Three acts of kindness in less than 10 minutes

I stopped into the local shop for bits and pieces this evening only to find myself spending more than the cash I had on me (no chip and pin here to fall back on). Samba, the owner was more than happy to let me take the goods and pay later although he has only met me once or twice. Two minutes later I was pushing my bike across the garage forecourt (flat tyre) when a group of 6 young lads all sharing a food bowl invite me to join them for rice, bitter tomato and fish. Quick splosh of water on the hands and I’m in there. As I leave, still pushing my bike a guy on the other side of the road who has a tyre repair business notices the flat tyre, calls me over. He has an airline and has the correct pressure in the tyre – tested by a swift kick, in no time. Gambians really are the most thoughtful, helpful people. Thanks guys.

I wasn’t sure how I would like Christmas away from my family and friends and the typical December weather of the UK. I had received a few cards and parcels of presents from home (thanks to Lozzy and Andrea) and even had some Christmas tree decorations hanging up. We had had the VSO Christmas party complete with mince pies, carols and Santa Claus but no holiday, festive feeling was coming though. The temperature still in the high 20s and being in a mainly Muslim country made it really difficult to think of Christmas at all. So when 25th December arrived I thought of my family back home and imagined them getting ready for the big celebration but did not feel one bit homesick.
I spent the weekend at a lodge near the beach at Kartong in the south of The Gambia. It was going to be a relaxing, lazing on the beach sort of weekend with the odd glass of wine in the evening. I was there with friends and found the rest of the guests easy company.
About lunchtime myself and Lynn drove out with Geri, our host, to find an internet connection so that we could skype our families. There was no reception for mobile phones etc at the lodge. We were both sitting in the car, laptops at the ready and when the magical little lines appeared and we both shouted ‘stop!!’
Two skype conversations going on at the same time in one car was not going to work, so I jumped out and settled down by a wall in a deserted, dusty lane. I had just started to chat with my sister when out of the corner of my eye I could see two boys, full of curiosity approaching me. They were closely followed by another two or three boys, who called out to several others. Boys being boys they wanted to get in on the action so I let them see my sister and mum on the screen and boys being boys they soon took over. All that my family could see on that Christmas Day’s skype session was a screen full of faces shouting, “Happy Christmas England” "Hello Caroline, Hello Gladys" and “Buy me bicycle”. Our conversation was completely hijacked but it gave a real flavour The Gambia and it was lovely to be able to share it with my family back home.
Hope you all had a good Christmas and that lots of lovely things happen for you in 2011.