bits that they might need if they were
musicians…</div>
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But an ‘In Concert’ on the old Beeb was a prestigious
event back in those days so they’d elected to do it regardless of the state
they were in.</div>
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The band’s name was Max Merritt and the Meteors.</div>
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They weren’t the best band in the world that was for
sure, but they certainly rocked hard enough and they went on stage with arms in
slings, legs in plaster (and with crutches) head bandages, finger and wrist
bandages and whatever else we couldn’t see, and proceeded to tear the roof off
the </div>
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sucka’ !!!</div>
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The accident had been in all the old music rags like NME,
Melody Maker and Sounds and nobody really gave them any hope of continuing, but
they did what all good rock bands do…</div>
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They ‘Went For It’ !!!</div>
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And they only bloody got it.</div>
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Well, they did at this gig.</div>
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They laid down the gauntlet and basically said ‘Follow
That’</div>
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And Genesis were too prissy and arty-farty and it didn’t
really happen for them.</div>
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And so, to misquote an old Dustin Hoffman line… ‘That was
the end of my progressive period…’</div>
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I can always still listen to those that I’d bought over
the years if I liked them, but the new-wave of Prog’ to which Marillion belong
has always left me cold.</div>
So was I looking forward to it ?
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Yes and possibly no, and I’d never felt that way before.</div>
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Anyway, the drive was uneventful and we fetched up first
again at the Hare & Hounds, closely followed by the rest of the nutters
with a few new ‘Cropredy virgins’ in
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDKXqXU_IWLc4Mh7zZLLnpEZhM2AuSJFaNvn4566lzulpoknm0MK03VmCT3Dh4dBfm-dzJXTR4Hvm7CIYX-SPGSFYtdIfLPd2570EKr8dINx4dARbYvhtyu7S3tEazGWb9FMYMP37Xg/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDKXqXU_IWLc4Mh7zZLLnpEZhM2AuSJFaNvn4566lzulpoknm0MK03VmCT3Dh4dBfm-dzJXTR4Hvm7CIYX-SPGSFYtdIfLPd2570EKr8dINx4dARbYvhtyu7S3tEazGWb9FMYMP37Xg/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen & Shakey</td></tr>
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Please note that last line is what we refer to new
arrivals to the festival as, it has nothing to do with anybody living in the
village…</div>
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And when everybody had arrived and slaked their thirsts
we set off for the site.
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Guess where ? </div>
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</div>
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Well if you read this stuff regularly and I know some of
you do because one of the ‘Cropredy’ posts has had more ‘hits’ than the next five posts combined, you will be able to guess that we are on…
</div>
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Field 7.</div>
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Well where else would we be ?</div>
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I think we’ve been there for the last ten years at least
?
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And we’re only four rows away from the showers which
proves that God does sometimes smile upon you…</div>
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Tent up without coming to blows (Just) and a first drink
of alcohol and then the wristband queue while discussing Colin’s latest
invention…</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTHDPOhDBd7cODVnxhml-kbwMoVbsdhcDzWOnAd6VwkGAdNkBRw1On8p71AOT_4WzqKHX19GG5k0T1lRR1xFHADTOX6B2icbEFUJ16xfyNfehMcsexraUSyJBFK9_KKB431JPvDEZtQ/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTHDPOhDBd7cODVnxhml-kbwMoVbsdhcDzWOnAd6VwkGAdNkBRw1On8p71AOT_4WzqKHX19GG5k0T1lRR1xFHADTOX6B2icbEFUJ16xfyNfehMcsexraUSyJBFK9_KKB431JPvDEZtQ/s320/031.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin's shower. Made from a small garden greenhouse, a burner and a few bits from the local plumber...</td></tr>
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He has invented a ‘hot shower’ which is going to get its
first Cropredy outing and that sounds good to us.
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But let’s face it.</div>
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Anything which circumvents the shower queue is going to
sound good to us and so we await with bated breath and a lot of hope.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin, our 'mad scientist...'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annie, Shakey & Rob.</td></tr>
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He’s going to put the finishing touches to it while we’re
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Yep !</div>
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It’s me, Haddy and Annie again.</div>
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The rest can’t be arsed to move at the present or are
going to the pub.</div>
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See you all later.</div>
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Fairport acoustic are what it says on the tin.</div>
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ie. Fairport playing acoustically.</div>
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I actually really enjoy their short opening acoustic sets
these days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It took a couple of years but now I just love seeing them
ring a few changes in styles on some of their older material and even some of
the newer stuff that I’ve bought and got to know.</div>
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Plus, opening and closing their own festival makes
perfect sense to me.</div>
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There is so much work put into making it the success that
it is that I do think that it was one of their most inspired decisions.</div>
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It feels right.</div>
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And if it feels right then it is right.</div>
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So let there be an end to any argument to the contrary.</div>
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Anyway, if you click on this link you can see them play a bit of acoustic... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nStaDaWKYKU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nStaDaWKYKU</a></div>
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<a href="http://fairport acoustic cropredy 2014" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble are…</div>
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Indescribable.</div>
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Just go and see them if they are appearing anywhere near
you.</div>
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That was a serious high point.</div>
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An absolutely wonderful and entertaining set which has
cheered everybody up immensely.</div>
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Not that anybody is feeling bad about anything but it
does help when the first band after the residents play a set like that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9bIhxiKuTHMQ7GEXZ3Qagpk9NO2xtwAslEyvEfS0JdQzxMYNpp1w16TxG_vVsLbc-8lQVqdD8ASmhk_Tj0EElRgapjkO3VDO_hpe2K1qePaXzWcoZkn6gMLRgh5_HHmEAYqYqP98eA/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9bIhxiKuTHMQ7GEXZ3Qagpk9NO2xtwAslEyvEfS0JdQzxMYNpp1w16TxG_vVsLbc-8lQVqdD8ASmhk_Tj0EElRgapjkO3VDO_hpe2K1qePaXzWcoZkn6gMLRgh5_HHmEAYqYqP98eA/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And here they are in all their ragged glory...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXS44PKiS1M" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXS44PKiS1M</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just go and see them, you won’t be disappointed and take
the kids too.
</div>
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If that lot can’t take a studious swot and turn them into
an ordinary fun loving music lover then nobody could.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The sun’s still out…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just thought I’d mention that, Cropredy being known for
the opposite…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We seem to be getting a field-full of our lot, too ?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg7FKocTHdH2UXTVwEHjgpP3Bs2owOFdhyphenhyphendPl4sCL4acIUIHolori5tOxeyJemH7OxNmJZfxskgKcvmTdOnTSvidwdIMTImRPZkBLa-RVpdAr7NBFquMa2KTk5962qp14W0RYq8gdyQ/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg7FKocTHdH2UXTVwEHjgpP3Bs2owOFdhyphenhyphendPl4sCL4acIUIHolori5tOxeyJemH7OxNmJZfxskgKcvmTdOnTSvidwdIMTImRPZkBLa-RVpdAr7NBFquMa2KTk5962qp14W0RYq8gdyQ/s320/057.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsq0yHAxYF1Gd1r26jQvWT_UBiftQhkPXK0_UvFkw6kOSKeIxUhiMs17_bE-WpboBbcrnKBlCh9h5yWnN1GnkfVndT4L5LqJjealfKQTb0FSIpxdSd9CVyxymNLuuQRlIZp3YsSVuhw/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsq0yHAxYF1Gd1r26jQvWT_UBiftQhkPXK0_UvFkw6kOSKeIxUhiMs17_bE-WpboBbcrnKBlCh9h5yWnN1GnkfVndT4L5LqJjealfKQTb0FSIpxdSd9CVyxymNLuuQRlIZp3YsSVuhw/s320/061.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL96ULBh-ZLKtAxXm57-F8Y5rdFefQWWWewdm3NjNJYiRoPyjDWInaz-CoON-eS4bL_X4qMgtudPjjplAr1Hnn7i_XrM0wZqkeFedXcIu5FBUZPW8NQUxH0xg8NWnho8li6KSXmeDdQ/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL96ULBh-ZLKtAxXm57-F8Y5rdFefQWWWewdm3NjNJYiRoPyjDWInaz-CoON-eS4bL_X4qMgtudPjjplAr1Hnn7i_XrM0wZqkeFedXcIu5FBUZPW8NQUxH0xg8NWnho8li6KSXmeDdQ/s400/059.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mickey & Andrew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZPWt_aIP94mbEf1vvRi8TBdKkYnlKPRBjm_pfDBLjITWXqGjKAugf_McBDBjZPxcjbXUdT4ZsOcGW2XgMzIVzFQsd0uGKqWJFeJoO0x_tRGmoSWPpVMaKPs__O6x0RTXN-m1S14jFA/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZPWt_aIP94mbEf1vvRi8TBdKkYnlKPRBjm_pfDBLjITWXqGjKAugf_McBDBjZPxcjbXUdT4ZsOcGW2XgMzIVzFQsd0uGKqWJFeJoO0x_tRGmoSWPpVMaKPs__O6x0RTXN-m1S14jFA/s320/062.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicki & James</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU0AaCTs1qawQfOjg9lzm6LZLN8Bmkz4krEg16oi5hCuXGixRR__InchwTBrU2TIuIStk57F96t5H-_UQxvE15JWVoN8INvzU6lUwe95VPGjhQAAxnvF6Mh3HZ47KN0DhFfwDxQka3Q/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU0AaCTs1qawQfOjg9lzm6LZLN8Bmkz4krEg16oi5hCuXGixRR__InchwTBrU2TIuIStk57F96t5H-_UQxvE15JWVoN8INvzU6lUwe95VPGjhQAAxnvF6Mh3HZ47KN0DhFfwDxQka3Q/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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What’s happened ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pub run out of beer ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not likely, they’re all here for Steve Hackett’s Genesis
Extended slot which is after Capercaillie’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I quite like Capercaillie.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Check them out here... </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtAdSj5czk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrtAdSj5czk</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I play them at home, usually on a Sunday morning after
I’ve breakfasted if I’m not working before I hit the Grateful Dead or whoever
is going on rotation throughout my home hours.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately they had to follow Joe Broughton’s lot so
they came over a bit bland.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Don’t get me wrong, it was a really good set but how do
you follow Joe’s lot ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hmmm… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My interest has been piqued.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is going to be a very different festival than that
which all of us were expecting…</div>
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<br /></div>
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And then there was Steve Hackett playing Genesis stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which, I have to admit I actually liked.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The difference being, it rocked.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes it was the same tunes, but beefed up way beyond
anything Genesis ever did.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The singer was a bit of a posy tart and a little too
'histrionic’ if that’s the right word, but in general terms…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nice one, Steve.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Check out 'I Know What I Like' here... </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu3WiLQ8Co8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu3WiLQ8Co8</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t say you’ve made a convert out of me but I can say
you were bloody good at the event I saw you at, and if any of you out there
fancy a punt, well I can recommend it.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, there were probably a few too many guitar’y bits for
the average Genesis fan, but those with an open mind should definitely enjoy
it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh, and fans of that genre which never seems to die but
just lies under the radar of most music fans these days, and yes, I’m referring
to ‘Prog’ rock’ will definitely enjoy it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what was it our compere said after they’d played ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘A fitting show for what is, without a doubt, one of the
largest ever Thursday night crowds at Cropredy…’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So there !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which brings us to Thursday’s headliners who I have
deliberately not mentioned as yet because they are the one band on, excepting
Fairport, that most of us have come to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The one band that every one of us has said ‘And I’m not
missing The Waterboys whatever the bloody weather chucks at us…’ </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And were they as good as we thought they were going to
be ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Check it out... </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COBNW8BjROk" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COBNW8BjROk</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How Mike Scott managed to actually get the full moon to
show itself from behind the clouds when the band went into the first ‘You Saw the
Whole of the Moon’ is something that you can all argue about…
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But sometimes something special occurs, and it did for
The Waterboys.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the other thing is that you find you know a lot more
of their tracks than you think you did.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t tend to play the first two albums these days, I’m
definitely a Fisherman’s Blues head and Room to Roam is also up there, but they
were absolutely great.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nobody from our lot, and I really do mean nobody had been
disappointed by them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Somebody did something right, didn’t they ?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, it’s over for the day so we’re all back to the
tents.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I say it’s over and it is except for one thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everything is over bar the drinking, and we’ve brought
along a little addition to those proceedings…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I refer your honour, to that bottle of stuff that
we’d discovered when going to one of Haddy’s friends party’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A bottle of toffee flavoured vodka.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what’s more we’d got some plastic shot glasses to
serve it in…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hmmm…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not bad.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well it isn’t after your fifth shot anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We lost Shakey after his fifth which I’d been matching him
on, but then he’d definitely drunk more beer than me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Discretion being the better part of valour, we saved half
the bottle for tomorrows revels and went to bed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(it’s better than any sleeping pill, warms you up inside
too…)<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
FRIDAY</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Uuuurgh !</div>
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It’s tomorrow…</div>
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I know it is, I’ve just opened my eyes and it’s not dark.</div>
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It’s early. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know that much because I can’t hear too many people
gabbling away outside but those I can seem to be heading for the toilets or
showers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully, we’ve got our own little camping loo stuck in
the other half of our tent so we don’t need to queue and at this time of the
morning it’s a godsend…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Breakfast.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What’s it going to be ?</div>
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Veggie sausage, fake bac’ (pronounced bake) tomato and
egg all chucked into a bit of oil in the frying pan and a couple of slices of
bread which might end up as fried bread if the oil holds out, plus the kettle
on the other burner.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’ll do me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvwHyJplHQLV3-WG2IQTWW59R-kDMEX3oaTsU1iwi7miBZJKTs090akISLKGAP41ZvHeGYzaZKIH0djKnNFbuv2Q9OAlGd4JNHEPjleDlZBKJcUZSnM_JCnAaJAHMLUK3DDaKkpJ68A/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvwHyJplHQLV3-WG2IQTWW59R-kDMEX3oaTsU1iwi7miBZJKTs090akISLKGAP41ZvHeGYzaZKIH0djKnNFbuv2Q9OAlGd4JNHEPjleDlZBKJcUZSnM_JCnAaJAHMLUK3DDaKkpJ68A/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course the smell of cooking wakes everybody else up
also…
</div>
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I have discovered some numbers written on paper in a glass
next to Colin’s shower so I’ve just picked out numbers three and four.</div>
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I don’t know, but I do suspect… </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P_WlPNxOEu0vD31v-qLjcNzshlmjCRuqsqvh8MiuwQzfZ7LlYLn3jPCcgdEhyphenhyphenZH4tg0jlsODq03x-vXK_nbycSurlkFx1qsNW4xYHEhoSP0hbLOrwC8F31Fm6Y3vzf7-u45gqbY_uw/s1600/067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P_WlPNxOEu0vD31v-qLjcNzshlmjCRuqsqvh8MiuwQzfZ7LlYLn3jPCcgdEhyphenhyphenZH4tg0jlsODq03x-vXK_nbycSurlkFx1qsNW4xYHEhoSP0hbLOrwC8F31Fm6Y3vzf7-u45gqbY_uw/s320/067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8h5ET6E2UepR_yOjKt6j3xeYOGcgPYvXrGcDEUqU_UuJ2pRjOlRzMmEB-wP4XekWcRlStqtjM20Hqpurj2grC68jWrT7OMbTBZVoogIHEDscFUUWID05uB-iu1V0w1obmKS1QfrVpwg/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8h5ET6E2UepR_yOjKt6j3xeYOGcgPYvXrGcDEUqU_UuJ2pRjOlRzMmEB-wP4XekWcRlStqtjM20Hqpurj2grC68jWrT7OMbTBZVoogIHEDscFUUWID05uB-iu1V0w1obmKS1QfrVpwg/s320/071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it turns out about an hour and a half later that my
suspicions were well founded because he’d worked out that was the only fair way
of establishing an order as to who goes when ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now all we have to do is wait until he’s heated the water
which apparently is going to take about seven minutes…</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2Eir022e20AFBL1DDG7K1sohEBzXk-pclIiTNIwymhmjp3mB9XSomljk7GkRjq-cOVE6OZxCgUevddivrNrkPGocXPux9R-YjOQbGRSnc2z87Xy1ba1nwzUQQgkx2FCNA9tTetGDPQ/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2Eir022e20AFBL1DDG7K1sohEBzXk-pclIiTNIwymhmjp3mB9XSomljk7GkRjq-cOVE6OZxCgUevddivrNrkPGocXPux9R-YjOQbGRSnc2z87Xy1ba1nwzUQQgkx2FCNA9tTetGDPQ/s320/068.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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Frankly I’m gobsmacked… It works like a dream.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy and I take about three minutes each which leaves plenty
of water for the others.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On a full tank at about three minutes each it’ll do about
eight people.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Five minutes and it’ll do about four and then you have to
re-fill and re-heat the water.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Brilliant idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hat’s off to our Colin.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDf7U0l2TNOnFtXziHHpJa6fyT7LN96JiO5Hbiucc9Ykx_9Ep6HY7AzLs5gZoqOoaszdGQc9VXx0ls_yRuNnun6-T3reupWr3KzU6x89nafGwaVQ1j7vr7byEn-WEgrhhDMabug8qDg/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDf7U0l2TNOnFtXziHHpJa6fyT7LN96JiO5Hbiucc9Ykx_9Ep6HY7AzLs5gZoqOoaszdGQc9VXx0ls_yRuNnun6-T3reupWr3KzU6x89nafGwaVQ1j7vr7byEn-WEgrhhDMabug8qDg/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Haddy has decided on cereal for breakfast and so there’s
really only one lot of washing up.
</div>
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Right, that’s that sorted, now let’s decide what we are
doing today ?</div>
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Well I want to see Churchfitters and that’s
non-negotiable.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve already seen the Australian Pink Floyd Show and Chas
& Dave so I know what’s coming there, Annie, Liz, Andrew and Vicki are down
for The Wonder Stuff, Mickey’s a goer for The Travelling Band and so we all
make plans to meet on site for The Wonder Stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so, as usual, me, Haddy, Annie, and Liz, James and
Mickey make our way to the site to ‘chair up’.</div>
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The weather looks a bit iffy, but it’s not raining yet…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, It’ll shine when it shines as any Ozark Mountain
Daredevil can tell you…</div>
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When we finally get on site, Haddy and I go shopping.</div>
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Kids t-shirts and CD’s a speciality…</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObOLXHuKUclGGJAgGP9PegwMlLa8LgqhSQqN_ebfQBd1eZ8rNa7ZCWRhtqtZ8Is0hzzZ_bmnYohxmUgTSBfMfhmW-HoAcKjIxgHQU5SxjDIQB8t89U1So4tbolIPy_jA3magwDcidtA/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObOLXHuKUclGGJAgGP9PegwMlLa8LgqhSQqN_ebfQBd1eZ8rNa7ZCWRhtqtZ8Is0hzzZ_bmnYohxmUgTSBfMfhmW-HoAcKjIxgHQU5SxjDIQB8t89U1So4tbolIPy_jA3magwDcidtA/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The staff at the hospice stall (I told you I would... hahaha)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the field toilet block... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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No CD’s that we fancy but we get the t-shirts and take a
few pictures and that’ll do.</div>
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Hopefully I’ll find a few bits on the Boot Fair tomorrow
?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkDVYgQnEZbxzm4CxgQ_t9NEchEaNaMW-4pLZCqIxYrA-swnRjyH10177tM2yrvSRyeUcrQ_Lns0nzxj8nkNzV_1WTSQWtNU2uGP3Mk76bZ6qBjPH0Xmsq_5sjERJZPicv3S-fYsCkQ/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkDVYgQnEZbxzm4CxgQ_t9NEchEaNaMW-4pLZCqIxYrA-swnRjyH10177tM2yrvSRyeUcrQ_Lns0nzxj8nkNzV_1WTSQWtNU2uGP3Mk76bZ6qBjPH0Xmsq_5sjERJZPicv3S-fYsCkQ/s320/084.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There’s definitely time for a kip before the main events
but I think the weather may make even that a bit difficult because the sky has
darkened somewhat and precipitation is not just expected, it’s looking like
it’s more a bloody certainty !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, you can call me Weather-Diviner Chris if you
like ?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5Pn1XmNTrJt6JyPTACSpi8KX5fZmU2c4msRLznxxuKUsiSs9V_93uHkyKjM7-CUV28KlerlESyL97RFWeUKbXOqn5Pd9RN-UAfq0wSIFk8EQgz1j30WzY-ZaCFyuTI3s-U4GnYkPQw/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5Pn1XmNTrJt6JyPTACSpi8KX5fZmU2c4msRLznxxuKUsiSs9V_93uHkyKjM7-CUV28KlerlESyL97RFWeUKbXOqn5Pd9RN-UAfq0wSIFk8EQgz1j30WzY-ZaCFyuTI3s-U4GnYkPQw/s320/085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The acts are all much of a same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Until Churchfitters hit the stage anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Good, but all a little too ‘earnest’ for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m turning into a vampire, I crave a bit of blood and
fire or at least some signs of life…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And in Churchfitters we all got that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They are definitely mad, I can tell you that much.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Homemade instruments and all…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And you can find their first four numbers here...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95bHjsgmeDo" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95bHjsgmeDo</a> </div>
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Mad as a Hatter.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well that livened up the party somewhat.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was at about this point that Haddy discovered the Jamaican fish stall...</td></tr>
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The Travelling Band are on next and they’re ok.</div>
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I remembered them from last time which according to the
programme was three years ago and whilst I could say that first time out they
rocked, this year the rock had taken a bit of a formulaic turn. </div>
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Mickey loved them but I can pass.</div>
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So far only Churchfitters have shown that spark that I
love today but then it’s time for the Wonder Stuff and so long as it’s better
than the size of a cow…
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fuck me !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They were seriously good.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You have to remember that I’m in my sixties now and
probably the eldest of our lot here but you know, you try and remain honest and
objective about music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not worth lying about, even to yourself because that
way madness lies and an exaggerated view of your own importance.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hopefully anything I write is reasonably objective and
only coloured by my own prejudices… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ie. Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan are the best we are ever
likely to get and the rest inhabit the trails of getting to their standards.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know not everybody is going to agree with that,
especially those whose first objective gigs were in the ‘punk’ era, but…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bill Shankley once said of football that it was more
important than life or death (I’m paraphrasing) well music is one hell of a lot
more important than football so why delude yourself even if you attempt to
delude others ?</div>
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If a band is crap then bloody well say so, even
if they are mates, because you do them no favours by telling them they’re great
if they’re not.<br />
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Yes, I find things bland sometimes (not just here either)
that doesn’t mean the band is bad, just that they didn’t mark the event by
stomping their particular patent all over it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And if it doesn’t ‘rock’ then nobody can induce me to say
that it does, and even well known bands and singers can do things which leave
you cold.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As I’ve probably said before, all you have to do is apply
the Ken Tyler foot tapping test.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If your feet don’t tap then it’s probably not for you.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It worked for Ken and it works for me, and my old mate
Ken was a serious Jazz fan.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Music, if that’s what all those other genres were, left
him cold.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jazz however was ‘Hot’, and nobody was ever going to
persuade him otherwise.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, you can argue all you like about that last sentence
but you cannot argue about the guy’s commitment to his love of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was TOTAL .</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He taught everybody who came into close proximity to him
to look beyond the names, the genres and the styles.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He liked Jazz, but he did not expect everybody to be or
do the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There was always a choice and you’d better be able to
justify your own by your own standards.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Know what ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It works.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You like Punk ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justify it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You like Folk ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justify it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You like Rock ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Justify it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Provide examples to turn on a friend or neighbour.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That was the biggest kindness you could ever do for them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To get them to look outside their blinkers by justifying
something else and you can’t do that without some form of enthusiasm because it
doesn’t work.</div>
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Passion and fire because music deserves it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yeah, that was Ken, that and a foot that wouldn’t stop
tapping and if by chance he had a cup of tea in his hand then so much the
better…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To hear him and Frank (who hates Jazz) argue the merits
of Vassar Clements Hillbilly Jazz album was a lesson in verbal ping-pong that
should have gone down in Olympic history.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fast, funny as fuck, and even tempered but both of them
leaving barbs in the other which would surface somewhere down the line.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Frank met his match in that one, but then so did Ken.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Both agreed that it was a wonderful album, but both from
vastly differing perspectives.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And let’s not even go through what they said about David
Grisman’s ‘Dawg Music’.</div>
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It’s Country.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s Jazz.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s just bloody good music, so can we all have a cup of
tea and coffee and just shut the fuck up ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You keep out of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Aaaargh !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shut up ! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I’ll
put some Mahler on…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok (x2)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it would quieten down for five minutes before
starting up again after they’d had a tea and coffee break truce…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, enough digression, let’s get back to the main
event</div>
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The Wonder Stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All I could remember was Size of a Cow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Until they started playing that is…</div>
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Then I remembered damn near every song they played.</div>
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I’d always had them down as second division but this was
premier league stuff.</div>
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Check it out...</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmX3rbVBBFI" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmX3rbVBBFI</a> </div>
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Bloody Hell !!!</div>
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Another band who changed my perceptions of their previous
material.</div>
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See, that’s what Cropredy is all about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Really all about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not just a bunch of folkies regurgitating past
glories.</div>
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It’s new and vibrant.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s older and still relevant.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s fuckin’ brilliant, and there is no way you’ll get me
to change my mind about that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that’s how The Wonder Stuff became the first real
‘hit’ of the day.</div>
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At least amongst our lot, that is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cue Randy Newman’s ‘I think it’s going to rain today…’</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir18koaUioV60NgrEK9r77yeqpEf_sdZSDrCqO6T26IiA82C7GT5ZF8giSfdLalRMAYFNR1qqNESdAgf3s2JopMj21HXk937_E4pl5y82XUDhJHCC1oFwVHolstAbM8Cn_SEX6CgJbMQ/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir18koaUioV60NgrEK9r77yeqpEf_sdZSDrCqO6T26IiA82C7GT5ZF8giSfdLalRMAYFNR1qqNESdAgf3s2JopMj21HXk937_E4pl5y82XUDhJHCC1oFwVHolstAbM8Cn_SEX6CgJbMQ/s320/095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modelling the 'Cropredy Condom'</td></tr>
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And it did.
</div>
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The first real drenching of the weekend as Chas and Dave
hit the stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now I quite like Chas & Dave.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d seen them before a couple of times and so I knew what
to expect and they delivered just that.</div>
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What people don’t see perhaps, is the affection that they
have for old time rock’n’roll and they play it superbly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD0742oxzk7uSF42Gi6BLSsGloDXTj6D8R-VoHJsjGMitRVb_2Ybh2xApsNH8k2RbGbzw1tyso7nD4AGvP4Z3qPkHY3MybH8F9tRrxB5aV8rm0uWKmonbc5D0SkUEVSEtNL11mMsReg/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD0742oxzk7uSF42Gi6BLSsGloDXTj6D8R-VoHJsjGMitRVb_2Ybh2xApsNH8k2RbGbzw1tyso7nD4AGvP4Z3qPkHY3MybH8F9tRrxB5aV8rm0uWKmonbc5D0SkUEVSEtNL11mMsReg/s320/107.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicki. 'Don't bogart the beer, dear...' </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Mi7SM-N3xKUnbq3E31aoqw-EiMiwC3kzBOLEx2vz8M8cnqW7ArUDTyB6hV73nAu9JXW0ovDKSqFAi4MWfknRCyc4PBMdo1Wsp-f_Kv01w0MG1TXxXM8p0s7onYu73ZtcShuga3wY_w/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Mi7SM-N3xKUnbq3E31aoqw-EiMiwC3kzBOLEx2vz8M8cnqW7ArUDTyB6hV73nAu9JXW0ovDKSqFAi4MWfknRCyc4PBMdo1Wsp-f_Kv01w0MG1TXxXM8p0s7onYu73ZtcShuga3wY_w/s320/108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim. 'Sorry...'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdELFtAXfoP04vWRR54yLiTZUhk6mcaLevDxSEQkA3wf6ZVt57c_G0qTfVXrBvyeRqE-aYTvJ3NW71W4KCy77VL6PmLUnoTP2Ni71VuMqNgW72EAgTXSDOkg0h_DrQTFmTt4SlzSl74A/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdELFtAXfoP04vWRR54yLiTZUhk6mcaLevDxSEQkA3wf6ZVt57c_G0qTfVXrBvyeRqE-aYTvJ3NW71W4KCy77VL6PmLUnoTP2Ni71VuMqNgW72EAgTXSDOkg0h_DrQTFmTt4SlzSl74A/s320/118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux-yi3PDf_1cMPOazFahhj4rQhv873fEuaVfZosGw4jj-SbsMcl2avYKJ5fJputqaYY8XMwDQrhFQPDBW8FD9fzoprn54g94scEIXiXr8C1455HpqCEDzzGTi-_JQLs6w0PA623IhFA/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux-yi3PDf_1cMPOazFahhj4rQhv873fEuaVfZosGw4jj-SbsMcl2avYKJ5fJputqaYY8XMwDQrhFQPDBW8FD9fzoprn54g94scEIXiXr8C1455HpqCEDzzGTi-_JQLs6w0PA623IhFA/s320/119.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
Check out Gertcha here... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoi4tmx0v6g" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoi4tmx0v6g</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All their hits have really been novelty numbers and so
when they actually rock out it takes some by surprise that they do it so well.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvALfSDaLJ0YKT0nafk-ApG7xL9ukIcQNMIdRl1bzXTu3QdM0ZMAIljN8msEYuIFgisBoEkorwuYkbzu27dAbRcMhXR5UXlsYD2dGJS9Vby-Qck7vAVhLBPX7ytDf7U4aA_fsCmO1HTw/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvALfSDaLJ0YKT0nafk-ApG7xL9ukIcQNMIdRl1bzXTu3QdM0ZMAIljN8msEYuIFgisBoEkorwuYkbzu27dAbRcMhXR5UXlsYD2dGJS9Vby-Qck7vAVhLBPX7ytDf7U4aA_fsCmO1HTw/s320/102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Shame about the rain in the middle of the set but
notwithstanding that the guys done good.</div>
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Nice one.</div>
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<br />
Which brings us to the Australian Pink Floyd Show…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy had enjoyed Chas and Dave but this was new territory
to her as it’s not the sort of thing they tend to play on British radio let
alone Gambian and so most of their set was going to be new to her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, she lasted until their fifth track which coincided
with the heavens opening again and then asked if we could go back to the tent ?<br />
Here's a bit of them at Cropredy... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxYuSDrWodY" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxYuSDrWodY</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was a shame as the light show was beginning to rival
the band and that’s when they really get good but the rain was torrential so I
couldn’t really blame her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s it, we’re off, see you all later…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And we retreated from the field of sound and light.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Straight back to our tent where we made a cup of tea,
laced it with brandy or tequila and waited for some of the others…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
SATURDAY</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh God…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That was a mistake.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There was about half an inch left in the toffee vodka
when we both woke up the following morning and so I glugged it before my cup of tea.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can remember having about three shots with some of the
girls and Andrew and Karen but I don’t remember much else…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently it was a good night and everybody enjoyed
themselves. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the toffee vodka.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So that’s alright then.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right… Breakfast the same as yesterday and let’s hit the
Boot Fair.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We seem to be running a bit late (Who knows where the
time goes…)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But I now own another half dozen cd’s of things I’ve been
looking for cheap and she now owns a few more dresses and tops.<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->Leg it back to the site, drop off the gear, pick up our
chairs and go.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Finally arriving just as Richard Digance is exhorting
everybody to become the biggest Morris team in the world again…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCMH6iCi_9A" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCMH6iCi_9A</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bugger it !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I like ol’ Digance.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s the best way I know to start off Saturday and we’ve
managed to miss most of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, it can’t be helped so let’s get settled and see
what the day brings shall we ?</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blackbeard’s Tea Party were enjoyable in a raucous
folk-rock sort of way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They were obviously used to playing venues that don’t go
‘shuuuush’ when you’re in the middle of a conversation at the bar…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Check 'em out... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HI7REZWAo0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HI7REZWAo0</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Really good set, so let’s see if this Reg Meuross bloke
is any good ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s difficult for me to talk about Reg without going
into overhype.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He was THAT good that half way through his set I was
legging it, literally, to the cd tent because I knew without a doubt there
would be sod-all left if I waited until he’d finished, and when I got there it
seemed that half of the crowd had worked out the same scenario.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They certainly weren’t selling anything else at that point
in time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Reg’s set was the classic singer-songwriter one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Get a good enough band to do justice to the material and
then get out there and show folk what you’ve got.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He had me hooked by the second song and by the fourth I
was trying to get served the two cd’s the tent had left…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Click on this for 'And the band played Sweet Marie' from Cropredy</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr8CVii2sq0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr8CVii2sq0</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Absolutely great set so how come I’d never heard of the
bloke before ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Who knows, but I bloody have now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just book the bloke, preferably with his band because
they seriously are a wonderful outfit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Salute.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieanLucARNbccaRF5MqUBfuHunmnVGnPhyphenhyphenlPiT7Zzmkjn6b-YQ6nULRfBg8VMzj8QeoOxI4wEmLEzJAO3G8aAiiLXxWvt29JEszJFesWPIwfTWWeyz7QB45GSdmTJbdUKn215Lb9o6lw/s1600/145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieanLucARNbccaRF5MqUBfuHunmnVGnPhyphenhyphenlPiT7Zzmkjn6b-YQ6nULRfBg8VMzj8QeoOxI4wEmLEzJAO3G8aAiiLXxWvt29JEszJFesWPIwfTWWeyz7QB45GSdmTJbdUKn215Lb9o6lw/s320/145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicki. 'He's bogarting the beer again...'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWliuRUxpIBLHbhKYOUhyphenhyphenjKNy0GqmEuWyDwL-MFG4wpDSJdETziyf7qp9EwFgZFL3naTvD5M6X4fqzJ3UFuv1apHwKsauDy_IFBhvbNc5C-yPpNTn__nLxRmma7Yqj99ox0lDZD7-rXA/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWliuRUxpIBLHbhKYOUhyphenhyphenjKNy0GqmEuWyDwL-MFG4wpDSJdETziyf7qp9EwFgZFL3naTvD5M6X4fqzJ3UFuv1apHwKsauDy_IFBhvbNc5C-yPpNTn__nLxRmma7Yqj99ox0lDZD7-rXA/s320/146.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicki. 'This time I want at least six inches...'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s probably just as well that I’ve seen Treetop Flyers
and Cara Dillon before because after Reg’s set nothing was going to measure up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Treetop Flyers... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3ELLoyPds4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3ELLoyPds4</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
& </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cara Dillon... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI6EV4SJbwc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI6EV4SJbwc</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Both of them played fine sets but Reg’s lyrics in that
setting were the synergy of perfection and when that happens to you then there
is no way that you’re going to be able to enjoy them as much as you would
otherwise, and it’s a shame because they are both first rate.</div>
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Blimey !
</div>
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I think they’re all here ?</div>
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It’s not the usual occurrence I can tell you that.</div>
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Must be something special happening ?</div>
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Oh yeah…</div>
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Marillion.</div>
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I will say that they played a very professional and very
acceptable set and everybody loved them and gushed over them…</div>
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Easter is here...<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIUU_Lf5smU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIUU_Lf5smU</a> </div>
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Except me.</div>
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There’s nothing wrong with them, or me for that matter,
it’s just that I haven’t managed to ‘connect’ with what they do.</div>
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Maybe one day it’ll occur ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apart from Astral Weeks it had taken me ten years to
‘get’ Van Morrison, so there’s always hope.</div>
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I was definitely up for Al Stewart.</div>
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I can remember his early folkie stuff back in the old CBS
days when he always managed to get a track on all those old sampler albums that
they and Island used to punt out.</div>
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Fill Your Head with Rock and all that…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Try Year of the Cat... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QB686deM4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QB686deM4</a> </div>
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Well apart from that transatlantic accent he didn’t
disappoint.</div>
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It was about two thirds RCA and one third CBS so he
definitely covered the bases.</div>
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Not bad…</div>
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Now let’s see how the main men measure up to what’s gone
before, shall we ?</div>
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Well they definitely started as they meant to go on.</div>
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It rocked and it rolled and it folked and it balladeered
and we were all Fairported to that special place a couple of hours later when
you’re all guessing where the first notes of Matty Groves are going to come in
?</div>
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And now even Haddy is up there with our loony tunes
dancers…</div>
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There’s something about this lot. </div>
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I don’t know what it is because you can’t bottle it and
take it home, but it’s there regardless.</div>
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Check out a great big chunk of them here... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CXFGeQ8dq0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CXFGeQ8dq0</a> </div>
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If the words ‘A People’s Band’ mean anything then forget
the Pistols or The Clash or anything from the punk era, but Fairport ?</div>
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They just might deserve the monicker.</div>
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They truly are a people’s band.</div>
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So let’s meet on the ledge again next year, shall we ?</div>
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And there was me thinking it was a weak and unenjoyable
line-up with all that ‘Prog’ stuff ?</div>
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This year had been one of the best.</div>
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What do I know ?</div>
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Just a mere punter at a yearly event.</div>
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The rain had mostly held off which was good, so let’s not
stay up too late, eh ?</div>
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But of course God has to get in his final joke…</div>
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As we started dismantling the tents to leave on the
Sunday morning it fucking well pissed it down !!!</div>
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You have to laugh… </div>
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But that’s Cropredy, innit ?</div>
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Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-5460534029003288562015-05-27T11:32:00.000-07:002015-05-27T11:32:18.126-07:00RHYTHMS OF THE WORLD 2014 (SUNDAY)<br />
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Sunday had the same start.</div>
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We picked up Grant and Frank and made our way over.</div>
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Ben and Marcus had slept on the kit, either on the stage
or under their sound desk gazebo because as far as they were concerned,
sticking the whole lot together again was a definite no-no.</div>
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We were supposed to have a very noisy start on the Sunday
but the band concerned had switched to third after our third had managed to get
herself on at Cambridge Folk Festival as well.</div>
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It wasn’t going to help that she was going to have to
start at twelve-thirty because of Bob’s drummers, but that was out of our
hands.</div>
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Oh well, whatever ?</div>
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I’m glad I pulled the time back though.</div>
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Those bloody drummers would definitely have drowned her.</div>
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So… </div>
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While we’re waiting to start a full half hour later than
everybody else, we’ve actually got the time to introduce you to our crew, so
here we all are…</div>
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Somebody asked me once why I dress the way I do for the
Festival and the answer is quite simple really.</div>
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I dress so that I’m comfortable in what I’m wearing
bearing in mind some of the jobs that I have to do whilst I’m there, and I also
dress to be seen.</div>
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The first thing artists have to do when they arrive on
site and they’ve been checked in is to find me so that I know they’re around
and on site.</div>
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I can usually be picked out in any crowd of people, so
now you know, ok ? </div>
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Ben and Marcus, the sound crew. </div>
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Grant and Haddy, Co-Compere and Still Photographer/Merchandiser respectively.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZTD-p4dbom-kcD-mIyTLZVC1SCfNw0I1JgJbw_R_Rz7wEWuC5k8uFea1sRDmntWOqXrfrcTDGpcFZ2G4choe3s4zeTV-t2lJ8HvoHKdRGHrzxNlfePlCFOK0kBurFXhti6lALHHsoQ/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZTD-p4dbom-kcD-mIyTLZVC1SCfNw0I1JgJbw_R_Rz7wEWuC5k8uFea1sRDmntWOqXrfrcTDGpcFZ2G4choe3s4zeTV-t2lJ8HvoHKdRGHrzxNlfePlCFOK0kBurFXhti6lALHHsoQ/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Marcus, James and Sarah, Video, Video Assistant and Video Assistant/Still Photographer respectively.</div>
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Bob, Trustee and Main Stage booking and me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiQ5wsUffrI1kkeCKQJX6JFBnPudTRW-YhYkS2eyLT5yaJRiEhE0CwBSqps40dn1lS5QGezG5vGXYxJbrvwo5KAd6GEs9JYt2nd451pMBH5rMI9InOyQHStG-lFojMOvj_DGDKLV_eg/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiQ5wsUffrI1kkeCKQJX6JFBnPudTRW-YhYkS2eyLT5yaJRiEhE0CwBSqps40dn1lS5QGezG5vGXYxJbrvwo5KAd6GEs9JYt2nd451pMBH5rMI9InOyQHStG-lFojMOvj_DGDKLV_eg/s320/103.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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Amy, Chair Person and overall in charge, and me. </div>
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Sarah and Haddy. Still Photographers and Merchandiser</div>
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Frank, Front of Stage Manager and Artist Security. </div>
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Me, snacking on the run... </div>
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Haddy, with former Chair-Person and overall head honcho, Steve and Missus. </div>
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Marcus (Sound) and Marcus (Video)</div>
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Joy T, Co-Compere</div>
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Joy T (Co-Compere), Shoeless Dave (Rigger) and Grant (Co-Compere) </div>
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Grant. Co-Compere<br />
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And this is Pete, the third of our Sound Crew... I think he'd brought the axe because he needed it for his last job, driving a 'Boyband' around...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s twelve thirty and the drums have stopped and yes,
they were loud, and yes, they would have drowned out our first act who is a
young and up and coming folk singer by the name of Kelly Oliver.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1C_6QPgi6AgGXUuO4KgwviF5XRGGOoLMOwIH_aPLhZlLh2FJWolM46Rc-gR3jXWAjKmGlNhN4SozxyNcrnhahHH1iX2fLHAtZp5VaC1TjkCInFePPhf9jwR5TnvBBjTZhP7FLbE0Og/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1C_6QPgi6AgGXUuO4KgwviF5XRGGOoLMOwIH_aPLhZlLh2FJWolM46Rc-gR3jXWAjKmGlNhN4SozxyNcrnhahHH1iX2fLHAtZp5VaC1TjkCInFePPhf9jwR5TnvBBjTZhP7FLbE0Og/s320/033.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
I’d had so many people last year tell me that this girl
was good and they’d seen her here, there and everywhere else that I’d booked
her sight unseen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiDDfY7HqjBpOzxtGGM5rQPA7hr0SPQezcUJC9fWfEStWqN2pe6Zs4HRf8FJ7J395Sbpuneg8DMBBOZVffNSWneaPHpXNQxp4AVbbKxE3i-xBhE89hWqZ7wp07YAcXbStbwLCZcH1vg/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiDDfY7HqjBpOzxtGGM5rQPA7hr0SPQezcUJC9fWfEStWqN2pe6Zs4HRf8FJ7J395Sbpuneg8DMBBOZVffNSWneaPHpXNQxp4AVbbKxE3i-xBhE89hWqZ7wp07YAcXbStbwLCZcH1vg/s320/023.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d recorded her not quite out yet album with Dave
Swarbrick among others and so she was evidently going somewhere, as I can’t see
ol’ Dave getting off his perch for anybody that he doesn’t want to, so that was
a serious recommendation in itself.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Was she good ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some strong guitar work, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>and a seriously good voice which suits the
songs perfectly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBZR66EhGJ2BVXy0n_joci1tDwjO55JKmbPoTd3fszFbYKnHIr9cTzewTEGRSvOiNZzsXejQDt1sP5fsXvze5noT9UrTx3sY786xDh7ThdaSiQ6hMOJTgpO0DHRyywwtw36zsWeBr1Q/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBZR66EhGJ2BVXy0n_joci1tDwjO55JKmbPoTd3fszFbYKnHIr9cTzewTEGRSvOiNZzsXejQDt1sP5fsXvze5noT9UrTx3sY786xDh7ThdaSiQ6hMOJTgpO0DHRyywwtw36zsWeBr1Q/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Kelly was excellent and I’d fully recommend her to anybody
of a folkie persuasion who wants to book somebody on the up.<br />
Anyway, in the absence of anything from the festival here's a version of a song she performed on the day so you can check her out yourselves <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kFRFO5364I" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kFRFO5364I</a> <br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Give her about five years and I reckon she’ll be at the
top of her chosen profession without any doubt.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That girl is definitely something special.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Kelly was followed by Laura Victoria.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now we’d had Laura previously back in 2006 as a young solo
act and she’d been good then in a strange sort of way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She plays a hybrid type of Bluegrass Folk but instead of
using the traditional instruments of those genres, she plays the cello.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMUo33y8ciHtaGk8O8DroyGEgoL9TY8SvLZeJuuIWa2oNlCwI-TNMdAoGN5aI1XZMJ75qrOou6M18jQfPzFjDgIQUX4HGbqN9DpBRXpXxn0b-m4VPSoAtoIgnaWWc8oQUpI8GvSV2lA/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMUo33y8ciHtaGk8O8DroyGEgoL9TY8SvLZeJuuIWa2oNlCwI-TNMdAoGN5aI1XZMJ75qrOou6M18jQfPzFjDgIQUX4HGbqN9DpBRXpXxn0b-m4VPSoAtoIgnaWWc8oQUpI8GvSV2lA/s320/086.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It sounds odd until you see and hear her do it, but then
you realise that it doesn’t matter so long as the instrumentation is up to
scratch and she can sing.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is and she can.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMSPgO2BgIItiDqkxyr_PUvdInbx7zDnedFHx4oEMk88dbdfkdtBk-HpmVM7Z_pCbUBqUwjeUqfblXtQq1L5gj2Sb1t7k_vNujOaM2M7TWSJ2mxS-WP_ruvynzzwwmk8qvIssdde6uQ/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMSPgO2BgIItiDqkxyr_PUvdInbx7zDnedFHx4oEMk88dbdfkdtBk-HpmVM7Z_pCbUBqUwjeUqfblXtQq1L5gj2Sb1t7k_vNujOaM2M7TWSJ2mxS-WP_ruvynzzwwmk8qvIssdde6uQ/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Besides, anybody who’s coming to play for us that can
belt out Utah Phillips Rock, Salt and Nails or that old Jerry Garcia favourite
Deep Ellum Blues can’t be all bad, can they ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMJqtG_McXKfRZLauq1tEGVrRV5PJMCfI_cvIKYW87Ea7jQLP8VtJ8UOVsnWu62Kv8vtXXee3q4Jc2VimV30DirTobSSd-ynJSeDj5MriO5QHYxoS0ibZ8HRHr5tgqp7qCJVVqtWRmg/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMJqtG_McXKfRZLauq1tEGVrRV5PJMCfI_cvIKYW87Ea7jQLP8VtJ8UOVsnWu62Kv8vtXXee3q4Jc2VimV30DirTobSSd-ynJSeDj5MriO5QHYxoS0ibZ8HRHr5tgqp7qCJVVqtWRmg/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Accompanied by Jo Cooper on fiddle and banjo, these two
can pick or rock with the best of them.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Downright impressive even though I say it myself, and I
booked them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Give them a go, folks… You won’t be disappointed. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JK9g1GftN4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JK9g1GftN4</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s artists like Laura Victoria that tick all the Arcadeclectic
boxes.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vive La Difference and all that stuff.<br />
<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->Because of Kelly playing two gigs on the same day,
Traitors had shifted from openers to third place.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now the thing is, every member had been in a respected
band locally, and they’d just combined to make an even better one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not only can they play and sing but they actually know
what a harmony is, and that’s what drew me toward them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Grant had originally suggested that we ask them to do an
acoustic set to challenge both themselves and their audience, but after
thinking about the possibilities I decided not to.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These guys (and girl) were like a bolt out of the blue.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtX8xFvtcB8G2hbZOXAXt9gARSbGZuWcSMzSGh9_oC6jGkLDrMt1OTFQJVSrdvwiWzxAKGdknOypBlVSnI85MZ6tzjTVwO8Vb9ElNvlgfuNGFq9VWcknTSKbumvQ-C4P1vKw-EgBCwaQ/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtX8xFvtcB8G2hbZOXAXt9gARSbGZuWcSMzSGh9_oC6jGkLDrMt1OTFQJVSrdvwiWzxAKGdknOypBlVSnI85MZ6tzjTVwO8Vb9ElNvlgfuNGFq9VWcknTSKbumvQ-C4P1vKw-EgBCwaQ/s320/130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Loud, brash, rocking, punky and harmonic all in one
package.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sounds good to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And did they haul in a few punters…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The place was packed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And without further ado they literally exploded onto the
stage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZR4_KnOMJnFh0nSK7FI45yr8JNMEXp52O5n-upLEWIaucxzvHyQjj7kxI6Ws7_uQfH1xi0g4jx36KpTgv3c17dpNChXFBELohyphenhyphen0RgEw9XuGeOx8Xx-EqDCU_ak9y62584pUDX-XyoA/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZR4_KnOMJnFh0nSK7FI45yr8JNMEXp52O5n-upLEWIaucxzvHyQjj7kxI6Ws7_uQfH1xi0g4jx36KpTgv3c17dpNChXFBELohyphenhyphen0RgEw9XuGeOx8Xx-EqDCU_ak9y62584pUDX-XyoA/s320/113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Total high-octane rock with choruses and harmonies. <br />
Check them out. <br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C_x5UMec74" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C_x5UMec74</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kaboom !!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPydLHVObCXV3VUsP5r40bS-FI40eolYlGeZvFCvgGj24VIItwgBpx1UlcFsX4o5lRwAUPASHunVHJXRRb2KOScf0UQEHyhyphenhyphenv7-ED8E3r0x2USOYLmUx8BYNWr8glxjBCRr64jcPHPw/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPydLHVObCXV3VUsP5r40bS-FI40eolYlGeZvFCvgGj24VIItwgBpx1UlcFsX4o5lRwAUPASHunVHJXRRb2KOScf0UQEHyhyphenhyphenv7-ED8E3r0x2USOYLmUx8BYNWr8glxjBCRr64jcPHPw/s320/154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the things I like about Rhythms or at least our
part of it, is the closeness between us and the musicians and the crowd.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
People talk and they exchange thoughts with each other.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We try and keep the audience on it’s collective toes and
those that like the apparent random-ness of the acts are missing the point
somewhat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No sooner had Traitors finished their set than Laura
Victoria was telling me that putting them on after her and Jo was a stroke of
genius…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not strictly true, it was a happy accident because they
were supposed to open (in MY head at least) until I realised that it could also
work back to front.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that she also added that was why she liked our
stage because you really never know what is coming next,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just seemed to justify what we do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m happy with it anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thanx Laura.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
Maharaja Blues had been the act I got from the
applications to play the Festival, specifically no. 88 if you want details ?
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The instrumentation intrigued me because it’s not really
the done thing in Blues circles where ‘authenticity’ is a prized attribute.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And whilst a metallic resonator guitar might sound
authentic, the tablas that accompanied them were certainly not.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Having said that, after watching everything I could find
on Youtube I knew we had to try and get them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It works.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nR2-0emfHjYrwpV_1si423-g0H2gCEfn_pdDdRbHVNUadg1rJ6GEB9BHHcCWpuTc1G6Zs44kWiqkIHiWwa_mJhWECQLlNYqtrA827sjA4P2NF7ACq9AcyWlkkwIANP95v7Ytge_0yA/s1600/197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nR2-0emfHjYrwpV_1si423-g0H2gCEfn_pdDdRbHVNUadg1rJ6GEB9BHHcCWpuTc1G6Zs44kWiqkIHiWwa_mJhWECQLlNYqtrA827sjA4P2NF7ACq9AcyWlkkwIANP95v7Ytge_0yA/s320/197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Slip a bit of harmonica in there to sweeten the mix and
you have the ingredients for one seriously good Blues band.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-0hpJmFiuqGAeRz-fwVPpA1RaDtalqC0iwzeNdohAWe1-YtP6taksFHgI9D6hOMA77M3qKrCqbXmihlR_eb18Nn3_tqPri65BrkXRkFAzm3WGqFrbWRUN3b0P6JBrT42iUl8PpFwrQ/s1600/193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-0hpJmFiuqGAeRz-fwVPpA1RaDtalqC0iwzeNdohAWe1-YtP6taksFHgI9D6hOMA77M3qKrCqbXmihlR_eb18Nn3_tqPri65BrkXRkFAzm3WGqFrbWRUN3b0P6JBrT42iUl8PpFwrQ/s320/193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It’s perfect Sunday afternoon Festival music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And after Traitors I think we need to just lay back and
chill for a bit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9P1cOxwSn4fqm-CwG7SWacu6EuTxtAj55H9W0EZK2bgLiwYMr__f2jGx-wLkgwuEmdejAOpE1TBOww0Ny5_irP63_UfMId47j4ONbp72I00BflZFp70o2rb0FsaooJ1JA_64PkSOBPA/s1600/243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9P1cOxwSn4fqm-CwG7SWacu6EuTxtAj55H9W0EZK2bgLiwYMr__f2jGx-wLkgwuEmdejAOpE1TBOww0Ny5_irP63_UfMId47j4ONbp72I00BflZFp70o2rb0FsaooJ1JA_64PkSOBPA/s320/243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Just a bit, mind…<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5OZ0bF1Dg8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5OZ0bF1Dg8</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Great set and the crowd seemed to enjoy it too, which was
nice.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Restricted Hours are thoughtful acoustic punk.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, they are if you want to stick one of those genre
labels on them ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s that attitude thing again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuILwW5rRwetI-b_zculjEhY_4h5D0tJ2Qg27UkvEE7ExgNYQXDICQAaRzKOrcUlI_pOG4m2kOwVEi1WTSctShQmZzInyEw0GMGGc_5Ia-YaxAM2syFSrT3efd2UboJnRkSx67_Bt_g/s1600/274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuILwW5rRwetI-b_zculjEhY_4h5D0tJ2Qg27UkvEE7ExgNYQXDICQAaRzKOrcUlI_pOG4m2kOwVEi1WTSctShQmZzInyEw0GMGGc_5Ia-YaxAM2syFSrT3efd2UboJnRkSx67_Bt_g/s320/274.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
They’ve got it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mark has always had it and although Alan tries to hide
it, it’s there underneath.<br />
<br />
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Once upon a time there used to be three of them but now
there are only two, Bob having left a few years ago to learn to blow the
saxophone which he can now do quite accomplishedly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Is that a word, who knows but it looks good ?)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mark’s lyrics are never going to be considered mainstream
or even anything like it and Alan’s guitar just seems to fit them perfectly.<br />
<br />
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They suffered by being on at the same time as The Crazy
World of Arthur Brown who were headlining the Main Stage at the same time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately, being the band that I’d had to drop and
then reinstate, they were now working a half hour later than they would
otherwise have done and this managed to split the crowd.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not that Restrictive Hours would have got thousands but they
would have had a couple of hundred.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, we did our best and so did they.<br />
Unfortunately there isn't a video from their set that I can find so here's an old recording of their initial recording from way back in 1979 instead... <br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSwClqyqZY&index=8&list=PLJ1gHxL1-eBtCLbDm_aofrgdSz_OhxNzX" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSwClqyqZY&index=8&list=PLJ1gHxL1-eBtCLbDm_aofrgdSz_OhxNzX</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Good set and everybody there enjoyed it, including Nuzz
who had turned up specifically just to see them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I must be doing something right if he’s turned up ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Actually that is one thing I do miss from the old days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It occurs occasionally like the gig at the museum, but I
do enjoy working with the guy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s challenging.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Doesn’t matter what it is, it’s always challenging.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Loads more ‘wild cards’ in play and there are times when
I think music gigs have become predictable but never with Nuzz involved.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Predictable is not a word anybody could associate with
him.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh, and if anybody wants to read his ‘Kombat <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blog’ then you can find it here…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s all about politics and music and it’s a good place
to be if you like high-octane punkrock & roll because he can put you on the
path to digging (and downloading) something new (ok, I’ve gone all hippie) but
you know what I mean ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you don’t then what are you reading this for ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It can’t just be because I have a crazy family life over
two continents because the pricks in government won’t allow the kids into the
country because they’re African and Black and not European and White and they keep changing the rules to get them here, can it ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, check out the Blog.<br />
<a href="http://nuzzprowlinwolf.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://nuzzprowlinwolf.blogspot.co.uk/</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can't say I always agree with him but it does make you think somewhat and that can only be a good thing, and it’s a good
alternative read nevertheless.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Matt Stevens is something else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d seen him do a support slot to one of Daevid Allen’s
bands, a sort of ‘Not quite Gong band…’ and he’d not just impressed me, he’d
made my jaw drop.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Grant had been going on about him and his band The Fierce
and the Dead for ages now and so off we trekked to check him out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blinding solo set and a lesson in how somebody can
actually play the guitar with a few loops thrown in for good measure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y7owcOJ-GyBlc7Tf2OKG4DDRlXjMRyMVhtsVvhq4tSgYX3QR72H1SZ1vVxI8uZhRDld_OwGG_0ICQFsCgu3zqEEnAUE5v4L04I0InwWP3r8eHDkBwg1kIwaPswETDWUwd6v_uBVo_Q/s1600/297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1y7owcOJ-GyBlc7Tf2OKG4DDRlXjMRyMVhtsVvhq4tSgYX3QR72H1SZ1vVxI8uZhRDld_OwGG_0ICQFsCgu3zqEEnAUE5v4L04I0InwWP3r8eHDkBwg1kIwaPswETDWUwd6v_uBVo_Q/s320/297.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
And now he was going to do the same for us with a
battered old acoustic that looks like it’s on its last legs…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hey !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do I know ?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGrK-i0o_wgvvxdj3DbZJf3wiXybIMuOhF0i1HEmFUqT_OCjn0Oa5qsGoOrqcqnApJylJbczkDc6urJ-vWO4ur6XN8ODeQAM-rC3MIHmkaHV1X2pvciFMARLwc_5HyjIFitL1dHMvGg/s1600/291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGrK-i0o_wgvvxdj3DbZJf3wiXybIMuOhF0i1HEmFUqT_OCjn0Oa5qsGoOrqcqnApJylJbczkDc6urJ-vWO4ur6XN8ODeQAM-rC3MIHmkaHV1X2pvciFMARLwc_5HyjIFitL1dHMvGg/s320/291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Another amazing set.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well… That got all the guitarists in the audience talking…<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6qtYFoCoUs" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6qtYFoCoUs</a><br />
(It's the only bit I can find from the festival but if you click on Matt Stevens you can find others on Youtube) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was a masterclass in how to cajole your instrument into
playing as if it were a guitar orchestra.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRkHDUjE2CeNGULySYjGU0ExoalooQVfjImMMetoDtASa8YJUSuieQNzDIqUYXOGJvvt_GfNAFMadfjXXshkhmCAFXqwgA4MrWbBTmXgwtxYsrQmzttLL2l4q8xuh8wxFeDvUTrIk1g/s1600/319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRkHDUjE2CeNGULySYjGU0ExoalooQVfjImMMetoDtASa8YJUSuieQNzDIqUYXOGJvvt_GfNAFMadfjXXshkhmCAFXqwgA4MrWbBTmXgwtxYsrQmzttLL2l4q8xuh8wxFeDvUTrIk1g/s320/319.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
Great set.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wonder if we can get the band to play ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wait until this one’s over and we get a date for the next
one and ask, I guess ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sometimes these things have to be done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Time was getting on.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8KSFWgaBug26h30Vo8n11I2VFHSKMIRodA3Rj9WN7tDUXJzZ_WTOeiWxz0WMfCHO_6h0_CXsI5N838D4NeFM7tpvaWRcfeXcPYYWGEOID-D71QIvjl9_NIcA6fSEa7rzNofBhXKYDA/s1600/401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8KSFWgaBug26h30Vo8n11I2VFHSKMIRodA3Rj9WN7tDUXJzZ_WTOeiWxz0WMfCHO_6h0_CXsI5N838D4NeFM7tpvaWRcfeXcPYYWGEOID-D71QIvjl9_NIcA6fSEa7rzNofBhXKYDA/s320/401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are six people in this shot who will not kneel... Five standing and one sat... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nuzz had returned from a wander around and we were now
boogieing away to Chevy Heaven.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Formed from the ashes of a rock’n’roll band that we’d had
on back in 2008, The Rapides had got themselves a female singer and were
getting a bit more into that old Rhythm and Blues sound that paralleled a lot
of the early sounds of Rock and Roll.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNabLfWW4O1Usb9vYE5A2R2NaQ8GUvv8RcH6CHDkdMNflas6UygraBIEuIaCK6wQD5WcRvAqqQ1j8WXEcCKpq8TO9ivT7rDFLeUGFngx2vlnLPr9dvCX-Tikr7xyMY6Bd2KF3a-kGtw/s1600/390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNabLfWW4O1Usb9vYE5A2R2NaQ8GUvv8RcH6CHDkdMNflas6UygraBIEuIaCK6wQD5WcRvAqqQ1j8WXEcCKpq8TO9ivT7rDFLeUGFngx2vlnLPr9dvCX-Tikr7xyMY6Bd2KF3a-kGtw/s320/390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a good old fashioned back to basics sound that
just seemed designed to get people dancing, and even Haddy grabbed me at one
point.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDFtDZzVZ6Nf09uMluwGmdz2zvmAuv6N03HISIEYhLoPrVJAz5djfFKhHprejpsgvp-Um1_IczKJ3DRZ9H5R-KG59nwLVrI9HsnW-4WOzw4thsu7hyphenhyphenijYFw24gd5uSIEVN9JzNvaX9w/s1600/417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDFtDZzVZ6Nf09uMluwGmdz2zvmAuv6N03HISIEYhLoPrVJAz5djfFKhHprejpsgvp-Um1_IczKJ3DRZ9H5R-KG59nwLVrI9HsnW-4WOzw4thsu7hyphenhyphenijYFw24gd5uSIEVN9JzNvaX9w/s320/417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
There are times when you have to trust other people, and
so when Dave their Bass player had told me about their new line-up then I
figured what the hell !<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZtd26UPtjYRhOdXfsxzODBsnc5o1GwIWm1Zlhu3DkYO6JQeu0npOlKr0DCpICovp6umulZflhHXCoECzdAmqyrNPVvU23R9bbKZlpjVrenDIH9rSdaGLHlTyp__NCsgF5Q_hYumOLg/s1600/386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZtd26UPtjYRhOdXfsxzODBsnc5o1GwIWm1Zlhu3DkYO6JQeu0npOlKr0DCpICovp6umulZflhHXCoECzdAmqyrNPVvU23R9bbKZlpjVrenDIH9rSdaGLHlTyp__NCsgF5Q_hYumOLg/s320/386.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I like Dave and we’ve known each other on and off since
probably the early nineties and I think he would have told me if he didn’t
think they were ready ?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuklW2P0Ce7Aww-u2LuYnb8LWss07TY7pjfhUljhi6tG6veCaZ9wIaV2se3lbd13ga7SmrdvEALRF82ueh3KnkEC6Y7_3a-r2F4vkU74ewNA1ZNXoD8jyO-YiYk5F2fN_ckfQTr6qH2A/s1600/385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuklW2P0Ce7Aww-u2LuYnb8LWss07TY7pjfhUljhi6tG6veCaZ9wIaV2se3lbd13ga7SmrdvEALRF82ueh3KnkEC6Y7_3a-r2F4vkU74ewNA1ZNXoD8jyO-YiYk5F2fN_ckfQTr6qH2A/s320/385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
But they were, and they ended our day quite nicely.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think Nuzz said it best when he said ‘This lot aren’t
bad… They’re like the punks of their day…’<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg1qXLKrOc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg1qXLKrOc</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And when you think about that simple statement within the
context of all the shit that we all (You, me and everybody else) have to go
through on a daily basis, then he’s bang on right.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Turn the clock back to the late fifties and early sixties
and you can hear in what they are playing, how they are playing it, and the exuberance
and passion in which they are putting out, why so many kids bought guitars and
went the rock and roll route.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes, they were the punks of their day, and by the sound
of them their day isn’t over yet… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We were done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s all over for us now bar the moaning over things that
had gone wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m still trying to think of something ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, you could say the drummers were a pain in the arse,
but that was all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everything had gone completely according to plan
otherwise.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we say goodbye to Marcus and Sarah who have been
rushed off their feet doing the videoing of God knows how many bands this
weekend, and to Joy who is staying over at her sister’s place tonight, and make
our way round the site to say our goodbye’s to the rest of the crew. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
People who deserve a mention include Tony who put the
stage together, Sophie who decorated it and Amy who pulled it all together and my long suffering crew...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve had a good one and I’ve got a day off tomorrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then I’m working two days and then we’re off to Cropredy
to chill out in front of another stage with some friends.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But first we have to sleep…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-40627238317589412022015-05-22T13:36:00.001-07:002015-05-23T13:53:37.671-07:00RHYTHMS OF THE WORLD 2014 (SATURDAY)<br />
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<br />
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We’d picked up Frank and Grant at the appointed times and now we
were off.</div>
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Weather ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reasonable.</div>
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Into the site.</div>
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Greeted.</div>
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Armbanded and ‘passed up’.</div>
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Now we were ready, so let’s head toward the stage and see
if Ben has managed to get the sound and lights sorted, and see what Sophie
managed to do with her team of ‘decorators’ ?</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMFYE5BTUkoJgjDCTbzGLhholl6HyXQ8qKg4-oM5grcIGyv7XU1u1QsfCTP42cqS_tKc4rDb65DKwr85-eWqzI0s6ToSCyS95d_SHiv4fz_Q8ngjpeC1MHupZLOWhhENz79FA60TsXA/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMFYE5BTUkoJgjDCTbzGLhholl6HyXQ8qKg4-oM5grcIGyv7XU1u1QsfCTP42cqS_tKc4rDb65DKwr85-eWqzI0s6ToSCyS95d_SHiv4fz_Q8ngjpeC1MHupZLOWhhENz79FA60TsXA/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arcadeclectic backstage 'chill-out' area for the artists. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete has just heard that Justin Beiber is coming this year... </td></tr>
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Brilliant !</div>
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That’s times two by the way…</div>
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Ben and his assistants Marcus and Pete have performed
miracles and so has Sophie.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben, who can make anyone sound good...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly ready... Didn't Sophie do a brilliant job with the stage decorations...<br />
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Frankly, I’m gobsmacked. </div>
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It doesn’t happen often, but it definitely occurred at
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So while I’m collecting my thoughts and Sarah, Marcus, James and Joy start to arrive, let’s let you lot have a look around the site which has
six stages set in fifteen acres of Priory grounds before the hordes get at it,
shall we ?</div>
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So off we go to visit a few stalls, eateries and stages...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icehouse Stage</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Marys Stage<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryGrEhDNePTtAyGadceUvaOJOORfupuiu_OVSYCIgRsBVzyt8pnqN3XP_jT_QssNL9AoMqdmHfF-AsEgNYNoQgacC_Hlw7nZUeKHQj_1rKdYMmwlfQ0fGlUENzIjV3jUsIHrSPYrMWQ/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryGrEhDNePTtAyGadceUvaOJOORfupuiu_OVSYCIgRsBVzyt8pnqN3XP_jT_QssNL9AoMqdmHfF-AsEgNYNoQgacC_Hlw7nZUeKHQj_1rKdYMmwlfQ0fGlUENzIjV3jUsIHrSPYrMWQ/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Marys backdrop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Main Stage</td></tr>
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Ok, you've had a look around the site and so you now know as much as I do about what's happening, don't you ? <br />
<br />
Saturday is our midday starting time, we've soundchecked and I think we’re ready to go ?<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our first act is Twirling Canes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitefSBWfKZ7Px8DIwhMZoLMvyUFctQEj0j8h5gaoy3BoTlF2uEp18l9PKw2YTs7VVyRzmM7HnMfHsEjCuceWe3r7jlZhvIuf81OrrUycJL15hzHToB_dBYaWXLY6tI4LDd_z79T-Z_fg/s1600/PICT2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitefSBWfKZ7Px8DIwhMZoLMvyUFctQEj0j8h5gaoy3BoTlF2uEp18l9PKw2YTs7VVyRzmM7HnMfHsEjCuceWe3r7jlZhvIuf81OrrUycJL15hzHToB_dBYaWXLY6tI4LDd_z79T-Z_fg/s320/PICT2401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twirling Canes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don’t know what it is about these two.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They write good songs and have some good tunes but this
isn’t ‘Pop’ in any sense of the word.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This stuff has to be worked on by the listener.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whatever it is that they are doing, they seem to be doing
it ‘right’ by us ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Beau Jangles: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soul-Folk,
Rootsy Groove ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bloody Hell !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
do you stick a genre to these guys ?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0HSHvrQqoFv2VgcFGcNGcpC1-NSSQoqkqWRN3oWIrdFEozHXCOLeDIIlk7vDjN1Un2McJhM-jvlBC0H-M5qMDF8z-KBOiZx-whU7UGSez2uZI3GED2pUjio1tDKWYXurFIQlQTvRdQ/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0HSHvrQqoFv2VgcFGcNGcpC1-NSSQoqkqWRN3oWIrdFEozHXCOLeDIIlk7vDjN1Un2McJhM-jvlBC0H-M5qMDF8z-KBOiZx-whU7UGSez2uZI3GED2pUjio1tDKWYXurFIQlQTvRdQ/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beau Jangles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A bit of funky fiddle, a bit of moody mandolin and a
dollop of grooving guitar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Whatever it is, it has that roll to it that Keith Richard
is fond of describing when he says that ‘any band can rock but not every band
can roll…’ or something like that ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know what it means because these guys have that ‘roll’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then we have Fishwife’s Broadside…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A sixteen legged monster who had played the festival
previously but on a different stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When they’d been booked previously they thought they were
playing Arcadeclectic…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They weren’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d have loved to have had them but The Nettlebed Stage got
there first.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now we’d finally got them and although it was going to be
a bit cosy with eight people on stage the band were looking forward to it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Talking to Mark their bass player at a previous gig, he’d
told me that the band loved Rhythms but were disappointed they hadn’t played
the stage they’d wanted to.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well you can’t really argue with that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BzNii8OIpgz1NDmMZIwfC7v7RzT9LZdYhl30-td0dKJ9DMEZ2XxWOnkCBKK9Svx62OBFZ9S5ZdPAJzrUbGkZD7F28F6HnUdVF94ANBhMJM3oplRmFQohoKh81wffwpSABmfku-QG2Q/s1600/257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BzNii8OIpgz1NDmMZIwfC7v7RzT9LZdYhl30-td0dKJ9DMEZ2XxWOnkCBKK9Svx62OBFZ9S5ZdPAJzrUbGkZD7F28F6HnUdVF94ANBhMJM3oplRmFQohoKh81wffwpSABmfku-QG2Q/s320/257.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishwife's Broadside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There will be some who will think they were lucky to play
at all, but when you’re in a band you sort of ‘define’ who you are by those who
have gone before and playing a particular stage is just one way of following in
the footsteps of the bands that you yourself follow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I understood what he meant.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3V2-IVRKROKstcm0264VQX4L78gv171FsniZ1YCv8OkvMPXo0difkGSS-2HUu7NXoYAUcyvSAO4NyAGAeOffA3m3quOZER14VRY5eVpSe8-r9FxR0V_fP6qwCFUZUKKl_enRgEAuKw/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3V2-IVRKROKstcm0264VQX4L78gv171FsniZ1YCv8OkvMPXo0difkGSS-2HUu7NXoYAUcyvSAO4NyAGAeOffA3m3quOZER14VRY5eVpSe8-r9FxR0V_fP6qwCFUZUKKl_enRgEAuKw/s320/223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Now at this point we could always branch off into the psychology
of being a ‘Rock god’ but I can’t really be arsed so just take it from me, I
knew what he meant and I felt quite happy about the comment.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What it boils down to is that by his band’s internal
psychology we were doing something right and they wanted a part of it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13hr8cb8EbS9PbApfioTXNHm3Xb2dU86LBNh2j_PUfFzLVDHcAaAnlmMT_GHjmj9MXPVgPmKTx-WKOzMF6QRoxdBZobelBaAeU1q16ct392jBfhNDQISXrC2I_UQzPyDfBnY1ajW1vA/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13hr8cb8EbS9PbApfioTXNHm3Xb2dU86LBNh2j_PUfFzLVDHcAaAnlmMT_GHjmj9MXPVgPmKTx-WKOzMF6QRoxdBZobelBaAeU1q16ct392jBfhNDQISXrC2I_UQzPyDfBnY1ajW1vA/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Well, they are definitely good enough, I wouldn't have booked them otherwise so let’s be havin’ you… <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAyVZ8vdof0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAyVZ8vdof0</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our one poet of the whole festival this year follows
shortly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not that we’re short of poets, it’s just that the
timing of the artist slots didn’t really gel with putting any more on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This was a bit of a disappointment for me as far as
booking was concerned but I’m quite sure the audience won’t mind too much ?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpsAmb-E4Ew72VslPbHUl493F5lQVlMZYseH4EggewiKgspYupwUKZN2mh5OUuLz3pso5iaMU_-DG4thcbeCDk4Xi9OnMxN5bJaH-b23Ru5rmjz48d_OxGt-hfLYSJeh4GC1Ej04wpg/s1600/279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpsAmb-E4Ew72VslPbHUl493F5lQVlMZYseH4EggewiKgspYupwUKZN2mh5OUuLz3pso5iaMU_-DG4thcbeCDk4Xi9OnMxN5bJaH-b23Ru5rmjz48d_OxGt-hfLYSJeh4GC1Ej04wpg/s320/279.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ms J.S.Watts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was Jackie’s first appearance at Rhythms of the World but she was ready and up for it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d been a Parnassus member for a couple of years and
she was good, so let’s throw her to the wolves and see what occurs ?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQxTRMj3mLaTl0YwA6L73G7aPz3V2nItfGI02Rq2xMlmHVGsbkHPqdjHAZqq8hQKJoBFLCozYNqZ1cGJv9hCqdnwJtob-rTGmMrXQHlwpfVunJkozID7eDuSfrtkWC-ZrzxHurBICgg/s1600/261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQxTRMj3mLaTl0YwA6L73G7aPz3V2nItfGI02Rq2xMlmHVGsbkHPqdjHAZqq8hQKJoBFLCozYNqZ1cGJv9hCqdnwJtob-rTGmMrXQHlwpfVunJkozID7eDuSfrtkWC-ZrzxHurBICgg/s320/261.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
She survived.<br />
Good set, too.<br />
<br />
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</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->Still no sign of the band coming down from Glasgow so I’d
best give them a ring and see what’s occurring ?
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve got an hour before they’re due on stage but it isn’t
doing the stress levels any good, I can tell you that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently they’re getting closer but the roadworks at
Birmingham have slowed them down somewhat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, get Hazel’s gang on stage and cross my fingers…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Finger Choppers had played for us in 2012 and I’d
promised I’d get them back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apart from having the most amazing front person in Hazel Turnock,
they were the sort of band that fits our little stage like a glove.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5uGUUELKSdXblOa06Y5VHaVyxfsPkF4SL_NNxcB-FpDYzNnoGFAKHqC9qXnHLPwSOPIDlUkBtG6tXa4-nibEh1jHDzBn1ru8pRd-AAQxFZT2dQsLTQp4LruBiD4qSRCBc_FfV9fGzQ/s1600/324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5uGUUELKSdXblOa06Y5VHaVyxfsPkF4SL_NNxcB-FpDYzNnoGFAKHqC9qXnHLPwSOPIDlUkBtG6tXa4-nibEh1jHDzBn1ru8pRd-AAQxFZT2dQsLTQp4LruBiD4qSRCBc_FfV9fGzQ/s320/324.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazel Turnock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whatever they do, whether Hazel is playing guitar, baby piano
or accordion, it always has that earthy and early swamp rockabilly blues sound
to it.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, call me biased but I love this band.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqiu3mJlMxJTA8KhqB9MuIGLB2TrtJJpwwPUTyUZNsPUeUhOUhXaP2nue1omssZ1OnIn5HLM2B9d7GaCWLhIkfHkM4LxGPKYe6OwZ6blpMg7MHGPEuIeJYzs_YFCT6BVkHU5wFQK6xg/s1600/335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqiu3mJlMxJTA8KhqB9MuIGLB2TrtJJpwwPUTyUZNsPUeUhOUhXaP2nue1omssZ1OnIn5HLM2B9d7GaCWLhIkfHkM4LxGPKYe6OwZ6blpMg7MHGPEuIeJYzs_YFCT6BVkHU5wFQK6xg/s320/335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Finger Choppers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d been featuring Hazel over the years and although she
was always interesting and always good there just seemed to be one ingredient
missing.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was the band.<br />
And if you want to see them in action then click on this... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPRkTMliO2E&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPRkTMliO2E&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZjATHI4yf0HKdZ-0FNegxdKROH3IP83Ze_-_HezZG9hoyLf3NvLmZwaCIIVEvjB6HFXqoC-PPEWNWMmahn7I2fyRsUtLacEj0FvKByJtJS0GavOFZzgYv8hSe75sI-OnCRmQvnLlmw/s1600/333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZjATHI4yf0HKdZ-0FNegxdKROH3IP83Ze_-_HezZG9hoyLf3NvLmZwaCIIVEvjB6HFXqoC-PPEWNWMmahn7I2fyRsUtLacEj0FvKByJtJS0GavOFZzgYv8hSe75sI-OnCRmQvnLlmw/s320/333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now she’d got a band not just worthy of her talents as
she was worthy of theirs, but worthy of the name too.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Trouble is, she’s only on for forty five minutes and the
next band isn’t here yet, so with ten minutes to go I’m standing at the entrance
gate waiting for my guys.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know they’re not far away and so I’ve got all their
passes in my hands which I’ve managed to blag from artist-liason.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Typically three cars turn up at once and they’re in the
third…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come on guys, let this lot through because they’re on
stage in four minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully they did, and so with me carrying probably the
heaviest guitar case (Bloody Gibsons) we parked up and ran it…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jesus !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That was close.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
God preserve me from any more of those.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jamie Flett and the Flaming Jets had made it with literally
seconds to spare.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jamie had been in the Ballachulish Hellhounds with Dochan MacMillan when they
played the festival for the second time, replacing Crawford who'd had a motorbike accident and now he’d branched out on his own.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I first started listening to him he’d sounded vaguely
Richard Thompson’y, but that sound had gone and now he sounded like nobody but
himself.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlrH28HtVohBwmW23qAEo4_U3DvNuH4eoS9OviU5VTal8VOuYiXlzuW7QHvd1RoCe0g3e8WqW9gxA7L28pnOOSUrMgmleZoX78DT515uxBfTLM91RH9Cb5bXZmO-8BPrSP8jg6WAp1g/s1600/354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlrH28HtVohBwmW23qAEo4_U3DvNuH4eoS9OviU5VTal8VOuYiXlzuW7QHvd1RoCe0g3e8WqW9gxA7L28pnOOSUrMgmleZoX78DT515uxBfTLM91RH9Cb5bXZmO-8BPrSP8jg6WAp1g/s320/354.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie Flett and the Flaming Jets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The band interested me because they weren’t frightened of
rocking out with folkie type open tunings which as anyone who does that sort of
thing knows, makes things a bit interesting sound-wise.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m just going to relax for this lot and let Frank take
over.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQE6kpeADi9WeIX4l4oujFXjacni2l_-HUHV_931ha52MTu6asNYJO9v5bj3KmIH36SyMHVieHXX6FL1DhIhqFddTu_W5KWWTkF2d6H-9Eoqk5jok9cdY5Dch4EhB0VFqJSP3U9F7Vw/s1600/390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQE6kpeADi9WeIX4l4oujFXjacni2l_-HUHV_931ha52MTu6asNYJO9v5bj3KmIH36SyMHVieHXX6FL1DhIhqFddTu_W5KWWTkF2d6H-9Eoqk5jok9cdY5Dch4EhB0VFqJSP3U9F7Vw/s320/390.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie and Dochan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Much to his disgust because they interested him
sound-wise too, but that can’t be helped as I’m stressed to the max and gulping
down alcohol to numb it is a no-no whilst we’re working.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well that worked until the last official number when they
went into their version of Neil Young’s Powderfinger and proceeded to rock the
place out…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvEtahPT-Y1oIJ3VwyHIe1nyx2165xjmSA8kpdMaluDbGFH5BK34eLZr8cyhU0pGBDU1jNic8PRYA50iH_ddfiAaZjDTTCyLws9rGgYgmkb1os2W1AXpqHIFhv51Ms16b5GlrvLRNDw/s1600/356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvEtahPT-Y1oIJ3VwyHIe1nyx2165xjmSA8kpdMaluDbGFH5BK34eLZr8cyhU0pGBDU1jNic8PRYA50iH_ddfiAaZjDTTCyLws9rGgYgmkb1os2W1AXpqHIFhv51Ms16b5GlrvLRNDw/s320/356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bloody Hell !
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yeah, you’ve got five minutes, do another one for
Chrissakes…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The look on Dochan’s face said it all when they came off
stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They knew they’d just played an absolute belter and it
doesn’t really get better than that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pressure ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What pressure ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let’s get the next artist on stage and we’ll relax and
have a chat…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d got Ric Birtill via Steve Smither.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He’d sent me an e-mail saying he’d just seen this singer
at another festival and suggested he might be the sort of artist we’re always looking
for ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He was right on with that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kwQtZD-Vm4v1a_ccrD26mXJXImU-GLc3hh-UH3fOZEqRv9hOJzcNYlYaldA9VIFviyqhelWVwdu2ZfPHglxJz3Qkq7Du8szBsH0V5ScqYImnzP_vrLjuVm0EGRCGY9YZlpr3Icg28g/s1600/PICT2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kwQtZD-Vm4v1a_ccrD26mXJXImU-GLc3hh-UH3fOZEqRv9hOJzcNYlYaldA9VIFviyqhelWVwdu2ZfPHglxJz3Qkq7Du8szBsH0V5ScqYImnzP_vrLjuVm0EGRCGY9YZlpr3Icg28g/s320/PICT2421.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ric Birtill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ric’s quirky but wry and penetrating sense of humour just
shone through in everything he seemed to do and he was right up our street.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He was also one of only a couple of artists mentioned in
the Pussy Riot website.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mainly for a scabrous wind-up of a song about Vladimir
Putin coming out, which you can watch here <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYLwptq7lXA" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYLwptq7lXA</a> if you want a giggle ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our Sarah had been a fan from day one and had been advertising
his presence at Rhythms every couple of days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One thing I learned years ago is that what I like might
not translate to other people.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ric was great, but his humour was too subtle for some
people and they didn’t get it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrhfTzjvmgtsB5MOeVAZfbSEoLdDNV3Qt1hCgUtv6I_d1fr-7z9TGSNPLjh6rrjDXOVqWA1CgqJHqWB_g2hS_xkxfU_d8-1vEML2EJbZpVeze28NR75Oks_h6ZA6X5l2wSDJON7p2Jg/s1600/422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrhfTzjvmgtsB5MOeVAZfbSEoLdDNV3Qt1hCgUtv6I_d1fr-7z9TGSNPLjh6rrjDXOVqWA1CgqJHqWB_g2hS_xkxfU_d8-1vEML2EJbZpVeze28NR75Oks_h6ZA6X5l2wSDJON7p2Jg/s320/422.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadie, our volunteer from the audience, and Ric Birtill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shame, because I thought him outstanding.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, let’s have some fun…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Los Chicos Muertos.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Was this really Los Chicos because it looked suspiciously
like the complete Trailer Trash Orchestra minus drummer to me ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, the personnel are interchangeable and so are a few of
the songs but when I’d said I’d like them previously I was put off by others
who’d said we’d never fit them all on our stage…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Probably because they’d wanted them it must be said ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If we can fit Fishwife’s Broadside on then we can fit the
Trailer Trash Orchestra on, it’s as easy as that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And ostensibly this was the smaller outfit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72r60Csf9fdo9vp5NLokYOCWO44m8lOXK2IFUrkDhU-rAjq7_npO8typG00qDBLgRYqRGDG3PbE9ESvbDLuTBdkUJ_MI744RvemA1RkEWRrxKWZfRFfGMziFePIdX_-Lpg5P7pPj8YQ/s1600/457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72r60Csf9fdo9vp5NLokYOCWO44m8lOXK2IFUrkDhU-rAjq7_npO8typG00qDBLgRYqRGDG3PbE9ESvbDLuTBdkUJ_MI744RvemA1RkEWRrxKWZfRFfGMziFePIdX_-Lpg5P7pPj8YQ/s320/457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Los Chicos Muertos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Grae had even suggested we take the smaller outfit when I’d
contacted him.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fit ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They were perfect.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOXdrch4OnDgX1IHTsIAcJ3JXwQ_Y5aMNCj3d386BznC4S_sH92LVjO2_HFB3xH3VXv-m6aCMt4YOiAS1CrYJZyOnqsZITrhvk8_iUgduKMItzSkvODQzVRVwPqMZj5yr6lixAeg7jg/s1600/469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOXdrch4OnDgX1IHTsIAcJ3JXwQ_Y5aMNCj3d386BznC4S_sH92LVjO2_HFB3xH3VXv-m6aCMt4YOiAS1CrYJZyOnqsZITrhvk8_iUgduKMItzSkvODQzVRVwPqMZj5yr6lixAeg7jg/s320/469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is a band that plays for a crowd and ups the ante
somewhat.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you’re going to follow these guys on stage then you
better be ready to pull out all the stops because they’ll wipe the floor with
you otherwise.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdbIFP1eiVJYmgH4_1TVPkAYya0OO8W6n4_BCTm5pb-OA72T3s7o3Xl9H4uKSSDx6sH-qfEUssKvGu8mhwGjj31hlavVRGfI4nVEkJVbnOsjsk4oYYP6Hchq_Y_Y9vZ1GCh2tJyb1uw/s1600/476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdbIFP1eiVJYmgH4_1TVPkAYya0OO8W6n4_BCTm5pb-OA72T3s7o3Xl9H4uKSSDx6sH-qfEUssKvGu8mhwGjj31hlavVRGfI4nVEkJVbnOsjsk4oYYP6Hchq_Y_Y9vZ1GCh2tJyb1uw/s320/476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Absolutely great set and I found myself boogieing down
the front with Hazel from the Finger Choppers.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well the crowd enjoyed it, the band enjoyed it, the crew
enjoyed it and just as they ended, a couple from our last band of the day turned
up to say they’d all got here safely…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thank God.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t know what it is with some bands ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re a promotors nightmare.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But they were all here now, so let’s try and enjoy ourselves
eh ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First things first, let’s get their gear over to the
stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So there I am, carrying guitars and amp’s again whilst
talking to Kareem who I’d been doing all </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
the e-mailing and phone calls with, and he says…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I’ve got to meet this Chris Ripple guy and say thank you
for having us on…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At which point I just laughed and said ‘You already have…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I don’t believe it… It’s you isn’t it, You don't look how you sound for sure ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Nah, like something from The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers when I'm working...'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Brilliant !' </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re cool.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
By our standards the crowd for Los Chicos Muertos had
been pretty good bearing in mind they’d been up </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXsYO2nzyOBzXeFDlcY-518BipJliBQe-UGaDHGEae9zbZ_NxAkQEyG7PNfOa_hK8rMYNEx4PgBwDg6KFb1RmArFnA4ERjQ6lYkub4V31Mj1xoVrJwy02sVONFyzv_bw15iFPvAOlgg/s1600/564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXsYO2nzyOBzXeFDlcY-518BipJliBQe-UGaDHGEae9zbZ_NxAkQEyG7PNfOa_hK8rMYNEx4PgBwDg6KFb1RmArFnA4ERjQ6lYkub4V31Mj1xoVrJwy02sVONFyzv_bw15iFPvAOlgg/s320/564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
against Haddy’s compatriot Musa
M’Boob on St Marys, who she had taken a break to see, </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb_CZeJi6Cc8e5fmYdZwGPCfVPgyd4ZRw8VNM2tKB9Ga3RlU2Lopur7Rm2W1z4dj_6uJoxhkJAcF5KPc7q2vHGaEDMtnwviDWqwX0djbxQe1poS-OSoz7FP3xYp5gkzrW_ygkTX4Ucw/s1600/566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggb_CZeJi6Cc8e5fmYdZwGPCfVPgyd4ZRw8VNM2tKB9Ga3RlU2Lopur7Rm2W1z4dj_6uJoxhkJAcF5KPc7q2vHGaEDMtnwviDWqwX0djbxQe1poS-OSoz7FP3xYp5gkzrW_ygkTX4Ucw/s320/566.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddy with Musa M'Boob</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
and at the same time the London Afrobeat
Collective had been on the Main Stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
World acts do tend to draw the crowds somewhat, but we
were now getting rammed with people and they had all seemed to come from the
Main Stage area ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, as Joy who had found me the act in the first place,
gave The Ryddim Kings feat. Kareem their introduction I just stuck myself at
the edge of the crowd barriers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We don’t need anybody crashing this lot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNYuaVAE0biIIG2nSToguz4TnwFDLdJgqmGiAoisZshzAlVAtREcqy4IoUHY4t8wWRY4Ww1HGDjQuX1VTHDWS9c0AcIdRP0tgOj2WOCxkdvJDGPHtPw2p3tq4JeXAOvB9p4liv9GhoQ/s1600/507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNYuaVAE0biIIG2nSToguz4TnwFDLdJgqmGiAoisZshzAlVAtREcqy4IoUHY4t8wWRY4Ww1HGDjQuX1VTHDWS9c0AcIdRP0tgOj2WOCxkdvJDGPHtPw2p3tq4JeXAOvB9p4liv9GhoQ/s320/507.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ryddim Kings feat Kareem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For one thing, they’re far too good to let that sort of
thing occur.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Since Rhythms had upset some of the local West Indian
contingent a few years ago we hadn’t seen many reggae bands on the bill over the past few
years, but now we’d managed to get an absolute corker and now all I can hear is
people complaining that ‘this band should be on the main stage’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-XAWKXvJIJ49kw8gyenl27Y5v-wpPP_pVxImOm_-HNbnxs3v6PkW8CEOdWJv0zF2bq2uMzWfOmYSltAecj0Tdm5AG8zLrFUcvDoPeaOipYbtAaUy5W38flA4bXR-4hg08RsR3SVHHA/s1600/531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-XAWKXvJIJ49kw8gyenl27Y5v-wpPP_pVxImOm_-HNbnxs3v6PkW8CEOdWJv0zF2bq2uMzWfOmYSltAecj0Tdm5AG8zLrFUcvDoPeaOipYbtAaUy5W38flA4bXR-4hg08RsR3SVHHA/s320/531.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, in a perfect world maybe they’d have booked them,<br />
who
knows ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But they’re not, they are on Arcadeclectic which I book and
I’m not apologising for that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It might be the smallest stage at the festival but it’s got
a heart that beats and pumps and rocks out when it’s needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s bigger than any of us, and we’re proud of its
reputation as being well run with some seriously good acts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so ladies and gentlemen, give it a fucking rest from
your whingeing and let’s get down to some seriously groovy sounds shall we ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You can check out one track here if you like ?<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brC172yB0qg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brC172yB0qg</a><br />
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2crnWQr0Snw5TJlBraYbe7rbU03BNPnjx3yaoHy9kH-L3PJh2gOJh9OU5Daa0QOaBfLwBqTyvgAu1FKBi6mfkSemSWThKC1JsmllqpWB6DsFE6hP-SKlpa919SYbe1mb-Ng6U0Zufg/s1600/529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2crnWQr0Snw5TJlBraYbe7rbU03BNPnjx3yaoHy9kH-L3PJh2gOJh9OU5Daa0QOaBfLwBqTyvgAu1FKBi6mfkSemSWThKC1JsmllqpWB6DsFE6hP-SKlpa919SYbe1mb-Ng6U0Zufg/s320/529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amaziah in the centre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t want to know what stage you think they should be
on, all I want to know is are you<br />
enjoying them ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If the answer is yes, then we win.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If the answer is ‘yes, but…’ then go and complain to
somebody else because I don’t want to hear<br />
about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We did our bit and that’s all that matters.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWABHpKsQzFc_SXsLCrs8p-cjCFSF2z_CVO5DsqPbpJJK9leKEJX0neWNpoLJtHXts3z9k0DJQsy6nCGvPz7B5CR2pUOoDlRhHvaYINXEzm-Hufoz8Y4mUJ3ei-_Upo_MkyuyRELqsA/s1600/551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWABHpKsQzFc_SXsLCrs8p-cjCFSF2z_CVO5DsqPbpJJK9leKEJX0neWNpoLJtHXts3z9k0DJQsy6nCGvPz7B5CR2pUOoDlRhHvaYINXEzm-Hufoz8Y4mUJ3ei-_Upo_MkyuyRELqsA/s320/551.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kareem Shabazz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They finished to absolutely rapturous applause.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve just thought ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve been so busy that we haven’t eaten yet…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, do a bit of delegating and escort Kareem and the band
round to the artist food wagon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The band seem happy at least. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While we’re stuffing our faces with whatever they have
left at that time of night, Haddy and I get into conversation with Amaziah, one
of the female singers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It turns out that she also knows The Gambia and she’s
been out there to stay a couple of times ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a small world and it’s getting smaller.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
An hour or so later when we've been thoroughly fed and watered, it’s time to go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kareem and the gang are quite happy backstage chilling and eating and
so we make the rounds, say our goodbyes and split.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve got to get Frank and Grant home before we can sleep
and we have to do it all over again tomorrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Musically it had been a good day and you can’t ask for
more than that.</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-26720102288370423122015-05-22T13:35:00.002-07:002015-05-22T13:35:42.659-07:00THE RHYTHMS 2014 PREAMBLE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rhythms of the World 2014 was fraught with difficulty.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d had a few of the old guard leave after 2012 and we
were breaking in new names in different positions in the hierarchy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amy, who used to head Artist-Liason was now Chair Person
along with Bob who had returned from a few years out except as a trustee.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Times were changing, but you know what ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The more things change the more they remain the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The day before the programme had gone to press I'd heard
that Bob is getting some drummers who were performing and doing a workshop to
play people into the festival at the nearest gate to us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nice thought, except it was literally just up the path
from us and we’d got a really good up and coming folk singing acoustic guitarist
opening the day’s proceedings…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And they were likely to drown her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For fuck’s sake, you’ve got to be joking ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And you think this is alright, me having to drop the last
band in and start Kelly off thirty minutes </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
late ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You think dropping this shit on us the day before the
programme goes to press is actually fair, because if you do, I certainly don’t
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not that moaning or swearing will ever get me anywhere so
why not just shut up and drop the last band in and get on with it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Job done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have had to ring up a band and cancel their appearance
and I am not happy about it…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bob has this idea that he wants the festival to be like
an ‘All Inclusive Village Fete’ which is something I have been known to take
the piss out of on more than one occasion.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There’s a bit of film of me doing it on Youtube from 2009 if you want a
look ?<br />
It's not perfect because I started off at 'Ramones Speed' but it's the only bit of film I've got of it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZGJZOWlE0g" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZGJZOWlE0g</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We were now a band down and the cohesion of the line-up
in the middle part of the afternoon was now non-existent.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hang on…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No, just hang on a sec’, I’m not the fucking bad guy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I didn’t ask a bunch of drummers to play people in for
thirty minutes causing us to start thirty minutes late because they’ll drown
out an acoustic folk singer, did I ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Why not take some fucking responsibility and accept that
I wasn’t even given a choice ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Why indeed ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I cut a band to try and get back on course after being
crapped on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The powers that be didn’t seem to like it, probably
because they have had to take responsibility for the change.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I had no option except to start later because it would be
massively unfair on any artist to have to compete soundwise.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I KNOW how loud acoustic drums are and when you’ve got
about a dozen all hammering a rhythm at the same time then believe me, It’s
going to be LOUD.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re sorted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I'm not bloody arguing. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re starting thirty minutes late.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And with two weeks to go, we had another disaster…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve had a drop-out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To be fair it was through family illness and there’s not
a lot anybody can do about that except wish them all the best and not to worry.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Family comes first.</div>
And so I’m back on the ‘phone…
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Guess what ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve had a drop-out and you guys are back in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Honestly, you couldn’t make it up. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We went to inspect the site and attend the Stage Manager’s
briefing the evening beforehand.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
More to make sure I’d actually got a stage because I
certainly wasn’t about to go through that shit again,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
but there it was and damn near ready to go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sophie had left me a message that she wanted to see me
about stage decorations and so off we trouped trying to find her, which
eventually we did.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Did I want all the decorations in the same colours as the
kids backdrop as I think you told me they were the colours on the Gambian flag
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sophie, you’re a darling.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes. If it could be done then that’d be great.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok. I’ll get the team on it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now you’re talking.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The decorations they are putting up and around the site look very effective. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCbuMFySfAMDFlhqCZc6HmimdRfGtpBVOEnFtx2bT1GJdCT76HdRNjOEO5e1nYaT_ORHEevpFazhE1dhs_u68BdoE302Q9fkEA47O0dEDUB86Xewqi5Pb69BugXqS9Kml3qIjuro4ig/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCbuMFySfAMDFlhqCZc6HmimdRfGtpBVOEnFtx2bT1GJdCT76HdRNjOEO5e1nYaT_ORHEevpFazhE1dhs_u68BdoE302Q9fkEA47O0dEDUB86Xewqi5Pb69BugXqS9Kml3qIjuro4ig/s1600/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oi’ Chris, go and have a look at your stage before you leave
the site… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk-3pTna3_jo2g1ttyr6zfnfp-Fg3HrLBii_LTK1G55yYA5nt_FKS9fC7PuwrflE3Z8vSdyvXGlVyw7GM0nzMPIFWnwkK0YQhC_pI5lyvSnGo2q9JEiSffq-TJbpKQmi1c9isvTmdyw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk-3pTna3_jo2g1ttyr6zfnfp-Fg3HrLBii_LTK1G55yYA5nt_FKS9fC7PuwrflE3Z8vSdyvXGlVyw7GM0nzMPIFWnwkK0YQhC_pI5lyvSnGo2q9JEiSffq-TJbpKQmi1c9isvTmdyw/s1600/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Somebody obviously knows something I don’t know.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And there it was…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsWPt6RhDal85Cuae0CfZaa2zoK2PE4j7wh80l1xoL3CkBKDnsVuceFnZseTqm3YrJ-Wj2fq5CLY6CrSiu4NZstOnEXlVSUZ8RIilLP6b3JtF7ByQzb1K8wSXnURGgPCX92GFvtLQ9w/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsWPt6RhDal85Cuae0CfZaa2zoK2PE4j7wh80l1xoL3CkBKDnsVuceFnZseTqm3YrJ-Wj2fq5CLY6CrSiu4NZstOnEXlVSUZ8RIilLP6b3JtF7ByQzb1K8wSXnURGgPCX92GFvtLQ9w/s1600/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not decorated yet but everything delivered and ready to go. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
There’s this wave thing, I can’t really describe it but
it sort of rushes through you…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It brings along a sense of pure relief and a lot of
thanks to any and all the Gods out there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s one less battle to fight and I won’t say it brings a
sense of peace or calm, but it does bring a sense of job well done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You know the teams on whom you have to depend have
actually done everything they are supposed to do and sometimes even more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And you cannot praise them enough because there are no
words for what you actually want to say, but you can hug them when you see them and that seems to
be enough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s getting dark, so we leave Ben and Pete to it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ben is camping over and so he’ll try and sort all the
wiring tonight as opposed to first thing tomorrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Sophie’s mob seem to be on their way with some stage
decorations and neither team needs us getting in the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ll be picking Frank and Grant up between nine to nine-thirty
tomorrow morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The others will be arriving under their own steam.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tzwwSoiGk5RnY7TCAgzPhMWU6kkzfKO_p-YVhszrubYxRzQu_r9I4qcS4VIuPtZwdfwzX0PNUVGVswnWQhjKFQUf0LDmy50YuKlGfZaJTTfJus3hde-BsVyX2lKGkNl7e4qFtK2xHQ/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tzwwSoiGk5RnY7TCAgzPhMWU6kkzfKO_p-YVhszrubYxRzQu_r9I4qcS4VIuPtZwdfwzX0PNUVGVswnWQhjKFQUf0LDmy50YuKlGfZaJTTfJus3hde-BsVyX2lKGkNl7e4qFtK2xHQ/s320/021.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hey ! Can you hear that ? <br />
I can hear The Magic Wok calling... </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let’s go eat.</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-51446248837703075902015-05-01T10:54:00.000-07:002015-05-01T10:54:53.735-07:00BOOKINGS, BUDGETS AND ALL THAT STUFF...<br />
<br />
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</xml><![endif]-->While all this has been occurring I’ve been trawling
through all the acts that have applied to play at Rhythms…
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is a thankless task because there are far too many
‘Grrrrraaaaaah’ bands.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Heavy rock bands all of whom seem to think that
unintelligible lyrics and fuck all talent will get them </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
booked ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well it might, but not down our way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But nestling away at number eighty-eight in the
applications is a prime contender for anybody’s stage and not just ours.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A resonator guitarist and a tabla player who play the blues
as if it came not just from the Mississippi delta but the Ganges delta as well
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Taj Mahal would definitely love these guys.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The only problem being expense…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re based in Wales which I’m quite certain will
necessitate a stay over ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So contact is made…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it will.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve got them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Quite why none of the other stages booked them I cannot
say, all I will say is that they are the sort of artists that we thrive on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They have their own ‘sound’ and they play it well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re in keeping with the ethos of the stage and the
festival and they’re what Rhythms is all about for us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Vive La Difference !!! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Commerciality ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pah !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Who needs it when you can get acts like this ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then there's the band from our old mucker Dochan's stable from Glasgow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I'd listened to their first tracks and thought they sounded a bit Richard Thompson'y, so I was definitely interested. Their later stuff was just as impressive and I really liked them, so we've got another four piece sleep-over coming off the budget.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Finally in March the big announcement is made and
thankfully it all goes according to plan.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now everybody knows what’s happening.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkBCouTzgGiiPEa4d4MqCaGqbDnKrtYydWwfXmWY5-Xy2XjbqS9uJB3G32tK40qewAPrh3gKXkbPvggneHtfwE8UWk5xdqpyKwIZuacOE8SCaom27rU3tnuPwKEBuNiTdbUkvzdJFAQ/s1600/Rhythms+2014+from+welwyn+times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkBCouTzgGiiPEa4d4MqCaGqbDnKrtYydWwfXmWY5-Xy2XjbqS9uJB3G32tK40qewAPrh3gKXkbPvggneHtfwE8UWk5xdqpyKwIZuacOE8SCaom27rU3tnuPwKEBuNiTdbUkvzdJFAQ/s1600/Rhythms+2014+from+welwyn+times.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The outpouring of goodwill toward the festival from all
manner of people is one of the most amazing things that we all seem to deal
with.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It seems to come from everybody.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All the local ‘tribes’ whether hippie, goth, punk, rocker,
psychie’, soulboy, ragamuffin, folkie, country and Uncle Tom Cobley an’ all,
plus it would seem, a fairly large percentage of their parents and
grandparents.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They all support it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It has it’s ‘knockers’ as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But they seem to number less than a hundred ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Actually the amount doesn’t matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What does matter is that negligible amount have the
ability in law to totally fuck it up for everybody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so the meetings with Councillors begin…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And when everything is sorted to their satisfaction then
we can finally announce the date.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Budgets for Rhythms are a strange beast.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Up until we re-located from the town centre to The Priory
we got nothing and I had to beg.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But ever since we moved I get a small budget for the
stage which mainly covers expenses.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It can be a bit difficult trying to pay expenses for
about twenty acts but we do what we can.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This year my budget has gone up slightly but all stay-over
expenses have to come out of it so the reality is that I’m working with the
same amount I had back in 2012. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come the end of May and I’m drained and not just
physically and mentally.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Far too much time spent in answering late night e-mails
and telephone calls and it’s fair to say that I don’t want to see the computer
for at least a month.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Having said that, we are at least on target for the
cut-off date.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is good bearing in mind we are sharing the dates
with the Cambridge Folk Festival…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So any chance of taking a rest is now taken over by
artists who want to play both for us and for them wishing to change their
allotted time in the programme.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I will accommodate this where it’s practical but you can’t
always do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The annoying thing is that it usually wrecks any cohesive
flow to the acts on the stage.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s all well and good just sticking acts down as a
line-up but without any thought behind it you’ll get a lot less of an audience
and that doesn’t do anybody any good.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, I managed to change two without too many
problems and the programme goes to press next week so that’ll be it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No more time changes… Just drop-outs.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully the crew had been sticking their ideas in the
mix as we’d been going along.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The penultimate part of the jigsaw had been one of Joy’s
recommendations.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d sent me a shed load of acts to check out this year.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some were suitable but wanted far too much money and some
were just ok, but all of them were interesting in their own way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One thing I will never understand is why some artists always
put their prices up for Festivals ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blues and Jazz bands do it on a regular basis.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’ll play the pub gigs for a couple of hundred and
then charge us a grand for a shorter set.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then we’ll get a ‘name’ headliner for half the amount
they are charging.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Don’t do it guys, you’re not doing yourselves any
favours, and getting a reputation as a bunch of ‘gougers’ isn’t going to do you
a lot of good because the word will get out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The same goes for acts who are just starting out and see
a festival as a place to whack the money up because it looks good on their c.v.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Brit’ School’ pupils try it all the time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sorry people, but we’re just not into it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of the good things about running and booking a stage like this are the other people who throw suggestions in your direction.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once they realize what we're about then the weird and the quirky start being passed our way from those attending other festivals.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Steve, who used to be totally in charge of the whole shebang sent us a link to an absolute corker who I definitely wanted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His humour was right up our street.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Joy had sent me a link to a full-on reggae band and I
wanted them to top the bill on Saturday.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problem of course, was money.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These guys were good and if they did play then they’d probably
have to come down a bit from their usual price because I hadn’t got it to
spend.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But… On the last possible day for inclusion I got the
acceptance e-mail.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pheeew !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sighs of relief all round.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The last piece of the jigsaw had been one of Grant’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While I’m trying to get the reggae guys to confirm, he’d
suggested an acoustic set on the Sunday from a rock band that he knew all the
members of, in that they’d all played in bands in the area and just joined up
to do something together.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problem, if problem it was, was that it had worked
like a dream and the band were now off and running, but the thing that
attracted me to them was the harmonies.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A serious heavy-ish rock band with harmonies to die for ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sod the acoustic idea, I’ll take them as is and whack
them on first thing on Sunday afternoon while everybody else is chilling out…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because that lot will definitely wake the buggers up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sorted !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can go to sleep now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well I can when I’m not working my tits off in the day
job !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least I got a nice birthday meal when Haddy took me and Mum out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQod5qhnZnjbmvSGaTpC42HWgMGQlBtcImwwygFLc_swAAwDNY37SQ45Uy5155zaE1YAFaewIBFc0lhuD7WMj-5hFyl7QyLmqzNvDS9h1WPVQs42DVzDrhY2h_Whz2BWdGy-FvGD1_w/s1600/SAM_7230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQod5qhnZnjbmvSGaTpC42HWgMGQlBtcImwwygFLc_swAAwDNY37SQ45Uy5155zaE1YAFaewIBFc0lhuD7WMj-5hFyl7QyLmqzNvDS9h1WPVQs42DVzDrhY2h_Whz2BWdGy-FvGD1_w/s1600/SAM_7230.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Meanwhile, while I’m attending to all of this Haddy has
been getting on with the garden, and her ‘Englishness’ tests.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey-yay courgette !</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple more corny musical captions and you're done...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Spirit of Potatoland...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I heard it through the grapevine... As opposed to the fence...</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The reading test is done and dusted and she got full
marks.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The writing and comprehension test is the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Two down and one to go, but that will have to wait until
a little later in the year as there are a few birthdays coming up, the children
need money for school uniforms and food and the Cropredy tickets need paying
for…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Plus she wants to go and see her daughter and family up
in Glasgow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s still all go around here.</div>
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Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-23908764778285657262015-04-29T11:24:00.000-07:002015-04-29T11:24:34.625-07:00MORE EXPENSE AND A BIT OF BLACKMAIL, FOLLOWED BY SOME GOOD NEWS EVENTUALLY...<br />
<br />
So, here we are back in the UK and it’s quiet.<br />
Normally I’d be like a swan right now.<br />
Gracefully floating out on the water but paddling like fuck underneath it trying to sort out a stage for Rhythms of the World but at this moment, although rumours are everywhere, there is absolutely nothing occurring.<br />
Oh well, whatever…<br />
Actually that's not entirely accurate.<br />
The country is experiencing a bit of wind...<br />
And being perched at the top of a hill, we're getting some of it.<br />
And it's getting worse...<br />
And worse.<br />
Until, late one night...<br />
One of our fence panels flew into next door's garden.<br />
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<br />
The greenhouse was damn near turned inside out...<br />
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And we went to bed a bit later than usual !!!<br />
<br />
Haddy in the meantime has resolved to go the final mile and get British citizenship.<br />
It’s another thousand plus pounds, plus another load of tests at examination centres.<br />
Because she’s of African descent and not European she has to be able to prove that she can read, write and understand the English language, but at least this last hurdle applies to every immigrant as opposed to the previous ones which don’t apply to Europeans.<br />
<br />
Christmas just seems to come and go.<br />
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We spend Christmas day at my Mother’s as usual because at her age she is really unable to travel far at all.<br />
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I got to cook the dinner which seemed to turn out ok. <br />
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Still it was a nice day except for the travelling down.<br />
The M25 has to be one of the worst roads in the country at busy periods and Christmas is definitely quite busy.<br />
<br />
Most of my time is now spent working because with the size of the citizenship bill the overtime is going to come in handy.<br />
The fact that it now seems that the whole country is under water just adds to the ‘enjoyment’ of the times…<br />
It now seems like it's been raining for ever.<br />
It’s cold.<br />
It’s wet.<br />
And it’s bloody uncomfortable when you are out in it and soaked to the skin because your ‘so-called’ waterproofs aren’t.<br />
In truth it’s fucking horrible and it seems like the whole of the country has the miseries ?<br />
Although to be fair, living at the top of a hill we are better off than a lot of the population, even some that we know.<br />
Some are under ten feet of water… <br />
<br />
So there we are, time is passing, the floods are receding, we’re both working our socks off, and we get the ‘very worrying’ telephone call from the kids…<br />
Apparently Housainatou is being blackmailed ?<br />
It turns out that the son of the owner of the money shop (a bit like Western Union over here) where she works, who had already told us he wanted to marry her sister has decided to, how shall I put it nicely ?<br />
Lose some money that she’d signed for, which would only reappear if he was formally introduced to her sister Hassanatou with a view to marriage…<br />
Needless to say they were both a little worried about this to say the least.<br />
Housai’,because she was being used as a pawn in his nefarious little scheme, and Hassa’ because she couldn’t stand the slimy little shit.<br />
Now this sort of behaviour might be common in some countries including theirs but it’s not something that we tend to have to deal with that often in the UK.<br />
He thinks, as quite a few do out there, that money can buy him anything he wants and being the boss’s son entitles him to treat young women as objects that he can buy as he wishes and discard whenever he likes.<br />
Unfortunately for him he has picked on the wrong two young women, and certainly the wrong family to try that crap on with…<br />
So, how much will Housai’ miss the job ?<br />
She wants out, and NOW !!!<br />
And Hassa’ ?<br />
She’s worried about her sister’s name getting tarnished.<br />
Ok, so here’s what we’re going to do…<br />
Housai’ is going to ‘act’ all ‘worried’ (that bit wasn’t too difficult, she was…) and tell him that she’s talking to her sister, and Hassa’ is not going to visit her whatsoever at work.<br />
When Housai’ gets paid at the end of the month and the money is in her account then she is going to call the person who employed her who is actually the partner of this bloke’s Father and tell him what is going on, then tell him she is leaving right now then and there, and then give him (and only him) the keys to her drawer and walk away.<br />
This will necessitate an investigation and because matey boy will have no knowledge of it, hopefully the money will be found in his money drawer ?<br />
And you can all guess where the money was found, can't you ?<br />
It’s not really taxing on the old brain cells, is it ?<br />
It was.<br />
The sad thing for Housai’ was that she had to leave a job she liked and had been trained for, but from our perspective there was no choice.<br />
If that slimy little shit thinks he can blackmail one of the children just because he’s the boss’s son then he’s going to have to think again.<br />
It’s not endemic to the country but that sort of thing does go on, and it only takes the one bad apple.<br />
Not that anything will happen to the person who caused the problem, he’ll just walk away and try it on somebody else.<br />
Protected, as always, by his Father’s money.<br />
Sickening isn’t it ?<br />
But you live and learn.<br />
Or as my wife says...<br />
‘It’s The Gambia…’<br />
<br />
And then in early February I hear a rumour.<br />
Apparently there will be a Rhythms of the World and it’ll be in August, the week before Cropredy instead of July ?<br />
Then the e-mails and texts start appearing…<br />
Can I go to this and that meeting ?<br />
Ok, I’m in…<br />
And waddaya know ?<br />
The rumour that I got from a member of the public is absolutely spot-on accurate including the date.<br />
Secrecy ?<br />
It’s a piss take.<br />
The Priory has been taken over by a new company and they are keen to continue with the event but it has to remain secret for another month so that the new owners can fly over and make a joint announcement with the Rhythms organisers.<br />
But…<br />
If the acts can keep a secret then I can start booking some.<br />
Three and a half months is not ideal but we’ll get there.<br />
Yes, I know…<br />
March, April, May, June and July doesn’t add up to three and a half, does it ?<br />
But that three and a half is up to the time the official programme goes to press and so they require every stage’s artists list by the last day of May.<br />
Time to go into overdrive, methinks ?<br />
<br />
<br />Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-44147598866505183482014-11-11T10:58:00.000-08:002014-11-11T10:58:01.945-08:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART THIRTEEN: 'ISN'T GOING HOME A LOW AND LONELY RIDE...'<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So there we were…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ready to leave again, except we weren’t really.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re going to miss the kids, it’s as simple as that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is something intrinsically wrong with a system that
only allows one-way traffic.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We have to fly two thousand, nine hundred miles to see
our children for the price of an air ticket and that is apparently no problem
???</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is the small matter of over two hundred and fifty
pounds plus each on a six hundred pound ticket going toward ‘Green Taxes’ which is just one
more reason that ‘The Greens’ are NEVER going to get my vote because there are
sod-all other countries doing it, but…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It doesn’t work in reverse.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If the kids want to come and see us then they have to pay
approximately the same, plus they have to fill in the form and pay for a visa
to do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No matter that we support them, pay for their food,
schooling and living expenses, they still have to pay our government for the
privilege of doing so and this visa lasts six months.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In that time they can do a small number of things but
most are denied them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You can always read the damn documentation for
yourselves…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course if they were European children then they can
come here without a visa and their families can do anything they choose,
including claim all the benefits that our own citizens receive and then jump in
front of our own social housing queue !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And all because Gordon Brown signed a treaty ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is seriously something wrong with that system, not
least because it is discriminatory and the UK government could be accused of
running an ‘Apartheid’ system on immigration.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Think I’m joking ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, consider this…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pre nineteen ninety seven we had a normal immigration
system.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It seemed to work pretty much like every other country’s, in
that if you had relatives in the UK then you could join them and there wasn’t
too much of a problem doing so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When the Labour government under Tony B’liar came to
power he flung open the borders to all and sundry.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Ok, it’s a bit simplistic but it IS accurate)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You also have to remember that back then the UK saw a
rise in membership of the British National Party or B.N.P.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This so-called ‘political party’ called for an end to
immigration and the repatriation of every black and brown person in the
country.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which was a bit silly in that many of those they wanted
repatriated were actually second, third and fourth generation British !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They had been born in the UK and were as English, Scots,
Irish or Welsh as I am.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The reality of living through those times and the arguments
that ensued are still reverberating to this day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So B'liar and his successor Gordon Brown threw open the
UK’s borders to all and sundry, but what they did not do was make it a
condition of entry that these new entries were not entitled to the UK’s benefit
system until they had been in the country for a few years.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This was the stumbling block and one that the B.N.P.
capitalised on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All these black and brown immigrants whose ideas,
traditions and culture were sometimes diametrically opposed to the UK’s were being
funded by the population of the United Kingdom and that is where the B.N.P.
actually scored the point that is still causing the problems that my own family
face today.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Labour Party’s rationale had been that all these
immigrants were going to be so pleased to be there and receiving the same
benefits and social security as every other citizen that they would show their
gratitude by voting for them ad-infinitum.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately, the general population weren’t exactly enamoured of
the idea.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But Labour, choosing the moral high ground, decided to
brand everybody who queried what was going on, a racist.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What was THAT Gordon Brown quote again ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Bigot' wasn’t it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And lurking in the background was Europe… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of whose countries do not have the same generous
benefit system as the UK.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So when Gordon Brown signed away many of the decisions to
be taken by the UK government to a European Union, there were many people who were
not terribly impressed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But he signed it KNOWING that it would bring even more
immigration, because now we were a member, everybody in the European Union can
move freely between their member states and live (and claim benefits) wherever
they reside.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And in the background we still have the B.N.P…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But like any other small club that wants to get bigger,
the European Union kept taking on more members and some of those were not
exactly up to par on their own benefit systems.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what colour were over ninety per-cent of these new immigrants from Europe
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
White.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(You can check out the percentages just as I did) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And these people do not need documentation. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These people could just turn up, and as a country we could
not turn down any request for benefits or even housing even though they already
had one somewhere else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And as the country was swamped by white immigration, the
demographic slowly changed back to predominantly white and the B.N.P. lost its
power to spread its racist doctrine.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Think about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a bloody good trick if you can get away with it ? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But they couldn’t, and after Gordon Brown had sold off
the UK’s gold reserves at a fraction of their worth, plundered everybody’s
pension fund to prop up his failed economy, presided over the banking collapse
and tried to cover up the scandal of M.P’s expenses, most people had had enough
and the worst and most venal government this country has ever had since the
days of the ‘Rotten Boroughs’ were voted out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And in came the Tories…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Assisted by the Liberal Democrats so as to gain a larger
majority in parliament, we now had a coalition.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that’s where OUR troubles really began, because all
the main political parties wanted to remain members of the European Union !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so up went the prices of visas to all the countries
that needed them while the Europeans all arrived here for free.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Every year the price would be increased and every year
even more obstacles would be put in people’s way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The B.N.P. was now not much more than a bunch of
posturing racists but they had been superseded by another right-wing
organisation, The English Defence League.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These people just wanted all immigration stopped,
especially from the posturing Muslim countries and they were beginning to cause
questions to be asked in parliament.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And waiting in the wings was U.K.I.P. The United Kingdom
Independence Party who wanted us OUT of Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The infrastructure of the country was now seriously
overloaded by immigration caused by being in the European Union.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because white people who don’t even have to speak English
are pouring into the country, and black people who DO have to speak English
have to fill in forms and take ‘Englishness’ tests before they are allowed to
stay, the whole demographic of the country is changing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy and I have now become third class citizens in my
country.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She is not allowed the benefits that the Europeans are
given because she is African and/or Black.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She cannot buy a UK passport like the Russian and Chinese
oligarchs are being offered.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She has to pay to go through a series of tests before she
is even allowed to stay in the country, despite us being married, despite us
both having jobs and not relying on government handouts, and we are both of us definitely
being denied a family life because all our taxes go towards funding the
European immigrants and their children as opposed to our own…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And does any political party want to cry foul ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Do they fuck !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They all want to stay in Europe so they are quite happy
to let the situation continue as it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The biggest irony of all is that both the Liberal
Democrats and the Labour Party would be the first to start screaming if it were
happening in any other country (South Africa springs to mind…) but because the
Lib/Dems want to continue to stay in power and the Labour Party have still yet
to come to terms with the European monster they have unleashed, they are both more
than happy to remain silent on the issue.<br />
(And their silence IS deafening, isn't it ?) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To put it plainly, the U.K. now has a system of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘whites in’ and ‘blacks out’, and if that
upsets you then it’s tough shit because YOU VOTED FOR IT.<br />
Anybody who voted Tory, Labour or Liberal Democrat in the last election is equally guilty. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A friend asked me once, would I betray my country ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well since my country has already betrayed me, I’m not
really sure how to answer that question…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have already said it would be nice to live in a country
where EVERYBODY was treated the same without fear or favour, but I don’t
believe it will ever happen in the UK.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are far too many gutless cunts in both the
opposition and government to allow that scenario to occur, and far too much
fawning obeisance to other people’s lifestyles.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And all this 'Apartheid' shit was what we’d be flying back
to. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not really that impressive, is it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we said goodbye to everybody first thing in the
morning as Housai’ and Awa went off to work and Mariama and Jalika went off to
school.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hassa’ would be accompanying us to Latrikunda at the top of the road when we
left at midday, and Amadou would be ‘phoned later because he’s at work too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A quick walk around the area to say goodbye to our
friends and our time was up, so it’s into the taxi and away to the airport.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I took some film on the way, so if you’ve never seen what
it looks like in The Gambia, then you can watch this.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s only predominantly the right hand side of the road on the way, but
it will give you some idea...<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8uj78tGdRA&feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8uj78tGdRA&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
Did you bother to watch it ?<br />
Going back to that 'far too much fawning obeisance' quote a few lines back, did you notice what the women were wearing ?<br />
Yeah, I do, all the time, which is why I filmed it.<br />
I want people to see for themselves.<br />
The vast majority of women DO NOT wear the bloody things !!!<br />
So to be told by those Guardian reading Liberal fuckwits in the UK that I'm a racist for mentioning the FACT that they don't, and why would anybody want to unless they lived on a building site covered with sand, is a little unhelpful to say the least... And a downright lie of the worst kind.<br />
I wish those who make up these claims would check their facts before they made those sort of accusations, because the truth is actually out there and it's not that hard to find...<br />
It's just being used as a political tool so some people can get their own way. <br />
('Help... Help... I'm being oppressed...')<br />
It would be funny if it wasn't taken so seriously by our media and our 'Establishment'. <br />
The fact is, outside of about four countries it's total bollocks.<br />
<br />
So we got to the airport and checked
in.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hit the duty free shop for a couple of bottles of grade A
‘Anejo’ (that’s top of the range tequila to you) and we’re done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now it’s time for a baguette and cup of tea at Luigi’s,
sitting outside awaiting our flight.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Listening to the other passengers at the tables, it would
seem that they all enjoyed their stay, and I’m glad.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Gambia might be a small country, but it has a lot
going for it if only it could get the investment.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unfortunately, for various reasons, it doesn’t look as if
it’s on its way which is a shame.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So tourism is its only real source of foreign currency
coming in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tony, one of the guys I work with, had been twice now
with his family and they were confirmed fans after their first trip, so it must
have something going for it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One day people will get wise and realise the country does
have opportunities.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The flight back was uneventful as usual, but all the fun
usually begins after we touch down.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First there’s the usual half mile walk to Immigration
control and then we split into two parts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I go through one system (the E.U. one) and Haddy goes
through the second-class citizen one</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Non-E.U.)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You can tell the way it works in that there are about ten
officers dealing with E.U. passport holders and only the one dealing with non
E.U.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This obviously causes a massive build-up on her side
which won’t abate until they can get more officers over there, and that won’t happen
until all us E.U types have been processed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just sit in a convenient chair watching the proceedings
until she’s through, usually being quizzed every ten minutes by an immigration
officer asking why I’m hanging about with a very bored and pissed off look on
my face ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The words ‘I’m waiting for my wife, she’s in your
second-class citizen queue’ usually get me an understanding grimace from the
officer concerned.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But finally she’s through, so now let’s collect our
luggage and hit the ‘red zone’ once again. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Declare the five boxes of tobacco, declare the tequila
and brandy, and that’s our lot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We walk out past those who have fucked up in going
through the ‘nothing to declare’ green zone.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The guy whose luggage has shown up some cellophane
packages is not too happy, he’s probably facing about five years inside but
that’s his problem.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With all the security and scanners in place now, you’d
think that a bit of common sense would prevail, but apparently not ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And we’re out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it’s a lot cooler than it was in The Gambia…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Well it would be, it’s past midnight)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Catch the coach back to where we parked the car, and it’s
back home via the M.25 which thankfully is an easy run at that time of night.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We get in at about half past three, dump the luggage and
sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy is not working tomorrow, but I am...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least it's the late shift.</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-15585983078640216472014-09-25T15:32:00.001-07:002018-01-09T12:17:12.312-08:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART TWELVE: A SCHOOL COMPETITION AND A MALIAN INTERLUDE<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was now nearly time to leave.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For three weeks of seeing the family and friends and
getting a few things sorted out it had certainly been an eventful break.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And we HAD actually managed to get a few things sorted
out and had a little bit of fun along the way and you can’t really ask more
from life than that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But all good things eventually come to an end and ours
was rapidly approaching because we were in our last week and the two youngest
had gone back to school, but before we left I had one more job to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Before we’d arrived in The Gambia we’d got Mariama and
Jalika to go and see their headmistress at Gola Fortunate and ask if she minded
running a little competition between all the children who had contributed
toward the Rhythms of The World backdrop that they had created for us, and she
had been happy to do so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of the things Rhythms does on a regular basis is sell
out of children’s sized t-shirts and we’d managed to get hold of five of them
before they had done so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Two were going to Mariama and Jalika, but the other three
would be going to the school as prizes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There was going to be one question only and the best
three answers in the Headmistresses opinion would be the three winners.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The competition was held while we were in The Gambia, the
three winners had been adjudged, and now it was time to present the prizes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The question that we’d asked the children was ‘Why do you
think it is important that music brings the world together ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so early in the morning of our second to last day we
were walking up to Gola Fortunate once again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQu8xYcIO6ulz7iXFBGEMxFZWG-T4Iwrj_qISgUyVSo9Gg2Jnfg7LVcwjR1ZSZUkgSID359_pGNkEh8pZA-KNzb7jYjCyx9w1WmvfB4E2gOV2i-S0fikjZyq_P-BpfLFPxOO2q2N3XA/s1600/461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQu8xYcIO6ulz7iXFBGEMxFZWG-T4Iwrj_qISgUyVSo9Gg2Jnfg7LVcwjR1ZSZUkgSID359_pGNkEh8pZA-KNzb7jYjCyx9w1WmvfB4E2gOV2i-S0fikjZyq_P-BpfLFPxOO2q2N3XA/s1600/461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This time we’d given them the first hour and so we’d see
the headmistress first and ask her how she wanted to do it. Whether in the
classrooms or in her office ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Headmistress decided on her office, and sent a runner
to fetch the first winner.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RVZP10q57joSgUbEcSY_IV2ATEUBCQQ7aCJLws0SgOxhInbmOqqBU-TgvOS6oVIqTr-jLJFiBcEPdBp7fpnCuEIJP2SC_r_RsyjLMfYPBa-nhuuKKLfIahJwc7mHk6ffBm64KTpVvQ/s1600/447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RVZP10q57joSgUbEcSY_IV2ATEUBCQQ7aCJLws0SgOxhInbmOqqBU-TgvOS6oVIqTr-jLJFiBcEPdBp7fpnCuEIJP2SC_r_RsyjLMfYPBa-nhuuKKLfIahJwc7mHk6ffBm64KTpVvQ/s1600/447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When she turned up the poor lass thought she’d done
something wrong, but seeing us there as well hopefully put her mind at rest ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our second winner was unfortunately not at school that
day, but our third winner was, and so we praised her also and said thank you very
much for being part of the whole Rhythms of The World thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bseqRI1VAWIeEVAclDs4oeawG44q3BOyNQnEIRUHzZRvyPedGBTEwi1gcmKqYxX6KeT7iIdRkrTfd2rzhjjP1rI-Fi4Oah1aETdc1OMgCggqVkn1zKF0WB5or2eVpHHO3mWDzXYUQA/s1600/451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bseqRI1VAWIeEVAclDs4oeawG44q3BOyNQnEIRUHzZRvyPedGBTEwi1gcmKqYxX6KeT7iIdRkrTfd2rzhjjP1rI-Fi4Oah1aETdc1OMgCggqVkn1zKF0WB5or2eVpHHO3mWDzXYUQA/s1600/451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Their contribution would be gracing the stage again next
year so long as we had a festival and although they were only rumours, it did look
like it was actually going to happen again as a proper festival and not the three gigs we had this year.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We took a few pictures with everybody’s permission and
the Headmistress got us copies of the winning entries and I have to admit I was
impressed with their efforts.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, I’m writing this after the event from notes I took at
the time, but you have to admit they came pretty close to what it’s all about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here’s Ida Secka’s winning entry:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAi6c9hvQIH0unjX8BZEH7LdI7CR-C61tcjPXldDHk2nt0ELQhYAGyGosbNZHPikhYFkreOyhD_BRWthYQvVoWJmNsf7F9KhqklF40YI2t75E739P66j3QZeUcOPWM7k_unFi631HmQ/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAi6c9hvQIH0unjX8BZEH7LdI7CR-C61tcjPXldDHk2nt0ELQhYAGyGosbNZHPikhYFkreOyhD_BRWthYQvVoWJmNsf7F9KhqklF40YI2t75E739P66j3QZeUcOPWM7k_unFi631HmQ/s1600/001.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here’s Amie Camara’s winning entry:
</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And here’s Amie Ceesay’s winning entry:
</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Do you notice anything strange ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The winners were all girls.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m guessing that had the question been asked in the UK
or the USA or Japan, or most of Europe even, then we’d have had at least one
boy or possibly two among them ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The whole music thing is definitely predominantly male
based in the UK although the women do come through occasionally.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s more prevalent in the USA because a. The country is
a lot larger, and b. The genres are authentic to the differing regions and so
girls growing up learning their family’s instruments are a lot more common. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And before we get into arguments on the subject, I’m
talking about musicians, and NOT winners of television talent shows.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When did a real group or a real singer/songwriter ever
win one of those ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You could probably count them on the fingers of one hand
after you’ve had an industrial accident !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Too cynical ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t think so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So what I was so pleased about is that our three winners
had obviously thought about the question that we had posed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Out in The Gambia, being a musician was definitely a male
preserve.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There were some outstanding female musicians, but they
were very few and most of those were from griot families.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d had one at Rhythms a year ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sona Jobarteh.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Probably the world’s foremost female kora player. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But Sona comes from a griot family and so it will be in
her genetic makeup.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Her Father and Uncles are all musicians too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So having three little girls win our competition was a
definite eye-opener.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The times are definitely a’changing because young girls
are still expected to defer to the male members of their families.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d like to see Amadou try that on with his sisters.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The results could be quite entertaining…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And music was not even part of the Gambian school
curriculum.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But with the internet revolution it was now available to
all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No… Things are changing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t speak for any of the other countries in the
African continent but Gambian kids listen, and they know what they like.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it’s not just Madonna or Rhiannon or the big hitters
either, they listen to things that we might take for granted, and it’s not like
they have adventurous radio stations, they don’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The one that does play western music is from 9am until
12.00midday and I’m guessing it’s a sop for the tourist industry ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The rest is rap, hip-hop and reggae with a smattering of
African music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So do the math’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Gambia is just one small country in Africa but the
kids know who Bruce Springsteen is, and they know who Dolly Parton is, and I’m
not just talking about our family either. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amadou had asked for a cd of an Irish folkie type band
that I’d never even heard of.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Why ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because he knew somebody who had mentioned they liked them,
looked them up himself and decided that yes, they were a band for him.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least I’d heard of the singer that Hassanatou had
asked for, even though I hadn’t a clue what she sounded like ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(New Country should you want the genre ?)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now multiply that by the amount of children in Africa
with access to the internet.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You can see what I’m getting at here…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The times are a’changing because they are not cut off any
more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So yeah, I’m pleased with our winning entries, pleased
that the girls came out on top, and even more pleased that they felt that they
could compete as equals.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because in my wife’s time that would not have occurred.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After the presentations the Headmistress told us about
our pair.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently Mariama’s name has been put forward for Head
Girl ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is a bit of a worry because our little drum monster
knows all the dodges, and so the Headmistress thinks that she’d be better off
as Assistant Head Girl helping out the Head Girl.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She has a valid point, and when I said (and explained) ‘You
mean set a poacher to catch a poacher’ ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She said ‘Exactly that’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy and I just looked at each other and laughed…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yep.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That sounds like the Mariama we know and love.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d also not gone in for the competition.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When she was asked why, she’d replied that she already
had that t-shirt and she didn’t think it fair that she might get another one if
she’d won it, and so she’d ruled herself out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy and I just looked at each other…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That definitely sounded like Mariama. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Her sense of what is right and what is wrong does
sometimes put a few adults we could name to shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EY6TSogexBJuJkFMyy6qvtyaEseAjAOMI-3L5m2Oi9z7fmlee_GvEEwOf4ERj-WmCcPjn8eFVezAPhXG0_H-e54Uu5dnlS85FFGoU7g6bfkvpABUx5Eq2pXPHAD_sK4I4MQgVCvnDw/s1600/458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EY6TSogexBJuJkFMyy6qvtyaEseAjAOMI-3L5m2Oi9z7fmlee_GvEEwOf4ERj-WmCcPjn8eFVezAPhXG0_H-e54Uu5dnlS85FFGoU7g6bfkvpABUx5Eq2pXPHAD_sK4I4MQgVCvnDw/s1600/458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for Jalika, she was getting more confident in joining
in everything.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She was still quiet.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Very quiet compared to Mariama)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But her quietness was deceptive.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She took things in and thought about them before she
committed herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And her French was amazing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d really taken to it, pleasing her teacher immensely.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It had been a slow haul but she was beginning to get the
hang of this learning business.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
AND…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She hadn’t thumped anybody for ages, so they were all
hoping that her earlier ripostes to those she felt threatened by were behind
her ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate, bearing in mind
what had occurred in the last week, but I’m happy to go along
with it.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, a quick trip to see the pair of them in their classes
and a few more photographs and that was it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mariama as Head Girl or Assistant Head Girl ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, it’s her last year at Gola Fortunate.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She will be going to a Senior School next September and
that will be an interesting time…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that the Headmistress trusted her enough to
consider her nomination would hold her in good stead when she changed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think Haddy and I need to have a chat about her future
because I don’t know enough about the Gambian school system.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The only thing I do know is that St Theresa’s is regarded
as one of the best if not the best in the country ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But like everything else, times change…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now let’s try and have a relaxing time for the rest of
the day, shall we ?<br />
<br />
We walked slowly home and discussed the children.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy wasn’t sure about St Theresa’s any more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She thought maybe St Peter’s was a better bet for Mariama
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I suppose we’ll have to find out nearer the event ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When she told me where St Peter’s was, I didn’t believe
her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a two taxi ride, and it’s a good few miles away off
the main road leading to the airport.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still, nothing we can do about it now and so it’s home to
a cup of tea, I reckon ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon shelling
even more peanuts.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully it had been a bumper crop this year and it
seemed every family we knew had loads of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There certainly seemed to be enough to go round.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then round about two in the afternoon, Haddy went
inside, and left me to change the music on the computer.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I did, and stuck Rokia Traore on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rockia is a Malian singer/songwriter and plays guitar a
bit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’s a striking looking woman with her man style short
hair and looks like she could have been a top model in another life.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, Google her up and play something if you’ve never
heard of her before, I think you might find it worth it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Screw it !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just click on the link below to a one hour forty minute gig and it’s done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDL6cOXsvw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDL6cOXsvw</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The album I was playing was entitled ‘Tchamantche’, and
now try and picture this…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m sitting on a mat in the middle of the compound.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hassanatou is over by the kitchen sorting out some food,
and Haddy is sitting inside the house when this old lady (probably about sixty
to seventy but it’s sometimes difficult to work out, out there) came in through
our front gates and made straight for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I stood up and motioned her to take one of the chairs
scattered about, but before she sat she started talking…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I didn’t recognise the language.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When the locals speak in any of the local languages they
tend to use one predominantly and mix in a few from the others if they want
specific meanings but this certainly wasn’t one of them and even I knew that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It sounded like there was a bit of French in there, but I
couldn’t be sure ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, stumped, I said ‘wait there’ and went to fetch Haddy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy came out and asked the old girl inside where she
insisted on sitting on the floor rather than a chair and started shelling nuts…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
See… Everybody does it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, it turns out that this lady has been in The
Gambia for just over a year and is a refugee from the Islamic Taliban in Mali.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Things started getting a bit fierce down her way and
rather than stay and be terrorised by a different form of Islam than the one
she’d grown up with, her family had scattered and she’d found herself in The
Gambia.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So imagine her surprise while walking up to the main road
from Fajikunda to hear Malian music coming from one of the compounds, and being
played by ‘un blanc’ as well ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She literally thought she was dreaming.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So would we mind if she stayed and listened to the music
as she had not heard any of her own country’s music for a long time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She was happy to help shell nuts while she was doing so
if we’d let her <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hey !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What can you say ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy tried offering her a drink but she only wanted a
few sips of water.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I asked her via Haddy if she passed this way often, as
the family did have some Malian music in the house, and were somebody to be in,
then I’m sure nobody would mind if the kids put it on so that she could listen
to a bit more ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But no…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She didn’t feel able to do that as it would be imposing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just as Rokia’s cd was finishing I switched her to
Toumani Diabate and that’s when her tears started…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There was nothing wrong, it had just been a very
emotional afternoon for her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This had been the sort of music that she knew throughout
her whole body.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
About twenty minutes later Mariama and Jalika came back
from school and before she went in to change, Mariama stopped to see who was
playing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Hmmmph…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And indoors to change they both went.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Within seconds the pair of them are out again, Mariama
holding her Mother’s copy of another Toumani cd, and a copy of Fatoumata
Diawara’s as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Uncle Chris, play these as well…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘You know what they are then’ ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Everybody knows who they are…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not sure that’s particularly true, but within this
family it’s a possible if not a probable.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The next thing we know is that the two little one’s are
talking to the old lady in French and she’s gabbling away like a good’un.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
About ten minutes later she got up to leave us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy asked her to stay for some food but she wouldn’t,
and told her that she had imposed on us long enough and she was leaving now, but
thank you for the afternoon as it had meant a lot to her…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And she left.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That wasn’t just odd, that was totally surreal.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wonder if we’ll ever see her again ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d like to think she might come back again sometime, but
who knows.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ll have to wait and see ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What was it our Rhythms winners had written ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Music brings happiness ?<br />
Music brings people together ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’d got that bang on the button ! </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
It had been a good day. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-861804404287703242014-09-23T14:36:00.001-07:002014-09-23T14:36:24.918-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART ELEVEN: A BEACH PARTY, AN INITIATION CEREMONY, AND THE TALKING GAMBIAN MUSIC BLUES...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well we all woke up early and that’s a fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You can’t really not when you’ve got a small mosque about
two hundred yards away and a quite large one about four hundred yards away.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The small one starts the call to prayers at five-thirty
and they are louder than the larger one so anybody looking to sleep in would
probably need ear-muffs, but at least it means we get first go in the shower
for the hot water.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We had asked everybody over the course of the previous
week to PLEASE not hang about in the morning because we would be at certain
places along the route to pick people up at particular times, but there’s
always going to be one who doesn’t make it and has to get there under their own
power.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A quick breakfast and before you can turn around Ida is
here from over the road.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not sure how well the plates got washed up by the
smaller contingent of the family but then we can always yell at them tomorrow
!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The people carrier is here with the guys so numbers two
to seven have just been accomplished.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKyPvB7f99wqrRbM1XekDcKMx_tAXpCZG1aZkV8RbiZql14F6taMb94ryPXCw-ykFV4SvKASvvdO9-t3i3L4VcucJ8smZCHoAV85LBd6AY3YDVmZHRmDPj_Ytgyc9kHH5usbxXXccPg/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKyPvB7f99wqrRbM1XekDcKMx_tAXpCZG1aZkV8RbiZql14F6taMb94ryPXCw-ykFV4SvKASvvdO9-t3i3L4VcucJ8smZCHoAV85LBd6AY3YDVmZHRmDPj_Ytgyc9kHH5usbxXXccPg/s1600/081.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amadou will be at the top of the road and Fat’ Cham is
nowhere in sight.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i-XTnVQfNIPcgjLy5GdqBhEB6FpYTV-bhYnlWY2wGTDN5dc39Kn1bRCtx_TXsmDFsl_VpdzS4-IhSEPKG11PSYdyS-AQD3FICsPHwzpP1EG01l7UfF0yuknL42CzeZfbzcuVih0vaQ/s1600/083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0i-XTnVQfNIPcgjLy5GdqBhEB6FpYTV-bhYnlWY2wGTDN5dc39Kn1bRCtx_TXsmDFsl_VpdzS4-IhSEPKG11PSYdyS-AQD3FICsPHwzpP1EG01l7UfF0yuknL42CzeZfbzcuVih0vaQ/s1600/083.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jali Bakary and Mariettou we pick up further along on
the road to Sanyang where we will be stopping for provisions.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogcqeEq1iVXwx1cWX0asYETBYo9Da4kNKgVcYv2vVjQHXTFRHeXOmq5u0kJbj17kJaK4AjtLPnRtmLjhpl4d9qp1Pltrlp-1h-EK6Mb-AqVrnePGYpBD6PjAxfC9P1nlGf7i53Sd0eA/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogcqeEq1iVXwx1cWX0asYETBYo9Da4kNKgVcYv2vVjQHXTFRHeXOmq5u0kJbj17kJaK4AjtLPnRtmLjhpl4d9qp1Pltrlp-1h-EK6Mb-AqVrnePGYpBD6PjAxfC9P1nlGf7i53Sd0eA/s1600/079.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, the gang is nearly all here, so let’s get it on…
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amadou is now in, and Jali and Mariettou are waiting for
us outside the small provision shop at Chinchu Alagie.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPmXCms52oVxnXKEsrdPuANIcd58kzqpzRwmHEGDz2po1LhjgaXY_ZaSJrchlSC3KLToa4yg2481ElwdQpif4ECUqk3_ni3HgMJE9lirqv4QEwN_RM-k4l2OEd7UNYaCzO0mFxoBTSg/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPmXCms52oVxnXKEsrdPuANIcd58kzqpzRwmHEGDz2po1LhjgaXY_ZaSJrchlSC3KLToa4yg2481ElwdQpif4ECUqk3_ni3HgMJE9lirqv4QEwN_RM-k4l2OEd7UNYaCzO0mFxoBTSg/s1600/082.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a bit of a nuisance the kids not having armbands for
the sea having left them in a taxi on a previous occasion, but it can’t be
helped and since we are officially about a month outside the holiday season we
can’t expect any of the shops to have any.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It just means that I’m going to be one bruised and
scratched Dad after going in with them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If any of the others go in I know it’ll be later in the
afternoon but children who see water ALWAYS seem to want to get in it as soon
as they can, and ours are no exception.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course when the first big wave hits then they’ll all
grab me to hang on to…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hence the bruises.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While we’re at Tanje (pronounced tan-gee, as in whiz) Amadou
asks if I know the track that he’s been blasting into his ears via his
headphones ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s definitely something that both his Mother and I have
been known to blast out on occasions, and I suppose singing the chorus back at
him gave the game away somewhat…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Honey you shake, I’ll rattle, we can roll on down the
line… See if we can’t get in touch with a very close friend of mine… ‘</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well that’s all you’re getting, so do you know what it is
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a ‘classic’ album track from the second album.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Any fan of ‘Classic Rock’ from the nineteen seventies
should be able to place it and I can’t be arsed to tell you, but bless him,
Amadou thinks it’s the dog’s dangly bits (I’m being polite, ok ?) and he’s
really got into it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Funny how some artists just seem to get under people’s
skin ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So far we’ve got Mum, Mariama and Amadou into this guy’s
music and they all like different songs, but that’s the great thing about
music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It crosses all borders of country, race, colour, religion,
and any other damned obstacle that people have a habit of throwing in your way
as we all stagger blindly from one world crisis to another…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It turns out Amadou has got the complete double greatest
hits cd on his iPod. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
See… Our family have good taste.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you can’t get the track from the chorus then you’re
either no rock fan or far too young, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
you can google it if you want the artist, cos I’m not an information service
for ‘Failed Rock fans…’
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh, I like that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Failed Rock fans.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Great expression, and I might have to use it again
sometime ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s pissed off a few of you, no doubt ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hahahahaha…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well… Tough !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jeezus H !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy has just come around the corner with probably the
largest melon I have literally ever seen in my life ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bloody thing is gonna need a seat of its own at that size
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, stash the melon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Buy a bit more…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still no children’s armbands or even rings but at least
we tried.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not far to go now because you can actually see Sanyang
from the fish market.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And we’re there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bumping along the sandy track down to Leybato…<br />
<br />
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First things first and the younger ones insist on getting
changed because they want to go swimming.</div>
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They’ll have to wait for about an hour before we let them
in as I have a couple of jobs to do in the way of helping with the food.</div>
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<br />
So after a bit of lazing about the first game of Ludo started up...<br />
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<br />
Of course as soon as we turn up, the dogs materialise
also.</div>
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Now there are two ways of looking at the dogs on the
beach if you’re a tourist.
</div>
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All the guidebooks tell you the sensible one and usually
we do the other.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If anything was to go wrong then yes, it’ll be down to
us, but so far it hasn’t and so long as we keep being kind then there really is
no reason to think that it would.</div>
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Ok, let’s give you the gen and you can make your own
minds up ?</div>
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The guidebooks tell you that you must stay away from the dogs
who roam the beaches because they have turned feral, will probably bite because
they’ve been badly treated and could have rabies ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is all true.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Any one of those could be true, if not all of them ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
However, since we’ve been coming here we have seen about
three families go from young dog to adulthood.</div>
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They don’t tend to last long because the snakes go for
their puppies and the adults tend to die defending the pups.</div>
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Originally they will have been beaten and cut by the
local beach dwellers including the bumsters and the fishermen.</div>
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Some will have their tails cut off and some their ears,
but they do respond to kindness.</div>
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When I first started feeding them back when Haddy’s
eldest daughter Fatou was working here she nearly had a pink fit when I asked
for a bowl of water for the dogs and all the food that we would otherwise have
thrown away to feed them.</div>
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I figured that if we fed them then they’d hang about and
keep the rat population away ?</div>
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And it worked, they did.</div>
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At the time we were the only beach bar without a rat
problem because Fatou followed my lead and kept them fed and watered. <br />
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Unfortunately, now that her Father has let it go to rack
and ruin after she and Haddy made a success of it we might have to do it all
over again, but while we are here we will keep our side of the
bargain.<br />
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And it seems to work.</div>
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These dogs ARE feral and there’s no doubt about that, but
they respond to kindness.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
None of our lot will chase them away or beat them AND
they can have a fresh drink of water without going into the scrubland and
mixing it with the snakes, AND, they seem to appreciate it ?</div>
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Obviously I’m not suggesting that you ‘diss’ the
guidebook’s advice, but surely a better way is just to be friendly ?</div>
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They got little of that from their original owners and that’s
for sure. </div>
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If in doubt then stay away is good advice, but what if
you have no doubts ?</div>
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I know it sounds strange but I’m glad they are there and that
they come back to see us when we arrive.</div>
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The beach is a few miles long so they could range
anywhere, but they seem to like Leybato and that’s fine with us.</div>
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Even our Gambian guys don’t chase them away now.
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It’s a small thing in the grand scheme of things but I
think we’re doing the right thing.</div>
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Only time will tell.<br />
Anyway, first we have to sort out the important stuff and get the ataya (pronounced attire) on... <br />
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Then it's time for me to start work.<br />
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Having done my chores (grating cabbage and carrot) which has now been taken over by Amadou, I am
finally allowed to change and have a bit of fun…
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The guys are nipping back up the road to buy fresh fish
caught this morning which they will then prepare.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Aliou Bah is the main man as far as ‘chef-ing’ is
concerned with Kawsu in reserve but they know what they’re doing.</div>
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Ok, the sun is up, the water is warm so last one in is a
cissy.</div>
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Probably can’t say that in this politically correct age,
but do I give a toss ?</div>
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And I got absolutely hammered…<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pMhdP4R15nBFq4tY_YMzckplQggt-7MJeCpGIQk1R8-8EgYzuNFRyPBJtWMqhmXnSdGut2MyP6WHvf2PYaXG_UYdxlbXNXn5I5_gcb1qwMjXuVJSPMiyOlUjwUY5oj0V40sKu-fmxA/s1600/390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1pMhdP4R15nBFq4tY_YMzckplQggt-7MJeCpGIQk1R8-8EgYzuNFRyPBJtWMqhmXnSdGut2MyP6WHvf2PYaXG_UYdxlbXNXn5I5_gcb1qwMjXuVJSPMiyOlUjwUY5oj0V40sKu-fmxA/s1600/390.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's another one coming...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe4vhahqOiHMLvj3wQH1Y7ZfeCPOTXU5kWbaQlBVKv_-3HfoQbbSnvjRa57Oa3W_wUZL_rwXLCmQg4PRiyrKFeAZ61cbsU2Q-h-bKmgNKqjr1h1VpWXyqvgv_PPKxxgdh-9NEFD6GlA/s1600/391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe4vhahqOiHMLvj3wQH1Y7ZfeCPOTXU5kWbaQlBVKv_-3HfoQbbSnvjRa57Oa3W_wUZL_rwXLCmQg4PRiyrKFeAZ61cbsU2Q-h-bKmgNKqjr1h1VpWXyqvgv_PPKxxgdh-9NEFD6GlA/s1600/391.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Urrrrgh... That was cold...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ida is by far the worst out of the three of them.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73C0uvrcXpG88g7uRQ3TKiodquEziwQFJMUlzE7UrqwoOLHsnXVScTAkdRq5ZAsxD4yBbCGAjZ89njNVvouQIKHMgDCWEzatD3FTUu1BWpVabRGGvNXjTswdB2T2JuLDRWfqwORGdrw/s1600/392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73C0uvrcXpG88g7uRQ3TKiodquEziwQFJMUlzE7UrqwoOLHsnXVScTAkdRq5ZAsxD4yBbCGAjZ89njNVvouQIKHMgDCWEzatD3FTUu1BWpVabRGGvNXjTswdB2T2JuLDRWfqwORGdrw/s1600/392.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Call that cold... What a wuss...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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She’s also the biggest, so it doesn’t bode well when she
grabs hold as the waves come in.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6_-b1oxvYdNWhlYsEWhnD97ULw64FQTCYHe51oeIwqTTh2IvTNbo88LUTIejj7kmkpafmkhn6L1pkudXxx0VuCMbZ20R57Q75OEINKvVDn0t7B9__PDZjaHPZBAoblcT5H-i9IhvNw/s1600/393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6_-b1oxvYdNWhlYsEWhnD97ULw64FQTCYHe51oeIwqTTh2IvTNbo88LUTIejj7kmkpafmkhn6L1pkudXxx0VuCMbZ20R57Q75OEINKvVDn0t7B9__PDZjaHPZBAoblcT5H-i9IhvNw/s1600/393.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll give you wuss, you cheeky so and so... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To be fair to Ida,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mariama and Jalika have had a lot more experience in water and I managed
about an hour before I needed to get out, and to tell you the truth I was
knackered.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I left the kids with Housai’ watching over them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz3s7pd9k6zCgbdDeWSuijcPKKwzrqWSTYWpaIxQRc7R-82v5TXXvixDu9L5VAYFx5A8EeYxPVRkCvLwgdLq0DhkLoTQYMGmqOyikmCeuc3hhn4iccuE4xves5EviAyDM-X5pfWpeMQ/s1600/395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz3s7pd9k6zCgbdDeWSuijcPKKwzrqWSTYWpaIxQRc7R-82v5TXXvixDu9L5VAYFx5A8EeYxPVRkCvLwgdLq0DhkLoTQYMGmqOyikmCeuc3hhn4iccuE4xves5EviAyDM-X5pfWpeMQ/s1600/395.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Anybody going further out than waist height will be
dragged out and won’t be allowed in the sea again.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’ve been warned but they’ll be alright for a bit in
the shallows.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Time to dry off before a lunchtime snack.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And finally…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fat Cham has arrived.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She definitely missed the bus…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(And she’s not fat either, it’s short for Fatou…)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so, typically because it’s food time, has Ali.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoLdbJZIR9FEswYjZmWQI_Hrwjm7V0cLfReIdq9ZO5jy3sjusSsq3b5H_VzDs9dawwquImG7xRXWaKIFidSKn4a9Fq2l3O5w7xUV1qTaA2eZP41jiKyPppTK9LsRe0azI8l_DsYIqJg/s1600/364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoLdbJZIR9FEswYjZmWQI_Hrwjm7V0cLfReIdq9ZO5jy3sjusSsq3b5H_VzDs9dawwquImG7xRXWaKIFidSKn4a9Fq2l3O5w7xUV1qTaA2eZP41jiKyPppTK9LsRe0azI8l_DsYIqJg/s1600/364.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ali lives at Sanyang anyway, and I think Haddy asked him
to pop over because he makes the wristbands which she gives out to our friends
at Cropredy and to others so honoured.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today he’ll be making about ten plus one special one each
for the little ones.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No problem.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Ok, let’s eat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The lunchtime snack is the fish they bought when we
arrived, with the aforementioned cabbage and carrot mix as the ‘salad’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is then liberally sluiced with lime juice and black
pepper and it tastes ok to one who’d never had it before.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, I’d have preferred lettuce and tomato, but it’s what
we could get and beggars can’t be choosers…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I got ‘Ladyfish’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The picture below is out of sequence and was actually
taken at the compound but it will give you some idea of the sizes of these
things.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWasFwEi5Kx9r2fQPjLFlGR6TH1LAd69KN8fIZ_1pNzwiNnXB-6Ena242CV01bGhWGaUoGnOGahVVOdlCCus4DLxDlhifYFXrFVnXmQ1itj-C2GAFp6UNpYwa6cpdB26nHssT3UsAgYA/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWasFwEi5Kx9r2fQPjLFlGR6TH1LAd69KN8fIZ_1pNzwiNnXB-6Ena242CV01bGhWGaUoGnOGahVVOdlCCus4DLxDlhifYFXrFVnXmQ1itj-C2GAFp6UNpYwa6cpdB26nHssT3UsAgYA/s1600/002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the bottom is a Ladyfish and above that is a Barracuda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And, as usual, the piece was bloody enormous.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How do people eat all that ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t, and that’s a fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy had barracuda and that wasn't small either.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM2FvyR5aIq1FxMx9kwkbkgdNSeg97co7DqqZptrV8WyFOrFnJrgtH9q_EpiswPv4oUuPsQBiEguL3mbGRY0oPspOAz6D1Rb5iaMrO6kpR0_EkBiUXQ1AXLv0aaXdzLfF3wa-EfhCCg/s1600/378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM2FvyR5aIq1FxMx9kwkbkgdNSeg97co7DqqZptrV8WyFOrFnJrgtH9q_EpiswPv4oUuPsQBiEguL3mbGRY0oPspOAz6D1Rb5iaMrO6kpR0_EkBiUXQ1AXLv0aaXdzLfF3wa-EfhCCg/s1600/378.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddy's barracuda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(You can actually buy frozen barracuda steaks in the UK now, check your local African or Asian grocer...) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can’t see the dogs getting any either, certainly not
with this lot about…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I do however have to pay tribute to my fellow chefs
because it was absolutely delicious.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s after lunch, and now the three little monsters are
going to have to wait an enforced hour after they’ve eaten and so they are
going for a walk with Amadou down the beach before hitting the sea again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGElfJ8sMDiyWucmdl5jbkxbaiYLgR-PzLawuIUKnt6zycuxNTz1RgLcy_SYkweaUzhDt9hTqjc6J0FAc4g4Ed8JquGl9mVpqQNK7PbjGr5i3dcfQY5P_UbAIYleNvNZzIJOrdkYBoVQ/s1600/368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGElfJ8sMDiyWucmdl5jbkxbaiYLgR-PzLawuIUKnt6zycuxNTz1RgLcy_SYkweaUzhDt9hTqjc6J0FAc4g4Ed8JquGl9mVpqQNK7PbjGr5i3dcfQY5P_UbAIYleNvNZzIJOrdkYBoVQ/s1600/368.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Ali has eaten, done his bit with the wristbands and been
paid for his efforts and now he’s off to see a couple of his mates further down
the beach.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course the little ones and Amadou have now vanished
into the distance somewhere, so guess who got the job of going to look for them
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yep !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Got it in one…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problem with me going is that I’m a sitting target
for every bloody bumster on the beach and I can tell you now, it gets very
tedious just saying ‘No thank you’ or ‘No thanks, I’m looking for my kids… You
haven’t seen three little girls and their elder brother have you ?’ and all
they want to do is sell you something, so they’re not really interested.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s that bloody ‘screw the toubab’ thing again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m in swimming gear and a t-shirt and I’m NOT carrying
any money but as they say, they can call around for it later…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t think so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
About a couple of miles down the beach they are finally
located and informed that Mum has sent the search party, so could they please
return and put her mind at rest, thank you ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s hard work walking on that sand.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s red hot for starters, so the walk back is through
the wet stuff with the sea rippling at my feet.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You ever walked a couple of miles through wet sand with
the waves trickling over your feet ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It takes twice as long as it did to get there because
your feet sink into the sand.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And of course, you are then a target for every bumster on
the beach to have another go…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How I managed to remain polite has eluded me, but I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sod it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I need a drink and fruit juice will do very well, thank
you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv8kjQWdWLsYqVwkYvAciyIpLMw-LQYH7MVdnSypCbve3EiEn2gjDnhzy1WNYgn3-yYxkgjE-1vehN8p7KjmWKTKIJjOVKRNxjhimJHOql183moiNb1ZihUPcXVIFaxgQiy8C8vjuqQ/s1600/399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLv8kjQWdWLsYqVwkYvAciyIpLMw-LQYH7MVdnSypCbve3EiEn2gjDnhzy1WNYgn3-yYxkgjE-1vehN8p7KjmWKTKIJjOVKRNxjhimJHOql183moiNb1ZihUPcXVIFaxgQiy8C8vjuqQ/s1600/399.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now of course the kids want to go in the sea again…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, assume supervisory duties and try and get them
out when they start shivering which will probably be in about another hour’s
time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a great life if you don’t weaken…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s food time again and so it’s time to get the kids out
of the water and dried off and then it’s steamed and grilled chicken with the
same salad.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGeUfCAE7oINZ2JZmkMUGcChtMtM_LjexBASXaIf1OqHvnHzROzbxs3GQeleXNfe6kd73fNke4KqS2u65NzObbqK7CtY4U_XeeLpvXmG7xxK0kct6xan1-YOHr-ZMPbWkU9PX-SVETQ/s1600/407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGeUfCAE7oINZ2JZmkMUGcChtMtM_LjexBASXaIf1OqHvnHzROzbxs3GQeleXNfe6kd73fNke4KqS2u65NzObbqK7CtY4U_XeeLpvXmG7xxK0kct6xan1-YOHr-ZMPbWkU9PX-SVETQ/s1600/407.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not bad at all…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ9MQ39MvoBHYAj1pYTo2FTAD1CWnNwIN97zvB5z_zk-fX5WZWV_QpQudCmEO0U3mWTpRnymWtjF0ieQmDp0qY9YJFEzQUMoyzIqU-6Z37AiTAprVCfzzZRcyoSmR9mFQzXuylduX5A/s1600/413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ9MQ39MvoBHYAj1pYTo2FTAD1CWnNwIN97zvB5z_zk-fX5WZWV_QpQudCmEO0U3mWTpRnymWtjF0ieQmDp0qY9YJFEzQUMoyzIqU-6Z37AiTAprVCfzzZRcyoSmR9mFQzXuylduX5A/s1600/413.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYHMPKNnXicf6Wfc3l2icT4Wv10R8gu1VhzfWwtZ6l2Mk_Q7nWR1R9qAG5ZTLZiff37_HUJ4ViBc1x2Vj1mTa0ihacOpDxOr9H0r96-AVSlBTfL5xIoNrNbCR1nv_h34X2xilV1vhsg/s1600/414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYHMPKNnXicf6Wfc3l2icT4Wv10R8gu1VhzfWwtZ6l2Mk_Q7nWR1R9qAG5ZTLZiff37_HUJ4ViBc1x2Vj1mTa0ihacOpDxOr9H0r96-AVSlBTfL5xIoNrNbCR1nv_h34X2xilV1vhsg/s1600/414.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And I’m used to the cabbage and carrot mix now.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So there I was, videoing everything going on, when the guys
changed the subject they had been talking about to music. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Specifically, Gambian music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know a few words in Wolof and I really wanted them to
switch to English so I could put my two pennies worth into the conversation as
well, but as usual, Haddy saved the day and we didn’t even turn the camera off.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The complete conversation is on video and I include it
here because these guys and me are on the same wavelength when it comes to
Gambian music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the reason I’m talking slowly is because English is
not their native tongue and I want them to understand what I’m talking about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If I’d just hit them with my usual fifty mile an hour
rat-a-tat-tat speech pattern then they wouldn’t have got most of it, and this
was important, to me at least.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you watch it and think you have a point to make then
please get in touch via the blog’s comment section, but I warn you now, I don’t
do anonymous users.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Too many of them love flinging insults (usually heavily
racist) and I can’t be bothered with them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are far too many floating about, and their mindless
and gutless comments hiding under their cloak of anonymity piss me off, so I
sorted the blog so it won’t accept them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anybody sending a comment is welcome to do so, but I can
do without mindless arseholes. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Couldn’t we all ?)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Anyway, here ‘tis…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1AWxyGyPJ0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1AWxyGyPJ0</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do you reckon ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It does throw up a few points, especially about reggae
but I think we covered most bases ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It also makes me think that I’d love to work with ‘Pa
Lie’ on something out there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I reckon we could do something to prove our point ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh yeah, for those who have blundered in here by accident
or because you’ve clicked on something that looked interesting to you, here’s a
link to one of those films that my wife made about the Afro Manding guys that I
mentioned in the conversation.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re both on Youtube but I actually like the ‘look’ of
the first one she shot.<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfDPYWvl_c" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfDPYWvl_c</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you’re one of the regular readers (and I know there’s
a few) then you’ve probably seen one if not both of them already.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If not, then it’s just a practice session without the
kora player and vocalist who returns on the second one in which we lose one
drummer and the balofon player due to circumstances beyond their control.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Is that it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This bloody post is going on for ever, I hear you cry ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Errr… Actually no.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But there is a little more, he says, hesitantly…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, it’s late afternoon and the little ones are finally
out of the water.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now it’s time for a couple of wrestling bouts…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bFCtftL1maIArBKfYnLICAh7U1swcjx72k3r5Qr6ewjcY8th6pyRyCRXh6yb1URmy4nNlRV3I8gJGSaNYEFHiJxu4J5uahD76yP80LFgS8XhXITLa2lrLyh-k3Vou5d6yNDozHTRvA/s1600/428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bFCtftL1maIArBKfYnLICAh7U1swcjx72k3r5Qr6ewjcY8th6pyRyCRXh6yb1URmy4nNlRV3I8gJGSaNYEFHiJxu4J5uahD76yP80LFgS8XhXITLa2lrLyh-k3Vou5d6yNDozHTRvA/s1600/428.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Waste of time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv_GPHLNOyeWisO4cEuQXyGyoJJfV92wlibCA6Uf6L1OVB4OPquRpy6VlhPMBvTWAwiyBSnSEFikxqQbwbqUsOgaHB8THi8VY45aGalt7PKo0NA6VYyOCf2m1lnqLcXPOVtIPxwHN1Q/s1600/426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv_GPHLNOyeWisO4cEuQXyGyoJJfV92wlibCA6Uf6L1OVB4OPquRpy6VlhPMBvTWAwiyBSnSEFikxqQbwbqUsOgaHB8THi8VY45aGalt7PKo0NA6VYyOCf2m1lnqLcXPOVtIPxwHN1Q/s1600/426.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I would have put my money on Kawsu and I would have won,
just like he did…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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Twice.
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They’re a lovely bunch of nutters, this lot.</div>
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I love them to bits.</div>
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Friends, colleagues in a couple of things, teachers…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV8DS7K6LWpQ1VfZTHhyphenhyphenaZOtbACmbfBxuO3ksF3aUgpscl-RtRv8DlMBfdW74Q-p9RqIYM83Lwb1MfqZNza7B43i6U5o8XOAEXv7rWOJtqS4HTt9eP-RVuAi65B0ujnS9P8Vlh6Aolw/s1600/422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV8DS7K6LWpQ1VfZTHhyphenhyphenaZOtbACmbfBxuO3ksF3aUgpscl-RtRv8DlMBfdW74Q-p9RqIYM83Lwb1MfqZNza7B43i6U5o8XOAEXv7rWOJtqS4HTt9eP-RVuAi65B0ujnS9P8Vlh6Aolw/s1600/422.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pa Lie, Fat' Cham and Mariama at back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What can I say ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But they are definitely utterly mad sometimes, and this
was one of those ‘sometimes’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some of you have read some of the earlier posts in which
I mention the family’s ‘Initiation ceremony’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you haven’t, then what I suggest you do is click on
the upcoming video link and all will be revealed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is of course total madness, but that’s one of the
things that all families have hidden away somewhere…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And ours is no exception.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The poor innocent dupe whose turn it is will be given a
quick warning, told to kneel, and then it occurs…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And loud screams and yells usually hit the air because
it’s bloody cold for a start.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not that I have yet had it done, I haven’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But my time will definitely come.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This year it was Lamin’s turn and also Jali Bakary’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I do think it should take place a little earlier in the
day because the sea is beginning to cool down by this time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rLfobkUNUw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rLfobkUNUw</a></div>
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Yes, you are quite right. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are all stark raving mad.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that’s the joy of it, don’t you see ?<br />
Oh, and just to prove a point, here's a still shot taken literally just after it occurred...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Please note the proximity of the two dogs. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt7eSjdbKlvOE_FSXqAO8en08Gzmn1cdHtUdp1MqOe2WWiaiy15usMl2CjKW4EM2LRfUJMF4iD3OWQdO3EP2vtTgXkYYQwEl1eWMYtYAzWub14hziuiTz83y0JPylHHNfwBnqtz0AgA/s1600/436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt7eSjdbKlvOE_FSXqAO8en08Gzmn1cdHtUdp1MqOe2WWiaiy15usMl2CjKW4EM2LRfUJMF4iD3OWQdO3EP2vtTgXkYYQwEl1eWMYtYAzWub14hziuiTz83y0JPylHHNfwBnqtz0AgA/s1600/436.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pa Lie, Dog, Mariattou, Housai' and dog...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, anything after that is an anti-climax. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Like giving out the ties…</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhfeb8XVI9dlC7RbhHBxZEg7TO_2QwgWhHSFO9THOXMMVmYlwt9qxfpT_d-rgrfthRwbfmyUjRgg99RbhALrcg04EoJ-1s97nslQcP-h7Srluf3bKLQEfSTUJqWalVVk8X4MJOQ06rw/s1600/444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhfeb8XVI9dlC7RbhHBxZEg7TO_2QwgWhHSFO9THOXMMVmYlwt9qxfpT_d-rgrfthRwbfmyUjRgg99RbhALrcg04EoJ-1s97nslQcP-h7Srluf3bKLQEfSTUJqWalVVk8X4MJOQ06rw/s1600/444.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I mean can you think of a more unsuitable place to do it
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But the guys were all here and in one place and it made
sense to Haddy, so why not ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There’s no arguing with her logic, is there ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was time to leave.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I always miss this place when we go.<br />
Probably because Haddy and I came here for our wedding
reception ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It has always been somewhere to go and just chill out for
the day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But it has seen better days under Fatou’s stewardship and
then under Haddy’s when her daughter first went to Scotland with her husband.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio66yKWCNx4u6Ibm52N0xcLgh5RVPcfY2U3dlHeweaytAzo_qEc6QUYFSplRZjDXKhxba7Nv6FYZ2oiO5-1Y5ySCBGMupcWgfS7qhVMe6PRaiBYHQYTCJ7GOukUXdJOygs4Y1P3kbVmg/s1600/349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio66yKWCNx4u6Ibm52N0xcLgh5RVPcfY2U3dlHeweaytAzo_qEc6QUYFSplRZjDXKhxba7Nv6FYZ2oiO5-1Y5ySCBGMupcWgfS7qhVMe6PRaiBYHQYTCJ7GOukUXdJOygs4Y1P3kbVmg/s1600/349.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Somebody should look after it, but Fatou’s Father will
not do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He is only interested in ‘instant money’ and it shows in
what Haddy had put into it, and which has since gone missing, and the state the
place is in now.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCe-kf-oG4D-pfw-J5ApDcNA-PIflPQf2HziziH7vuut9MSL1WO6KggaYd1wvC-_nIvUgxDvWaaf6vyxb5Oix_LohxqYxPuRDaR9UteXT4FNTqJ3VI_JtJmSafkYKiqe_ZRic6SmBHw/s1600/341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCe-kf-oG4D-pfw-J5ApDcNA-PIflPQf2HziziH7vuut9MSL1WO6KggaYd1wvC-_nIvUgxDvWaaf6vyxb5Oix_LohxqYxPuRDaR9UteXT4FNTqJ3VI_JtJmSafkYKiqe_ZRic6SmBHw/s1600/341.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It is very sad.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m glad I haven’t met Fatou’s Father, and I have no wish
to either.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The guy is definitely on my ‘shit list’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Cue L.7 for their music track… Google it if you have to…
Great track)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The three youngest members all fell asleep on the way
back home.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bearing in mind the times they usually go to bed, I think
they must be tired out ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We left a bit later than we were going to, which caused a
bit of trepidation as Jali was supposed to be at work that night and when we
stopped outside his place of employment he was still wet, ok, he’d changed into
his suit whilst in the mini-van, but at least we got him there on time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And when we finally got back to Fajikunda it was in the
middle of a power cut, and we found Awa, back from work, sitting in the middle
of the compound with a candle for company…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Typically as soon as we got back the kids woke up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It had definitely been one of ‘those’ days.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-9878273903720384092014-09-17T11:24:00.000-07:002014-09-17T11:24:09.943-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART TEN: A FEW PICASSO'S AND A FAMILY MEAL.<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s the morning after the night before…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dunno why I started like that because this is all
chronological shit anyway, but I’ve always wanted to, so I did ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It had been a bad night.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody, kids included, had been short-tempered before
we went to bed, and I can’t speak for them but I suspect we all had a restless
sleep, I know Haddy and I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shit !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You go through this stuff, and I’m quite sure I’m not the
only one who’s been there, but there isn’t a recognisable guide to buy to get
you through it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody just has to ‘wing it’ when the shit comes down,
and it bloody well came down yesterday, I know that much…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, breakfast is one tapa-lapa each with a small tin of
sardines and it’ll do before we go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Please God, just let us go out without any early morning
visitations from anyone else, today…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And luckily it happened, and by nine we’re in a taxi off
to Westfield and the bank.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sailing through that while attempting to second guess how
much we’re going to need for the rest of our break.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think we’ve got enough, Haddy thinks it’s too much, but
we can always leave any remainder with the kids when we depart.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I prefer to leave with about two thousand dalasi in my
pocket because it means you can buy a snack at the airport and we’ll have
enough to buy essentials when we come back again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve done it so often now, and it seems to work out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So that’s sorted then, now we need another taxi to the
supermarkets…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have to admit that I’m not a great fan of The Gambian
taxi system.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh yeah, it seems to work, but having to stop at
designated places and change taxis because the taxi cannot cross an invisible
line onto somebody else’s patch can be a serious pain in the arse when you have
to go shopping.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And, of course, the line is between the bank and the
supermarkets…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then you find out that some of them can ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's all too confusing for me. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But we get there and start filling up again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully we are able to replenish most of what we gave
away last night.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are a couple of things we’re short of, but nothing
we can’t pick up locally at a pinch.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, let’s get home again and see what the day has in
store for us today…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was a lazy day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My biggest problem is trying to get Haddy to commit to a
time to get dinner ready for.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hassa’ says about eight to half-past should do it, so
that is what I’m going to aim for.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Awa and Housai’ will be back from work and changed by
then.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, let’s do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy rang Yama to see how they were getting on, and
apparently they’d already sold a pair of shoes for three hundred dalasi…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, it’s a start.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s ‘fish money’ but with the rice and vegetables we
gave them it’ll get them back on track for a bit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy now has to decide what to do with her remaining
box.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’s sorted out a box full of ‘family sized assortments’
for Ousman, whose son will be picking them up at some time this afternoon after
he’s emptied his truck.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It leaves her with one box, most of which is a cross
between men’s clothing and kid’s stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I say give the men’s stuff to the lads and Amadou.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The shirts and ties might help them at work, so why not ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously the children’s wear can be given out locally.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m still dubious about the ties, though…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mariama and Jalika have found an old set of artist’s paints in a
bag that has been stored in one of the shops since Baddou got them to clear their
rooms.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It probably belonged to either Amadou or the twins at one
point but it had barely looked used and so they’d decided to try them out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlENog3Ec8Ai4RLPOesBBpwb9rC25RSWMazi58-aShQX0vz_ERXtzBRPl7qwxqmwnv5D90bcvphISTaiyDXyTCGLoeBCJlTMsvxWeI3yNTmT8p3NZp6nXaYy0Iim1zzRz_9cSdnRMhA/s1600/girls+painting+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlENog3Ec8Ai4RLPOesBBpwb9rC25RSWMazi58-aShQX0vz_ERXtzBRPl7qwxqmwnv5D90bcvphISTaiyDXyTCGLoeBCJlTMsvxWeI3yNTmT8p3NZp6nXaYy0Iim1zzRz_9cSdnRMhA/s1600/girls+painting+1.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Surprisingly the paints haven’t dried out and since it
all seem useable, they’ve been painting odd designs all afternoon just trying
them out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZp6Appih85jfHOEhT4g_OYzY0HLdy18is9AqHGfjAmvQodle9TsZUlEFNTde76hj438BbMmEk-LfdGsGO7Eb4Twqcm9aH0DQODG5uXSl1RIt6edA12mNpFJthzxHsqB0SDWgKwGTOw/s1600/girls+painting+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZp6Appih85jfHOEhT4g_OYzY0HLdy18is9AqHGfjAmvQodle9TsZUlEFNTde76hj438BbMmEk-LfdGsGO7Eb4Twqcm9aH0DQODG5uXSl1RIt6edA12mNpFJthzxHsqB0SDWgKwGTOw/s1600/girls+painting+2.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It’s kept them occupied for a few hours and out of the
way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXAGqKBWs0AsV3l2NsSfzGIgGBwOCYyDUy0RrtaoFjyT3yg3O-aaH-SUGSuaVIF6SM-UW7-H7kwVVGx7aFrzsXJMw2737dvL-dXFKEJsR5f5L7P_CnR4K-fJqxtnsrSo_P_yQcwrnMw/s1600/paintings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXAGqKBWs0AsV3l2NsSfzGIgGBwOCYyDUy0RrtaoFjyT3yg3O-aaH-SUGSuaVIF6SM-UW7-H7kwVVGx7aFrzsXJMw2737dvL-dXFKEJsR5f5L7P_CnR4K-fJqxtnsrSo_P_yQcwrnMw/s1600/paintings.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
No fighting, no yelling, and no mention of last night for
which we are all thankful.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So half way through the afternoon I start peeling the
potatoes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m going to boil them before roasting them because they
crisp up better that way and I might as well do it properly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The carrots I’ve decided to ‘Julienne’ which for those
not used to cooking expressions are thin strips as opposed to dicing or
slicing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They look flash when served, so why not ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The green beans just need their stringy bits removed but
that’s easy enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the meat needs roasting…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which is probably going to be the hardest bit ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now it is probably fair to say that Gambian cooking
compared to English, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Italian, Moroccan or any of the
other things I try out on my poor long suffering family is something I tend to
leave to one of the kids or Haddy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is because meat is done to death here as opposed to
cooking it until it is tender.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are reasons.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The heat does not lend itself to keeping meat fresh when
you have no refrigerator is one thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The flies are another.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So cooking things well is a tried and trusted formula for
not getting ill.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How I persuade them that this leg of lamb will be best
served by keeping it a little moist inside is beginning to be today’s
insurmountable problem...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And in the end I gave up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It will be cooked by Hassanatou, who has taken all things
into consideration but is still going to cook it her way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, I’ll shut up now and stick to the veg’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arguing with Hassa’ is a ‘no-win’ situation anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not for her, just for anybody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a bit like Star Wars and that ‘May the force be with
you’ quote.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You’d never have to do it with Hassa’ because the force
is already there… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In spades !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And she sees no need to take any prisoners along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wonder where she gets that from ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(Looks at Haddy, smiles, and shakes head…)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There’s a core of steel in this family.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s most noticeable in Haddy, Hassa’ and Mariama, but
there isn’t a single one of them prepared to take any shit from anybody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Housai’, Awa and Amadou are just a little quieter and
possibly a bit less direct about it, and as for Jalika, nobody is going to mess
with the little one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There have been far too many bloody noses, split lips and
black eyes given those who had tried.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Talking of which, there are a couple of the local lads
with huge ‘shiners’, one of which had been given him by Jalika a few days ago…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And she’d only hit him once.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think we might have to think about karate classes at
some point ?
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy is right.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jalika can’t go through her life hitting people, she
needs to ‘channel it’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The twins had been when they were younger and it had
given them a lot more confidence, it was now probably time to think about the
youngest two ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ll have a think about it, but in the meantime…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have a meal to sort out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The meat is cooked by eight and is now settling nicely.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It should be ready to carve at about half past eight when
the vegetables have been cooked and I’ve made a gravy with the lamb juices
after letting the fat cool.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s so much easier to do it that way and take the fat
off in dried white lumps rather than doing it while it’s still in liquefied form.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It mixes better with the water and stock cubes too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That went better than even I could have hoped ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hassanatou had done me proud on the meat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d managed to do the potatoes to perfection.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A dab of melted olive spread mixed with parsley over the
carrots.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I’d nearly managed to remove all the stringy bits
from the green beans.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The mint sauce (from a bottle) had added a touch of zing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And all compliments will be gratefully accepted…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The general consensus of opinion was that it was pretty
good.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bearing in mind there hadn't been a chilli pepper in sight this was high praise indeed. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The potatoes had surprised them as proper roasted
potatoes were not usual in The Gambia and the carrots with their parsley
coating were judged ‘delicious’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I can live with that. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All our visitors managed to come in while we were
clearing our plates…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Neneh Kombo, why didn’t you tell us Uncle Chris was
cooking ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, if we’d done that then we’d have had a compound
full of visitors all stuffing themselves at our expense, wouldn’t we ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nobody actually said it, but the thought was there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And when we had finished there was absolutely nothing
left in the communal bowl whatsoever.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Even Princess had managed to get in on the act.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’d stuffed a slice of meat, some chopped carrots and
green beans covered in gravy, and was now meowing loudly looking for more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tough luck puss cat, it’s literally all gone. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Time to chill and sort out some softer sounds methinks ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s going to be a hectic day tomorrow…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-78179027764067189902014-09-13T07:01:00.001-07:002014-09-13T07:01:22.043-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART NINE: 'ONCE IN A WHILE YOU GET SHOWN THE LIGHT IN THE STRANGEST OF PLACES IF YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT...'<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Time is getting on…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There aren’t that many days left before we’re going to
have to leave again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve booked the last weekend for a day at Sanyang on the
beach because most of the gang are free at the same time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As it is currently, most of our time is spent at the
compound with Haddy trying to get her bits sorted out, which, true to form is
the usual two steps forward and one step back routine.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You get given a name and which office they are in, but
they are usually out and it involves an awful lot of sitting around and waiting…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still, she’s used to it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I, on the other hand, am not.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Truth be told it drives me nuts, but we’re getting there
slowly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So there we were, just sitting in the compound one
morning at around ten o’clock after breakfast and this little lad opened the
gate and came in…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I looked at him, looked back toward Haddy and then turned
and had another look…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Is it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It has to be because he’s a dead-ringer for his Father.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Samsidine ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I spoke his name and there was the trace of a smile in
his otherwise solemn look.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I was out of my chair and shaking his hand before
offering him my seat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It turns out that he was back over the road living with
his Grandparents.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My late friend Ebrima’s widow who was now working on a
market stall, was going to settle down again with her current partner and so
she had kept their daughter Amie with her and let Samsidine go to his
Grandparents.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently he’d been there for most of the Tobaski break
but had not ventured over to see us, possibly, from what we were able to
ascertain, through a bit of shyness at his new surroundings and family.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But he was here now, that was the main thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The last time we’d seen him he was a few months old sitting
in his Mother’s lap, but now he was a big four year old.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Is it really that long ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Time only seems to show its face through the ages of the
children.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They get older and they grow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shit !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If I’d known he was over the road, I’d have gone over to
meet him, but who knew ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If our lot knew then they hadn’t let on but we’d find out
later, what was important was that he was here now. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy was the perfect hostess, putting him at his ease
and when he left to go back after about an hour, I said I’d take him.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we walked over the road, me holding his little hand
until we got back to his compound…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Hey… Samsidine, you’ve brought Uncle Chris…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I got the handshakes and the hugs from Ebrima’s
brothers and Mother.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So I sat and ate nuts, which it seemed everybody was
shelling, for ten minutes while they all chatted away.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One thing I can say with certainty is that they were all
glad to have him there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously it was going to be one more mouth to feed, but
that didn’t matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What mattered most was that he was back with them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His Father had died when he was a couple of months old
and his extended family had been unhappy about his Mother taking him, but he’d
returned.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nobody knew if it was going to be forever, but at that
moment it didn’t matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All that mattered was that he was back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I asked his family to please tell Samsidine that he would
always be welcome at our compound, as would his sister if she was visiting, and
I got up to leave.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it wasn’t only me holding the emotions in check, we
were all doing it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If I made it back over the road without breaking down in
tears it was going to be a miracle…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least I managed to get to the front gate before going
inside and sitting by myself for a couple of minutes just to compose myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What is it with this place ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back in the UK nobody shows any real emotion at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s like it’s hidden under a veneer of respectability
and composure, but here, in The Gambia, it’s on the surface and it doesn’t need
much to bring it to a head.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m glad he’s back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t really know why, apart from the fact that he’s
brought a bit of happiness to his own family.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I suspect it’s something to do with the fact that his
Father was my friend and I know how much he wanted a son of his own, but I
couldn’t really tell you ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All I know is that there is something between us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A bond of some description.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whatever it is, it’s there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And however much I may screw up in this life, I know I
have to try to be there for him if I’m called upon to do so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ebou’, you old pirate… Wherever you are in the next
world, no promises my friend, but I’ll do what I can.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And we didn’t take a single photograph to commemorate the
occasion...<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s early afternoon and Yama has turned up with baby Awa
and N’Dey.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody, me included, is sitting in the compound
shelling nuts or making wonjor.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiWj7SG-CqCAzSEUJrGiB3BhMqtwRz0NnfGFjgU2jRGRJVzKY3y23ilBK8v6caivXnKXtsBiO-iakZFBlsaTk18im-HkS-qZCIGMehXKwW7O6GaigIDgStl5VuzPke-dU1HzjxVJxVA/s1600/218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkiWj7SG-CqCAzSEUJrGiB3BhMqtwRz0NnfGFjgU2jRGRJVzKY3y23ilBK8v6caivXnKXtsBiO-iakZFBlsaTk18im-HkS-qZCIGMehXKwW7O6GaigIDgStl5VuzPke-dU1HzjxVJxVA/s1600/218.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wonjor is a drink, for them as haven’t a clue what I’m on
about. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBpwpSi042KcCM6b2HUtH3Dgcn-15C2xzxFbn0u68D1Qlom4A3mwo2QSjnZPIjSllat-kDSDNZem1NIEA7ydSx4pbsoFJLsVphVGKyWmhjWO9UUYFx2-xdihWOXVblulUTI7Dccg4Cw/s1600/226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBpwpSi042KcCM6b2HUtH3Dgcn-15C2xzxFbn0u68D1Qlom4A3mwo2QSjnZPIjSllat-kDSDNZem1NIEA7ydSx4pbsoFJLsVphVGKyWmhjWO9UUYFx2-xdihWOXVblulUTI7Dccg4Cw/s1600/226.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hassa' stirring the wonjor</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It is made from the flower of the sorrel plant which you soak or boil and then add to a powder mix, you then mix it with sugar and water and let
it settle.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_XfY0WjKIJNL15zRNMVm6vEiQSv8gd1ILhzjCmL82fv7KKSGvJD_m1iDkiHageZDM8TUFBnuiJt-rbNKxhXPiSpgmyZhYQRR6J306SGjORokmzNy-hNOw09iBk0yXHQo8aaopdOL-w/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_XfY0WjKIJNL15zRNMVm6vEiQSv8gd1ILhzjCmL82fv7KKSGvJD_m1iDkiHageZDM8TUFBnuiJt-rbNKxhXPiSpgmyZhYQRR6J306SGjORokmzNy-hNOw09iBk0yXHQo8aaopdOL-w/s1600/231.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Tony and Hassa' straining the wonjor</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Strain it through muslin, and then bottle it.
</div>
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<br />
<br />
It turns out Hassanatou has a thriving small business
selling it.</div>
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One small bottle for five dalasi and a bigger one for
thirty.</div>
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All she uses are empty water bottles which she
religiously washes out every morning. </div>
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The most popular are those that have been in our freezer
for a while, as the colder it is, the more refreshing it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It tastes like a thicker and sweeter blackcurrant cordial when added to water and a couple
of bottles downed in the heat will certainly re-charge the batteries somewhat. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for the nuts, you can’t step anywhere without
crunching another couple of shells underfoot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They are literally everywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ0Pmiq7CPZTSNjv0ykGkN_ByLQWqYT-2F9xpXzJx69c_LSsNO9fm5EywiwX28euHfJ8o4E9LUlRlTUAfKLt71KCdfDslQZKZD51bbm9nWjeZRI6lQqX4FohUs0F3zKtj9ycuwyV_cg/s1600/324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ0Pmiq7CPZTSNjv0ykGkN_ByLQWqYT-2F9xpXzJx69c_LSsNO9fm5EywiwX28euHfJ8o4E9LUlRlTUAfKLt71KCdfDslQZKZD51bbm9nWjeZRI6lQqX4FohUs0F3zKtj9ycuwyV_cg/s1600/324.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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At some point in the proceedings Haddy and I are going to
have to hit the supermarkets at Westfield as I won’t be able to obtain the
things I need locally, so mid-way through the afternoon we shoot off to do some
shopping.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Basically I need English food.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not because I’m pining for it, but because I still have that
leg of lamb in the freezer and I now know what I’m going to do with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was a toss-up between English or Indian and because
the Indian recipe needs a forty eight hour marinade, I have decided against it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, English it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Uncle Chris meal for this year’s trip is going to be
roast lamb, roast potatoes and as much English type vegetables as I can get
from the supermarkets, along with mint sauce.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Classically English, instead of my usual foreign stuff
and tomorrow is going to be the day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m a bit worried about having to cook the whole lot over
charcoal, but the family are pretty good on the guesswork as to how hot and how
long and so we’re going to give it a go…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Brilliant !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve got some green beans and carrots for the veg’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The green beans were seriously ‘premium price’ but what
the hell ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course I also stocked up on the usual things like cat
food for Princess, tinned tomatoes, tinned spinach, a few cans of milk and
sardines because the supermarkets are cheaper than locally, spaghetti, cheese, chicken
frankfurters, Julbrew, Guinness, Fanta, Vimto and ginger beer…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You know… All the essentials…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And now we’re damn near out of money again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m not surprised because the actual cost of living has
really gone up over here.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s frightening, looking at the prices and thinking back
to what we used to pay ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One day we’ll actually guage the right amount to get from
the bank.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously we didn’t withdraw enough this time, and so one
of us will have to go back tomorrow as the trip to Sanyang is on the horizon
and we’ll need a bit for our contribution towards that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Did I say that the cost of living has gone up ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I did, didn’t I ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What I hadn’t expected was what came next.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because we can only get over once or possibly twice a
year, there is a lot that we never hear about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are a lot more grumblings from the general
population as to what is going on, and probably rightfully so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The general consensus of opinion is that their government
has, to put it mildly, lost the plot and people are beginning to complain
because it is impacting upon them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How much is it impacting upon them ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, there is no work because there is no investment in
the country for a start, and this is beginning to hit some of the people that
we know.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I found that out when Yama came out of the house in
floods of tears followed by a very grim looking Haddy, and so obviously I asked
her what was going on ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It turns out that the job she had given Baddou was their
‘lifesaver’ as they were about to be evicted from their compound for non-payment
of rent.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So the money that Baddou had made from the job had
literally gone on paying the rent up to date.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that they and the children hadn’t eaten in four
days was another problem…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which is obviously why they let their Haddy go to a
friend’s for Tobaski.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If the kids can be ‘shared out’ then they can survive
another day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it’s not like Baddou is lazy, he’s not, and he’s a
bloody good carpenter to boot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Christ !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s no wonder that some of them see Europe as the bloody
promised land.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I haven’t had a raise for four years because of the
banking bastards so I know a little bit about the causes, but the effects ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The effects in Europe are bad, the effects in the UK are
bad, but the effects of the banking crash in Africa is just fucking obscene…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It doesn’t help cursing the bankers and their fucking
ancestors but it makes me feel a bit better so you’re gonna have to live with
it, and if it upsets you then it’s just tough shit !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Those banking bastards who caused all this should be imprisoned
for the rest of their lives, their goods and houses should be taken from them
and sold, and any money made from the sale should be given to those who now
need it most, and that’s a fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course it will never happen, but the thought is there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least the US is attempting to put some of them behind
bars, but back in the UK we just give them knighthoods… He said, sarcastically…
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok, so what are we gonna do ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I don’t know…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘How about if we give them a box of stuff for Fagikunda,
that’ll get them some money as they’ll be able to sell what’s in it… Plus,
there’s the stuff we just bought from the supermarket, they can have some of
that plus a few of our reserves ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Are you sure ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Yeah, I’m sure… I’ve got two hundred dalasi left in my
pocket so they can have that as well… We’ve got to go back to the bank
tomorrow, anyway…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Thank you... I love you...' </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
'Come on darlin', what did I do ?'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that was pretty much the extent of the conversation
between us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I mean, what the fuck can you do ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We can’t keep the population fed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It's as much as we can do sometimes to keep the children fed. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’re just two people who happened to be in the right
place at the right time to sort out a problem within our family, but we can’t
do it forever.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what if it happens again, what are we supposed to do
then ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most people on this planet have a little bit of pride
within themselves and find it difficult to even ask for help.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s difficult.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve been there, done it and bought the bloody t-shirt on
that one, so I know a little bit about what I’m talking about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s hard to ask for help.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It shouldn’t be, but it is because it implies a weakness,
and people do not want to be thought of as weak.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And most people can understand that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But the alternative ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What’s the alternative ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shame ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Do me a favour…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you can help then help, and if you can’t then get the
fuck out of the way and let somebody else help instead.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But it’s easier said than done, isn’t it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Easy answers are not an option because a quick fix is
like sticking a plaster on a cut artery.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’ll slow the flow for about five minutes but then what
are you gonna do ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It doesn’t bear thinking about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so Yama rang Baddou who came over by taxi which we
paid for, and he was basically pretty choked up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve asked the taxi driver to call back in about an hour
for their return trip and in the meantime I’m going through the family reserve
as far as food is concerned, and Haddy is going through her three remaining
boxes to sort out some stuff for Yama and some stuff for Ousman in Killy. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’ve got half our vegetables including the potatoes,
all the spaghetti, all the canned stuff we can spare, the frozen chicken
frankfurters’, salt, pepper, rice, basically anything we thought would help them get
through it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least some of that will give them a form of stew tonight. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not a perfect arrangement but it’s the only one
we’ve got.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Plus, they’ve got whatever money we had in our pockets.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yama is in tears when they leave and Baddou wasn’t too
far behind her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He grasped my hand and mumbled something about me being a
good man and I just hugged him tighter…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘We do what we can, mate… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just do what we can…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Poor old N’Dey is going through it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The look on her face says it all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No wonder she never looked happy any time we saw her, the
poor thing was starving.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And having to eat on a permanently empty stomach couldn’t
have done her a lot of good.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then, just like that they were back in the taxi with
a box of foodstuff and a box of clothing, and gone. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy will ring them tomorrow morning to make sure they’re
alright.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It had been a strange day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was emotionally fucked and I think that’s the right way
of expressing it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First you’re up and then you’re down and there’s no happy
medium and the rest of the family look wrung out, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It can’t have been easy for any of them, especially Mariama
and Jalika.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s the sort of thing that scars kids, and if they keep
it bottled up it will colour their ideas and ideals for years.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They KNOW the children involved.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And at their age the ‘What if it was me’ worry comes in
like a battering ram.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Looking back, you think to yourself could you have done
anything else, but you know the answer before you’ve even asked the question ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You couldn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t even know whether we did the right thing by doing
what we did ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I do know that given the circumstances if it happened
again then I’d probably do the self-same thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whatever ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody has to make up their own minds on this one.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know that I personally don’t feel that good about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I feel angry.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that’s a ‘blame’ thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I blame those that let this sort of thing happen and
then walk away from it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Face it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody knows what I’m talking about here…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Cause it sure as shit ain’t rocket science, is it ?</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-70490090838406981832014-09-04T14:46:00.000-07:002014-09-04T14:47:02.776-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART EIGHT: DRESSING UP, EATING OUT, ADVERTISMENTS AND KARAOKE...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And slowly we returned to something like normality…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The twins had finally got their Tobaski outfits, which
made the pair of them look absolutely stunning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMfpohoCiRpOd5pHywvXaqs7X5FxOQZq27VEudaBGFUXIz7Gp4dFrcjNgfpVT3woHzHagcI7RO7iJIatj2Mya3aTwRtuw0YcY8pmBgZFef4dyT2E_pid3z9D3lpvZ5TBTnCeCcL5QRg/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMfpohoCiRpOd5pHywvXaqs7X5FxOQZq27VEudaBGFUXIz7Gp4dFrcjNgfpVT3woHzHagcI7RO7iJIatj2Mya3aTwRtuw0YcY8pmBgZFef4dyT2E_pid3z9D3lpvZ5TBTnCeCcL5QRg/s1600/198.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlIzLo4ek1bhNAKWdn2R96CB5zTtCN_t4igJ2kYP82Hk_mQf_NjPe5bbTPHAEZi5-Hfyu2gi9cyXtzZS_1Kj6LaFGuMllQgLHyB-v1pW-HdYdfuk5RKRIrVk-CVZHvs6IGAfdHJT-pQ/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlIzLo4ek1bhNAKWdn2R96CB5zTtCN_t4igJ2kYP82Hk_mQf_NjPe5bbTPHAEZi5-Hfyu2gi9cyXtzZS_1Kj6LaFGuMllQgLHyB-v1pW-HdYdfuk5RKRIrVk-CVZHvs6IGAfdHJT-pQ/s1600/210.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
Housai’ had received an invite to a works do at one of
the top hotels and had decided that she’d take her sister along…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What to wear, that was the question ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And Little ‘Tapha was finally going to start school
again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t know how it had started, but Haddy and ‘Tapha
Kebbeh along with a couple of others had said they would pool resources if the
local Islamic School would take him ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Between them they would pay for uniforms, books and the
rest.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This was fine by the school so long as he was of a
reasonable standard and he behaved himself.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well as far as I’m concerned he’s of a reasonable
standard but who knows what a school is looking for these days ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whatever it is, he managed to pass the test and so from
next term he’s going.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That is a weight off everybody’s mind, mine included.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKwviRRljFc1oNHF1l96CZDKX-4XFuIhdz5eGu4eHNg0lw3KNXunU1q3PJ8rn4fhTnw1thpMTgSuehEG44N_-_oNk0Lgi_TyMwm7yOEob-NqhZBqwnuOjBDph23AnL6AjB1oAGQUfVQ/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKwviRRljFc1oNHF1l96CZDKX-4XFuIhdz5eGu4eHNg0lw3KNXunU1q3PJ8rn4fhTnw1thpMTgSuehEG44N_-_oNk0Lgi_TyMwm7yOEob-NqhZBqwnuOjBDph23AnL6AjB1oAGQUfVQ/s1600/039.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's school uniform next 'Tapha...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He’s a very bright lad, and ok, he would have to start in
the younger year but his natural intelligence should get him back to his own
peer group within eighteen months at the most at a good guess ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He seems pleased about the idea anyway, so I think
they’ve done the right thing by getting him in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And Haddy and I are now off to Banjul to see Uncle Pa.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we go we always see him at his office and today
would be no exception.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So off we went, up to the main road, and caught the first
mini-bus that could fit us in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s such a small world sometimes because we sat next to
my drummer friend Hadim’s sister and her little girl, who for some reason took
in instant shine to me and started playing…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of the little ones are ok with me once they realise
a. I’m a different colour, and b. Whatever hair I have left is real, but this
one decided that sitting on my lap and poking me in the eye was infinitely more
preferable than doing it to her Mum who just let her get on with it, while she
and Haddy caught up on the usual women’s stuff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We parted at Banjul. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They were going shopping, but I reckon we’ll see them
later when we hit the market…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pa has invited us out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He’ll be round for us this evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently we are going for a meal and then we’re off to
a Karaoke bar ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hmmm….</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gambian karaoke eh ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’ll be different.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So we left Pa at work and hit the market…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baddou’s in, but Hadim isn’t as yet but he’s expected.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Guess who else we bumped into ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What do you reckon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Could I get a job as an unregistered child-minder (that’s
baby-sitter to you…) ?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nk2KJNGOMm2_lJqXzq16LZk0m0jEYVaKEcSzhy0lFq9-Ft5LB04RAeCO4g-V6By51VI29wzXzddEvfMt4F1O4mjoR58wC0Phy51pW4BZHrho9jdlmfaunxklYHKLPwDCiyF0g2JoLA/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nk2KJNGOMm2_lJqXzq16LZk0m0jEYVaKEcSzhy0lFq9-Ft5LB04RAeCO4g-V6By51VI29wzXzddEvfMt4F1O4mjoR58wC0Phy51pW4BZHrho9jdlmfaunxklYHKLPwDCiyF0g2JoLA/s1600/190.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babysitting in Banjul craft market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Apparently so long as she has her (empty) cigarette
lighter to suck, she’s fine.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Before anyone thinks that is irresponsible, she’s had it
for a couple of months now, and apart from sleeping, won’t go anywhere without
it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I didn’t do too badly, as she only cried when she dropped
it…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The word seems to have travelled as now Hadim, Makumba
and Doudou have arrived and as usual the talk turns to the band.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They are still stuck for the money to record the second
album.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If there was only some way of helping them then I would,
but this trip is going to put us back to zero in the bank balance department.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still, they are getting a few gigs at some of the hotels
and that’s good.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, it’s a fixed rate, and they have always refused so
far to ‘pass the bucket’ but at least they have been selling a few cd’s to the
tourists.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s better than nothing and it keeps them in a ‘ready’
condition.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s soul destroying knowing that there’s this seriously
good band of musicians who just want to play their music for people and who are
totally stuck because of money and poli-t(r)icks.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But they are still going, still taking it to as many
places that they can within their own country and still looking to bring
Gambian music to as many people that will listen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it IS Gambian music, make no mistake about that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s NOT Senegalese.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s NOT Malian.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not a mixture of this, that and the other.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Put purely and simply, it’s Gambian, and it deserves a
far greater exposure than it gets.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, this is an advertisement but what the fuck do I care
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
IF THERE IS A BRITISH, EUROPEAN OR AMERICAN AGENT LOOKING
FOR A SERIOUSLY GOOD ‘WORLD MUSIC’ BAND then please get in touch with this guy
here, via his web-page…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg7PvGj4yBzIkt4NjCKJFf5fYm1eFBvw2w7L5O4htdVodwTo5gYm-xRujkMPFqSOnwRrcaFg_sCBf_YnZP2r76YkYyKGWmZU_Bdei5Y9dMHEvLytdrTJxhIG2ukuVmbYeNVZI7MiLCA/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg7PvGj4yBzIkt4NjCKJFf5fYm1eFBvw2w7L5O4htdVodwTo5gYm-xRujkMPFqSOnwRrcaFg_sCBf_YnZP2r76YkYyKGWmZU_Bdei5Y9dMHEvLytdrTJxhIG2ukuVmbYeNVZI7MiLCA/s1600/033.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://makumba-nyass.jimdo.com/makumba-nyass/" target="_blank">http://makumba-nyass.jimdo.com/makumba-nyass/</a> or you can contact me via this'ere blog and I'll put you in touch.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Or if you are just a casual reader then please buy a copy of their first album 'Duniyaa' because that would
help them get some money for their second one.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PEZQa7zyrhRebrNMqVLG7G8M1l5JWPTjf1MFYTZrA9luP5ON6GFzxChLku5O8Lzgfbwpk1nsKxUtGZoxFV9ZA4l3UKABbaCdNiavmlNwqnN72ngXdVugA-2g3nwZrJLcZTRlSajfZw/s1600/Image+(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PEZQa7zyrhRebrNMqVLG7G8M1l5JWPTjf1MFYTZrA9luP5ON6GFzxChLku5O8Lzgfbwpk1nsKxUtGZoxFV9ZA4l3UKABbaCdNiavmlNwqnN72ngXdVugA-2g3nwZrJLcZTRlSajfZw/s1600/Image+(9).jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front sleeve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxQECRw_1rTjw58UkIt07bUdeD8ljDXjNE1-JDJouLxCg8-Oxh-pNWfB6GrbmJsiTPGSGN7lukfeHVas9U-EqOFx6I6QlWjAb3YutEKr90077Hwn2OufBcwX7RbOyFgjVdKOWdWRuKA/s1600/Image+(10).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxQECRw_1rTjw58UkIt07bUdeD8ljDXjNE1-JDJouLxCg8-Oxh-pNWfB6GrbmJsiTPGSGN7lukfeHVas9U-EqOFx6I6QlWjAb3YutEKr90077Hwn2OufBcwX7RbOyFgjVdKOWdWRuKA/s1600/Image+(10).jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rear sleeve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<br />
<br />
In the meantime we’ll do what we can via advertising and
putting the word out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sad to leave them as always, but we have to go home and
get ready for going out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is going to be interesting…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
When we get back we find that cousin Tony has arrived
from Senegal on a buying trip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPF4_HecNuDqrcivQg0Zdjq_uecRs69Qt83_DzHc329Zf1BUERQ6e1xNVYv9gkKffSjBkXrQa4itwTLomRO2Knt-EtgDHGcId-WWz25x9lmJRsq6nF3m9uyU8-8LR81Mha1pje8DPGg/s1600/311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPF4_HecNuDqrcivQg0Zdjq_uecRs69Qt83_DzHc329Zf1BUERQ6e1xNVYv9gkKffSjBkXrQa4itwTLomRO2Knt-EtgDHGcId-WWz25x9lmJRsq6nF3m9uyU8-8LR81Mha1pje8DPGg/s1600/311.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
There’s going to be even less room in the house now as
he’ll be sleeping on the sofa.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, whatever ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But at least the twins have decided on what to wear
tonight when they go out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’ve decided on European dress and have picked the two
dresses that started the whole ‘send it to The Gambia’ scenario.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZj_wxmN8Yb7TOxiwILCVlTdsbx7GM7egFkzl8-ek24cNVJetAJ1Mc0T3AGgR8DUghG83Mle00pEZjYsOXLls2muL7gHDy2NOphOeKrW2U6ECHmJAyHkLFFMuMaUuaLbDWMT63E05hMQ/s1600/150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZj_wxmN8Yb7TOxiwILCVlTdsbx7GM7egFkzl8-ek24cNVJetAJ1Mc0T3AGgR8DUghG83Mle00pEZjYsOXLls2muL7gHDy2NOphOeKrW2U6ECHmJAyHkLFFMuMaUuaLbDWMT63E05hMQ/s1600/150.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
To be fair to them they look great when wearing them...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pa arrives at the time he said he would, which is unusual
to say the least.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not that Pa is usually late, but this is The Gambia and
everybody is usually late !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently we are heading for Kololi, and a restaurant
opposite the Palma Rima Hotel which is Pa’s usual eating place when he takes
people out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There’s a simple reason for this…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The food is good</div>
So as soon as he walks in, he’s greeted by all the
waiters, the chef, the assistant manager (because the manager is having an
evening off) the bar staff and pretty much fifty per-cent of the other patrons.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yep. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
definitely a regular…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After asking the chef what he recommends this
evening,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haddy and I forsake meat and go
for the prawns in garlic sauce, and while we eat Pa regales us with tales from
his recent trip to Rome and The Vatican with his church group.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijV3HbjQAOeBRw7PmQAssTme7rLPjy3LJbb7u7AtRlcqrebENpBfHMYxE0mVgnJQyPpyHYTUBE9sexeEmdUoex8s7L3-UUmvHmWAUH2KzE-qVboHR61YlhcpIOZYXpdMdDxL7i-yTZnQ/s1600/299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijV3HbjQAOeBRw7PmQAssTme7rLPjy3LJbb7u7AtRlcqrebENpBfHMYxE0mVgnJQyPpyHYTUBE9sexeEmdUoex8s7L3-UUmvHmWAUH2KzE-qVboHR61YlhcpIOZYXpdMdDxL7i-yTZnQ/s1600/299.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prawns in garlic sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_EX6iGazz2F1x_v1zT8x9eroou43UiQRBhSktHI1Qo4-RPEVMPTxw4TX2ajhGG6c_OovYZmkSBnmjzUvVBK_GlsGTbLjvFgfdr3GXZ_V5-1alhSoVD6BfU2sVBUuHAb0hc2vEdTNBQ/s1600/304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_EX6iGazz2F1x_v1zT8x9eroou43UiQRBhSktHI1Qo4-RPEVMPTxw4TX2ajhGG6c_OovYZmkSBnmjzUvVBK_GlsGTbLjvFgfdr3GXZ_V5-1alhSoVD6BfU2sVBUuHAb0hc2vEdTNBQ/s1600/304.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It definitely passes the time because Pa is a practicing
Christian and he’s also a witty raconteur and the couple of hours we spend
there while he plies me with ever more Julbrew before, during and after the meal, seems
to fly by.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pa drinks beer but he prefers the continental lagers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve always reckoned that when you’re in another country
then drink the local stuff rather than the premium priced imports.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, meal over, stagger to the car knowing that I
really shouldn’t have any more Julbrew, and head off to the karaoke bar… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy’s fine because she just stuck to tonic water.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sensible girl, my wife.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We get to the karaoke bar which isn’t that far away and
is called Churchill’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s run by an English guy name of Tony who has a
propensity for belting out old Cliff Richard tunes, specifically The Young
Ones…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv-89KmJ9FfYXxAKw7cR6fkdg_LiSKlYoEbU0AzClINwCrUPtXFb7lXZnY2i7XInRkKUPiAnrX_hyphenhyphenja_t6RYs_sv3NAZZvNqPxCgPr9oyCHoyyNG80NRmztiJfq6ishfj5aVsPXwl6A/s1600/309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv-89KmJ9FfYXxAKw7cR6fkdg_LiSKlYoEbU0AzClINwCrUPtXFb7lXZnY2i7XInRkKUPiAnrX_hyphenhyphenja_t6RYs_sv3NAZZvNqPxCgPr9oyCHoyyNG80NRmztiJfq6ishfj5aVsPXwl6A/s1600/309.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony giving it some welly...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More Julbrew arrives.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is getting silly because I’ve asked Pa not to get me
another, so finally I’ve put my foot down.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Last one, and I’m not joking.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was entertaining, I’ll give it that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of the tourists are too pissed and can’t sing for
shit, but they are happy to get up and make total twats of themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One girl who decided to ‘do’ or should that be ‘do over’
Meatloaf’s ‘Dead Ringer for Love’ nearly made me laugh out loud…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Gambians who have a go seem to be mostly female and
on the lookout for men.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At one point Tony came over and greeted Pa whom he
obviously knows, and asked us what we did ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just told him I book acts for a rock festival back in
the UK.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not all I do, but it’s good enough when I’m in a
karaoke bar.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He asked me what I thought and I actually said ‘You want
me to be honest, I’ve got three little girls who can sing better than most of
this lot…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To be fair to him, he laughed and said I should bring
them along.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t think so.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whilst I realise that they are going to have to start
somewhere, I don’t think Churchill’s is the best place for them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To be fair to Tony after I’d written off the talents of
his customers, he got one of his staff to bring us another drink ‘on the
house’.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh Gawd !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another Julbrew.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m gonna be pissing rivers when we get home.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Time to go, and Pa is taking us to another bar.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This one apparently has ‘live’ music.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, it has a band belting out chart hits from about a
year ago, I’ll give it that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The band isn’t too bad if you like formulaic versions of
chart toppers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Looking around me it is obvious that this place and
Churchill’s are on a ‘circuit’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You go to one and then move on to the other.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I wonder how many others are on it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some of those people we saw at Churchill’s are now
turning up here, including the woman who murdered Meatloaf…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problem seems to be that she’s had at least one too
many alcoholic beverages and is now grabbing hold of anything, tables, chairs,
men, women, pillars… Whatever she can get hold of, to stay on her feet.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is definitely not a pretty sight.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Brit’s at play…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wherever you go in this world, you can’t escape them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But all good things have to end sometime, and it’s
finally time to leave.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pa takes us back to Fagikunda through minimal traffic at
that time of night, and I fall into bed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
According to my wife she went to the bathroom and came
back to find me fast asleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well if she’d drunk eight Julbrew, she’d probably be
absolutely ‘sparko’ too ?</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-44913777331326968282014-09-01T11:23:00.000-07:002014-09-01T11:23:00.677-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART SEVEN: THE SECOND TRIP TO KILLY...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today Haddy and I are off to Killy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All the boxes we’d earmarked for them are already there,
and finally we have a village full of people…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here we go again, but this time it’s just me and Haddy
stuck in overcrowded minibuses for about two and a half hours each way with a
half-hour wait in the middle at Brikama where we change over.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least the vendors aren’t trying to overcharge
everybody with their water, snacks and juices while we’re waiting, but finally
we’re off and running…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not for very long though, if the sound from the engine of
our minibus is anything to go by ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
About fifteen minutes after I told Haddy ‘I don’t like
the sound of that engine…’ we coasted to a halt.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The driver is out and the bonnet is up but whatever he
seems to do is not getting us started and that’s a fact, and so he makes a
couple of calls on his mobile ‘phone, and we wait…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In absolutely stifling heat, I may add.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
About twenty minutes later a ‘spare part’ arrives by car
and the poor old engine is bashed, smashed and beaten until the part is
attached.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It doesn’t look as if it’s the right part because now the
driver cannot close the lid of the engine box on the inside of the bus, which
means that the front three rows, of which we are one, can see the internal
workings of the actual engine, plus the ground on which we are driving…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But necessity being the mother of invention, our driver
has managed to get the engine started again for which a round of applause is
given by the passengers, and I don’t think they were being particularly
sarcastic in doing so, either. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And a good hour later than we should have been, we
finally alight at Killy...<br />
And Haddy takes me round...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlJ65FEPzf-fKhdJx9MmvGwzdnYFZeHzpdRjUi9xhEnorMhv7UvmL0n-iqJDA_nzjthQcbbY-JoaGGHKa_q0M81TfVppN94-m1DWbVxM9l3XhUFuByo3pGltNWF9T3JSRaJ-148qKwg/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlJ65FEPzf-fKhdJx9MmvGwzdnYFZeHzpdRjUi9xhEnorMhv7UvmL0n-iqJDA_nzjthQcbbY-JoaGGHKa_q0M81TfVppN94-m1DWbVxM9l3XhUFuByo3pGltNWF9T3JSRaJ-148qKwg/s1600/242.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original well at Killy. Source of their only water until the pipes were laid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCGJWxWB5K_SA6Ur3Q_g8t-NlnPedXeS9vhkxUeaTHUpFB0rpMVfmKo32wR075TiX1TX3ifGVO-cXhYakQyJXzB7JNEn_VBHzTUwOHOOnB8Oj1Pm9woT7eZMhvtsrOK2H-vJWuiPfvA/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCGJWxWB5K_SA6Ur3Q_g8t-NlnPedXeS9vhkxUeaTHUpFB0rpMVfmKo32wR075TiX1TX3ifGVO-cXhYakQyJXzB7JNEn_VBHzTUwOHOOnB8Oj1Pm9woT7eZMhvtsrOK2H-vJWuiPfvA/s1600/239.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
If you click on the link below you will see what and where...<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjs_Iy--Pg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNjs_Iy--Pg</a> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CpyCtRJkqmQfuMLwQ4MdqnxtNT1kHd7DElJ5XvdB2nCK0qPTvz_082o4TngdgtnBrXb5QG7jZ62vRZ4-znwOVnXBKCfDJIWyWN98JjI8duuzc8r3YEWV37kmqQKpWmT3joFKpAxNbw/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CpyCtRJkqmQfuMLwQ4MdqnxtNT1kHd7DElJ5XvdB2nCK0qPTvz_082o4TngdgtnBrXb5QG7jZ62vRZ4-znwOVnXBKCfDJIWyWN98JjI8duuzc8r3YEWV37kmqQKpWmT3joFKpAxNbw/s1600/248.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddy's neighbours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ousman is there waiting for us, and we are taken straight
to his compound for a cooling drink of water, which I have to say, has NEVER
tasted so good as it did at that moment.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think I must have lost about five pounds in weight just
in sweat during the journey ?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It’s going to take about an hour to get all the villagers
together from their outlying farms and compounds but at least they know it’s finally
occurring.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As soon as the vast majority are gathered, the boxes
start coming out and there is obvious anticipation from the locals.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl0732PCPxN7N_vCjIG7XyjmcwLLwLmSZYUcMQgFf1Q2N4jnqOI7xMxnKcUe8H0dHXdAVvIMFZYZM-Rvflv8j3bPAw0OeGJtSqrM9LxNuAtZOmxVqkpQt1G9QrZbmtArmc0HyDOoU2g/s1600/265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKl0732PCPxN7N_vCjIG7XyjmcwLLwLmSZYUcMQgFf1Q2N4jnqOI7xMxnKcUe8H0dHXdAVvIMFZYZM-Rvflv8j3bPAw0OeGJtSqrM9LxNuAtZOmxVqkpQt1G9QrZbmtArmc0HyDOoU2g/s1600/265.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying the local tea leaves prior to drying them...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One thing about Killy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My wife used to teach their children after she gave up
being headmistress of Rex Nursery in Fajikunda.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She did it after she moved back to The Gambia when her
five years was up in the UK so quite a few of the population still call her
‘Mistress’ which is the name they give teachers over there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because it is quite a trek to get there and a teacher’s
salary is quite small she used to stay over during the week and only go back to
see her own family at weekends so they do know her quite well, but I’ve
digressed again…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The boxes are coming out, the piles of clothing are being
tipped out so that people can see them, and the crowd is getting larger by the
minute.<br />
There are actually seven boxes full.<br />
For some reason I thought we'd sent five (out of eight) but the reality is we sent ten out and seven went to Killy. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The local Imam has arrived and sat down on the proffered
chair and he will be getting the first offering, which, when it comes, is a
small pair of brand new curtains which somebody donated because they
didn’t fit their window (should have measured and not guessed, it’s cheaper
that way…) and because I have no idea how much videotape I have left (about
twenty minutes according to the camera) I’ve turned it off at this particular
moment after he got up and left the gathering to take them home, because I want
to film those I know as opposed to the general population… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you want to watch the build-up, then click on the link below</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSqOH7_jHhQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSqOH7_jHhQ</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
This is a mistake, because about sixty seconds later
there is one almighty crowd surge and they all start diving in and helping
themselves to anything they can get their hands on !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tugging fights between women, some holding children, are
going on everywhere and even the children are grabbing anything they can get
and then stuffing their booty under their t-shirts and going back into the
melee to grab more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jeezus !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That was a serious shock to the system and my heart goes
out to my wife who has just witnessed what can only be described as a mini-riot
in her own back yard…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another sixty seconds has gone by and all that is left
are the trampled remains of five cardboard boxes and the late-comers wondering
where all the clothes went ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Those who partook of what can only be described as an
orgy of looting are legging it hotfoot back to their own compounds with what
they’ve managed to grab, some swapping with others to get something that might
actually fit them or their kids along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ousman is devastated.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not just because both his wives and families got
absolutely nothing after the work that he put in, but because he thinks it was
(his word) ‘shameful’ for Haddy to have witnessed the village’s greed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And he’s probably right ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I really don’t know what to think ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On the one hand we shipped them out to go to Killy, and
yet I don’t think even I was expecting anything like this ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy is now trying to placate Ousman, telling him that
when one of his sons brings his truck full of produce into Fagikunda he can pick
up a box-full for himself and his family, because she has three more.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, they were supposed to be given out in Fagikunda to
people that she knew needed them, but there will still be enough to go around.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then one of the younger women or wives asks me in
quite good English ‘Did you expect this ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I replied ‘I didn’t know what to expect in all
honesty…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘These people have nothing… They work hard for so little
reward that sometimes when they see something like this, something takes over…
They are not really bad people…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I know… I’m just feeling a bit hurt for my wife is all…
She so much wanted to help them…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘She is a very kind and good lady…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Yeah… I know…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I laughed, and the young lady grinned and said ‘You
are feeling better about it already…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I think I’m going to give my wife a hug, please excuse
me…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We left Killy about an hour later, after a minibus
managed to cram us in on their way to Brikama.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy was quiet and didn’t really want to talk about what
she’d seen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We changed minibuses at Brikama and she said that she’d
go through the three boxes when she got in so that Ousman’s family would get an
assortment, and I agreed it was a good idea…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know she’s upset at what happened, but what’s done is
done and can’t be undone and that’s it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All we can do if we ship out more, is give the whole lot
to Ousman and ask him to give it to those he thinks fit ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today had certainly had been an eye-opener and I’m
definitely going to have a few beers when I get in.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It had also left a bad taste and I wanted to wash it
away.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One thing I did know was that my wife did not deserve
that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What was it Ousman had said ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shameful ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I guess it’s one way of looking at things.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Are things really that bad that poor but normal hard
working people just turn to avarice and greed<br />
when given the opportunity ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The cynic in me would definitely say yes, but I’m not so
sure it’s true.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just wonder how many people back in the UK would even
understand ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But then this isn’t the UK, this is Africa and a
different set of rules are in play…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the answer to the rhetorical question above ?<br />
About as
close to fuck-all as zero is... <br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-27795610066728310912014-08-26T11:51:00.000-07:002014-08-28T11:13:39.357-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART SIX: 'LET THERE BE SONGS TO FILL THE AIR...'<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yippee !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve finally got a day with the kids.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy’s off to a naming ceremony, and although I’ve also
got an invite I’m begging off.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So if everything goes ok, then I’ve got the whole middle
section of the day from about ten thirty to three and that’ll suit me fine.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
More than enough time to just let them run riot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s difficult after school because Ida is currently
getting extra lessons and so all the evenings give them about an hour and it’s
not enough for them to practice much.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least they’ve been getting about three hours every
Friday but if they are actually going to do anything then they are going to
need a lot more than that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But it’s a chance to have a first look and listen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And… I get to sort out their lunch or at least a snack
half way through.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Come the day and Sibo sorts the midday snack first thing
in the morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s only a bit of rice and a few veggie bits and bobs</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve just added three small lemony tasting meatballs each
so that’ll keep us going.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We have drinks in the freezer, batteries in the video
camera and minidisk recorder and so it looks like we’re all set ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now all we need is Ida…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, Ida’s arrived and so we all retire to Mum’s
bedroom.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All the drums are on the floor in front of the wardrobes
as are three chairs.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The percussion is all at the end of the bed in piles.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A pile of shakers, a pile of calabash and percussion eggs, a child’s
plastic tambourine which will have to do until I can get them the real thing,
and Mariama’s small balofon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve stuck the minidisk recorder on a tray halfway down
the bed so that they don’t keep knocking it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Basically everything they might want to pick up is in
easy reach of the three of them, so let’s get it on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First things first…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sit the three of them down and explain slowly and
patiently what I need from them which is literally just them doing their thing
vocally and with drums and percussion.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t expect miracles but I do want them to be
themselves and not to pretend that they are somebody else singing the songs.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hopefully they will treat today as a practice and
although I’m going to record them for listening later, probably when I’m back
in the UK, any mistakes won’t really matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If they can sing together then let’s have a good try at
doing just that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just pick any song that you all know and have a go at it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Any changes or mistakes can be talked through later.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Today I just need the ‘feel’ of the three of them with
the songs and so we won’t be doing any half-learned English things, just the
songs that they know and grew up singing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It doesn’t matter how many times they sing it either,
once, twice, three times, it doesn’t matter, all that matters is how they put
the songs over.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Preferably going on to another song if they keep getting
one wrong and coming back to the previous one when they’ve tried out another…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And… There shouldn’t be any interruptions so there
shouldn’t be any pressure (famous last words…) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh, and one last thing…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
IF you are a group then try to be a group. I don’t want to hear
any of you trying to boss the others about because that won’t work at all… Are
you listening Sibo, because you are prone to doing it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So please, just relax and sing songs, play drums, play
percussion, however you want to do it will be fine by me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All I need is to hear what you can do and after that
we’ll take it from there…<br />
<br />
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</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwRNYYL5NMqsf_k8pcFr4mP57z8tHg8ajK-1CmMX4r24G6Q5y45pE1SEjL40lUirxojBpcFN5mfxmIzGcr9NmYWe-u2AmvyvbvwVxa75V_nLvyUGaIUN28J98LcLfWoO5BvwoM_x1pA/s1600/Snapshot+3+(25-03-2014%2B19-19).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwRNYYL5NMqsf_k8pcFr4mP57z8tHg8ajK-1CmMX4r24G6Q5y45pE1SEjL40lUirxojBpcFN5mfxmIzGcr9NmYWe-u2AmvyvbvwVxa75V_nLvyUGaIUN28J98LcLfWoO5BvwoM_x1pA/s1600/Snapshot+3+(25-03-2014%2B19-19).png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU1GxikwmgNjk3cldqsn57-Z2OEoYCMmlFWNgkldHwNcLGc2YELqhQwiuGZRHWhFblu7WUkJ96RuQkAaHjhX6TyKxVRt7yOk-DFxZq0RdvdycoDEVN84ygxSC3CQa5xn1qf7McqZrIg/s1600/Snapshot+4+(25-03-2014%2B19-21).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU1GxikwmgNjk3cldqsn57-Z2OEoYCMmlFWNgkldHwNcLGc2YELqhQwiuGZRHWhFblu7WUkJ96RuQkAaHjhX6TyKxVRt7yOk-DFxZq0RdvdycoDEVN84ygxSC3CQa5xn1qf7McqZrIg/s1600/Snapshot+4+(25-03-2014%2B19-21).png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Two hours later and they stop for their first drink.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The minidisk has been recording everything and I’ve got a
bit on the video camera.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A fifteen minute break to stretch our legs outside and
we’re back in for the next try.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<br />
Another hour and we break for food.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of their conversations are in Wolof so I don’t have
a clue what they are on about unless they are asking questions, but it only
took about twenty minutes since they started for them to throw off any vocal
mannerisms from other people and any shyness <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and from that moment on they have been singing
as themselves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutrYmPepxv-7k0GJtrGZiT9SSXr8v-GRJRMpnCwfvdb-Wmu_VY_rzaO6o7wI_YurqPik_ZVG7oyzH2l9nNBwi6O_oRn_G7bRVEH2X_zE7OX4-kUxdQcRUYP93_ksEgzlIPSxaRfaXIA/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutrYmPepxv-7k0GJtrGZiT9SSXr8v-GRJRMpnCwfvdb-Wmu_VY_rzaO6o7wI_YurqPik_ZVG7oyzH2l9nNBwi6O_oRn_G7bRVEH2X_zE7OX4-kUxdQcRUYP93_ksEgzlIPSxaRfaXIA/s1600/071.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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How to describe them ?</div>
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Well, a girlie Crosby Stills and Nash isn’t too wide of
the mark if we’re westernising things, in that there are three distinct voices.</div>
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Ida has a ‘Big’ voice.</div>
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When she seriously lets go you could probably hear her
over the road in her own compound.<br />
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The fact that she stays totally in tune throughout is<br />
a bonus.<br />
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Mariama has a ‘pop’ voice and she moves about too much.</div>
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Whether that is down to trying to drum a rhythm track at
the same time remains to be seen ?</div>
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If she kept herself still then she wouldn’t lose the end
of the line as much as she does, but her voice does actually harmonize with
Ida’s and when she's still<br />
and not moving about she stays in tune too.<br />
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As for Jalika, she’s the ‘wildcard’.</div>
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Her voice isn’t pretty in the accepted sense, but she has
an inbuilt intuition as to where to place it within a harmony.</div>
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I’d heard her do it with Sibo the last time we came out,
but now she’s doing it with Ida as well.</div>
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God knows how she does it, but she does ? </div>
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And so when the three of them are singing together, her
voice is the ‘glue’ that holds the other two together.</div>
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You can’t always hear her above the other two, but if
she’s not there you notice it.</div>
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So yeah, a girlie CSN is the closest way of describing
it.</div>
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Well, that’s on first impressions anyway and after lunch
they’re hopefully going to do another couple of hours until everybody gets home
?</div>
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All I can say is that the next couple of hours went past
in a flash.</div>
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No sooner had we started than we seemed to finish.</div>
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The three of them are totally worn out and sung out.</div>
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What was noticeable is that Sibo drives the other two,
but Jalika, being three years younger, holds her own and by the end it was her
song choices they were trying.<br />
And her choices were somewhat different to the other two.<br />
What intrigued me most is that she has a sense of comedy and satire and she's only ten going on eleven.<br />
They were singing songs of family and folk songs until Jalika hijacked them and started a song about their government not doing anything for the family but only doing it for themselves.<br />
It's obviously something that she's heard around because it's not likely to have been getting much play on their local radio stations...<br />
Now typically with her inbuilt sense of what is right and what is wrong I might have expected Sibo to try something like that, but it was Jalika who led them into it... <br />
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Ida’s voice is something else.</div>
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She still has that ‘young girl’ sound in her singing, but
power ?</div>
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You could plug her into the country's national grid and she could
power most of it with a voice like that…</div>
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And, quite honestly, I am very pleased at what they
managed to accomplish in those few hours because at the end they actually WERE
a group.<br />
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It took a while but they got there in the end, and now
when they listen to it back they can criticize themselves rather than each
other.</div>
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Now they have heard themselves they know where each of
them screwed up but they can’t blame the others because any mistakes seemed to
be shared equally between the three of them.</div>
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It’s a first step but it’s a big one for those kids.</div>
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They actually passed their first test…</div>
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What happens when they try out some western songs is
seriously going to test them because they won’t need all their voices and one of them is going to have to take a lead and somebody else is going to have to
do backing and/or harmony, but if they can get themselves through that then there is no reason
they can’t build on it for themselves.</div>
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Phew !!!</div>
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When you get yourself into these situations, especially
when two of them are your own children, your sense of relief that a. It’s over,
and b. That they do actually have ‘something’, and you don’t have to try and
dissuade them, is palpable.</div>
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I think I must feel as drained as they do ? </div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-19977126348332653302014-08-21T11:10:00.000-07:002016-03-21T16:12:24.504-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART FIVE: A DAY OF BLAGGING AND SINGING...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s day two and Baddou and Yama and the family are
coming back for another go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not that it matters because we still have more than
enough lamb for all of us.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mind you, the way people eat out here there won’t be any
left at the end of the day and that’s for sure…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As it’s the second day we are expecting all the locals to
turn up dressed ‘European’ so this could be fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not the adults, just the children and younger teenagers, and they
will still be asking for money…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, tradition is tradition but if they did that in
the U.K. then their parents would all be arrested for sending their children
out to beg and Social Services would be doing their level best to take all the
children into care…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You ever thought why Social Services are called that ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve always felt that those letters SS suit them to
perfection…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They certainly seem to act like the Gestapo in a lot of
the cases highlighted by the newspapers and probably a lot more we are never
likely to hear about ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But this is different.<br />
This is 'Sallybo'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is more like it should be.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, that’s what I think, anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To be fair they do tend to pick on family, friends and
relatives as opposed to the general population but it’s not always the case.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I still remember getting totally ‘mugged’ by the lads who
staked out the entrance to the African Village Hotel and clobbered every
tourist either going in or coming out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, fair enough you don’t have to give them anything, but
they had made a serious effort and I still think that their cheek added to a
little bit of tenacity should have been rewarded.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So… Wash, get dressed, eat breakfast, clean house and compound,
do chores (like last night’s washing up…) wash again, get dressed up…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And beg !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know Mariama and Jalika have plans but I have no idea
what as yet ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The day is just flashing by.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baddou and Yama will be here in the early afternoon after
their family have done the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently I am to go over to the local shop and buy a
whole bottle of lollipops and a couple of packets of chewy sweets as most of
our money has run out ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, sweets it is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s going to disappoint the local kids, I know that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still, they hit us big time yesterday so they’ll just
have to lump it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokb0bDFyy9YqdVzGfqiIHzXuXVPyKyCqbZRTkCzgh8VMpAMdaljYvM1JPTGWxzPWIiuVi6XWdt7gx8ARYdhyphenhyphenM4pKnWoXS5sxqs1leumg8Y2Oqvr1OB3yGOE1qrCcSku-LhB7efkbh3w/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokb0bDFyy9YqdVzGfqiIHzXuXVPyKyCqbZRTkCzgh8VMpAMdaljYvM1JPTGWxzPWIiuVi6XWdt7gx8ARYdhyphenhyphenM4pKnWoXS5sxqs1leumg8Y2Oqvr1OB3yGOE1qrCcSku-LhB7efkbh3w/s1600/068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I did actually film our pair getting ready so if you want
to watch it you can click on this link…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHZ-NA5EdlM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHZ-NA5EdlM</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully, Haddy switched to English while I was filming
it and so you’ll get the idea a little easier than if she’d stuck to Wolof ?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0WPaAkjZtrXvWbAN-QqGY8Fdshl-L0zzBHx6bgo49j6vSBpD5Wq5yemPLbD4X7ve4MvO7XYgH5tKALv4p2VBlXQYWXVxaEqoZ2WAZ4Y9jovbh0ly0FeNfVrmVpk_bEZiwQPsVwtHfA/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0WPaAkjZtrXvWbAN-QqGY8Fdshl-L0zzBHx6bgo49j6vSBpD5Wq5yemPLbD4X7ve4MvO7XYgH5tKALv4p2VBlXQYWXVxaEqoZ2WAZ4Y9jovbh0ly0FeNfVrmVpk_bEZiwQPsVwtHfA/s1600/123.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
Then of course Ida turned up, and the triumvirate was
complete…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLvlUI2i86GVI8uEYRleHrUuJOQ2hET1MfBeYtFaFNcf8_g7eZYQ2ibXAPh504Dtt3L_tSz2LO1oMwyW4DkBc7QMsvIHd2ulvj3eTnzj6cRoxXp2Hk6XrYghVSF-RalAbP3KkyQtLcw/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLvlUI2i86GVI8uEYRleHrUuJOQ2hET1MfBeYtFaFNcf8_g7eZYQ2ibXAPh504Dtt3L_tSz2LO1oMwyW4DkBc7QMsvIHd2ulvj3eTnzj6cRoxXp2Hk6XrYghVSF-RalAbP3KkyQtLcw/s1600/132.JPG" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giggles, Sibo & Little Miss Ali: Blood Sisters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They were out for about three hours and when they came
back they shot inside to their bedroom with Ida and fifteen minutes later came
out after dividing their ill-gotten gains…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three hundred and sixty four dalasi each.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
EACH ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s over one thousand dalasi which for an afternoon of
blagging money from everybody they knew isn’t a bad haul, is it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’d clobbered ‘Tapha Kebbeh and their elder brother
Amadou, and then Ida had taken them off to one of her relatives and they had done him
over as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Everybody they knew had been targeted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At one point they even got a taxi into Westfield to fleece
somebody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Christ !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You’ve got to hand it to them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It still makes me laugh just thinking about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And Mariama is so plausible…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ten dalasi ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For Sallybo ? </span>What
can we buy with ten dalasi ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are
rich and we are just children needing pencils for school. If that is all you have, then please keep it as you obviously need it more than we do...'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And another one hundred and fifty dalasi is handed over…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It seemed to work like a dream.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The kids are happy with it anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three hundred will get them enough cloth for a new dress,
and if they’re not too extravagant will get them a pair of shoes as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So that’s alright then.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baddou and Yama and the kids turn up late afternoon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They stayed for dinner and then begged-off.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I thought they’d be here for a bit longer but apparently
they have things to do ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, that just leaves us, and thankfully no visitors unless
you count Ida and to be honest she might as well be family anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So Mariama and Ida started messing about as they always
do, and then this occurred…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I did tell you earlier that they had decided to form a
group and sing together, well this is the first time I’d actually heard them do
it properly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ably assisted by big sisters Awa and Housai’, and my darling
wife coming in to do the male part…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFwws-m6uhc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFwws-m6uhc</a><br />
The song is a Gambian folk song and is entitled 'Kai Len Nyu Roti Ten Jor' which roughly translated means 'Let's Go and Fetch Water From the Well'. <br />
If you watch it, then Ida is acting the female part carrying the water and Mariama is acting the male part hoeing the crops in the field.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well that answers one question…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes… They can actually sing together.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-71379875558665775932014-08-04T06:42:00.000-07:002014-08-04T06:42:12.332-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART FOUR: A CLASSIC WIND-UP AND A KID'S PUNCH-UP...<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s Tobaski…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Crunch time !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Do I or don’t I ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First things first, cold shower because the kids have
nicked all the hot water, get dressed and think about breakfast…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sardines in baguette thingie (the bigger one than a tapa-lapa) which I’m always forgetting
the name of, followed by a large cup of tea and wander outside into direct
sunlight.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think it’s going to be a hot one because it’s not so
muggy as yesterday, besides we are still in the rainy season so when it builds
up it really does build up.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Banging on the gates !!!</div>
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It’s Fansu from over the road, and he’s brought a friend
with him…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bZyz8uxGlUWFlXnxtitbCWTntJEymVRgj_5Ufr7Z5k6uPk8PJBwUxS4JUkr7vjDQgX-BHmCXakVNcApxY6ipHj7a_O-GtJqNWCtmqiFwZ6JrdIF05qJbesuOQ2FNPhY3DnMq3y9-VQ/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bZyz8uxGlUWFlXnxtitbCWTntJEymVRgj_5Ufr7Z5k6uPk8PJBwUxS4JUkr7vjDQgX-BHmCXakVNcApxY6ipHj7a_O-GtJqNWCtmqiFwZ6JrdIF05qJbesuOQ2FNPhY3DnMq3y9-VQ/s1600/029.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fansu delivering dinner...</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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Four legs, ugly, and bleating away like a good’un.
</div>
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Which brings all the kids out and Fansu’s mate is
immediately christened…</div>
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I knew this was going to happen.</div>
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Now it’s got a name I might not want to kill it, but on
the other hand we called it ‘Gaddafi’ so I still might ?<br />
I've paid out about a hundred quid for this ? </div>
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Anyway, Fansu says it needs a wash, and so the scrubbing
brush comes out while ‘Gaddafi’ starts eating every bit of leaf it can reach on
Haddy’s shrubs.</div>
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Finally the job is done and Fansu says he’ll be back in
about an hour, while ‘Gaddafi’ is tethered to where he can do the least harm.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Rx4LstxTCbszaEIybon_bqHyJW_2NSfrHwPMW5tJBNg_eR98lS-3Z-9qmD67rQ-5bDyAbbGmVc_i08MNy8bTxEcOj3zB9MxMM1EqyXlyZAlw77eg-LlyeYFz8vdTSPby_ZQrT5zOg/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8Rx4LstxTCbszaEIybon_bqHyJW_2NSfrHwPMW5tJBNg_eR98lS-3Z-9qmD67rQ-5bDyAbbGmVc_i08MNy8bTxEcOj3zB9MxMM1EqyXlyZAlw77eg-LlyeYFz8vdTSPby_ZQrT5zOg/s1600/105.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaddafi </td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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More banging on the gates and Baddou and his family have
arrived. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sMpbTw_s1wDWWsQ3urWJf1RXFS8jGERlrk1BycaQ7rz9f7R7MbLLF-LnhY8qaRVvzk7ZY9_z150LxqzIIUsq4jiJhqfwXtubv0MfvuPsal73nP0ZowE0EUagqSdvhfLI9csL3LqDbQ/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sMpbTw_s1wDWWsQ3urWJf1RXFS8jGERlrk1BycaQ7rz9f7R7MbLLF-LnhY8qaRVvzk7ZY9_z150LxqzIIUsq4jiJhqfwXtubv0MfvuPsal73nP0ZowE0EUagqSdvhfLI9csL3LqDbQ/s1600/040.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N'Dey, looking a bit sad...</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yama</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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His sister has recently died and so he has taken over the
looking after of her two children also, so we’ve got N’Dey and his sister’s two,
plus baby Awa and wife Yama.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrfONm82JJOgRQAiLmhnYdW_ENyToIgJqZfUWD2edPhoVg7kWdacn2GMOsP0BuGSUvARRiZZLV1bKghT7pv95wkejxP9AFORBiigH3hYaFBQ-PQ4YRHjsx82HAIUvHqBZPujJUNoqYA/s1600/323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrfONm82JJOgRQAiLmhnYdW_ENyToIgJqZfUWD2edPhoVg7kWdacn2GMOsP0BuGSUvARRiZZLV1bKghT7pv95wkejxP9AFORBiigH3hYaFBQ-PQ4YRHjsx82HAIUvHqBZPujJUNoqYA/s1600/323.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Awa</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgupOWcwHTZiPNntt85vmDrkv279M_Gm7_BC7oYscGzG_yRdKP0_f41entfTHBsQQEMqp7Ed8Qgf3MXvAY_8qQ33it284-wFPtSGv_hOfDDuWAj55OLcioWfVO8bUNoilhx0WFKOnGQ/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgupOWcwHTZiPNntt85vmDrkv279M_Gm7_BC7oYscGzG_yRdKP0_f41entfTHBsQQEMqp7Ed8Qgf3MXvAY_8qQ33it284-wFPtSGv_hOfDDuWAj55OLcioWfVO8bUNoilhx0WFKOnGQ/s1600/050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baddou's late sister's pair (sorry kids, but I don't have your names)</td></tr>
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Eldest daughter Haddy has gone to one of her friends
where she has an invite so she’ll be the missing one today.
</div>
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It’s a shame but Baddou’s sister’s little girl is
definitely not well.</div>
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I think it’s probably just a cold, but we’ll keep an eye
out to make sure she’s alright.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The lad is fine though, doesn’t seem as if anything is
wrong with him ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He looks about eight to ten years, but is quite striking
in his outfit, and he does look out for his little sister.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Kawsu’s arrived…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Something is going on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it’s not just Gaddafi, I can smell it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And finally…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
No.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I will not be killing Gaddafi because I am not a Muslim
and to be done properly he needs the prayer before they do it !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
YOU RATBAGS !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cue laughter track... (from EVERYBODY ELSE in the compound)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You’ve all kept me wound up for the last how many months
telling me that because I’m head of the household I have to do it, and now I
don’t ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what’s more even Sibo and Jalika were in on it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ha bloody ha !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Good joke.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just don’t ask me for any pocket money because I’ve
seriously been having kittens over having to do it, now I’m going to get my own
back…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, the butt of the joke is me, but how they all managed
to keep straight faces through God knows how many skype calls over the last few
months is beyond me ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That has to be one of the best wind-up’s ever.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But I will have my revenge…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think it’s Awa and the twins who perpetrated it with
Haddy’s collusion ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Damn !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I need a beer…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So… Everybody has been offered a drink and everybody is
here except Fansu, therefore I’m going to sort out today’s 'sounds' which are a
judicious mixture of Gambian stuff that they know, Youssou N’Dour which they
also know, a few of the kid’s favourites and a few of Haddy’s and mine.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Want to know what the playlist included ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Youssou N’Dour, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Mickey Hart
Band, Grateful Dead, Los Lobos, Dr John, Levon Helm, Fairport Convention, Sona
Jobarteh, Afro Manding of The Gambia, Fatoumata Diawara, Rokia Traore,
Tinariwen, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Jackson Browne and CSNY off the top of
my head…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was quite varied to say the least.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And now Fansu’s back…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A quick conversation with Kawsu, and the pair of them
take Gaddafi around the back of the house along with Baddou and a very sharp
knife.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fansu says he’ll be back for the knife later…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All the rest of the food has been prepared by Awa, Yama and
Hassanatou.<br />
If it hadn't been censored to nonsensical ends by Youtube, you could have watched a video of the occasion, but unfortunately it fell foul of the 'copyright' laws, having a musical soundtrack as it did.<br />
Bummer ! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy has taken charge of the meat.<br />
Anyone for a lamb chop ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8I45xga3c3IfRBghdT0cw1qXd6M_oTnpoNQIJdkV7CiNSjMcaad3fdFjnAmf58e1hWEFMELIyyB10zOXuAYxkI3YdAds591ryTqgO6SuVuIq7WwsOQ63pHJ80C7kqnZFg5ztSnk6NQ/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8I45xga3c3IfRBghdT0cw1qXd6M_oTnpoNQIJdkV7CiNSjMcaad3fdFjnAmf58e1hWEFMELIyyB10zOXuAYxkI3YdAds591ryTqgO6SuVuIq7WwsOQ63pHJ80C7kqnZFg5ztSnk6NQ/s1600/108.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of it has vanished over the road to the compounds
opposite via the Sibo delivery service.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have however requested a leg to be placed in the freezer
for later…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A LOT later.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That comes out when Tobaski has been and gone, and THEN I’ll
cook it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problem is that people walk by and smell it cooking
and then invite themselves…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Visitors come and go...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm7RlXd37lv4x_8_TYn6TuAfh0CyorKyINnObVCDAOTnO_iMr86tWnoldu0JzpC5uWRMcs16grlzabuisped7lBSZDh18YY4BP03S8hFmMNfdn-ho2EvoR6TKkF0qPmPSPDujKmE4ZQ/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm7RlXd37lv4x_8_TYn6TuAfh0CyorKyINnObVCDAOTnO_iMr86tWnoldu0JzpC5uWRMcs16grlzabuisped7lBSZDh18YY4BP03S8hFmMNfdn-ho2EvoR6TKkF0qPmPSPDujKmE4ZQ/s1600/109.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pa Musa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pa Musa...</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLz80-tVVPajNM2XA-8mdQAeB2nzTMDxT_SGSHSBKq7Dv54CyovPbom6QuGfDbH0nweSPFeypYcspX-CJZZcy3XNfYMACNkUMYeMkZC3HtJk7cD1jj88UhKE9Y-n_HWxVZtoLTGy1Lw/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLz80-tVVPajNM2XA-8mdQAeB2nzTMDxT_SGSHSBKq7Dv54CyovPbom6QuGfDbH0nweSPFeypYcspX-CJZZcy3XNfYMACNkUMYeMkZC3HtJk7cD1jj88UhKE9Y-n_HWxVZtoLTGy1Lw/s1600/106.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buba' Sainey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Buba' Sainey </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But I have to confess I am totally stuffed when we finish
eating…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BURP !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I don’t think I’m the only one ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course all the local children make a bee-line for our
compound when they realise we’re actually there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All of them are dressed to the nines.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Smart new outfits, wraps and dresses. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fatou Bintou and the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s all there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk2F7WBbwcV7UJ6YIj5tF9xM-3kHgI0CoYUb7dTOz0RxhTgz2gP0npGxXUExDEA3-_n2tb7-kFAkaDkNFQEx9-x9gssMv9uVCwE8Co3Ub5jSqkU8YavAD5yj_L01avMLfexpdk_niNg/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk2F7WBbwcV7UJ6YIj5tF9xM-3kHgI0CoYUb7dTOz0RxhTgz2gP0npGxXUExDEA3-_n2tb7-kFAkaDkNFQEx9-x9gssMv9uVCwE8Co3Ub5jSqkU8YavAD5yj_L01avMLfexpdk_niNg/s1600/045.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Sarjo, and the lads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here’s a few shots of some that we know. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegR2pTR77Bs_QtMIXn_O6Zl2_GzSZzC55ReGZGJ16KS50k04vFWWuPE7SRGSuDble2z2ZUx-dVykPFd-irPzK9P2ytQoygPx1ztC67LJPy9dplUEmv9lqPljazMrYDl46EDYNMW9-Ag/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegR2pTR77Bs_QtMIXn_O6Zl2_GzSZzC55ReGZGJ16KS50k04vFWWuPE7SRGSuDble2z2ZUx-dVykPFd-irPzK9P2ytQoygPx1ztC67LJPy9dplUEmv9lqPljazMrYDl46EDYNMW9-Ag/s1600/048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very shy group led by Binta on the left who seems to have turned into a young lady from her 'Dennis the Menace' persona eighteen months ago...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And they all go off happily after Haddy has paid them…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Trouble is, they then tell all their friends and so it’s
never ending…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s going to happen again tomorrow but with ‘Western’ or
‘European’ dress.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think the money will run out first.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Ok, it’s middle to late afternoon and most of the local
children we know have been in and admired and paid for their efforts.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Our lot and Baddou’s bunch are quite happily playing and
messing about as kids do, but there’s a bunch outside, all boys, who
despite being asked constantly not to, keep opening our compound gate and
shouting that they want meat, and to be honest they are getting on my tits
somewhat.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not just mine, but they are disturbing our nice mellow
atmosphere we’ve got going.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy has already told them to get lost and they still haven’t, so
when they swing the gate open again, I’m behind it…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Oi, come on you lot, scram… You’re beginning to annoy
people…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Give us meat, toubab…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Toubab, you have meat and we don’t… Give us meat…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Wanna ask politely, or is that beyond you… I don’t mind,
but I will smack you in the gob if you speak to me rudely again… Now piss off
before my wife sees you off, and if that happens you’ll definitely regret it…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I went and sat down again…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy looks up and says ‘They didn’t listen, did they ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Nope’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I’ll sort it out…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And out of the compound she walked…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But the little buggers wouldn’t cease and the gate swung
open again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I got up to do something but Baddou’s late sister’s
little lad got up first and started walking toward the gate, Jalika falling in
behind him and Little ‘Tapha bringing up the rear.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2w36D9_JYn-l19Q7qJ3OOA-r66fQaHUkrXEBeUA4JmoVyddtjYYEjKaH9ZXJIqNajd6ij1OSDDawTTdZmNMnVCGzFRT_yylSR8SZ53gOTqoINW0NMzfFhWIGjavZOc6QQJ5YiNriJrw/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2w36D9_JYn-l19Q7qJ3OOA-r66fQaHUkrXEBeUA4JmoVyddtjYYEjKaH9ZXJIqNajd6ij1OSDDawTTdZmNMnVCGzFRT_yylSR8SZ53gOTqoINW0NMzfFhWIGjavZOc6QQJ5YiNriJrw/s1600/112.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little 'Tapha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The gate swings open again and the kids walk outside.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is an almighty thudding sound followed by a scream,
another thudding noise followed by more yells and then the scream of brakes
followed by a loud torrent of abuse and the three kids come walking back into
the compound, closing the gate behind them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It turns out that Baddou’s sister’s lad had grabbed the
nearest one and ‘nutted’ him full on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One of his friends has raised his fist toward him and so Jalika had swung
one punch and the second one has flown backwards into the road and into the
path of a passing taxi…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Whoops !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At that point all hell broke loose and the rest ran away.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Little ‘Tapha just watched it happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Talk about a mutual admiration society…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I think Jalika has just made a friend for life.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
High five’s and big grins between the pair of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baddou’s sister’s lad cannot get over the fact that a
girl, and a small one at that, can actually fight…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, it’s not the usual hair-tugging is it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEjns49vv3nEIgslQidMWdA6BWlXRabCjoVkKrNeGvny0-ZIE558aqVJ-f7DttL9ISRJsOMq-IYtosDltzMGAmsllXq2MneNtTCY8mHt-H0teWDrmLpTuruTHMCKftcOkXAgj-L1mHA/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEjns49vv3nEIgslQidMWdA6BWlXRabCjoVkKrNeGvny0-ZIE558aqVJ-f7DttL9ISRJsOMq-IYtosDltzMGAmsllXq2MneNtTCY8mHt-H0teWDrmLpTuruTHMCKftcOkXAgj-L1mHA/s1600/111.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalika, off to prayers...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But then we don’t call her ‘Little Miss Ali’ for nothing.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then Haddy comes back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘It's sorted dear, the kids sorted it…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I’ve spoken to their parents, they won’t be rude again’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘You’re probably right, but there’s a couple nursing
bruises right now…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Why, what happened <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it all went round again with actions this time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sibo, Awa and the twins are in absolute hysterics, Yama is
shaking her head and Baddou is looking on proudly. </div>
Poor N’Dey doesn’t quite know what to make of it all.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy just shakes her head…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Eeee that child… Jalika must stop hitting people’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I think you ought to give her a hug and say thank you
for sticking up for the family, though… And to be honest she was just
protecting the lad from getting thumped, there were five of them…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘It’s not ladylike…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘No, it’s not… But it got the required result…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Hmmmm…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so we settled down again until the evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When it was time to leave and pick up their Haddy, Baddou
and Yama were loaded, but they’ll all be back tomorrow for Tobaski’s second
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The one thing you can say in all honesty is that it’s
never dull around here… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-90914442778192181142014-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:002014-07-25T15:09:43.390-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART THREE: A BURGLARY AND THE FIRST TRIP TO KILLY<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently we will not be seeing Ida, Omar and baby Haddy
over Tobaski as they will be going to stay with Amadou’s parents in their
village.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAC4tPmL5iAN1IixGEHsWotc47GnKNwvTqBrx7c6Dv4YU5MisOKcQShhj81ln2ff5CXJsgib1hH8j13vFdrz_mcix0tcXgvDVABeERoUeyssc8t5ddp571gUAT9YMXypJZxhAgjce3pw/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAC4tPmL5iAN1IixGEHsWotc47GnKNwvTqBrx7c6Dv4YU5MisOKcQShhj81ln2ff5CXJsgib1hH8j13vFdrz_mcix0tcXgvDVABeERoUeyssc8t5ddp571gUAT9YMXypJZxhAgjce3pw/s1600/033.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sibo with Ida Lee's baby Haddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ida has been showing us the dress that Amadou made for
her, and I have to admit it is a beautiful garment and she looks stunning in it, but Amadou hasn’t had much luck recently.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
His workshop had recently been burgled and many of his
clients clothes had been taken, including the one he’d made for Ida, and so
he’d had to start all over again, not just on hers but everybody else’s also.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that a couple of his sowing machines went along
with them is causing him some serious concern.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When he lays out the facts then you immediately realise
that whoever did it knows his movements and so it is more likely to be somebody
he knows.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a sad reflection on a society that so far, hasn’t
gone down the Western road.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s rife in the UK.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The local newspapers are all full of stories about people
stealing from people they know, and now it seems to have started here ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How sad is that ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ll tell you what…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The bankers that caused the monetary collapse back in
2008 have one hell of a lot to answer for.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once the problem filters down into countries like The
Gambia, that’s when you realise the enormity of their crime.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
People here had a struggling economy to start with, and
being petrol based when the price of fuel goes up then the price of everything else
goes up with it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And when people without a safety net cannot afford basic
food-stuffs to live on, then some will<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>resort to theft.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s happening all over the world but still nobody wants
to prosecute those who caused it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The thieves get prosecuted when caught but those who put
them in the situation where theft is their only option will always walk away
scot-free.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not right and it never will be.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But these are the times we live in…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Corruption and graft permeate governments throughout the
world.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s the day before Tobaski and we’re off to Killy.
(Pronounced ‘Keely’)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve done the journey before, but it’s quite a long drive
and this time we’ve got a small truck and Kawsu, Hassanatou, Haddy and me are
squeezed into the driver’s cab along with the driver.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the back we’ve got five boxes of clothes that Haddy
has managed to blag from people over here.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Basically, if they’ve got kids and even if they haven’t,
we’re on the scrounge for all their outgrown clothes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Adults stuff too, all is welcome although it has to be
said, female clothing is preferred.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All they have to do is donate it and Haddy will pay to
ship them to The Gambia.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So far there are eight boxes and a bag sitting in her
unoccupied shop waiting for us to get there and donate to those who actually
need something.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now it’s time to get five boxes of assorted clothing out
to Killy, where Osman, the head man of the village will get it out to all the
villagers in the Killy locality.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Describing Killy ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s quite a poor farming village is probably the easiest
way of describing it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have heard that they have recently got running water
instead of having to draw it all from a well, but I don’t know if it’s true ?
</div>
Anyway, it could also be described as in the interior of
the country, just a short ride from The President’s village at Kanilai, and my
wife owns some land there which she lets out to Ousman to grow things on.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which, if he’s successful, Ousman will deliver a sackload
of, to the kids, who will then barter whatever it is, locally, until they have
a fair old swap session going on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let’s put it this way, it all helps.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So now the people of Killy are getting something back for
helping out our family.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So what do you call it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Charity, as we know it, does not apply because a charity
we definitely are not.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It all started when one of Haddy’s work colleagues said
that her daughter was getting rid of a load of clothes that would fit the
twins.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then another one chipped in with some more for any babies
she knew of, since her Granddaughter had grown out of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so it had escalated…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pretty soon we had a complete bedroom full of boxed and
bagged clothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But look at it this way…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To a bunch of people that have very little in the first
place if you think along the lines of a Western thought process, it’s all going
to a good cause, so why not ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So that’s where we were going.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Charities from the UK in The Gambia were small fry
compared to Scandinavia who seem to donate a whole load more than anybody else.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Norway is probably the largest supporter in general
charitable terms.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They run Rex Nursery School which is virtually next door
to our compound, and where Haddy was once headmistress.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bakau’s fire and rescue service has had a few older fire
appliances donated from the UK and my friend Mark runs the charity who keep the
school at Albreda/Juffereh going.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s called ‘Roots Nursery School’ and you can find him
here…<br />
<a href="mailto:mark@rootsnurseryschool.org" target="_blank">mark@rootsnurseryschool.org</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
and all donations will be gratefully accepted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Roots Nursery being situated in the village that produced
Kunte Kinte, the hero of Alex Haley’s book about his ancestral line, ‘Roots’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are probably more, but those are the ones that I
definitely know of ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for us, we’re targeting specifics.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Killy gets five boxes assorted and the village gets the
other three, but Haddy decides where they are going and who gets what.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s only fair because she pays the shipping charges to
get them out here.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The Gambia being like any other society…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If there is something going free then everybody wants
something for nothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least this way she gets to decide where it goes.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And any ‘chancers’ will get short thrift from her, I can
tell you that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She KNOWS where it’s most needed, because this is HER
village and that is where it’ll be going.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Do you want to know what the most sought after items are
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Larger sized brassierrres.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There seems to be no measuring process in The Gambia for
breast size, and many of the women are larger and heavier <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>breasted than in the UK so larger sizes are
prized for their comfort in fitting properly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I mean we can talk about 32C or 38D (that’s large-ish by
the way) but over in The Gambia it seems to be small, medium and large, so
getting one that fits comfortably is an absolute Godsend to the womenfolk.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As a family, daughter Sainabou being a larger sized girl
in the bust department, used to have serious problems getting one to fit her,
so it’s a problem we are quite familiar with.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a strange world when you think about it in those
terms, isn’t it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Something all the women over here take for granted.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But over there it’s totally different.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A pretty, or striking motif on a t-shirt for teenagers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Something the shops here and probably most of the places
where you’re reading this are full of.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’re not here.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yes, you can buy t-shirts, but it’s that bit of
difference that makes it ‘cool’, and a talking point, usually of envy, between
the youth.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy herself has been told that the t-shirts that she
wears are not suitable for her, and that’s by the kids in her village.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently she is too old to wear them ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That attitude is swiftly curtailed by a clout around the
side of a head if she can get them…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that she’s probably been given it by one of the band
members of whatever shirt she’s wearing doesn’t seem to cross their minds ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My wife likes her music, so going to the local club and
watching three or four bands is quite normal for her, but it doesn’t occur in
The Gambia, even for the youth, so when you wear something quite striking it
becomes a serious topic of conversation.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So far, nobody has hit on me for a Grateful Dead t-shirt,
probably because most of the local kids can’t get their heads around the usual
skull and roses motif’s, but Haddy’s been hit on quite a lot for her ‘Music Is
My Weapon’ series, and also her Cropredy Festival t-shirts, so it’s definitely
the sort of thing that goes down well with teenagers.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The thing is, it all helps.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we finally reach Killy, there is nobody there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not literally, the old men and women and the youngsters
are there but all the able-bodied are all working on The President’s farm at
Kanilai.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So it’s the old women who greet us when we arrive.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALdfSB1tJIwQjf4X28aSbnYhIFAWiyWty4_ZknLQ7_yhraCMm2QWJ54X8mvMqn8WHflKr4kEc57xIwB1JS4ZiJxwY3H-uTTX23i8m4IoJ__4FH1RFSUQf0GfUOLl3xSKgmKodhWUuZw/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALdfSB1tJIwQjf4X28aSbnYhIFAWiyWty4_ZknLQ7_yhraCMm2QWJ54X8mvMqn8WHflKr4kEc57xIwB1JS4ZiJxwY3H-uTTX23i8m4IoJ__4FH1RFSUQf0GfUOLl3xSKgmKodhWUuZw/s1600/160.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hassanatou and Haddy with Killy local</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ousman isn’t there, and so we store all the boxes at his
place before the drive back…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineB8VvTMI8rBu09gbOVpjXkwWk2j0EOmXSVlw6L0OAWEu4kUBNAB5bzDReuG7m5sR0kzKV_w40myVr__Qn6Db10-3QJFd3YBUjWHClbp60w0uGNAKeTihcCkib_VHGuHhhuvEaZkNhw/s1600/157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineB8VvTMI8rBu09gbOVpjXkwWk2j0EOmXSVlw6L0OAWEu4kUBNAB5bzDReuG7m5sR0kzKV_w40myVr__Qn6Db10-3QJFd3YBUjWHClbp60w0uGNAKeTihcCkib_VHGuHhhuvEaZkNhw/s1600/157.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of Ousman's family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Haddy asks one of his wives to ask him to ring her when
he becomes available again and that’s basically it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnyBadazcQ0-TCJ57xwM9EkWq71DTKWpsXxNQXGTTpUPQ8x1I8rOXJLcqe9E6VDuKOU0kde349hW9qfAo63A-MGjtvMo9hHrMO9H6ML0bUp9ecMl0mI3IYJj94bWVvujotMkBzEj9dQ/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnyBadazcQ0-TCJ57xwM9EkWq71DTKWpsXxNQXGTTpUPQ8x1I8rOXJLcqe9E6VDuKOU0kde349hW9qfAo63A-MGjtvMo9hHrMO9H6ML0bUp9ecMl0mI3IYJj94bWVvujotMkBzEj9dQ/s1600/154.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hassanatou and Kawsu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We will have spent about four hours in sweltering heat ,
all crammed into a truck cab.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We are however, given a chicken by Ousman's family for our efforts<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa_iGCqnpZpP2Shu9Cf7PGMXHKgzift8A-3AGxVcmUx5HA3BWuU1begjAsgZ06phftg8AVxt978hwwFOzbIL2PTezi-D8o2JQEoHopjDRgsUNSgS3Uqk7PV_EOnycgPFOLI9b5Q6z6A/s1600/166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMa_iGCqnpZpP2Shu9Cf7PGMXHKgzift8A-3AGxVcmUx5HA3BWuU1begjAsgZ06phftg8AVxt978hwwFOzbIL2PTezi-D8o2JQEoHopjDRgsUNSgS3Uqk7PV_EOnycgPFOLI9b5Q6z6A/s1600/166.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to leave, this time with passengers... Note the chicken...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It’s a different world out there, and most people have no
idea…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that is a fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we finally return, most of the day has gone.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know one thing for certainty.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first thing I’m going to do when we get in is to
shower and have a beer unless somebody beats me to the shower…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It might end up being the other way around.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy Sonko is at the compound when we return.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She is still totally committed to her artistic
endeavours.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZxFxGV-cklJkD-3kBF-0conDDifysDBfsoqVRzGuuUTvlze3khlffWfCFr9vxZHZ_M1uQwdvBm4ZsZrqE5JQQ1KzyBc_BBciyr1F4mHB3tg1fb9rVlVVr8RB76ev0QZIyZnwmcQeIQ/s1600/168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZxFxGV-cklJkD-3kBF-0conDDifysDBfsoqVRzGuuUTvlze3khlffWfCFr9vxZHZ_M1uQwdvBm4ZsZrqE5JQQ1KzyBc_BBciyr1F4mHB3tg1fb9rVlVVr8RB76ev0QZIyZnwmcQeIQ/s1600/168.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddy Sonko between twins</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She has also grown from that young awkward teenage look
into a pretty young lady.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This year I’d managed to get her some artists ‘oils’
either to paint or silk-screen with, and she seems very pleased to get them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not the sort of thing that you see much of in The
Gambia, but what the hell, she’s a talented girl and there’s no reason to
thwart her ambitions if you can nurture them, so any and all ‘art’ oriented
supplies that we can get hold of are being sent her way</div>
We have always said to her that we’ll help when we can,
and if she can’t use the bits we send out then to please swap them with any of her
artistic colleagues who might be able to use them, and this she has been doing.
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She seems very pleased with the paints however, and that
is enough for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The twins are pretty pissed off though.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Apparently their outfits are not going to be ready for tomorrow. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The local tailors who are doing them are way behind on
the completion dates, despite having had them for the last three weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it’s not just the twins.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They are just two of many…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It would seem somebody has bitten off more than they can
chew in the work department ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, Tobaski tomorrow…<br />
And it’s crunch time for me
!!!</div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-62590949724867648722014-07-15T13:08:00.000-07:002014-07-15T13:10:37.539-07:00EID AL ADHA OR TOBASKI 2013 PART TWO: ALL SWIMMING, ALL DANCING (AND A NEW GROUP...)<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Honestly, the look on Hassanatou’s face was priceless,
and the look on Jalika’s was just as good…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, big hugs all round and we find out that everybody
else is out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously Housai’ and Awa are at work and apparently
Mariama is doing one of her after-school activities so she’s expected back at
about five, but Ida Lee and Omar are about, and I even get a hug from the
little monster.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNH2UR1PPzs3C4q9FWtWt_cWHmpF5FgIo4o4-LlY1JX6rrVsCKKZXLoMK0QSUmsRtWAUORUW00gF4YI8-QuxiP8ODKVg-atwxT1igd7VNFl87IEQjXgazXGTL4KgozSB4z_QEGwnbyng/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNH2UR1PPzs3C4q9FWtWt_cWHmpF5FgIo4o4-LlY1JX6rrVsCKKZXLoMK0QSUmsRtWAUORUW00gF4YI8-QuxiP8ODKVg-atwxT1igd7VNFl87IEQjXgazXGTL4KgozSB4z_QEGwnbyng/s1600/006.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omar. The little lad is growing fast...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Little ‘Tapha gives me a handshake and that’s it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not going to be all because as soon as we’d stepped
out of the taxi the word was going out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least we can get the suitcases into the house before
we’re trampled underfoot.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mariama appears just after five.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Obviously she’s pleased to see us, but grumpy about being
conned.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
She’s the only one who didn’t know anything was going on
because by now Housai’, Awa, Amadou and Sainabou have all received texts from
their sister.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amadou will be over tonight, and Sainabou with baby Adama
will be over early tomorrow evening…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAZDWdmGPdq5zeuaHSawxL-XssibOaDU0RV_cEFWdzRUbqZCXUaDWeNqlBaAYmmdzEwJxZdstyaLq-k9vPvOCmt9xRvjQTHgCmmAtA4E3fasDP6Cu2F2-Bn3tHjRWcu82sdXPLfeecw/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAZDWdmGPdq5zeuaHSawxL-XssibOaDU0RV_cEFWdzRUbqZCXUaDWeNqlBaAYmmdzEwJxZdstyaLq-k9vPvOCmt9xRvjQTHgCmmAtA4E3fasDP6Cu2F2-Bn3tHjRWcu82sdXPLfeecw/s1600/026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It’ll be the first time we’ll have seen our grandaughter.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The early part of the evening was spent greeting
everybody and I don’t mind telling you, it leaves me totally knackered.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fact that I’d now been up and awake for thirty six
hours because I just cannot sleep on aircraft is beginning to take its toll and
whether it’s considered rude or not, I just want to get my head down and sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But finally, after being awake for about forty three
hours, I manage to crawl into bed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least tomorrow is a Saturday and the little ones don’t
have to go to school.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, we’ve got rather a lot to do in the three weeks that
we’ve actually got here and they are as follows :</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get the
wooden panels sorted out on the patio under the roof because they have taken in
so much water when the roof had holes in it that they are beginning to rot, and
besides, they are a haven for mosquitoes so that is a definite.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get some of
the clothes that Haddy and I have been blagging off friends and sending out for
the past year, to Killy village where Haddy owns a piece of land.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sort out
Tobaski.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Four.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let Mariama
and Jalika have a session when they are singing together without ANY
interruptions, because at some point somebody is going to have to tell them if
they are any good and I know for a fact that particular job is going to get
delegated to me…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find a day
when we can all get out to Sanyang for a day at the beach with the ‘extended’
family.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Six.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find a day
when we can take the little ones swimming in a hotel pool in peace and quiet.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Seven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit
Macumba and Hadim on the market and finally give them the film of the two
practice sessions which I’ve finally managed to extricate from ‘computer hell’.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit Uncle
Pa.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do all the
other things that I’ve forgotten about.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit all
those people that my wife says we ought to…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eleven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit
Gola Fortunate and give out the ‘Rhythms’ t-shirts to the winners of the school
competition that we’ve instigated via Mariama and the headmistress.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Twelve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find a day
when I can be left in peace to cook for the family… Yeah, right !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Chance would be a fine thing…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Isn’t that enough ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ll tell you one thing, with only three weeks and
running on Gambian time I’m still not sure if we’re going to get it all done,
so let’s see what we can do, eh ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
First things first…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ring Baddou.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baddou is a carpenter and a pretty good one at that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If anything needs to be done in wood then he’s the guy to
ring.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s sorted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He’ll be round to assess the job tomorrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh, and if you’ve been reading this on a regular basis
then you’ll have seen a few pictures of his kids because Haddy and N’Dey are
friends of Mariama and Jalika.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Baddou appears first thing in the morning, pulls a couple
of the rotting bits down and makes a few calculations.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He’s got to do the whole porch area which runs the length
of the house and one of the girls bedrooms.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Right, that’s sorted then.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The price is agreed and he’s been paid for the bits he’ll
need which he’ll get today, and then start the job tomorrow.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
He’ll be back for a visit with the family on Sunday.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course while he’s doing all this, the eight boxes of
clothes we’ve blagged and sent out over the past year which are sitting on the
floor of one of Haddy’s shops are going to have to wait.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Five of them are going to Killy, and the other three are to
be shared out in the village but getting the whole kit and caboodle out so that
they can be seen is an impossibility with all the dust flying about when the
panels come down…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And I am reminded of that very apposite quote from Bob
Dylan…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I accept chaos… I’m not sure if it accepts me…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Or something like that, anyway ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And then Hassanatou drops the big one…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Uncle Chris…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Yes ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Sibo and Jalika have formed a group with Ida…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Oh… My… God… Please tell me you’re joking ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘No… Not joking… It’s true…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Are they any good ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘They won’t stop singing and drumming together…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh well, I suppose it was to be expected given all the
clues that they’d been throwing out on our last visit.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is going to be interesting…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not like Sibo to loan out her drums to anybody, so
let’s wait and see.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Fore-warned is fore-armed as they say…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Not that I can bask in my new-found knowledge for more
than an hour because it’s the first thing Mariama talks about when she finally
gets her chores and homework done.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Uncle Chris, do you like One Direction ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘No. They look pretty and all the little girls love them,
but most of it is media hype.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m old
enough to have seen it all before with other groups, and their songs aren’t
very good…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘We like better songs…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I hope so… What better songs ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Something Inside, Patriot, This Land, Hard Rain Falling,
Woman is Smarter…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok, but they’re not your songs, you are right though…
They are better songs'.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘We want to sing songs like that’
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘You like songs which actually say something ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘We like good songs…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘It’s not actually the same thing, you know ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Songs that say things and good songs, but
you’re on the right track at least… And where did you get all your song choices
from ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
(As if I didn’t know already ?)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘We listened to all your cd’s…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok… And what did you think when you listened to them ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘They are good and there are lots of good songs on them…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok… Let me have a think about it and hear you all
together when we get a moment when you’re all free, but I warn you, I WILL be
honest and if you’re rubbish then I will tell you…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Ok’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that was the extent of the conversation.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I admire their spirit, but so far everybody out here
involved in anything musical has said that they don’t do ‘Western’ songs.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
They’ll do rap and reggae but they won’t touch anything
from the rock, folk or country idioms.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve never really understood that attitude except when
doing traditional things from their own folk tradition, that I understand, but there
are some songs from all those idioms that transcend all frontiers and barriers
and if you think you can make somebody else’s song your own by putting your own
feelings and spin on it, then why not ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not as if (From an African perspective) Youssou
N’Dour hadn’t done it with Bob Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom, and although most of
the village hadn’t heard Bob’s original, they all knew Youssou’s version
because it had been a huge hit all over the continent…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a puzzle to be sure.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I suppose you could always break it down to a black and
white thing but that is even more puzzling ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rap and ghetto living is understandable, but Reggae ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Where does Rastafari fit in to an African Muslim
perspective ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s about as opposed as you’re going to get.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Unless it’s about the fame and the bling, the women and
the drugs ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the power that comes along with all the above…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At least Reggae has a spiritual base, but Rap ???</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Call me cynical by all means, but looking at some of the
careers of some of the ‘artists’ involved, they are only famous for being in the newspapers week in and
week out.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yawn… Yawn… Yawn…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
BORING.<br />
Justin Bieber being the classic example. <br />
What a fuckin' twat !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you’re supposed to be a ‘musician’ then prove it. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Celebrity status doesn’t cut it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And our kids want to join this industry, AND buck the
system as well ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What can you do, except be there for them when it all
comes apart…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But then the one thing I can say with any certainty is
the fact that</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One: They already have management. Mum.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Two: They already have an accountant. Big Sis'</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Three: They already have two agents and road-managers who won’t take
any crap from ANYBODY !!! Me and other Big Sis'.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s a family affair, as Sly Stone once sang… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And Four… They already know what a good song is… And that
helps when you are starting out, believe me…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So our first couple of days are spent hanging around the
compound just greeting all the visitors and generally chilling out until it’s
time to withdraw some money from the bank and then hit the supermarkets for
some food.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most of that will be canned things which we won’t have to
worry about replacing after we’ve used them up, plus the usual bags of ‘minced
cow meat’ which I’ll freeze until I do a spaghetti bolognese for the family…
And whoever else gatecrashes the meal on the night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some real cheese, as opposed to the triangles which the
kids love, a few large potatoes (I have a cunning plan for later in the week…)
and whatever herbs and spices that need replacing ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Pasta and a few bags of vegetables and fruit plus a couple
of bottles of wine and some cheap tobacco if they have any ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bearing in mind we are still officially at the end of the
rainy season and some of the hotels haven’t opened yet, that is definitely a
hope rather than a given.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It will mean if I can get them, that I can give a couple
of pouches to Hadim and Slice.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back in the compound Baddou and his helper are banging
and crashing away like a couple of good’uns and there is sawdust mixed with the
dust of ages everywhere.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBwi4tEER1nGwluTIADQiO7iq8mESoRUI3oPthjBKMS4M1k-hlgoHQxsB8KSt75umdrVDOejz-GP2PYlt2QDAQRDRd9sik2Aut-j-jSwpKye0vARZBa2Lkw1nZiKu9eyZGp0IM9QdQA/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBwi4tEER1nGwluTIADQiO7iq8mESoRUI3oPthjBKMS4M1k-hlgoHQxsB8KSt75umdrVDOejz-GP2PYlt2QDAQRDRd9sik2Aut-j-jSwpKye0vARZBa2Lkw1nZiKu9eyZGp0IM9QdQA/s1600/013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You do your washing BEFORE you start playing... From left. Omar, Jalika, Sibo, Haddy, N'Dey with baby Amie and Haddy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the Sunday we are to be joined by his family, although
eldest daughter Haddy is not staying and will be visiting some of her friends
for the day, but we get N’Dey and the little one, baby Amie.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you click on the link below, it's about three and a half minutes continuous cut from about seventeen<br />
minutes of the original film.<br />
I just wanted to get some film down of the kids playing and dancing with lots of laughter and giggles...<br />
And I definitely got that. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdu83yT7UMk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdu83yT7UMk</a><br />
<br />
My wife has invited them all to celebrate Tobaski with us
anyway, so we’ll be seeing them all again quite soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And because the office is close to the supermarkets, while
we were out we stopped in to see Housai' at work.<br />
That was interesting...<br />
We've just totally turned down a marriage request for her twin sister. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Absolutely no chance.<br />
In fact if you dressed the pair of them the same then I'd be surprised if the guy can tell them apart ?<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
One thing Haddy and I agree on straight down the line,
and that is, the kids are NOT for sale.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Haddy endured one horrendous marriage when she was
younger because it was ‘arranged’ and there is no way I would ever let the kids
go through that and neither will she. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When they get married it will be because THEY want to,
and that’s it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Was that guy for real ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Yes… He thinks that everybody would jump at the chance
because he has money…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some families
would because of that…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Do you think he got the message ?’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I think so...’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Hassa’s gonna laugh her socks off when she finds out…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘No… She will be angry… ‘</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And you know what ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When we got back and told her, she went ballistic !!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shouts, yells, definitely a few curses…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But finally she calmed down enough to say ‘Thank you,
Uncle Chris…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘No problem… I thought the funniest bit was when your Mum
and I both said ‘Dead Man Walking’ at the same time…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘He does not even know me’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘I know, love… But that’s his loss and not yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just thinks he can buy you with money…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Aaaahh… It’s The Gambia…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And she was right… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is The Gambia.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Resistant to change and women’s rights are near the
bottom of the list.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But… And I mean this very seriously… Change will come.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It will be hard fought but it WILL come.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is generally the women who have most of the common
sense in most societies and The Gambia is no exception.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It has taken me quite a long time to get around to that
idea, but when a man and a woman are sharing everything, hardships and good
times, then things tend to get done a lot better than if it is just one gender
making all the decisions.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Don’t ask me why that occurs, it just does.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And anyway, you live and you LEARN.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Maybe it’s because I come from a society where you pay
lip-service to the idea that there is </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
equality even if we all know the reality is somewhat
different ? </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Who knows ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But African society isn’t Western society and an African
Muslim society certainly isn’t
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s very different and it’s sometimes quite hard to get
your head around some of it without criticizing it because some of the customs are totally alien to us in the West.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But, it’s not MY society, and when I’m here, I am here as
a guest and that’s all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I seem to fit in down in the village, I share the
problems and I share the joys.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To those who know me, when I am there I am just another
Fajikunda resident.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I might look a bit strange, compared to the average
tourist let’s say, but I’m just Haddy’s husband and the children’s step-dad and
I try and fit in as best I can, and I don’t criticize others unless something
impinges upon the family or me personally.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That’s the best advice I can give anybody.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you do that then nobody can complain.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the key to change is not criticism, it is
understanding.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
God, I wish some of the ‘visitors’ to my country would
learn that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you don’t like it, then don’t come.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is OUR country and not yours, so if you don’t like it
then you can always FUCK OFF !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When you can finally say you understand then you can
attempt to change things, but not before.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, enough of this ‘soapbox’ shit… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tobaski is supposed to be a joyful occasion so let’s get
back to it.</div>
<br />
That evening we had our first rain since we’d flown in,
and when I say rain, I MEAN rain.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It bucketed down.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Eventually I went outside on the porch, ostensibly for a
cigarette but I had taken the video camera with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What I wanted was just to show the power of the rain
because Gambian storms aren’t much like those we have back in the UK, the only
thing they have in common is the fact that you get very wet in both of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The force of the rain falling is the difference.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the West we get storms and rain.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the Gambia they are one hell of a lot more powerful.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For some reason the rain does not go with the wind ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is so much of it that it comes straight down
vertically and that is what I wanted to capture.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I got about seven minutes of continuous footage anyway.<br />
And although very dark, here's just under a minute of the best bit...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wX_KuRX9wk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wX_KuRX9wk</a><br />
<br />
That will have to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’ve got a free day, YIPPPPEEEEEEE !!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The African Village Hotel has not opened yet and so we
make our way with Mariama and Jalika to spend a day at Ocean Bay where we can
purchase a ‘pool’ ticket that lets me and the kids use the swimming pool all
day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Typically, they left their armbands in a taxi earlier in
the year when they went to Sanyang but we have brought along a little blow up
dinghy which we hope they’ll let us take in the water ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Thankfully they do, probably because the place is not
packed to the rafters being out of season currently, they also have a spare
child’s rubber ring and one armband.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjPBmM1WsIHPJQLIRytyY87amj9aYnaxfH6D0wbAKBd8LCiPZcxXnWfFGvjatnJPRbd44LEPUuUIv3arW57o9bmxSJhOZYLwdVQr9MI-qhLE1RdE8Gnvzu3AA5Xbe3tMljOd87gvqA/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSjPBmM1WsIHPJQLIRytyY87amj9aYnaxfH6D0wbAKBd8LCiPZcxXnWfFGvjatnJPRbd44LEPUuUIv3arW57o9bmxSJhOZYLwdVQr9MI-qhLE1RdE8Gnvzu3AA5Xbe3tMljOd87gvqA/s1600/017.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Jalika, bless her, can’t wait to get in the dinghy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That definitely looks like fun to her.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L78JcYziQsM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L78JcYziQsM</a><br />
<br />
And I only had to ask her the once not to smack Mariama with the paddle… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mariama meanwhile, is in and out of the ring. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Attempting to swim without it she manages about three
strokes without going glug-glug-glug but that’s three more than last time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeGeacBcSeVz_Fjpr-jJx47Zyje5gpe8pDTbRTtAKtLRHJX6U1cJjhm0hYktZ57g5bZSf0r0N59Da-510ikbFc0IV-4wKzdM3zdoWiSJJfEsaNjGM0idgwV_xWm5-65Jy8sZXN5m8dg/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQeGeacBcSeVz_Fjpr-jJx47Zyje5gpe8pDTbRTtAKtLRHJX6U1cJjhm0hYktZ57g5bZSf0r0N59Da-510ikbFc0IV-4wKzdM3zdoWiSJJfEsaNjGM0idgwV_xWm5-65Jy8sZXN5m8dg/s1600/016.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If we can get her to keep practicing in the children’s
area then I’m quite sure she’ll be able to manage a complete width soon ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Me ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m doing the Moby Dick thing in the main pool.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I had lost a bit of weight since last time and was
definitely feeling a bit better for it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m still not completely happy weightwise, but I’m
getting there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We had a great day.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At one point Awa took the youngsters on a guided tour,
including the suite where they put up Presidents of countries.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That impressed them.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But as usual, all too soon it’s time to go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d been there for about seven hours in total and the
time seems to have just rushed by.<br />
I had hoped to have taken the kids to the small craft market but typically we ran out of time, so let’s get home and see what the evening brings ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Actually we had a nice chilled evening listening to music
in the compound.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are loads of new albums on the computer and so I
just stacked a few up and let them run.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This year I’d taken out the proper computer amplifier so
we can actually get a bit of volume on it should we want it, but it’s not loud
enough to disturb the neighbours, that’s the main thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because it gets dark at about seven-thirty to eight o’clock
we usually sit in the dusk to darkness with the house lights on, otherwise we
wouldn’t be able to see a thing outside.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The problems occur when we get a power cut and we get
those on a regular basis, but not tonight…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Tonight was nice and calm and peaceful (compared to what
it could have been like, let’s say…)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Jalika found herself a new favourite song to dance to,
and that was a bit of a surprise to say the </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
least ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I never know what it is about these kids ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You can play them anything and if it’s got a beat that
suits dancing then they’ll find it, and then they’ll fit their own moves into
it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The surprise, to me at least, is that the song in
question comes from way back in the 1930’s and when Jalika started dancing I
actually had the camera on.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
That was pure fluke.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What happened when she started dancing was pure intuition
from her.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you watch as many old clips as I
do of some of the ‘greats’ doing their thing, then you’ll be aware that when
she was a lot younger, just a few years older than Jalika, the late June Carter
who became the second and last Mrs Johnny Cash, used to dance when her mother Maybelle was playing in
The Carter Family. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And Jalika was dancing to an old Carter Family tune.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The bit where she is straight upright and goes into a
form of ‘tap’ is uncannily like the young June Carter used to do.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-u0SeC2w44" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-u0SeC2w44</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
And since there is no way that our ten and very soon to be
eleven year old out in The Gambia will ever have seen any clips of June, how
weird is that ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just put it down to that ‘Old Weird America’ or
conversely, that ‘Old Weird Gambia’ and if you have been reading this blog for
a bit, then you’ll know we’ve been there before.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There are some things that I cannot even pretend to
understand because they just ‘are’ and explaining them is useless and this was
one of those times.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s unexplainable so let’s leave it at that.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It had been a really good day so let’s leave it there and
see what tomorrow brings ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064030766943733412.post-1448111120809093702014-07-06T12:42:00.001-07:002014-07-06T12:42:45.298-07:00EID AL ADHA, OR TOBASKI 2013 (A PREFACE OR PREAMBLE...)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course as soon as I went back into work on the Tuesday
it was ‘Do you want any overtime this coming weekend’ ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Of course I want overtime, we’ve got a trip to The Gambia
coming up in about eight weeks and what do you think is going to help pay for
it ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We were finally going to be out there for ‘Tobaski’, or
officially Eid Al Adha.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The last time we’d actually been there together with the
kids for Tobaski was the year we got married, and then of course there was our
honeymoon so we managed to miss a lot of it, but now we were going back…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’d booked it way back, nearly ten months ago when I had
enough in my account to actually pay for the tickets… (£650 each through The
Gambia Experience-You can find them online or at good travel agents) </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Because it wasn't officially part of the holiday season we'd actually got a 30 kilo baggage allowance which was a godsend to us, bearing in mind the amount of stuff we try and cram into our suitcases. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And they’d
only asked for a deposit which was fine by me until I spent the rest on a
particularly virulent gas bill and some other things involving visas…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But let’s not go there, eh ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was never very nice in the first place.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, about six weeks before we fly I get the rest of the
bill.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Believe me, the overtime is a BIG help.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And so, the Friday before Tobaski, we flew…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It was the usual all-nighter for us, driving down to Gatwick
to be there at four am and then finding out that the flight has been put back
an hour…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
AAAAAARRRRGH !!!!!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Don’t you just love it when that shit occurs ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, it was only an hour but us older folks do not
appreciate it one bit, just think what it would have been like if it had been
longer ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We’d have fallen asleep about nine and missed the bloody
thing altogether…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, moan over.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s the usual flight, takes about six hours, there is a
film and there is food, there is also sod-all in the way of legroom, and if
you’re really lucky, not too many screaming infants…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And we’re there.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Only about half an hour later than we’d have been if the
flight had actually departed on time,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
for which, a big ‘thank you’ is due to the wind over The
Sahara…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Through Customs and Immigration and immediately assailed
by what looks suspiciously like every taxi-driver in The Gambia…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
‘Hey, Auntie Haddy…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And that one is ours.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And the kids don’t know we’re coming.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh, they know we’re arriving, but my wife didn’t actually
give them the correct day, so they think we’re coming on next Tuesday’s flight…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Let’s catch them all out, is my wife’s explanation.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, but let’s not do it too often, eh ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There is a reason.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hopefully we’ll get in and greet the kids before too many
people flood the compound to welcome her back. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, stop at the top of the road at the corner shop for a
few bits and pieces (Julbrew, Guinness, Ginger Beer, Coca-Cola, Fanta,
biscuits, cheese triangles… That sort of thing) and down the road we went…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Now, you know what ‘Tobaski’ is, don’t you ?
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You know it’s an Islamic Thanksgiving Festival, right ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You didn’t ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, you haven’t been too long at reading this blog
then, have you, because I tried to describe it a few years back and the chapter
is still there, believe me.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So what happens is… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I suppose I should ask if all the vegans and vegetarians
are sitting comfortably in front of their screens reading this ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I bloody well hope so, because you’re going to be doing a
bit of squirming in a few minutes or a few pages time…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If, like me, you are a meat eater then it shouldn’t
distress you too much unless you are one of those ‘Halal meat is evil’ sanctimonious
hypocrites that I despise so much.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s just a different way of doing things, you may not
like it but that’s just the way it is and I suggest you get over it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you eat meat then don’t complain because it is all
bred for slaughter.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You’ve been warned, ok ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, so what happens is…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And who am I writing this for, anyway ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You do know that the blog tells me where all my readers
are, don’t you ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I know how many Brit’s read it, how many Americans, how
many Gambian, French, German, Swedish, Saudi-Arabian, Indonesian, Chinese… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Where you’ve come from, and which site sent you…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Which chapters you’ve read…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What’s the matter, feeling paranoid ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You’re all out there reading this for whatever reason ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Hey, I’m not knocking it, I’m just glad that you find me
and my family worth your time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I do realize that not everybody is going to be in the
same position as me with the same sort of crazy life and family, so if it
interests you in any way then that’s cool for me too.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And there are a few hundred of you tuning in from time
to time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well, apart from the governmental spying search-engines
let’s say ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
MI5, the CIA, all that lot are going to read it because
it has the words 'Islam' and 'Muslim' in it, and they’re very suspicious of that
sort of thing, which is why they do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Don’t worry, if I were in charge then I’d probably have
got my spymasters to do exactly the same sort of thing…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And what’s more, truth be told, I’d bet a pound to a
dollar to a euro that you would too ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I just wish that they’d have the fucking decency to tell
us the truth once in a while if they want to spy on us ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Certain governments might get a little more respect (You
reading this, Cameron ?)</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Doubtful, bearing in mind they have scarcely told us the
truth since they came to power and certainly didn’t over this particular
subject.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And if Edward Snowden hadn’t blown the gaff and told the
world that The USA were spying on all of us and giving the information to our
lot then we’d have had our suspicions, but we would never have known the extent
of it, would we ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And just remember, if they’re checking me out, then they
will be checking you out if you are reading the blog, because they want to know
whether you are what they regard as a ‘terrorist’ ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’ve just used the other word that’s going to set off the
alarm bells on their search engines.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Therefore to use the title of a poetry cd I stuck out a
few years back, we are ‘Erring on the side of paranoia…’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I do find it quite amusing, because it means I can take
the piss and there is absolutely fuck all they can do about it…<br />
Not that I'm denigrating the threat of terrorism, far from it.<br />
The threat is now global whether we like it or not ?<br />
Remember this, I grew up with the constant threat of the I.R.A. blowing us to hell.<br />
But the threat of terrorism is there for all to see.<br />
And it's not just the West, is it ?<br />
How many Muslim countries face the same constant threat ?<br />
More than most people realise, that's for sure. <br />
So forgive me for taking the piss occasionally, because I'm up to here with the lies from both sides.<br />
But this has deviated somewhat, so let’s get back to
Tobaski, at least that's real.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Tobaski festival, or to give it it’s proper name of Eid
Al Adha for those who have never experienced one, is one of Islam’s celebratory
days and is a public holiday apart from essential workers needed to keep the
infrastructure going.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is a sacrificial feast day to commemorate God telling
Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ismail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All married men and/or heads of households are expected to
buy a sheep (or goat, cow, chicken, or whatever they can afford) and sacrifice
it, cook it and give most of it away to those less fortunate than themselves,
and then feed their family with the remainder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is literally a day for sharing whatever you have been
able to afford and the whole country turns into one absolutely enormous
barbecue. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everybody, male and female alike dresses up in their finest
clothes and that includes all the children who run around begging small coins
from every adult they see to buy ice creams and sweets with, so make sure you
have lots of small denomination coins in your pockets because you are
definitely going to need them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Parents and extended family are visited and I’m quite
surprised it can all be fitted into one day. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ok, so The Gambia is a Muslim country, right ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The man is the head of the household, right ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So who is it that is going to buy it, kill it, and then
cook it and decide (with a lot of input from the Missus) where it’s all going ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yep !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You finally got it, didn’t you ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Moi… </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Muggins…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Yours truly…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Me ?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Oh shit !</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Life certainly does throw up a few curveballs, doesn’t it
?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So…</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now you know.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have to be honest, killing the animal is not something
I’m actually looking forward to…<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But that’s for next week.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now is the time for surprising the kids.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So the taxi pulls up outside the gates and we get out,
followed by the driver and our luggage, push the gate open and we’re home… </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Chris Ripplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04309925109835747804noreply@blogger.com0