Back to normal – thank goodness.

I’m really fed up at the moment – because there were no decent priced flights to return together from the Gambia we decided to travel back separately – me on the 9th and P on the 21st. Well I got back alright but then the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano did its thing and now he’s stuck out there.

He’s been told he should get on a flight on Monday – that’ll be over 2 weeks apart – which I suppose is nothing really but it’s so quiet where we live that I confess to getting lonely here on my own.

When I lived in Bristol there was always loads of people around and places to go – it’s not the same here though of course it’s very beautiful.

Anyway – I think I’ll go and see my daughter and grand-daughter this weekend if she’s free and then I’ll enjoy the time rather than sit at home festering like an old volcano myself…………….

Please go away so my man can come home on Weds…………..

I’m back in the UK after a great trip to the Gambia and the Casamance region of Senegal helping organise two music festivals.

The first festival was in Kartong where for the first time we managed to get the local organising committee to do most of the pre-planning and organising themselves – this will eventually mean the festival will be able to go ahead without us – essential if it’s survive into the future.

Fatou Jatta at West Coast Radio Promoting Kartong Festival

The second festival at Dombondir was amazing – it was inspired three years ago by the Kartong Festival and the local people work very cooperatively to make it happen and despite a few setbacks it went well in the end. There was a great wrestling championship as well as local cultural music and dance troupes.

Wrestling at Dombondir

There’s so much I could write about my experiences there but I just don’t know where to start really! I always feel so at home there and the friendships I’ve developed over the years there feel as deep as any in the UK – although we only get to meet for a few short weeks of the year.

I spent many hours playing my flute with my friend Moriba and I’m going to compile a CD of Kora and Flute music over the next few months and put it up on www.myspace.com/moribakuyateh.

There are loads more photos on my Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=203171&id=637503707&l=f8cc8285b4

Just a quick hello from the bookshop in Fajara. No photos this time the connection is very slow! Preparations for the festival at Kartong are going well with the local people having done the ground work before we arrived which is just great and bodes well for the future sustainability of the Festival.

We’re fine and thankfully I’m not having any side effects from Doxycycline (anti-malarial) drugs and feel very well indeed.

The festival is this coming Friday and Saturday so I’ll try and get some good photos.

No idea when I’ll get online again but no doubt

I’ll Be Back!!!

We’ve just had the best part of a week staying on some friends’ boat which is moored in Auxerre where they’ve spent the winter. It’s a lovely boat – a Dutch Barge replica with good heating and well-proportioned living space.

It was really cold in Auxerre though – I was expecting France to be warmer but it was colder than the UK!

I’ve spent most of the week sorting out all the replacement bank cards, driving licence etc for the bag snatch last week but at last it’s nearly done. Any of you whose mobile number I had who hasn’t yet private messaged it to me please do as I lost my mobile phone as well!

We’re back to Gambia next week to help with the two festivals in Kartong and Dombondir so exciting times!

Well I had a lovely couple of days showing the notorious PD round Bristol – we had a fine old time including The Suspension Bridge (no he didn’t jump), an exotic night out to hear the lovely Mark Darkside do a gig, jam-making and cooking and an open mic session after going round the wonderful SS Great Britain before PD headed off to London.

Yesterday evening I was going to my weekly drum class at Banbury and a little hooligan grabbed my handbag off the passenger seat of my car and ran off with it – inside of course were all my cards, money, diary, keys to the Bristol flat, driving licence, etc etc. I’ve spent the whole day sorting it all out and trying to get mobile numbers back as both my phones were nicked as well. GRRRRRRRR@£**%!!

What a waste of time……………..little f*%ker!!!

This is a film of one of the things my son does in London – amongst the many other things such as clowning and assorted performance art!

BUILDING OF A ROOM, K7, ARENA DESIGN CENTRE, HARINGEY

I’ve posted here as Efx3 is currently afflicted with some malware attack which Pixie assures me will be fixed in due course.

I’ve had a rotten couple of days in bed with a yuck virus which I won’t detail here but on the mend now and looking forward to going away drumming for a few days on Weds then meeting the legendary PD next week if all goes to plan.

Well it’s been a couple of weeks since I posted something here.

Last Thursday I went to London to my son’s end of course presentation – he’s been training in clowning which is a very fascinating and deep subject – real emotions, tragedy and comedy is got in touch with and brought into the performance – he’s found it life changing.

On Saturday we went to Bristol to a day’s workshop of sabar drumming and dance with a great party in the evening and Sunday we came back home. I’ve got a busy week ahead – I’m thinking of starting writing my morning pages again to try and keep my writing mojo going – I used to write a few pages every morning early – just to clear out thinking and get all the channels open and flowing.

This coming weekend my dad and his wife plus my kids and family are coming for a late Christmas (well not really Christmas now!) so I’m looking forward to that – I’ve got to try and get everything sorted out before Thursday as I’m going to see Paloma Faith on Thursday in London and coming back just before everyone arrives on Friday – mmm – can it be done – I hope so!!!

Just back from an amazing three week trip to the Gambia sorting out various things for the Kartong Festival and the Dombondir Festival in the Casamance.

It was wonderful to catch up with old friends and get some much needed sunshine.

Here’s a short clip of me and my friend Moriba (on the Kora) playing at a friend’s wedding in Brikama!

The anti-malarial drugs I was on Malarone didn’t do me any good though and I won’t be using that again!

Here’s a link to some photos from the trip!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=177386&id=637503707&l=98a4f9dfbf