Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Its not all that bad!

A short post to brag to all you people suffering in the snow . Today I spent a couple of hours on the beach sitting with a cool coke. (being sick side effect of not being able to drink a cool beer!) The sun was hot and the sea was warm! And it was an all round relaxing afternoon.

Although last night with my fever I got a little cold, and I couldnt find the remote for the Air conditioner!...so i feel your pain everyone!

Enjoy your freezing feet and dodgy central heating..whilst I enjoy my sun burn!

Monday, November 22, 2010

It's not all negative

It's all to easy to write negative things and discuss bad things that have happened in life. It's a trap I don't want to fall into but it's likely I may! The fact is tht with all the bad... There must be enough good because I am still here!

Today I think I will take time to talk about one of many groups of people I admire in Ghana.HAWKERS! (the unsung heroes of personal shopping)

Whilst walking or driving or tro troing the roads of Accra you can never go wanting for anything! Whether you need water,ice cream,snacks (plantain chips) bread you will not have to go far. Just hiss your tongue and a young man or lady will sprint down the lanes of traffic, her head carrying a heavy load, drop of your purchase through the window, collect the money and give you your change! (all at top usain bolt speed!)

These guys work morning to night come rain or very hot shine! Carrying heavy loads and risking heir life amongst the crazy drivers mentioned previously! It's a regular site to see these brave individuals skipping out of the way or cars and trucks, taxis and tro tros whilst plying their trade.

It's not just small groceries you can find by the street! If your looking for toys for your children, windscreen wipers, a puppy!, a brush, sooopaaaaa glue your on street super market is at hand. My personal favourite in the hawker selling stakes was a man Trying his hardest to sell a dead bat!!!( Mm tasty)

These men and women are seen as a scurge my some and the governement are always trying to move them on from certain areas but I see them as a convenient way to feed my self. I only hope that people respect their safety a little more. A hawker is no match for a tro tro!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

accident count = 2

Simply nice new nissan 4 x 4 crushed into post! Happy Sunday!

Thieves in the night!

Yesterday was an interesting day to say the least! Annoyingly I didn't get asked to do the punditry for the Epl or Premier league games but I was asked to help out at a childrens princess party! A far more important task.

After returning home at 3:30 am from a pool session and then drinking session I had to jump over the gate because the security guard (who is normally asleep by this time!) had been asked to stop work.

I'm currently living in a hotel under rennovation (another accomodation story in itself) so it's just me and the workmen here. The workmen were making use of the ceiling fans in the foyer so were sleeping down there. I walked in, one or two
If them stirred, and I came up stairs to my room to sleep.

By 5am there was a knock on my door. I thought I was dreaming it so I ignored it. When it got louder and louder I decided I better get up (very tired) and see what was going on. I was greeted by the three workmen and a story of theft. Someone had snuck into their room (where they were not sleeping) and stolen their money and mobile phones! They all look disturbed but How could this have happened?

The fact I had nothing stolen made me feel like the prime suspect! Is it a time to get the cluedo bored out and do some investigations? (no, not worth it!) after a couple more bangs on my door by frustrated workmen, one of them came to warn me...

"I want to let you know and warn you that I will call my sisters and tell them to go to a spiritualist in Kumasi. Then whoever in this house who stole will start to feel uneasy". Well I told him of course that I don't believe in that rubbish and even if it was me that stole it I wouldn't be scared! (although maybe a story for the future will be when I myself visited a spiritualist here!) (I didn't call for anyone to be hurt though, although I was asked if the their should die!)

Theft is an unfortunate part of life here. For me, over the years I have had 2 phones, 2 cameras, a lot of money, a walet and various other items stolen from my person. Some rather stupidly! I kind of deserved to be robbed!

Why these people steal... Who knows but them? Some would site poverty... Which would be the easy answer! But I would suggest a growing culture of laziness where people would rather get easy money in bad ways than work for it. (I'm also a fan of easy money,but it just is not possible!) Before I'm castigated here it's not everyone but it is a lot. I try not to but a lot of people live on fear of even their own workers. Let alone people in tro tro or the Market!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

the Ghaniaian Gary Lineker!

Tv was not an avenue of work that I had ever given serious thought to! But here I am sitting at E.tv waiting to shoot a premoer league and serie a highlites show! (incidently I was asked to come at 10 sharp.... Its now 10:30 and i dont expect anything to happen for at least another hour!)

So how did I begin this journey into tv journalism or punditry? Now let this be a lesson to all budding tv stars and journalists! I simply nipped round the corner from my house one evening to buy sweets! Yep thats right... Sweets... At the little store I had a chance meeting with a gentleman who i later found out to host a sports program.... Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah. This meeting led to a beer being had.(all great things happen over a beer) and then the next day I was on the show discussing English football!

Of course I had to do my research.. But i read well and seemed to make an impression, despite my nerves. People who knew me when I was younger will know that standing up to talk infront of people was an impossible activity fraught with fear for me!

Anyway after a few shows I became more comfortable and even began to get calls from other tv and radio stations requiring my services for live EPL and Champions league games! All a little crazy and surprising......

Just remember... In Ghana anything can happen with confidence and a little belief (in yourself!)