Ghana 14 Anyone for POLO

Please don't ask me where time goes. It just flys by. Here you wake up at the beginning of the week and blink. Monday starts and before you know it, wham  !!! its gone. Open your eyes again and its Saturday. Scary.


This weekend I did find a few extra moments. Time indeed, yes I did find some, to go shopping, my least favourite activity but I needed a new dinner jacket. Finding that in Accra was a feat in its self. But we managed after going into about 5 tailor shops. We found one that not only had the gear but also a seamstress to get a good fit. Excellent. While out shopping we also passed a couple of stalls in the Mall selling local dresses etc. not much but added to the local colour and general atmosphere.

Got home, tried it on and had a quick strum, in the suit.....

Later attended a Polo game. That was the sum total of our weekend.






Never been to a polo game. In fact I am not keen on horses. But this event was in our compound.  It should be a bit of a give away staying in a place called Polo court. In fact our apartment over looks the compound swimming pool which backs onto a tennis court and the the pitch. (assume thats the correct terminology "pitch" !!!).

We waited and waited for things to start. Sat and had a drink in the club house. Waiting again.... Lots of people on horses hitting a little white ball I think as a practise. Clever stuff. And we watched and waiting.  And waiting.  Eventually we were told the game was postponed till next week due to the light showers.






So will report back with an update on the Polo next week. Assuming it does not rain......

Vanuatu Part 4

Lovely Saturday.  Horse racing Island style. Annual Charity event. Everyone was out having a great day. Just seemed the whole Island had turned up. Complete families and just a great atmosphere. 6 races with 4-6 horses per race. But for the racing we have no idea who to bet on!

Don't suppose it matters that much. It was all for charity. Even the car park attendants, security etc were all working for free. So great atmosphere.

So a few racing photos and tried out some local foods. Kebaks and grilled fish and various root crops.   Live music.  Excellent day.

Bettings Aussie Stlye

I was going to do a short note on the past weekends events. We along with 4 other families went to 1770 and Agnes Waters for a camping trip. Great fun, good weather and a generally fun time. But, come Monday morning we got back at work and lost on the office lottery. Seem to be making a regular habit of that. Hence writign about camping, again.

However the next betting event was for the Melbourne Cup. Normally I do not bet but office sweeps etc are fair go. Of course you ask.........................I came first.

Dunaden win in Melbourne Cup

2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington race course., Race 7, 3200 metres. Winner No 3 Dunaden ridden by Christophe Lemaire by a short nose to Red Cadeaux ridden by Michael Rodd. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun

IN ONE of the closest photo-finishes in Melbourne Cup history French stayer Dunaden took out the Melbourne Cup by a short half head over Red Cadeaux.

Source...http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/french-joy-with-dunaden-win-in-melbourne-cup/story-fn67siys-1226182710882

Silence Is Golden

Seems ages since I last posted. In fact it is ages. Over a month. Why I don’t know except laziness and there always seems to be tomorrow when I’ll get round to it. Also life seems to have settled down into a daily routine of work eat and sleep. Something like real ‘Ground Hog’ days.
Well tomorrow has arrived. Time to write something.
We’ve been busy socialising and going out and about for dinners etc.

Spotted an old tractor frame on our job site. Interesting to see something over 100 years old.

Managed to add in a trip to a Country Music evening which was fun. Not the usual guitar and lonesome cowboy routine but complete with a full 17 man orchestra.

Then great excitement, we bought a new tent and fishing rod. So this weekend we are off to the mountains and of course taking our Bar B Q and doing a spot of camping. The tent shown here is in our garden. We had a practice night yesterday. Still a bit cold....

What else. We bought a Toyota Corolla. Lovely little run around.

Went to the Camel racing. Yes, Gladstone has a fully fledged horse racing track. Holds about 12 meetings a year. Last one was special, an addition called camel racing. We went along but...No camel were raced. Just a few walk outs by camels and happy riders. Seemed main purpose of the day was to just have fun, i.e. copious amounts of grog and good cheer. Not sure how everyone managed to drink so much as the queue to the bar was constantly 8 persons deep along the full length of the place time!!! You had bookies so bets could be taken on all Australian races, there was even a fashion show etc so all in all everyone had a great time.

Oh yeah. Hydroponics going well.

Then and only then can I start writing again.... God I’m lazy these days. Need to improve !

Busy Few Days Museums And Races

Its the Easter weekend and the work is closed down for Friday through Tuesday inclusive. What to do? Wanna is arriving on Saturday evening but between Thursday evening and then Bob and I decided to follow up on a few things. We both had concluded we had some work to complete and that's best done in the quiet of an empty office so that took care of a lot of our time. Then we visited the local Maritime Museum which turned out to be a lot better than we had expected. I had envisages a dusty old shed complete with a few 'old salts' who would bash on about the good old days. But no. it was run by, yes 'old salts' but they did not bash on, but covered some interesting stuff with a lot of local interest and knowledge. Us coming here to work also provided them with some questions for us as well. Good two way stuff. The LNG terminal we are building had received a mixed reception here in Gladstone. Some think it is a potentially dangerous industry and others worry about the short and longer term changes it is bringing to the community. Long term is probably OK but short term influx of workers maybe not such a good sight!!!! But all then discussion was good natured and for us a chance to meet and chat with locals. Lots of stuff including boats, flags, memorabellia and model boats. One chap was busy making them. My photos do not do justice to the place. I do need to go back again.

Easter Weekend in Gladstone is famous for its Festival. Music, dancing, eating, and of course bumper cars, ghost rides etc. Highlight being fire work displays and a parade. ( I covered this in my last Blog. I had a quick look round one evening but decided to wait till Wanna arrived and enjopy it with her.

Apart from that we, Bob and I, managed to get in our shopping. Not so easy over this weekend as everywhere wanted to close for Easter!!! That said we managed and followed it up by going to the Gladstone horse racing. We watched a couple of races. (No camera!!!). I lot my money on 2 straight races. The favourite did not do well enough. There is always next time.

Anyway that was than and so Saturday afternoon arrived and I went to meet Wanna at the airport.