Seaside photos and front garden

Mount Gemi, Ghana's 50th, on the way to work with Maya

Teenage Mutant Ninja Green Turtles

Hello All,

It's been a while, and we have made it to the beach. Our life has changed dramatically from being in the village. There are no more headpans with cement needed to be carried, no more lights out power cuts, and no more cabbage stew every other night! However, there are also no more kids to have a laugh with, no more daily deliveries of 100% fresh fruit and no more of Sinorita's perfect fufu and soup.

On our way down from the Volta Region to the Western Region with Michelle, Maria's old workmate, we stopped off in Accra to stay with Brother Ben. Seeing a rich Ghanaian house was a first for us and it's no wonder everyone wants to go to Accra! Ben is originally from Tsyome but studied in Hungary and now lives in Accra. He built the house we stayed at and is called by the village one of the 'sons of Tsyome'. Being a wealthy son of the village means that whenever he returns home he spends most of his time acting in a kind of godfather way. It is the way that the village can get community money for projects and also so that problems like teenage pregnancies and land disputes are settled, by having a figure of authority in the family to go to. He will then decide what should be done.

One of these issues started about 10 years ago with the birth of Essinam. She was one of the kids we got to know really well, and she lives in the compound we stayed at with Ben's sister Peace. She is a cousin once removed (or something like that) who was the first child to a very young mum. She now has many sisters and brothers, but as far as we could make out she has been left with Peace and is in effect a house servant. She is treated well in that she gets food and goes to school, but she doesn't get a lot of love. Back to the bit where Ben is involved - basically now that a teenager in his family has managed to get up duff, he is going to have the unwanted baby sent to Essinam's family as tit for tat.

It can get a bit complicated.

Arrival at Green Turtle Lodge

We were met with our packs and bags of fast rotting fruit in Takoradi by Tom, the owner of Green Turtle with his wife Jo. We have been here for a few weeks now and have pretty much got the hang of things. The staff like us too (I think) so it's going well. The key thing I was told by Tom is not to let the beers run out. He casually mentioned that he would close the place down if such a catastrophe ever happened. So far so good.

Some of the highlights so far chosen at random and in no particular order...

Tom and Jo's beachfront property as our new home

Acrobat/fireeater and bonfire evening fuelled by my new favorite shooter called 'Mini Guinness', and Maria guzzling more white wine than she’s had for months!

Driving on African dirt roads in a mini van!

Unlimited beach volleyball – shame I’m so bad

Inheriting a small army of ex-pat friends - dinner with Rob and Linda was on top of their 'fort' with Tom Tomatoes their sons pet monkey and then a quick midnight dip in their seawater swimming pool. A bit of a contrast to Tsyome...

Chasing foot long lizards out of the house

Counting a million daily - these fun effects of inflation are soon to change with the new currency coming in

Having our own dog, Maya, a massive dopey German Shepherd

Pre dinner cocktails at Goldie's house, one of the duty managers, with his friends was a mix of beer, peach schnapps and a local favourite spirit called gin bitters - Oh lovely ;-)

The next big event for us is meeting my parents at Accra and going on to show them the projects we have been working on and then some tourist stuff down around here. I am writing this on the laptop outside our house so that I don't have to spend hours in Takoradi's sweatshop internet cafes - so I hope we get some photos up tomorrow when I post this!

As ever, feel free to drop either of us a line if you are interested in visiting,

Take care all
Dave and Meme