Few More From Ghana

Here you can see me on the last day being given a gift. Inside was chocolate to share with my team as they let me come to Ghana and a beautiful piece of traditional Kente cloth which I am putting on. I have also put a photo on of a couple at the mausoleum in wonderful clothing.

Home!

Thanks for e-mail Peach, yes home safely thank you. Off to work in a minute, then sadly Mrs Butchers funeral this afternoon. Will catch up properly by e-mail soon. xx

Well what contrasts, one dayI am in the sun by the pool in Ghana and then I am in a plane at Schiphol whilst they get the snow of the wings. You can't see much snow as they clear the tarmac but it looked quite strange to see planes covered in snow. It was snowing quite hard in Amsterdam and I was concerned the visibility wasn't good enough for landing but it all worked out ok in the end. It hadn't been a very good flight and apart from a number of other things we had had to make an extra stop in Niamey the capital of Niger to get fuel, due to a fire in a depot somewhere they had been unable to refuel in Accra. So it wouldn't have suprised me if we had not been able to land as it was one of those flights. The good thing was that by arriving in Schiphol late I didn't have to wait so long in the airport for my next flight!

Sight Seeing in Accra

First pictue is Albert who has driven us all week in a posh air-conditioned hire car. I found out he is normally a taxi driver so organised for him to come in his taxi this morning so I could see something of Accra. He warned me it wasn't air-conditioned and it was the usual beat up taxi but it was good to be out walking on the streets and driving around in a normal car like so many of the residents of Accra. He is standing by the Nkrumah Mausoleum [first president]. The next picture of the drummer is also from there, they have lovely gardens with many trees planted by famous heads of state e.g. Nelson Mandela.

We managed to pack in the museum [picture of the statue of old man] which I really enjoyed. Then there is a photo of a taxi which if you click on it to enlarge it you will see it is full of plantains!

Managed to get back in time for a swim, shower and to pack. Now about to check out and wait until Sherrif arrives to take me to the airport. A long night ahead.

More Food!

Last day of the course so we had a special lunch, you can see fried fish, chicken, yam balls [tasty], kalawole [spicy fried plantain] 3 differant rices and then there were loads of meaty stews. You know you are not in an NHS hospital when the Guiness [very popular here], beer and wine came out!

On the way home I stopped to take a picture of the fishing boats on the atlantic. Then bargained hard at the craft market and finally had time for a quick swim before beer and live music by the pool. So not a bad day. Thanks for the e-mails saying you appreciate the blog.

Just to prove I really am working!

Good day of teaching today. You can see one of me in the classroom and one of us outside the skills centre. Thought you might start to think I wasn't really there but there hasn't been a lot of time for photos. If you click on the photo of me teaching to enlarge it you will see the guy at the front has a health message on his shirt, there has been some really good messages on clothes ones over the week!

Guess what these are?

Went to a lovely sea food restaurant tonight and these lights looked really lovely. When I looked closer I realised they were actually ostrich eggs with patterns cut out.
Sorry Peach but no time as yet to update blog further as it is full on here. Out at 07.30 then back at 18.30 just time to shower change and off out again. Then when I get back I either send e-mails or prepare info for the next days training generally falling into bed around 01.30hrs. Will be knackered when I get back to UK. I am really enjoying all of it and the nurses are good fun. They are very lively and discussions get noisy and everyone joins in. It is nearlly as noisy as watching Ghana v Burkina Faso which I did in a local bar on Tuesday, thank goodness Ghana won. Will try and get a photo of me at some point!

lots of love S xx

Fish Palava with Boiled Yam

No photos of me yet Peach but this was dinner, had a few too many beers with the guy that is looking after me and he assured me I would like this meal as my first attempt at local cuisine. Actually not as bad as it looks and by 22.00hrs and a few beers I was hungry. Yam is just starch to mop up the spicy, tasty sauce with spinach or whatever green veg is in it. The fish was nice but I didn't even manage to eat half of the meal, far too much. The cappachino was good and the beer [Star draught comes in pint mugs and is very tasty]. Definateley need to join a gym when I get back, will be the size of a house. People so friendly here and it seems very safe. Feel very relaxed, knew I needed to get away.

Ghana play football Tuesday night so that should be fun, they lost the last game 3-1.

Can't make calls on my phone but can receive them, however texts working fine both ways. Will try and use e-mail and the blogs. Hope you are not working too hard.

lots of love S xx

Ghana Here I Come

Well I am off in the morning, been a bit short of sleep this week as most nights I have worked late and got up early. Working late is no problem, you know I like to work well into the early hours but early mornings are not really me. Don't really feel in control from a work point of view because of lack of time and also not really enough communication with colleagues in Ghana. The big boss is coming out for 3 days as the other IC person is now not coming as there was a problem with his visa. I am quite happy to go on my own and it feels like a good time to do this for me personally. Will be quite nice to have time to concentrate on me and I look forward to being back in Africa.

You can see that I am trying to travel light, which I don't normally manage. I went and bought a pair of travel straightners today they are so sweet and tiny, made me laugh about you going with yours. Not really got enough clothes as all last summers too big and nothing in the shops yet. Helga has lent me a couple of bits which is kind of her. Hope there is nothing too posh. I think we go to see the Minister of Health and there will be at least one formalish dinner.

I am staying at the Golden Tulip Accra which looks nice. At least there should be air con and internet so I can work. Nice pool to work off the beers. I will need to drink loads and I remember from B. Faso cold beer really hits the spot.

http://www.goldentulipaccra.com

If you want to e-mail me whilst I am away use sarah.morter@hotmail.co.uk

Had my first Thai meal last night we got there at 22.00hrs just as the kitchen was closing but it was never the less absolutelely delicious and I would love to go again.

Picture of Jiggles hidden on the shelf!

Much love as always xxxx

Some pics from Stalham

Well Judy went all soft and bought the cats a new bed/toy thing. You can see Rodney also got a Christmas present and look at the beautiful Christmas tree decoration. Hope the photos don't make you home sick!

Puja's 21st Birthday

Well as you can see people did enjoy themselves. Pat and David built twin snowmen, your Dad danced with Helga or should that be Helga danced with your Dad, all the vodka jellies got consumed in various ways and a snow ball fight took place through the dining room doors!

Puja looked gorgeous, a lot of her Nepalese friends came and she had some lovely presents.

We did miss you and you would have enjoyed it but there you go. Perhaps when you come home that will give us an excuse for another party.

Snow, snow and more snow!

Jealous! Actually we'll swap you for some of your sunshine. I was thinking of having a big snowball fight at Puja's party tonight but not sure there will be many others who think like that!

Thank you for my birthday present and card

Peach a big thank you for the card and present which I have just received from you, Dad in his viral haze forgot and he just said to me Peach did well to send you a card and I said she didn't, so with that he rushed upstairs and found what you had so kindly sent. It is a lovely necklace and I shall enjoy wearing it. I am touched by your thoughtfulness Peach, I am very lucky to have you as a daughter, enough soppiness must be the alcohol, I'll be saying I miss you next! Enjoy the rest of your week and hopefully we'll speak on Saturday. XXXXXX

Sarah's Birthday

Well Peach I have had a lovely birthday, thanks for the texts and messages on your blog. Helga and I not content with drinking far more wine than was good for us at lunchtime went on to spend the evening drinking gin and cin! You can see from the photos that we were in a silly mood and spent the evening having a good natter and a giggle. David had to go back to work for part of the evening and Dad is still feeling poorly with his cold. I put a picture of my new sandals on for you to see, I really liked the silver heels! Need to get on with some work for the Ghana trip now, party time is over, well except for Saturday of course. Love you lots xx