Rob (Tony’s son) and family had been staying with us for a couple
of days and we have thoroughly enjoyed being with them and in return to borrowing
our house for a holiday in England, Rob ‘agreed’ to drive us to the airport. We
arrived in good time to check our 50kg in but we were delayed at security because
I was carrying £5,000. Totally legal but customs needed proof that we had withdrawn
it from a bank and the office was called who had to find a policeman. We stayed
calm and (of course) complied and in the end we were congratulated upon what we
do, but just in case we were benefit frauds, the procedure had to be carried out.
All this left us with very little time to follow our routine of buying a newspaper,
water, salad lunch for the plane, toiletries from Boots and books to read, let alone
have a sit down breakfast. So we forfeited the last three items in the list and
made straight for the departure gate.
Once on the plane we realised that it was
only half full (worrying for Thomas Cook’s future) but the journey was uneventful
and, although long, we arrived safely, on time and went through passport control
and luggage reclaim very smoothly. Abdouli and Modo Lamin met as on arrival with
smiles and we jumped into the car and were knocking at the school gates within half
an hour of landing!
So many friendly faces to greet us with welcome back , here is
your second home how are the family: your grandsons, your mother, your son, Paul
(who they know had a serious accident a year ago) but almost the best message was
from Kemo who arrived at the balcony of G6 above us and threw us a piece of chalk
each, stating with a smile, you can carry on now!
Our first glance at the school immediately showed the accident
that had happened only the day before. The huge fig tree outside Nursery 1 had released
a heavy branch onto the roof of the school, smashing the iron sound bar, causing
several holes in the roof but so so fortunately harming no one. The very little
children inside were understandably terrified and all sorts of reports went home
to parents about fire, storms and probably the end of the world. Some were even
too terrified to leave the classroom to go home. What fortune that they were all
safe to tell these tales. The rest of the tree has been amputated, casuing damage
to the swings, sadly.
Years ago Master Hobart and horticulturalist on the Board
of Directors planted his own mango seedlings near this tree, anticipating that it
would one day have to go and be replaced by his fruits. Nature has decided that now is that time. Its fig fruits are inedible to
humans, bomb the nursery roof every year and the huge leaves required endless sweeping
later in the year. Symbolically to us, its passing represents the start of a new
era. It was under that very tree that the villagers and local dignitaries gathered
to receive the first cheque of £1000 that we gave in 2000. In 2003 they gathered
again with the scouts to welcome our troop and receive our second instalment. But
now we have moved on to a bigger school, new developments and the mango trees are
ready to welcome the new generation and provide the hopes and nourishment for the
years ahead.
We spent 3 hours sweeping, wiping and cleaning our house and
putting up the curtains, making the beds with sheets and brewing a cup
of tea. Apart from the dust (we have no glass on the windows) and numerous evidence
termite trails up the walls and on a suitcase, we found everything smelling sweet
and turned Tonka Kunda into a comfortable home with ease. We supped from dried soya
mince, a tin of tomato puree and Tony went into the village for fresh onions and
rice. Accompanied by a very warm beer (no ice in the village at this time of day)
we enjoyed the meal and fell asleep almost before going to bed. I hit the pillow
at 2010 and did not wake until Tony brought me a cup of tea at 7 am, so I missed
the calls to prayer, the cockerels and donkeys completely.
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