Blogging from a dry, sunny Gambia.

The rainy season is finally over, time to survey the damage done by the rain and wind and undertake repairs to fencing, buildings and roofs.

We have installed a water pump, pipes and taps and now need to find some dosh to erect the water tank we bought.

It has to go up at least 5-6 metres to ensure good water pressure and will transform our lives and give the school kids clean running water and a good supply for watering the bananas and vegetable projects.

All going well with our new website, lots of you have looked at it and we invite more of you to see what we are up to by logging onto www.gambianprojects.com.

A massive thanks to the women's group at Onward House, Greenbank who are linked up with us here in The Gambia.

They held a fundraising jumble sale for us and raised 56 pounds; that will go a long way over here.

Thank you ladies for your support.

Thank you too for the seeds, tea bags and sure deodorant!

Yesterday I took 13 nursery age children to the local beach for a splash in the sea.

For six of them it was the first time they had seen the sea the the look of surprise and enjoyment on their faces was an absolute picture.

Will upload some of our latest pictures next time I blog.

Bye for now and stay warm!

Best wishes

Debbie

Frogs, rats and mozzies!

Hello everyone from The Dark Continent!

Next year when I return to Plymouth for my annual Spring visit please ensure I stay there until the rainy season has finished in The Gambia.

It is simply a nightmare. Water is still pouring through the roof of my mud hut due to an infestation of rats in the grass roof.

They keep us awake at night munching away metres above our heads; what goes in one end must come out the other and delightful brown stains now decorate our newly whitewashed walls, not quite the same effect it might have on Changing Rooms with a designer's creative touch but once the rains stop next month we should be able to rectify everything.

The night time chorus of frogs croaking away in the pools of water outside the compound add to the nocturnal symphony and with the irritating mozzies and ants nipping at me at frequent intervals I have to say, I am missing my home town at present.

Modou my husband had a horrific car accident in July and wrote off our vehicle; I now have to wait hours in the pouring rain for local transport which often doesn't run when the waters are high, trudging through calf-deep mud and wading through stagnant water to go and buy something simple like loo roll or water.

I must have been mad to put myself through this!

The other side of the coin is seeing the beautiful smiles of happy children, attending school for the first time in their lives (one of my pupils is 14 and has just learned how to use a ruler, three are 10 years old, the rest are 3-7 years old).

Hearing them singing English songs and repeating absolutely everything I say, leaving the school chatting away to each other in broken English, makes the insect bites and the discomfort less of an issue.

Until next time

Debbie