One thing I’m really glad to be leaving behind is the Spring change in the clocks. Getting up this morning on this first working day of the week is a struggle. I’m just glad it wasn’t last weekend.
T Minus 146
This afternoon we took advantage of the good weather and delayed our journey to Lincoln. Anita set to work on the front with a little help from Bex and Matt. Mum potted up some plants with a lot help from Bex. I meanwhile went to the dump and then the weekly ALDI shop (normality needs to go on) before returning to help out front.
The deck always was blue but weathering had toned it down. So on reflection and having seen the brightness of the newly painted blue deck we have decided to lose the blue.
T minus 147 When we pack our bags in the summer and fly out to Tanzania – it will not be the first visit to that continent for either Anita or I. In fact by one measure all the family have been to Africa before. Anita has had by far the longest stay, having lived and worked in Malawi during 1992 and 1993. I will leave her to share her story in more depth later on. Lanzarote As for the rest of us, depending on how you look at it, we all visited the continent of Africa in 2006, when we had a fabulous holiday in Lanzarote (part the Canary Islands). These islands – while part of Spain (and therefore politically European) are actually part of the African continental shelf. However, this is probably a little tenuous, since for all practical purposes we were visiting a European nation. Nonetheless the African climate, the camels (imported of course) and the wildlife was Africa ‘writ small’. Here is an excuse to include a few of the pics we took at the time. Look for the pictures of Manrique’s works – a famous Lanzarote artist.
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Gambia Only eight weeks before my family package holiday to the Canaries, I had visited ‘Africa proper’ for the first time. This trip undertaken with colleagues from school was part of fostering a link between my School and Brikama Upper Basic School in The Gambia. It was the first such trip by staff, following on from earlier trips taken by Sixth Formers. It gave me my first taste of Africa and it was wonderful. We were staying in a moderate Hotel, but it had a pool – so we Westerners weren’t completely thrown in at the ‘deep end’ (every pun intended). From that base we visited the School in neighbouring Brikama, along with Serekunda and Banjul. It was a packed week with trips out into the countryside visiting places such as Makesutu (an Ecotourism centre), Lamin Lodge and Kachikally Crocodile Pool, as well as an Orphanage and Maternity Centre. We were ably led by a Gambian Tour Guide, known as Mucki, who gave us a real insight into the real Gambia away from the tourist trail. We even went on a day trip to Senegal including the crossing of the River Gambia. I loved the heat and the wildlife (no big game in the Gambia, but a great variety of tropical birds and reptiles). I would be woken each morning by the strange whooping sound of an African bird. Lizards would be crawling across the lawns, even the grass was different. Breakfast in the hotel was buffet style with plenty of fruit including tiny, tasty bananas (better than their bigger UK imported cousins). Then it was out for the day to wherever we were going. Evenings were spent in local Gambian restaurants – off the beaten track. The sun set quickly so it was always dark by 7 which seemed strange in the heat (it was always 30ºC ). We would wait on a street corner and pile into a ‘minibus’ – these were interesting affairs with dilapidated seats and no seat belts – 15 of us crammed in and driven off at high-speed to our restaurant for the night. There were many Dalasi to the Pound, and we probably over-tipped to begin with paying one lucky ‘mandolin’ player a months wages after our first meal. One of the Gambian specialties was Domoda (a beef dish served in a peanut / tomato sauce). In those pre-wifi days internet required a cabled connection but it seemed like every other shop was an Internet Café. The Gambia was a great place to visit. Unfortunately. the week was over too quickly, but it was a fabulous introduction to Africa and one I will never forget.
A trip to the local MASTA clinic is on the agenda today for the whole family. For those who have not been this is a Tropical Diseases Health Clinic and we have come for our initial meeting and immunisation injections. Luckily for me I had a number last year when I went to the Far East (read more here) Even so this is an expensive trip.
On the menu today it’s a Hepatitis B booster for me and a Rabies booster for Anita. Apart from me, everyone else is getting a Yellow Fever jab, and we’re all getting Meningitis ACWY. In the coming months the others are going to need protection from Hep B, the kids Rabies and Tuberculosis too. All of us are also probably going to get protection from Cholera.
It’s a long list and a costly one but absolutely has to be done.
It is easy to forget how protected we are in the West – from bugs and diseases. We live our lives in a protective shell brought about by decades of investment and developments. We might moan about the NHS but life in the developing world for the sick and invalid is not easy. Sanitation and health care is inadequate. Whilst we will have health insurance we will need to take precautions.
I like statistics and as an avid consumer of Geographical data – the stats, indicating where visitors have viewed from, fascinates me. Today we reached 3,500 views!
Who are the visitors?
Today’s post is more reflective. Looking back on yesterday’s Car Boot Sale it was an interesting view of society and the cultural mix.
In my descriptions I refer to people’s nationality – some of this is guesswork based on voices or looks and in no way is meant to be disrespectful, but to reflect the cultural mix at the MK Bowl. In fact having got myself up before 5am on this occasion I admire the fortitude and perseverance of all those people seeking to better themselves through sacrifice on a regular basis, especially on a cold inhospitable morning as yesterday.
In the ’90s Blur released a single Parklife which was apparently about the people they saw in London parks on there way to recording studios.
Here I share my take on “Bootlife”
The car boot sale is held every Sunday at the MK bowl, a large circular arena with a long path surrounding it’s upon which stall holders are setting up.
We arrive at 4:45am and within seconds we are approached from out of the gloom by people who begin rooting through our goods as we unpack, many are silent and don’t really acknowledge us as we insist we’re not ready. One lady engages Anita in conversation and we discover she works night shift at Sainsbury and likes to come along to the car boot sale on her way home.
Just after 5:30am fellow traders begin to arrive – experienced booters who are looking for bargains from the amateurs like us. One guy buys our entire collection of Doctor Who characters – these are tough bargainers who won’t take no for an answer.
6:40am As the dawn comes and the torches are put away we start to see the early risers more clearly.
They come. Circling the bowl, tracking back and forth, doubling back at times.
It’s a multinational group. A Chinese lady approaches several times looking at many items and looking for a real bargain, rejects our offers. There are several folk with Eastern European accents, some look more middle eastern, possibly Iraqi or Kurdish, others more Romany looking. Some more Asians, some looking for DVDs (we don’t yet have any), others wanting phones and electrical goods (we have none for sale).
We greet all with cheery “hellos”, most smile back and reply in broken English. Is there a sense that we are seeing the bottom rung of society here? People are seeking to find things at low cost either to have or sell on. Very few Brits at this hour – is this a sign that these folk are more willing to get up and get out or simply people in need? Most are very cold as are we!!
7:00am we begin to see more African Nationals – mainly Ghanaian – Anita practicing her limited Ghanaian as she greets them with “ete-sen” (more than I knew). One lady shivering in the cold has open toe shoes and no socks – poor lady must be freezing (we see her later having bought some – she seems a lot happier)
By 8:00am there are more people about and we start to see more Brits. Many a bargain is struck but people are picky and it’s still cold – some taken aback by Anita’s cheery “Good Morning” , but it does help with sales.
One guy in a skirt desperately wanted the 60’s version of the Italian Job with Michael Caine (we have no DVD’s to sell at this point) , he eventually moves on.
The sun has risen higher and by 9:00am is peering round the trees. It’s still cold as someone walks by in Sari like material – beautiful but impractical in the ice.
By now my Stephen, Fiona, mum and the kids arrive with extra supplies including DVD’s and more kitchenware.
As if from nowhere we are descended upon by a hoard and a Polish lady snaps up 4 Disney DVDs much to the annoyance of our neighbouring trader who also wanted them and eventually buys the rest for a good price (for him!)
10:00am and the Brits arrive in force – a mix of middle class bargain hunters and the people with much less. Strange things sell whilst expected things don’t. The sun warms the place and then a brief rain shower – thankfully not for too long. Anita got talking to a lady from Tanzania (Arusha), excited about our move and keen to say much about her mother country. She bought our juicer!
Heather and Geoff arrive too and spend some time. We sell an iron
Pestle and Mortar and an Iron Fondue Set – the guy doesn’t want a Fondue cook book – I reckon he wanted the iron!
11:30am Lots gone, lots remain. Some people we see over and over, some have been here since six – still searching. The lady from Sainsbury returns thinking we’d be sold out by now. Heather and Geoff leave with Matthew, they to help with the house, he to cook Lasagna for 9!
Anita sells most of her Creative Memories to two customer. One lady in a wheelchair advises against selling her a Christmas Tigger – suggesting it would sell well on eBay.
12:15pm: Fellow traders are packing up even though this goes on ’till 2:00pm. We still have one or two customers, but then start packing – a lot has gone but plastic boxes don’t shrink so the car is still jammed to the gunnels. Time for one last sale as a guy looking for a cricket set sees, our croquet set. He doesn’t want it but is persuaded to give 25p for a beach golf set instead.
All in all a good weekend and a satisfactory morning we offloaded a lot of stuff and although we brought quite a bit back it’s definitely been worth it. Combining it with yesterday’s efforts we made a bit and gave a good bit to charity. Today we decided to give half to a charitable project in Tanzania being organised by the children of a local family of development workers (The Mongers)
The weather was dry apart from one shower and we had a steady stream of visitors. Anita sold most of her Creative Memories, we sold loads of Kitchenware. Most DVD’s and some CD games went. One guy bought all our Doctor Who models in one foul swoop.
We returned with some books, most board games, a few soft toys and remaining craft items.
When packing up the car we found one lonely Sontaran (pictured) which not only had fallen down but had been trampled in mud. This lonely Sontaran is our mascot for the day.
😉
Great help throughout from mum, Stephen, Fiona, Matt, Bex …..
The pessimist in me thought we would not get many sales or visitors – glad I was wrong! A sunny day all day and the rain started just as we’d finished bringing stuff in from outside 🙂
Car Boot tomorrow and up at ridiculous o’clock in the morning. Hope its a good day.
Watching Sport Relief and seeing the films from Africa have a different resonance this year. To think that some of what we see might be surrounding us in the coming years.
We are challenged by this and a reading two recent blog posts one on the challenge of posessions
Everything in place for tomorrow’s Open House Sale. Just tidying through. Elephant (what’s left of it) is in the garage. A busy day of tidying by Anita, Heather and Geoff and a final push from us all and we have a house which can be seen 🙂
My wife and I are always looking for ways to simplify our lives. Recently, she heard about a project called “40 Bags in 40 Days.” In this challenge, you commit to de-cluttering a single area of your house every day for six weeks. All excess items are placed in bags for donation or dumping. It’s like a Lenten purge.
“Doesn’t it sounds like fun?!” she exclaimed.
“You and I have very different definitions of the word ‘fun,’” I answered.
The first few days, she attacked trouble spots like a human sieve, sifting through years of family knick-knacks. I helped by sitting on the couch and watching reruns of Deadliest Catch.
Gabby unearthed a treasure trove of random items. A VCR recording of an episode of Seinfeld. A twelve- year-old package of funnel cake mix, stashed in a box with a funnel cake maker we have never used. …
It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.
Tanza-Longs 
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