A trip home....

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since I last posted an update on life in Accra and while I have been quite active my news is pretty boring J.

I did experience a ‘fun exchange’ with my day guard a couple of weeks ago – having reversed my car out of the garage and parked it in a prominent place in the drive way exposing it and me to the beautiful sunshine I started to wash it.  Well that immediately had the guard rushing towards me asking me what I was doing;  “washing my car” was my response to which he responded “Madam, do you know how to wash your car?”   I really couldn’t believe that he thought I didn’t know how to wash a car, I mean how difficult does he think it is?  Anyway having told him firmly that “yes” I did know how to do it and wanted to do it myself while enjoying some time outside.  Within less than five minutes he had basically taken over washing my car – aagh!!!  What is worse is that I could have done a better job myself.   This weekend will be another episode of the ‘car wash’ except I am going to INSIST that he leaves me to do it myself – wish me luck with that!



Two beautiful graduates with "Mr Mac"!



Since my last post I was also able to enjoy a brilliant vacation at home in Wilmington.   I had planned the trip before I even arrived in Ghana in order to attend a best friend’s daughters High School graduation – I had been planning to be there for the last four years and certainly wasn’t going to renegade on that promise just because I am now living in Ghana!  It was a fun day and evening celebrating her achievement with her friends and family.  I also spent time with other great friends in Wilmington who I miss dearly while in Accra and visited my dogs a few times.

They are so comfortable in their ‘foster’ home to the point that when sitting down outside to enjoy a glass of wine and a chat with Anna, Pepper (who usually can’t stay close enough to me) jumped straight up on Anna’s lap and gave me a look that said “she feeds me now so ……” talk about in my face!  At the same time it was wonderful to know that they are so fond of Chip and Anna and are very comfortable in their new environment.

I did quite a bit of shopping while in Wilmington, including a major shoe purchase – 9 pairs – I have never brought that many in one go and barely own many more than that, but when I return in December they won’t have summer shoes available and the wear and tear on them in Accra is pretty rough so I felt it was important to stock up!  Other purchases included tea bags (not just the basic black tea available here), flavored coffee-mate powder, Splenda, basil seeds and some very tasty oils and vinegars I am looking forward to enjoying.    All of these are virtually unobtainable in Accra so I needed to bring back a good supply!!!

Following a combination of mechanical and weather problems with my flight out of Wilmington, I was unfortunate/fortunate J enough to miss my connection to Accra from Atlanta so ended up with a “bonus” two days in Wilmington enabling me to enjoy another great service at MBC and some time out on the boat with friends and a chance to just totally relax (as all my errands had been completed based on the original departure date).  What an incredible blessing!

I am now happily back in Accra with lots of plans on getting settled and meeting new friends and finding a ‘mission’ project to become involved in during my free time at weekends, etc.

Next on the horizon is a trip to Lome, Togo departing Accra on the 2^nd July for a few days.  More to come on that trip in the next update.