Dave Edwards

Apologies about the delay in getting back to the articles about our Togo trip. It's been a rather stressful (to say the least) last few weeks. As well as my father passing away a month ago, a friend from my cycling club, Dave Edwards, was involved in an accident while riding in the same group as me on May 6th, coming off his bike very heavily and ending up in a coma. Tragically he never regained consciousness. Dave died last Sunday (May 20th).

Dave was a very likeable and popular member of the club and had kept himself incredibly fit. When we heard that he was 75 yrs. old none of us could believe it. That's him front right in the below photo (me on the left, next row behind) during a ride last July. He had been a club cyclist since his teens, riding to quite a high standard.

God love you and your family, Dave.

Jim Hayes (1924-2012)

Rest in peace, Dad. Mum has "my Jim" back with her now.

My Dad

I got a call from Dad's nursing home in Ireland this morning to say that my father has taken a turn for the worse. He was already very fragile (all the more so since Mum's death in October), but now has pneumonia and his blood oxygen levels + blood pressure are falling which signifies general organ failure... a matter of days rather than weeks, according to the doctor. Given how frail he was physically already when Mum died last October, I suppose it was inevitable that he would start to slip away before too long, God love him.

It's been quite a time recently. Two French Brothers in the 80s both of whom I knew well (one especially) passed away over Easter.

As with Mum's final days I simply ask God to hold our family in his hands and help Dad and the rest of us through the days to come. And I ask anyone who reads this to keep him (+ us) in your prayers.

Togo 2012 - photos and Day 6

Day 5: A visit to the apprentice workshops run by the Foyer.

A typical Togolese iron.

Another orphanage in the town to which we were taken, founded by the Salesians: Foyer Don Bosco...

... and again, before we knew it we were challenged to a football match.

In the afternoon Bernard took us to a National Park, but on the way we stopped at a memorial to a plane crash in 1974 when the plane of President Eyadema of  Togo was sabotaged by some of his enemies, killing 3  of his bodyguards, though the President himself survived. The bulk of the wreckage was left where it crashed and a monument was constructed around it.

At the National Park.

Day 6: Waiting for the lorry at Foyer 1

Today we were invited by Thomas, the Deputy Director of the Foyer, to go up into the mountains surrounding Kara to visit the village where the Franciscan founder of the orphanage was born. It also happened to be Thomas' own home village. As usual, Bernard was on duty to drive us there. Some of the older Foyer children came too, inc. some who themselves have family in the village.

Anthony with neighbourhood children while we waited for the lorry. Rather than pestering us for money, or for our sunglasses or shoes (as does happen sometimes) these children, like those at the Foyer, simply wanted us to play with them. We were only too willing to oblige.

Now don't they look cool? Paddy kind of spoils it with his Everton shirt, but we'll forgive him... although Jack found it hard to forgive him for the "train game": " a good train is.... err.... a bad train is..." Infuriating, but great fun.

Heading up to the village.

A demonstration from the local blacksmith in the village.

Boys from the village gave us a demonstration of the wrestling matches that they train for from an early age and which provide their rite of initiation to adulthood once they reach 18. The lad in blue was from the Foyer and decided to join them for their post-combat dance.

Then we were called upon to nominate someone from OUR group to represent us in a combat!!! Paul, from the Foyer (aged 22), here seen carrying JD, nominated JD himself (Paul and some of the other older Foyer residents have become very good friends with our group). Fair play to JD. He rose to the challenge and according to Thomas came out on top in his combat. Well done, JD!!! Paul then gave him a victory lift.

Mary with some of the girls from the village.

The brother of the Foyer founder.

Togo 2012 - even more photos

 Day 3 (cont.): On our way back from the second day at Foyer 2.

 Day 4: Morning activities at Foyer 1.

Me with Bernard, our driver, and his trusted lorry.

More photos to come tomorrow.

Togo 2012 - more photos

Here are the promised photos, uploaded during the night:

Day 1 cont.: The welcome ceremony 

Day 2: At Foyer 1 in town, waiting for the lorry to take us the 15 km out to Foyer 2 where the 72 younger children live out in the countryside. 

 The usual array of taxi motobikes.

The welcome ceremony at Foyer 2. As with the ceremony the night before at Foyer 1 (where the older children live) musical accompaniment to the songs sung by the children was provided by a group of highly talented young percussionists. As a Music teacher and son of a semi-professional drummer, I find the rhythms (polyrhythms) of such

 Ball games outdoors, and crown-making indoors... JD + Mary helping children with their crowns.

 Katie + Chris doing likewise.

 Frisbee games.

 Teaching them the Macarena. It proved to be very popular, especially with the older girls who would, for example, break into a spontaneous version of the dance on the touchline during our main 11-a-side match later in the week.

 Mango trees that our group were invited to plant back in 2007. It was quite moving to see how they had grown.

 Alex with a new friend.

 Mary with some friends of her own.

 Alex taking on a 12 yr.-old at arm-wrestling :-).

 Back at base, the previous day's storm had woken up many of the insects. Yes, these are VERY big ants.

 Day 3: At Foyer 1, Paddy + Ben with Boriss, the son of the Foyer Director and his wife, our cook. A real little character.

 Christos learning some phrases in Kabiye from Xavier and Paul, both in their early 20s.

 Off to Foyer 2 again, beginning with a range of arts & crafts including friendship bracelets...

 ... and decorating wooden spoons to make them into dolls.

 Tickling games... Anthony + friend.

 Jordan + friend.

Team Win! buzzing after a successful 2nd day at Foyer 2, which finished with the mixed teams football match mentioned in the article last week.