Holidays

Handy Angie · Post by **Handy Angie** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:48 am

Its that time of the year again where the legs are so white a holiday is called for. Last year UHM got to choose - so of course it was Crete (just for a change) not really my cup of tea but I gave it a go! We stayed in 5* luxury in a junior suite with its own pool! Very nice but very expensive! This year its my choice and Ive just booked a week in The Gambia - one of the poorest countries in Western Africa. Im going to hire him out to help the poor locals with building schools or whatever they do so I can sunbathe in peace! Ive been before and love it! He says he isnt going without a million jabs, the best health insurance he can find, and he refuses to eat anything other than pizza! When they invite you into their compound you squat on the floor and eat from one big bowl that is shared. Its all rice with the odd bit of meat or fish! He says he isnt touching chicken or meat - just pizza! Someone is going to be hungry! Ive always been with the child and been a bit afraid to drag him into the "real" Gambia. But with UHM and his muscles behind me Im going to go off the beaten track ha ha! Suppose you can say he is not looking forward to this holiday! By the way if anyone has any old clothes or trainers let us have them as we will be distributing to the needy whilst there.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:16 pm

Handy Angie wrote:....When they invite you into their compound you squat on the floor and eat from one big bowl that is shared......

If that is the norm in Gambia, I will never be going there!!!

Sounds extremely unhygenic (I wouldn't be doing that anywhere in anyplace)

going back on topic - glasses(specs) are also usually greatly needed in very poor countries - is that the case in the Gambia?

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:46 pm

Snap!

I went to the Gambia twice and loved it, I think it was near Banjul beach. Having youngsters coming up to 'be your friend' constantly was a pain at first but they were very friendly. I went on a trip to Senegal and had fish head stew which was 'different'! There was a prison there with dummy guards on duty that was very funny to see. I walked next to young wild crocodiles and had traditional style colourful clothes made by a fantastic seamstress. I took lots of pens and stuff and dropped them off at the local schools. They were all short of pens, I wonder if they still are. When we left there were people giving the kids their old t shirts to keep and left over local money. You'll enjoy it, the sun always seems to shine there.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:24 pm

Oh dear lets get a few things straight.

I am not doing any building whilst I am there, If they have a computer I will show them how to make a website and then show them why they should not send out scamming emails.

I am not going into any huts, squatting on the floor and I am definately not eating any meal prepared in very unhygenic surroundings. I don't care if I offend anyone- If I don't like it I will not eat it, regardless of the consequences. ( handy Angie should know this ).

If you are distributing to the needy whilst there then you can use your own baggage allowance. Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the world, yet you have over 100 pairs of shoes and your son must have more than 10 pairs of designer trainers, most of whch probably cost more than £80 per pair.

bobbie-dazzler · Post by **bobbie-dazzler** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:08 pm

Handy Angie wrote:! By the way if anyone has any old clothes or trainers let us have them as we will be distributing to the needy whilst there.

I did this when I went to Cuba, I took a whole suitcase of stuff, from clothes, toys,and needy things like the mini sewing kits, clothes pegs, plasters, you name it I had it, even my OH dodnt know the actual extent of the stuff I took.
What went down really well and might be a good idea for gambia, is pens, pencils and paper.
I went into the pound shop and bought loads of coloured pencils, rubbers, and sharpeners, some came in packs, then I bought some type of school excercise books, as they value the paper, so they can erase and use again.
I took sweets, baby clothes, packs of yoyos, skipping ropes, (the girls can share those), toy cars etc., You name it, I had it, I even got a job lot of england baseball caps

I was collecting bits for about 6 months before from car boot sales, didnt realise how much I had.
We took a load to the church school orphanage, and kids where speechless when they saw the sweets/toys etc, I got very emotianal

I tried to take light things, but it all ended being heavy as there was so much stuff.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:36 pm

If you are flying on a decent airline/holiday company, if the luggage is overweight and you explain why, then you won't have to pay any excess as they will let it pass.

If they start to charge you an excess, ask them quite loudly (assuming there are other passengers around) which items they think you should leave behind and deprive the kids over there with so as to get within your limit - that will sort it out

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:56 pm

Hoovie wrote:If they start to charge you an excess, ask them quite loudly (assuming there are other passengers around) which items they think you should leave behind and deprive the kids over there with so as to get within your limit - that will sort it out

I'll just shout at the top of my voice" SO YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE THESE ULTIMATE HANDYMAN TEE SHIRTS BEHIND AND DEPRIVE ALL THE KIDS OVER THERE"

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:58 pm

Better still you could sell them on Ebay for charity and we could all buy one!

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:09 pm

Bludall wrote:Better still you could sell them on Ebay for charity and we could all buy one!

Tried that once with some uhm boxer shorts, I still have not sent the money to the charity

Then the guy that won the boxers said that he was not happy as they made his arse look fat.

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:13 pm

You can't win!

What about the UHM bikini then that'd not be a problem.

Welsh Decorator · Post by **Welsh Decorator** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:20 pm

Bludall wrote:You can't win! What about the UHM bikini then that'd not be a problem.

Good idea Lou, you would not need a tool belt

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:29 pm

We could have a Rockie Horror style of homage to UHM, the guys could wear the bikini.

Welsh Decorator · Post by **Welsh Decorator** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:30 pm

Got the screws sorted, two pockets up top, but where to put the hammer

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:47 pm

Ha Ha!

I thought this would tick the boxes.

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Sat Feb 16, 2008 10:53 pm

Clearly taken on an Nokia N73 phone as its out of focus

Holidays

Holidays

Re: Holidays

Re: Holidays