Goobye weekend

Friday night began the goodbye weekend.  Just like last year, it was started with an ipod full of oldies but goodies music that everyone in the car sang very loudly to.  The night took us to O"Mally's pub and had good food and good times. 

While we were waiting for our food a waiter came out carrying a giant wooden hippo.  He said that it was only for Maggie.  The hippo appeared in the ship shop weeks and weeks ago and I wanted him from the begining.  I named him fred and would go in and try to sneak him out and at one point got in a race, and wrestling match with Johan to get him.  A group of friends got him and have secretly been plotting (how any of you kept a secret for weeks is beyond my understanding) to give him to me when I leave.  By far the best present EVER!  He went through several name changes, but the original stuck so Fred it is. 

Yesterday when I was packing, most peoples concern was for Fred and how he was going to handle the trip.  11 pounds is a lot to try to carry as hand luggage so in the suitcase snug and wrapped up goes Fred. Thank you to everyone involved for the wonderful present.

On Saturday morning several of us went out in the pouring rain for breakfast at the Crown Bakery.  Even with a taxi we were soaked by the time we got there but the laughs and breakfast were worth the wet clothes. 

The rest of Saturday was spent watching movies.  9 of us set off in a land rover to Aberdeen to find a movie theatre we had heard about.  None of us had ever seen a theatre in West Africa, so we were all curious.  It turned out to be very nice with popcorn, soda, and icecream.  The movie was Beverly Hills chijuaua, so that was a disaster but a bad movie gave us something to laugh at.  Then we made our way back to the ship and got stuck in traffic for over an hour.  What is there to do when stuck in traffic?  Well, listen to music, sing really loud, and buy food from people that walk by selling it of course.  Plantain chips, chocolate biscuit cups and prawn chips to be exact. 

Saturday finished out with a movie with the normal Saturday night group, and then another movie with some other friends later.  I can't remember the last time that I watched 3 movies in one day. 
Sunday, I started to panic about not having anything packed so I spent the morning packing and getting distracted until Hettie came and got me organized.  I put a box together to donate to our ship botique but most of it was taken by various people that stopped by the room to chat while I was packing.  Actually, they probably came to see what they could get out of the box before I took it to the botique.  Last night was the last card game of phase 10 and hanging out in mid-ships waiting for our friend Angie to arrive back on the ship from home.  It was a busy weekend spent with wonderful friends.  Thanks to all of you for making goodbye weekend fun and often times hilarious.  I will miss all of you very much!