Don't Make...... Noise

Washing day today. Whenever I'm in far flung places with few appliances, I always say I will not take such things for granted when I return back home, but I always do. My handwashing skills could hardly be in the "world class" category, and I can't help feeling my "washed" clothes look about as dirty as when I put them in the bucket. Shower gel is the new fabric softener. Fact.

I haven't mentioned the weather changes that have occurred recently. Just over a fortnight ago, the rainfall sharply decreased, and we had a week of grey weather, where it always looked like it might rain, but never did. Both temperature and humidity have continued to increase, with the weather over the last 10 days or so being the weather I very much recollect from my last time in West Africa- at times, stifling. There hasn't been a drop of rain for some time, and to be frank, I think I have timed my trip here pretty well.

Coming into town this evening I can't help noticing the market area, which constitutes a significant part of the town, has completely disappeared. It is just like a small village being obliterated from the map. All that remains is the ubiquitous piles of rubbish (plastic every time) everywhere, and a few souls wandering around the area looking decidedly lost. The authorities have been recently landscaping an area on the town's outskirts, where the new market will go. There was a hive of activity this morning. I thought this was just people surveying the area and choosing their plots, not realising how imminent the move actually was. Low and behold! If the whole thing hasn't moved in the space of a day trip to the city.

Talk in the bars tonight does not revolve around the new market, however. Instead, it is all about the World Cup draw. I watch events unfold in the very noisy TV room of a local bar. During the draw, there is an awful lot of jumping up and down, shouting, and gesticulating from a group of men within a very close proximately of one another. I can't help imagining I'm back in the classroom. The gods are not overly kind to Cameroon, but it certainly could be a lot worse: Netherlands, Japan, Denmark, Cameroon. England are on easy street. Germany or Oz, if they make the second round. I like the draw method giving each group a worldwide flavour. Haile Gebrselassie remains a class act and Beckham's hair continues to run riot. Some things never change.

I stay slightly longer than planned and when I get back, C tells me the "marriage" is over. Of course, it's just bravado and she will come round.. eventually.