Still at base
Woken at around two in the morning by sudden wind and a storm. Shutters on the hotel were banging and unidentified bits were skittering down the corridor blown by the wind from the roof patio nearby. I got out of bed and looked at the sky, and saw it was lit up with lightning, there was the sound of distant thunder but no rain came.
Despite pushing every single button in every combination on my air conditioning, an icy blast continued to surge out of it onto the bed all night. I resorted to wearing my fleece, despite the huge heat outside, and my tilly hat to deflect the polar gust on my head. I slept pretty well however, worn out after no sleep the night before.
The team hanging about this morning, waiting for our papers to be approved. Then we were driven to the Charity’s office. The streets of N’Djamena seeming chaotic to me, people and cars and scooters wandering about in the lanes. The streets lined with stalls here and there, and cramped shops with hand drawn posters, and people carrying things on their heads, and everyone obliviously wandering into the traffic. A sense of there being too much to see at the same time. It is quite green here in the capital, with quite a few trees and plants but even from the safety of a car it does not feel appropriate to photograph people or even street scenes.
In the charity office we were handed our passports with shiny visas in them, but this had all been sorted out too late for us to depart today. Instead we had a series of meetings, which actually helped us understand what we were going to see and the kinds of things we can film there. I learned a lot about Chad, its main income is from oil, but due to inept negotiation, most of the money is siphoned off by the oil company, and even the neighbouring country Cameroon, through which the pipeline runs from Chad, makes more money from the deal than Chad does.
Then to another organisation, where we were gravely greeted in diplomatic French by an important man who explains the work of charity to government. This all in a dark room with a slowly turning fan, and we bent our heads in prayer for the success of our mission. After this, and a few solemn pleasantries, were driven back to the Charity Offices where we had a really useful meeting for a couple of hours. At one point cokes were sent out for and we all sipped one appreciatively.
I went for a wee in the charity loos, and noticed a lizard scampering about in one of the offices, which was rather nice.
So, back to the Hotel eventually, and reinstalled. I have a nicer room this time, which is pleasing. More Chinese food, and a can of coldish Heineken, which was somewhat heavenly.
Phoned Lorraine who had been having an interview today, lovely to talk to her. Beth also messaged me while I’d briefly logged on this morning. Amazing to be able to be in touch so far from home.
An early night awaits. Below the Burkina Faso football team being photographed with Steve and Pete by Matty. Something struck me as being a bit Twin Peaksish about being in a Chinese hotel in Chad with the national football team of Burkina Faso, I don't know why; the view from my room last night as lightning lit up the sky.
Despite pushing every single button in every combination on my air conditioning, an icy blast continued to surge out of it onto the bed all night. I resorted to wearing my fleece, despite the huge heat outside, and my tilly hat to deflect the polar gust on my head. I slept pretty well however, worn out after no sleep the night before.
The team hanging about this morning, waiting for our papers to be approved. Then we were driven to the Charity’s office. The streets of N’Djamena seeming chaotic to me, people and cars and scooters wandering about in the lanes. The streets lined with stalls here and there, and cramped shops with hand drawn posters, and people carrying things on their heads, and everyone obliviously wandering into the traffic. A sense of there being too much to see at the same time. It is quite green here in the capital, with quite a few trees and plants but even from the safety of a car it does not feel appropriate to photograph people or even street scenes.
In the charity office we were handed our passports with shiny visas in them, but this had all been sorted out too late for us to depart today. Instead we had a series of meetings, which actually helped us understand what we were going to see and the kinds of things we can film there. I learned a lot about Chad, its main income is from oil, but due to inept negotiation, most of the money is siphoned off by the oil company, and even the neighbouring country Cameroon, through which the pipeline runs from Chad, makes more money from the deal than Chad does.
Then to another organisation, where we were gravely greeted in diplomatic French by an important man who explains the work of charity to government. This all in a dark room with a slowly turning fan, and we bent our heads in prayer for the success of our mission. After this, and a few solemn pleasantries, were driven back to the Charity Offices where we had a really useful meeting for a couple of hours. At one point cokes were sent out for and we all sipped one appreciatively.
I went for a wee in the charity loos, and noticed a lizard scampering about in one of the offices, which was rather nice.
So, back to the Hotel eventually, and reinstalled. I have a nicer room this time, which is pleasing. More Chinese food, and a can of coldish Heineken, which was somewhat heavenly.
Phoned Lorraine who had been having an interview today, lovely to talk to her. Beth also messaged me while I’d briefly logged on this morning. Amazing to be able to be in touch so far from home.
An early night awaits. Below the Burkina Faso football team being photographed with Steve and Pete by Matty. Something struck me as being a bit Twin Peaksish about being in a Chinese hotel in Chad with the national football team of Burkina Faso, I don't know why; the view from my room last night as lightning lit up the sky.
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