lazy,hazy day of summer

cool breeze but sun to dry the clothes on the line, electricity and water on at the same, it is very quiet here as cathedral folks have gone to the funeral of a chorister's mother I think, a long way by bus (10 hours or so), they left last night but will be home before midnight tonight,  I am starting to pack my place up, pack suitcases to travel and make a dent in stuff for synod so after discussion with a few I chose to stay home, yesterday a nice lunch at the bishops with a few of his classmates from high school, they move around the country visiting each other, nice idea. cleaning is least favour task, I know I say that all the time but today I am cleaning so I am reminded again how I dislike it,
I know, I know, here's a quarter, call someone who cares ( it may actually be a loonnie now) lol

a good read

Sycamore Row by John Grisham,

walking is good for the soul so they tell me

so between walking and taxis I got my errands done today.

no electricity sorta cramps one's style in getting anything done, no one can believe that we may have one power outage in a year or two, I tries to explain how disruptive it is for everyone, we in Canada rely on hydro for almost everything, here in Ghana flashlights, solar lights, propane stoves, generators and life carries on a little weaker but no one gets their knickers in a knot, had fried plantain off the street vender today, it smells so good when cooking, the sugar caramelizes I guess, very good anyway

ode to the car

I had Matthias (driver) check out the car after the 'road hole' episode last night, tested it, put a little air in another tire which was soft and said it was good to go

After Dean and family left today, moving to their home in Kumasi, next they will go to a new assignment in Nkoranza, I start to run errands, banks, withdraw money, put gas in the car and buy drinking water sachets and off to Vivian's (to pick up a  new clergy shirt made with Diocesan cloth) Vivian not there so back down a very bad road, car acting like a gutless wonder, 20km up a hill and then the smell, something was burning, stopped near the cultural centre to check the water in the radiator, put water in, a gentleman stops by and looks at the engine and says its a gasket ????? ok I know nothing about these things. I call Matthias, he says leave the car, he will look at it tomorrow, next we have two men looking at the situation, they are going to push the car to the side of the road but the steering wheel is locked, then cant find the keys, there is not a second one so really need to find them, so for the next 15 minutes I look through my purse, the car , the road ..no keys I empty my purse into a bag...no keys, both men go through my purse ..no keys all the while they ask it they are in my pockets, check pocket several times ... no keys, I ask the men to check their pockets, ..no keys. where the h--- are they, Vivian happens by and stops, she looks through the bag and the purse too, no keys then she checks my pocket AND there are the keys, I feel quite stupid and apologize all over the place, get car parked at the side of the road, offer a tip to the men, one said he could not take it, Vivian takes me to her place, try on the shirt, no buttons yet so she will bring it to church on Sunday with it finished, Vivian talks to Matthias as she thinks the battery (a new battery so that would be a pain) will be stolen if the car stays on the road over night, so he has just come for the keys and says he will bring back here. My warning to him was that something is burning that smells really bad, so the ode to the old car continues ....

ps
Matthias is back with the car. its the clutch and he will inform the bishop when he is back in town, I think a taxi is a better bet at this time and if it breaks down, then hail another  .....  no sweat

the road got the best of me

drove Mother Mary to the market, parking was so bad it might have been easier to walk but be that as it may.  She bought food stuff and I bought 2 pieces of cloth. Driving home we had three more passengers who were going to a meeting at the cathedral. Mother tells me about a hole in the road on my right and I see a depression about 4 inches so do not avoid it completely but drive slowly over it as there are many many road holes on every street, WELL the hole was actually 2 feet deep and the passenger front tire was suspended with the car resting on the frame A BIG OOOPSY  Mother gets out, reminding me she told me to avoid the hole, 4 men came along, I put the car in reverse and they lifted that corner while I moved the car back, OH MY, the first time the road beat me, I am sure it will not be the last   lol car seems no worse for wear thank goodness

ps
Matthias is back with the car., says its the clutch, will tell bishop when he returns to town.
I think a taxi is a better bet for me in the future and if it breaks down, then jump in another ...no sweat

ST. PETERS SCHOOL PROJECT IN BEREKUM

Went to Berekum (40 km from Sunyani) this morning for their service and a visit to the school site to see the building progress. Enthusiastic congregation, the building progress is slow (been working on this for 11 years now) but still moving forward. In Canada a church would raise some funds and get a mortgage for the remainder, and then build but in Ghana the interest rates for loans range from 80 to 120% meanwhile your saving gains no interest and the bank charges you for keeping your money --it seems there is something wrong with this picture to me some how

last year

today,
 bamboo poles hold up the flat board which serve as the base when the concrete is poured for the second floor, a layer of paper is laid on the boards to prevent the concrete from seeping between the boards, no concrete mixer truck, it is all mixed by hand and taken up via wheel barrow

Mother Ben Smith and moi, . her late husband was the first priest at St. Peter's and the school will be named after him

Parish Church Council for St. Peter'sthe gentleman on my right is the Evangelist and  the woman on my left is a warden (nice robes eh!!) priest's wife is on his left
Fr. Josiah and family are actually a missionary priest and family sent from Nigeria for two terms of three years. 

WEDDING AT THE CATHEDRAL

Fredrick and Gifty were married today. Here is the order of service.

Blessed by the bishop upon arrival

          Ready with Dad

RINGS ARE BLESSED AND GIVEN

Lighting the Unity Candle

Dancing after signing the register

Gifty singing the soprano solo with the choir in the Hallelujia Chorus

MR. AND MRS.