Making our own Christamas Fun

There were days when others provided the fun but, in the absence of a a VSO Christmas Party and the fact that the British High Commissioner decided to have his party this year without inviting VSOs like last year (probably the Queen cutting back), we decided to make our own Christmas cheer.

We invited all of the VSOs and a few others who were left in Georgetown to join us for a little festive cheer. It turned out to be a great party and set us all up well for the start of Christmas.

Rain Rain Rain

They say that we've had three times the monthly rainfall in half the month and believe me that's a lot of rain. People are a bit edgy about it because in 2005 they had very serious floods around this tinme of year. But we carry on working - well we do, a lot of others don't. So this post will just give you a flavour. Actually there's been much worse than you can see here but didn't have my camear with me otr too wet to take photos.

VSO Jane in her stylish long boots

Our garden

Off to get the gas

National Park

What the heck - more rain

National Park

Rotary Christmas Affair

Trying to get in the mood for Christmas we were invited to the Rotary Club Christmas Affair at Marian Academy. It was a slick performance and we saw the other half of Georgetown - the one you don't see every day - the wealthy or at least that's how it appeared. A beautifully decked stage heralded a host of talent through singers to steel pans and the famous Arturo Tappin - a brilliant Saxophonist with rasta hair going to below his knees. They call him Leon in Brazil. Well he looks like a lion with a tail. Everyone was good and pleasant to listen to but he had exceptional talent. What a performance.

It was all for charity and the artistes gave their skills for free. A good evening!

Miriam and Stephen - redressing the balance of the last post

Ron Robinson - local celebrity and broadcaster

Mary visits Lethem

The Savannah Inn

Soon after we came back from out visit to England, Mary set off to Lethem in the south west of the country to do the last of her Fast Track Initiative workshops for educators. She went by 12 seater plane and stayed in the Savannah guest house which turned out to be surprisingly comfortable and with a good chef who was able to get meat from Brazil and who was very creative -an unusual trait here.

It's not all work for Mary and Odetta

Although she had only 2 and a half days to deliver she had to go for 8 days because of availability of flights and a national holiday - Eid. The workshop went well and now she can say she has completed that side of her work.

Crossing the Takatu

It had an upside because she was able to go over the newly constructed Takatu Bridge (which is already sinking into the ground but being repaired) into Brazil for a few hours. She noticed the change immediately, street lights and pavements and well stocked shops. She was also able to visit St Ignatius - an Amerindian village whose main industry is peanuts. They have become mechanised because they have a machine that shells one peanut at a time! They have a hand to mouth existence and survive; well, I don't know how but they do!

Peanut Produce in St Ignatius

Manufacturing peanut products

And, for the first time in 30 years, Mary went on the back of a motorbike. She spent a couple of lovely evenings with two VSOs from Australia - Teddy and Vanessa and got a lift home on on their motorbike (courtesy of VSO).

Drive safely Teddy, that's my wife

So Mary is back now and, due to the joys of email, is still able to work with Meg who is in Southport 5,000 mile away beavering away at stories for their third and last educators' manual.

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Mary in Lethem Novemeber 2008

Celebrating another month

Mary and Miriam

Ever since we arrived in Guyana 22 months ago on 13th February 2007 we have celebrated our achievements by going out for a meal on the 13th of each month to different places. In the early days of course Allende was with us but now she's been gone for over a year. Yesterday was no exception and for the last year or so others have joined us as they arrived 6 months later on 13th.

Mary and Mira

So yesterday we went to the Roof Top Garden Cafe in Kitty. It's a little known secret, even the taxis don't seem to know where it is. On top of a building with a view of the city we had a a lovely meal with Nicolette and Martin, Mira and Miriam (honourary VSO for this purpose from Canada who is 6 months ahead of us and doing 3 years - what a star!).

Nicolette and Martin celebrated their anniversary

We toasted Meg and Bill who are in England at the moment (Meg came with us) at 7-30pm as promised. It was a great evening but we realised that the next one which will be on 13th January 2009 will be the last!

Unbelievable!!!

It was one of those days. They did take pictures of me but everybody I was with had their eyes closed so I cut them out. So I cropped myself out of the others and here I am. The red face could be the sun or the alcohol. I'm not sure.

September to November News 2008

It's 30th November 2008 and we hold our first coffee morning for many months

It's 25th November 2008 and we return to Guyana from England

It's 20th Novemeber 2008 and we miss the VSO Forum in Lake Mainstay

It's 19th Novemebre 2008 and we miss our own Leavers' Forum because we are in England.

It's 15th November 2008 and we return to England for 9 days on the spur of the moment. A great trip.

It's 13th November 2008 and we go to the Windjammer Restaurant to celebrate 21 months in Guyana

It's 8th Novemeber 2008 and we go to the Theatre Gulid for a second week to see a performance of Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

It's 2nd Novemeber 2008 and we go to see a superb production of Joseph (same cast as last time) at the newly renovated theatre Guild.

It's 28th October 2008 and went to a Master Trainer friend for a superb celebration lunch.

It's 27th October 2008 and went to the Sea Wall to see the Diwali Motorcade for the Festival of Light

It's 26th October and went to National Cultural Centre to see the Guyana Police Force perform their cultural extrvaganza to celebrate 169 years of existence (as a police band)

It's 25th October 2008 and it's 110 days to go. Yes, we are now counting down. Mary seems to have fully recovered so all is well. Went to JR Burgers with Mira last night to celebrate Mary's return to health. She's been fancying a burger for a while but couldn't eat one.

It's 23rd October 2008 and great news - Director informs me that our Canadian backers GBET have agreed to supply materials so that my 11 modules of the Education Management Programme can be put into every school in the country as resource and training materials. Result!!!!! I just have to finish them now. Done 5 plus Handbook and Assessment guide and half way through 6 - 7, 8 and 9 to be done in three months. Very possible!

It's 22nd October 2008 and Mary returns to work after a week of unpleasant sickness. She is very tired and returns home after half a day and takes the rest of the week off.

It's 16th October 2008 and agreed with my Director that I will do no more training in Guyana but concentrate on writing the Management Modules. The Minister's decision was a blow but better to clear the decks and complete the work.

It's 15th October 2008 and Mira returns to Guyana after 3 months at home and some medical treatment. She is in great form and looking good. She spends the evening with us. Mira is proud to be our oldest volunteer and has been volunteering in different countries for 12 years. She has more energy than the rest of us put together.

Mary returned from Mahdia today another 8 hours of bumpy unmade road. Unfortunately, she has come down with something nasty! But her workshops were successful and worthwhile.

The first of my series of workshops "Leading from the Front" for Georgetown Senior Teams was due to start today but the Minister, in his wisdom. decided to use it for a press conference on the Strategic Plan just agreed by cabinet. So the workshops are cancelled! My biggest disappointment in Guyana so far but will recover.

It's 12th October 2008 and Mary and Meg travel again to Mahdia in Region 8 - the remotest region in the mountains. They go by minibus - 8 hours.

That same evening we are invited to our first Thanksgiving (Canadian) but, of course, Mary can't go. Imagine, turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings as well as an excellent Pumpkin Pie created by Nicolette and Martin. A great evening. Miriam was the host. Not a VSO but a volunteer with the RC Church who we met in St Lucia last Christmas.

It's 11th October 2008 and Mary and I go to Windjammer Restaurant to celebrate our 20 months in Guyana. Ist time we have done it alone. Lovely meal.

It's 9th October 2008 and we attend the graduation of Region Five on the West Bank Berbice. Another great occasion and the guest speaker again. They say such lovely things about me that it is embarrassing. I was introduced as "our beloved Stephen" so I must be doing something good. See www.ncerdleaders.com for reports and pictures on both.

It's 6th October 2008 and Mary and I attend the Graduation for Region 4 with some graduates from Region 8. I was the guest speaker. A lovely occasion.

It's 4th October 2008 and Elizabeth (our Canadian intern neighbour living in our yard) has her leaving party. She will be leaving on Wednesday.

It's 3rd October 2008 and our good friend Cheryl has come to stay for a couple of nights from Corriverton. She will be going home for three months and then returning for an extension of 6 months on her placement. Celebrated by going to new thriving Chinese restaurant followed by karaoke at the Roopa Bar in Station St. No I didn't sing but Cheryl and Lucia did (like angels) the best in the bar.

3rd October 2008 - Programme Area Review at VSO for which I am NCERD representative - planning for future of the Education Programme

It's 2nd October 2008 and Celia from Mabaruma Region One comes to stay for a week for the Programme area Review and some work in a Georgetown Special School

It's 25th September 2008 and you may think we are counting down but today we worked out that there are only 20 weeks to go left in Guyana. Now, that's significant because, although it may seem like a long time. it means that we are 80% complete but we've still got about 50% of the work to do. Mary is in Bartica at the moment (I'm a bachelor for two days) doing workshops with her literacy educators. It's been a bit of a challenging day for her but she got through it. Speedboats there and back (Peter and Angela you know all about that). I'm plodding through the module on Financial Management. Not exactly exciting but one of my strengths so hopefully it'll tuirn out alright in the end.

Mary's off to Region One Mabaruma next week. She'll have to go by twin prop 10 seater plane. So on my own for another week. Will miss her but will get lots of work done.

It's 20th September 2008 and we're spending a quiet weekend at home with the usual shopping and cooking for the week. Mary has just prepared bottled garlic pork. Have to leave it a few days before we can eat it.

Just realised that time here is getting shorter. On Thursday we will have 20 weeks remaining. Sounds long but it's really short when you consider what we have to achieve in that time. I am turning away work at the moment. Can't keep up. Big task next month is to train all the Senior leadership Teams of all the 110 schools in Georgetown. Later I will be doing the same in Region 6 and with graduations to attend (that's a great pleasure) and still 5 modules to write and a lot of enjoying ourselves, there won't be much time!

Its 16th September 2008 and yesterday I was proud to be the guest of honour at the Region Two Graduation for the Education Management Programme. Speeches and certificates. it was an excellent affair and very enjoyable to be present.

It's 14th September 2008 and Mary goes to Santa Mission Amerindian Village and shakes hands with the PM who came up on her from behind.

It's 13th September 2008 and like every month on the 13th we celebrated our 19 months in Guyana. There were others who were celebrating 1 month and 13 months. we seem to be the old stagers now! We went th Windjammer restaurant.

It's 12th September 2008 and I delivered a workshop in Bartica Secondary to all the staff on teacher self-evaluation. It's great going to and from work by speedboat.

Flying visit to England

On Thursday night we decided to go home for a few days, on Friday morning we booked a flight, on Saturday at 2-30am we got up, left at 3-30am and were on the plane at six to Barbados. What a turnaround! We have less than three months to go but felt a trip home would do us good and we would be able to see everyone. So that's what we did.

Waiting in Barbados Airport for 10 hours

We spent 10 hours in Barbados - no delays just a scheduled wait - then got the evening plane to Gatwick by Virgin Atlantic, arriving Sunday morning when Matt picked us up. Stayed the night at Ann's and then a few nights with Dad and then John and back to Dad's and then home just over a week later.

Waiting for Virgin to open

It was great to see everyone and catch up and now we are back with only three weeks to our Christmas break and 5 weeks in the new year. We've decided not to do a lot of extensive travelling on the way back because of the state of the £ / $ which makes it really bad value for money but we will just do a bit, probably Brazil, Suriname and French Guyana and then on the New York for a week or so and fly back from there. Should be back home by early March.

Mary writes her diary whilst we wait

We have a lot to do before then. I have completed 7 modules and have 2 to go then all the formatting and putting on the website. Mary has another workshop in Lethem (by small plane) for 5 day's next week and another to train some new master trainers to take over from her and Meg when we leave. All seems to be going well and we should just about be able to do it!

Gatwick on the way home

We just couldn't resist that one last Wetherspoon's fry up on the way back

And if you look carefully below, you will see that they put on a flight especially for us to Bridgetown Barbados - VSO 29. How appropriate!

I know pictures of airports are boring, but that's all we took. So much of a rush at other times, forgot to take the camera out!

Should I be offended or pleased?

At lunchtime today I went to pay my telephone and internet bill. I went to GT&T, was searched on entry and saw two queues - one with around 20 people and another with 3. I joined the one with three. Then I looked up and saw "Senior citizen's only". So resigned to a long wait I went over and joined the long queue.

Lo and behold, the guard came up to me and said "This is your queue". Well, I know my hair may be a little speckled with grey but I don't see myself as a senior citizen. But I didn't argue. You never argue with a man with a gun! Well, that's my excuse for joining the pensioners' line and being out in two minutes.

But in Guyana, I would be a senior citizen at 55 so "what the heck? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Diwali Celebrations

Today was a national holiday for Deepavali - Hindu Festival of Light. We were invited along to the home of a sister of one of the master trainers that I work with. We were provided with the most wonderful spread. It is amazing how some people can make meatless food so tasty. There were so many traditional dishes both savoury and sweet - never seen so many deserts. We had our fill and they must have cooked enough for 50 and it was packed into boxes and given to neighbours. What a lovely idea and celebration.

These are the things we will miss when we leave Guyana.

Deepavali 2008

When you are here for more than a year, things come round for a second time and you fall into a pattern. Well, it's Diwali time -Indian festival of light at the darkest time of the year.There's a motorcade in Georgetown and several others all over the country. So like last year we went along to see it with all of the crowds.

It was bigger than last year and more people with more floats all lit up in their multicoloured lights, large Lilly leaves with young girls sitting in them and tributes to the Gods. All in all it was a very colourful affair and was great to watch and be a part of. Except for one thing. Some silly people threw firecrackers and one went right by us, jumped up and hit our VSO friend who took the brunt of it, burning her bag, her jeans and, worst of all, her skin. Had to go to hospital but is recovering with a nasty burn which will heal but put a sour taste to the evening. She's fine though, very brave and up and moving again.

The floats leave the Shri Krishna Mandir in New Campbellville and go along the East Coast to La Bonne Intention (I love that name - it's what I am full of). It was only an hour late getting to us so that is good timing by Guyana's standards.

Cultural Extravaganza - Guyana Police Force

You know there are some times when you need a lift because life is a little bit samey. Well this weekend was it. Not so much the weekend but from Sunday night onwards. Weekend was the same as always - shopping etc etc. But on Sunday evening we splashed out the $500 each (that's £1.50 since the recession) and went to the National Cultural Centre. For those who know Croydon, it's like a smaller version of Fairfield Halls and very nice.

Despite its title it was a mixture of talent from the Guyana Police Force and friends. It was police and military bands, singers, indian dance, gymnastics and Creole comedy (we're starting to understand some of it now). It's not just about the words but the culture. It was great and really uplifting. There was such talent it was surprising they ever find time to do their shooting practice with the automatic weapons they carry around with them. As usual, I digress. One even played a rifle like a trumpet. We really enjoyed it.

Thankyou Guyana Police Force!

Canadian Thanksgiving

I've never been to a Thanksgiving before, American or Canadian and so it was a great treat when we were invited by Miriam, our Canadian volunteer friend (honoroury VSO - she is with the church volunteering for three years), invited us for the Canadian Thanksgiving on 13th October. It fully lived up to expectations!

Not easy to get a turkey in Guyana but she did it and our VSO friends Nicolette and Martin regalled us with a magnificant Pumkin Pie (never had that before either) which was really delicious. Actually the food was superb and the company even better. Pity Mary and Meg had to miss it, being on their way to Mahdia. Turkey, all the trimmings. What a treat.

Thanks Miriam! I wasn't the only non Canadian because Peace Corps American Chase was there. They certainly do it in style even in Guyana.

Nicolette and Martin's Pumpkin Pie

Latest news for October

Just to let you know that the latest news for the month of October has been updated. So just look at the sidebar on the right.