As you drive around Lagos (drive in the loosest sense because actually you crawl around), the trees are changing, some are losing leaves but growing new ones at the same time, and some are bare of leaves but with bright red flowers at the end of the branches and the most exciting thing of all- mangoes are ripening on the trees, soon we will be able to pick mangoes in school (if the green parrotty things don't get them first) and in our compound. There are mango trees everywhere and people have said we will get fed up of them -not likely. I am also not fed up of fresh papaya and pawpaw for breakfast, ripe sweet pineapples or bananas either.
This has been such a hectic week, we have been out virtually every night and could do that for the next three or four weeks. Tuesday I went to the British Women's Group for coffee and cakes and to meet some other ex-pat ladies and Tuesday afternoon we had to deal with an issue at the Customs so Carl and myself went down to the offices and didn't get back until late so ate at home. Wednesday we had a friend up from Port Harcourt so we all went out to the Sheraton an amazing Indian restaurant- tatty surroundings but fantastic food and the BEST Asian supermarket anywhere. Thursday- opening night of a Art Exhibition held at Terra Culture, it was very challenging wandering around looking at great art with glasses of champagne and canapes in our hands! Friday, we went to the Jazz night at the Sheraton hotel. This is held each Friday on a high terrace overlooking all of Lekki (part of Victoria Island) Carl, myself and Geraldine (our next door neighbour) sat outside drinking frozen margaritas, listening to great music and chatting till very late. The temperature was perfect- low humidity but about 30c and the music was fantastic. We left just in time, because we had just got in and the heavens opened and we had another dramatic lightening storm.
Today, Saturday there are local elections so we are not allowed out on the streets. You are only allowed to travel to and from your registered voting station, and ex-pats can't go anywhere!, so we stayed in bed reading and listening to music until about 2;00pm - luxury and of course I am now on Half Term!!
Tonight we are going to the Lagos Yacht club for a traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest with the band, food and drink flown in from Germany- can't wait!!!
And then tomorrow - brunch at the GQ Club!!!(and pitchers of margaritas), and then I am flying down to Bonny Island for a few days.
When you have someone doing all the ironing and cleaning and preparing vegetables etc for you you have a LOT of time to enjoy yourselves in the evenings. I do not miss the ironing, washing or cleaning!!! (still a bit worried about Tumbo fly but trying to forget that as have clothes outside at the moment) We also have a driver so both of us can enjoy the entertainment and drinks when we go out.
Overall, even with all the challenges of shopping (bought 10 litres of milk this week ! yippee but couldn't buy beer boo hoo) I love living here.
As a teacher it is wonderful, the children are outstanding so none of my time is taken up with their social issues that spill over into school.
Wow as I am writing this, the sky has gone black and we are in the midst of another torrential storm, and the rainy season is supposed to be over.
I am determined to take a pile of photos for the blog this week, the sights around the city are indescribable unless you are here, women with 20kg bags of rice balanced on their heads in traditional dress striding down the streets, beggars on boards weaving between cars, goats running down the pavements on the side streets and sometimes on the main streets and chickens everywhere, to describe Lagos as vibrant is an understatement.
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