The Journal of the Creation of the Music School (Latest addition at the top!)

June 2006 - All Change in Africa!

I'm sorry about the lack of updates on this page; we've had a bit of a rollercoaster ride over the past few months but that's another story!

We got back from Gambia at the end of April and much happened during the several months that we were there. An 'announcement' from the man who bought our business from us saw us left with no money; almost bankrupt in fact. Life, however, has a great way of making things happen in a particular way for the better. Work on the Busumbala compound progressed as far as completing the wall 4 blocks high and digging the well (to a depth of 23 metres!) but then we ran out of money.

I know I've cheated (and maybe been a bit lazy!) but fast forwarding several months ahead, but we're going through a bit of a pickle at the moment and are working on a defence for a £300,000 (yes, you read it right) lawsuit that has been served against us - court case is in mid-August - watch this space for the result!

This time round our house was broken into one night whilst we were sleeping (!), stole £400, a camera, 2 mobile phones and, worst of all, my sandals!

Also, when you see me, ask me about the snake story (!?!)

Di and the rest of the family are absolutely fine, each proceeding with their journey through life. I've managed to pick up some work teaching drumming and doing some corporate team-building work so we're not starving by any stretch of the imagination.

Love to all from the Drumculture bunch.

December 2005 - Gambia sees Progress!

What a month! It seemed to last an eternity but also flew by immensely quickly. We finally managed to find some land and a day before we left to come back to the UK for Christmas, we think (!) we were actually the legal owners of the land. It's in 'Busumbala', about one mile from the nearest 'proper' road . No power, no telephone, no water! Libon is working over the xmas/New Year period to get the land cleared and to have the well started. By the time Di and I return on the 13th of January we are hoping that a lot of the work will have at least been started. We estimate that the school won't be properly completed until the November 2006 but are going to work hard to ensure that we can start taking a small number of visitors from April 2006 onwards.

We made ourselves take some more leisure time and Libon and I seemed to spend a lot of time fishing together but catching no fish! Di was of course happy to just lay on the beach and soak up the sun whilst Libon and I made fools of ourselves. Having spent too much money on renting our favourite green jeep, we bought it from the chap renting it to us. It's a wreck by UK standards but we love it!

Managed to catch some superb drumming performances; if you look in the right places you can find some awesome drumming and dancing (the best stuff is when it is played away from the tourist areas, which has prompted me to remember that once the school is finished we need to lay on lots of performance drumming in the evening).

I have to say that in any other life, these 4 weeks of land and car purchase would have been immensely stressful but somehow being in Gambia (or Africa I imagine) just wipes it all away and Di and I really are beginning to find some true peace, purpose and friendship here; we even are beginning to feel that we actually belong here. If only our children would agree to live with us too, it truly would be paradise.

October 2005 - The African Adventure Begins

Our first 4 weeks in Oct/Nov was mainly spent trying to find some land but it never did quite work out as things in the Gambia seem to take days rather than hours to complete what appears to be quite a simple task. Everyone seems to know of someone else who has some land for sale but they never quite listen to what you actually want. This 'wasted' an immense amount of time (I say 'wasted' but the mentality of things in Gambia is completely different - we never felt stressful about any of the delays, kind of just took it in our stride really).

We rented the Suzuki jeep you see opposite and spent time collecting various items to furnish the house that we have rented. This took several days too! (Other people who have been through the same experience have advised us that we should only aim to complete one thing a day!). We didn't fit in enough leisure time and got quite tired by the end of the 4 weeks but we did manage to fit in a little bit of fishing (I caught no fish!) and time on the beach. My mind is so full of 'rubbish' that I haven't been receptive towards drumming practice but I did manage to fit in some quality sessions with Libon to make sure that I keep improving.

Overall, we feel that we have actually made some progress this month and look forward to returning after a short break in the UK to tie up some admin and see some friends during November.