When you put tyres on the top of the van, not the bottom

So ... a busy (not even a) week since we got here and a lot has happened. We have found a team of very willing and able villagers to build the playground and they have got cracking. To date, work has gone really well on painting the blackboard walls, with some lovely designs (palm tree, suns and boat blackboards); tyres have been made into towers to climb with landscaped spaces for chdilren to explore; bantabas are built and work has started on huts which will encourage the chidlen to communicate in new and different ways. THe speaking tube is up, and is already being used by the children. 

So next week will see the building of a role play bus, finishing the huts and hills, swings and blackboard walls. A really exciting addition is  a boat which is being made by the boatmakers in Barra. This is a really exciting addition and one which the children are really excited about. Also, a mud/clay/messy kitchen is being installed.



Essa and Moussa deserve great credit for getting a drum activity made and painted and working out exactly how to make it. They are now researching how to make a hanging xylophone… 

Highlights have been watching the loading of the tyres on to the top of the bus to bring home, and laoding the inside with mahogany for the bantabas. Also, on that trip to Barra, we met the pigs on the beach whilst finding the people to make the boat. As always, people always know someone from their extended family and can work out a way to get things done. 

Journey to Mbollet-ba and first days in the village

Aga on the ferry with Abdou Sarr

Bye bye to Banjul and off to the North bank 

In the village: Ground nuts (peanuts) having been harvested and being sent off 

The lovely 'Crocodile Pond' which is right next to the village and oh so peaceful! 

One of the two shops in the village: George's shop, with everyone gathering around outside, either waiting for the bus, or just chilling out. And George is sitting outside listening to his radio. 

Ok so getting ready to go now. We have raised a lot of money (about £3780 so far which  is amazing!). If anyone wants to donate, please click here

We spent time at Salusbury Primary School on Saturday selling cards and clothes to add to the funds and it was great to get the support from everyone there. I sold my 'Animal Alphabet' cards which I have printed and show examples of things that happened in The Gambia when we were previously such as the earwig invasion, the donkey in the bedroom and frog in a boot!

Gathering things together now. I have a shopping list and gathering images and ideas together - exciting!!