Back to Blighty

We said our goodbyes to the Gibson family and Mark dropped us at the airport at 11pm. We’d heard lots of stories about Afriqiyah Airways delays so we were prepared for such eventualities. However, we were fortunate enough to be heading up the motorway from Gatwick airport at 11am the next day. A bit tired, but we arrived at right airport, on time and with all our luggage – and you can’t ask for more than that.

This was actually quite representative of our entire trip. We were told that travelling in Africa “will not go according to plan”. Prior to leaving, we’d drawn up a couple of possible itineraries, mainly dependent on when the train left Dakar. Looking back, we visited all the places we intended to visit and more-or-less at the time that we intended to visit them. So all that guidebook-reading and internet-surfing was worth it, and it is possible to plan an Africa trip and achieve it.

Now we’re back in Rugby and getting back into the swing of things here. People to see, e-mails to answer, photos to sort out, houses to sell (we hope) and, of course, the next holiday to plan! What will our next blog be called?

24 hours in Ouagadougou

On Friday afternoon, 7 of us (and all our luggage) squeezed into the Gibson’s car - though compared to African standards we were not squeezed at all. We had a good journey down to Ouaga and to our delight part of the road is now tarred – bliss! Though the un-tarred part is still quite rough.

We had a fantastic evening meal at one of the best restaurants in Burkina Faso. Samuel was left with babysitters! That left the rest of us to pretend that we really were as sophisticated as the restaurant – which was a bit difficult in clothes that had done a lot of travelling in the previous 5 weeks. Joshua and Amelia declared the place to be “perfect” and the “best restaurant we’ve ever been to”. For us, it was the 2nd best restaurant - after Vermillion (our wedding reception venue!)

On Saturday we did the obligatory stop in one of the Arts & Crafts centres to buy some souvenirs – why do they have to be so hassle-y? I’m sure that we’d spend more money if they just let us browse. Then we had a quick look around the Cathedral, which was very calm once a rather lively wedding party had left. Finally it was off to the biggest supermarket in town for the Gibson’s to stock up on some essentials that the people of Djibo don’t find quite so essential. Then, so that Samuel didn’t feel left out (well that was Cheryl’s excuse), we went out to another restaurant, this time for ice creams – delicious.

Chez Gibson

We arrived in Djibo last Tuesday evening by bus (and on time!). For the last 9 days we have been enjoying the hospitality of the Gibsons, as well as the other missionaries in town and some of their Fulani friends. We've ....

• been to the cattle market and the town market - only actually shopped in one of them!


• worshipped at the Fulani church and met the pastor and his wife.


• visited a Fulani family in Winde Ferru village and ate chobbal, a millet soup.


• socialised with the Pilkinton's, Davies', and Elliott's.


• played with Joshua, Amelia and Samuel (every day!)


• chatted with Mark and Cheryl.


• drank tea with milk.

Today, we left Djibo after lunch to head down to Ouagadougou for good internet access and our flight home.