And we're into December! Time really is just starting to fly by. Louise and I have a divine chocolate advent calender sent over especially which makes dragging ourselves out of bed every morning a little easier and the prospect of papaya for breakfast this morning made it all worthwhile. Yet again there are more strikes so I'm off school but hoping that we won't be disrupted much more. The kids forget everything you've taught them between lessons and sometimes I really don't feel to be getting anywhere! Whatever happens it's only really a couple of weeks until the Christmas holidays which is very exciting so it's all go. Last Wednesday we had the English club at the CEM to elect the bureau to which about 100 kids turned up to - not a bad turnout! It makes it a little intimidating for all our songs and sketches though but never mind, at least they're enthusiastic. In fact one of the Lycee classes gave me a lovely note which said 'with our handns full of dreams we wish you very good things' from the class. I was so touched!

As for our latest adventures I'm not sure there are so many as usual. Things just keep getting more and more normal but I'll see what I can do. We had a bit of an interesting cycle to school last week when an overtaking taxi forgot he had a 3m long plank sticking out of the window which nearly knocked us both clean off the road but thankfully the driver realised and swerved out a little so it just bumped each of us a little and smacked into Louise's wrist. We also plucked our first chicken which smelt pretty badly and had its head hanging off and learnt to say the appropriate wolof for that which I'm sure will come in very useful for plucking our christmas chicken.

I also had a very fun birthday celebration last weekend. It started on Friday with an attempt at a lemon sponge cake on the gas camping stove which turned out reasonably well. It wasn't exactly a sponge but more of a moist, dense, lemony chunk topped off with chocolate spread and an indoor sparkler but it tasted good all the same. Amadou and Aicha gave me a nice bright red t-shirt with glittery gold writing saying 'Look at me' on it - very appropriate for any toubab in Joal! We took some cake round to the neighbours too which they seemed to enjoy... perhaps our next cake will be even better! Saturday morning I opened a few packages and envelopes on the roof at sunrise (Thank you very much to everyone, they were all much appreciated) and then had to head off to teach for 2 hours. Thankfully it was alright and I got away promptly so we could catch a taxi to Saly to meet up with Sinead, Orlando and Gareth. A good deal of beach, pool, nice meal out and a glass of white wine under the stars - all very civilised - made a lovely day. I received a silver baobab necklace, a dress and a really rather cool African drum from the other volunteers so I was very happy, to say the least. Sinead's birthday was the day after so celebrations continued with a continental breakfast at the incredibly cheap hotel before heading home to Joal. Definitely a birthday to remember!

Hopefully you're all getting on fine with all that snow and looking forward to Christmas, I certainly am. Apologies for all those who I don't manage to get a christmas card to but I'll be thinking of you all and wishing everyone a very merry christmas.

Kirsty x

PS: I've just uploaded photos from my first two months...take a look!