First thing this morning we went to the bank to get the
deposit out for the truck should it prove to be ‘the one’. Steve then set off to meet Musa and I
returned home on the local transport.
This is a real Gambian experience for those of you who never venture
outside the hotel, a Gelleh bus is usually a converted van from Europe
which has failed it’s MOT. This morning
was no exception, although the standard of the seats was worse than normal,
metal frames with a small well used piece of sponge balanced precariously
between the frame. I was one of the first
to climb in and secured a seat behind the driver on a bench for three with two
gentlemen. The seat behind had a very
well dressed man, minding his own business with his headphones in his ears. The next occupant to arrive was a lady with a baby and
a small toddler; she tried to climb in with the sleeping baby over her
shoulder, but the roof was too low, she handed the still sleeping baby to me
whilst she climbed in when I handed it back.
The toddler took the next seat in the row of three; there was then some
discussion between the conductor and herself, the outcome being that the
conductor wanted the toddler to sit on mum’s knee. The lady turned to the man next to her and
without a word handed the baby to him to mind.
He sat with a startled look on his face all the way down the road,
holding the child at arms length. I
returned home and spent the rest of the morning doing the charity accounts and
this months wages. Steve spent an
enjoyable day test driving the new truck, driving around with the mechanic
trying to find sand deep enough to get the truck stuck and test the 4 wheel
drive. Boys and their toys. Apparently they struggled to find anywhere
that the truck couldn’t cope with, a good sign.
Musa inspected the truck inside and out, underneath and the engine thoroughly
and gave it the thumbs up – so we have a new truck!
Steve returned all excited at the prospect of the new
vehicle, which we have to pay for tomorrow from our donation. He had also met Momodou, Mr Jallow’s son and
gone to the pharmacy with him as Momodou has been unwell and attended the
clinic this afternoon. Momodou stayed
long enough to charge his mobile phone and then made his way back home. We decided to go out for dinner to celebrate
the new vehicle and walked around to Neil’s bar for the evening.
That evokes some memories of Gelleh bus trips - And sometimes the struggle to get on one at busy times.
ReplyDelete