At 8.30 a.m. last Tuesday, 3rd Jan, I left Sarah, still in bed at Catherine’s house, and walked to the VSO office. It took about half an hour. By 10.30 I was on my way back with approval to take over an empty flat, here in part of Kombos, called Kannefing.
Sarah and I packed our bags, and called for Lamin’s help. On the way in his taxi we called into the biggest store in town, Emporium, and bought sheeting material and power credit from the Nawec offices. We were set.
I had never been to the flat before, despite knowing Rob, the previous tenant, well.
We had always met at the office or in cafes. When the taxi pulled up outside a tall rose pink building with grey gates, a fully tiled entrance courtyard and external steps to the roof terrace, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It would not be possible to conjure up a place of greater contrast to the little home I have just left behind in Soma.
The landlord and his family occupy the top floor so mine is the ground level flat.
Here is a large square kitchen with double drainer stainless steel sink, fridge and free standing cooker. There are two double bedrooms, each with double bed and set of drawers and one even has an ensuite shower room. Next to the kitchen is another shower with separate w.c. The small single bedroom is unfurnished. The lounge diner is light and cool.
All the floors are beautifully tiled. Sarah and I pinched ourselves and spent the rest of the day, unpacking, cleaning and rearranging the sparse furniture, before Suki joined us for the night, fresh off the plane after her Christmas visit home. By the end of the day we knew that we really needed all the household bits and pieces from Soma. There was not a great deal to collect but certainly too much to bring down by gely gely. As there was no VSO vehicle available to help, we of course, phoned Lamin. By the end of Friday it was mission accomplished I’d even had time to say goodbye to neighbours, friends and work colleagues. After the long return drive Lamin and Sarah’s energies did not flag, until everything was in place. This even includes a large television which Mr Sanyang, my landlord offered. Amongst all the other things Lamin achieved that day he also found time to ask Sarah out for a date. Happily she accepted.
Here is a large square kitchen with double drainer stainless steel sink, fridge and free standing cooker. There are two double bedrooms, each with double bed and set of drawers and one even has an ensuite shower room. Next to the kitchen is another shower with separate w.c. The small single bedroom is unfurnished. The lounge diner is light and cool.
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| After I'd put down my rug and added a bamboo bed couch |
All the floors are beautifully tiled. Sarah and I pinched ourselves and spent the rest of the day, unpacking, cleaning and rearranging the sparse furniture, before Suki joined us for the night, fresh off the plane after her Christmas visit home. By the end of the day we knew that we really needed all the household bits and pieces from Soma. There was not a great deal to collect but certainly too much to bring down by gely gely. As there was no VSO vehicle available to help, we of course, phoned Lamin. By the end of Friday it was mission accomplished I’d even had time to say goodbye to neighbours, friends and work colleagues. After the long return drive Lamin and Sarah’s energies did not flag, until everything was in place. This even includes a large television which Mr Sanyang, my landlord offered. Amongst all the other things Lamin achieved that day he also found time to ask Sarah out for a date. Happily she accepted.
That evening I phoned Max, another volunteer from the Philippines whose service is about to end. I had heard that he was selling a single bamboo bed which would make an ideal sofa in my new lounge as well as providing another spare bed. I was in luck; it was still available and would be ready for collection the next morning. So on Saturday (yesterday, as I write) I walked the half hour journey to Max’s house. He was waiting for me at the corner and we walked the last two hundred metres or so together before we sat drinking milk-less tea in his lounge. Max is warm and charismatic. He knows my new home well as his Dutch girlfriend, Mariella, lived in it a few years ago. He appropriately calls it “The Pink Palace”. Just before I left Max gave me a pillow and pretty throw for the bed. He also gave me a small “Barbie” pink tub, filled with “lady things”. Among the bags of cotton wool balls and toiletries were four dainty cups which had been Mariella’s. He thought it right that they return to The Pink Palace!
I began to worry about getting all this home but Max makes everything easy. Immediately we began our search for a taxi with a roof rack, one turned the corner and stopped. Inside, full of smiles was GT, another of Max’s friends. He too had come to pick up his share of the spoils. Max told the driver that before he took GT off with his load he was to take “his sister” ( i.e. me) home with all my things.
And so I spent the rest of the day setting out furniture, as well as washing and rearranging curtains and cushions. The dark blue voiles that were here look good alongside the “Sarratt” green gingham. The plastic woven rugs are perfect too.
Suki knew I would be tired and came round in the evening to cook a large pasta dish. Mary came with her and brought the beer! We laughed and chatted by candle light (another power cut!) while we ate and watched a film courtesy of Sarah’s laptop.
It feels like a home!
If you are wondering why I have moved here to Kombos tune in next week………….
