Day 17 - Friday

Following the welcome excitement of yesterday's football match it was back to business today with loads of small tasks that will make a big difference. Once again we had pancakes for breakfast which were lovely except it feels like a shrove Tuesday Groundhog Day! It was also Rob Pryor's 17th birthday and what a unique way to celebrate...

We made our way down to the site and quickly split up into groups based on people's chosen interest/specialism. One group was moving the soil back into the trenches surrounding the bricks that were below ground level, a thankless task but one that required doing. The more artistic amongst us chose to paint the primary school down the road and then the outside of the main school which has made a real difference to the appearance of the place. Finally it was the skilled labourers of Jekin, Jack K and Mr Harris that took on the job of filling the capacious holes and then screeding the floor.

All the groups worked extremely hard and a significant improvement in the building is visible as it starts to be put up relatively quickly.

This afternoon the students are going on a walk through the rainforest that surrounds the village in the hope of seeing some wildlife! Meghann was clearly ready for the rainforest walk with her pink converse trainers...

A special birthday treat for everyone to help Rob celebrate started with a lobster meal which was delicious before moving on to the beach bar where the music and dance moves with be out in force!

Day 16 - The Big Match (Thursday)

Welcome to Terrific Thursday with TBSHS v Cape 3 Points U17 being played on at a wonderful beach side pitch which is possibly the most Southerly pitch in West Africa. As the excitement builds Manager BarneyThorp announces the starting 11 - Brewer, Osbourne, Pryor, Penson, Clark, White, Cochrane, Barker, Mallett, Laycock and Albert (c). Barney is looking for "3 goals and a clean sheet, for TBSHS to maintain their unbeaten run"... Game day is here folks!

Small issue in the warm-up when the ball hit the crossbar and it fell off but a quick repair job and we're back ready for kick-off! The opposition are wearing green and playing in bare feet apart from a couple of players who have trainers. The crowd numbers approximately 100 and someone even managed to smuggle a vuvuzala into the ground, hopefully they will be found and ejected.

After a good initial start by TBSHS with some good possession and a few flicks and tricks to wow the crowd, Dan Mallet produced a good save from the keeper. However, the Cape boys are starting to get into their rhythm and have come close on a couple of occasions. A long straight ball from the Cape centre back isn't dealt with by our back 4 and after a quick turn the striker buries the ball into the bottom corner leaving Brewer no chance... 1-0

The Cape seem to have more players on the pitch as wave on wave of attacks put pressure in TBSHS. Surely they can't keep withstanding this pressure and another goal may be on its way! As 3 vultures circle above maybe they can sense blood... Just as it was looking dodgy for TBSHS Cochrane lays a good ball out to the left and the captain Albert strikes it sweetly into the opposite corner, 1-1 game on...

Harry Cochrane is playing to the crowd with an array of tricks which has them whooping with delight as they appreciate true skill. Alex White is proving an inspirational selection as a defensive midfielder as he breaks up play and sends the ball forward.

Near miss as Cape hit the post just to remind us that we can't lose concentration for a minute and that was quickly followed up with a great strike from about 20 yards that shot straight underneath Brewer, 2-1...

I've seen some donkeys on a football pitch but today I can now add a goat to that list as Albert has to dodge a goat as he chases the ball!

The number 6 for Cape is cut above and once again shows his class as he beats 3 players before calmly rolling the ball past a helpless Brewer to extend lead to 3-1...

Once again he beats a man with ease a top class save from Brewer prevents 6 gaining his hat-trick but I think that's only delaying the inevitable!

It's all a bit one way traffic in the 2nd half as Cape start to turn the screw and TBSHS are chasing shadows! Just as I write that up pops 6 to smash one in past Jekin in goal and that secures him his hat-trick, 4-1...

Both Albert and Cochrane come close but the chances are few and far between as the 6 wiggles through again before drawing a good save from Jekin. Tiredness seems to be setting in as the days on the building site catch up with our lads but they're certainly trying hard and throwing themselves into every challenge!

The final score finishes 4-1 and at the end of the game the TBSHS players gave the opposition their shirts which was greatly appreciated... A great game played in a wonderful spirit!

Day 15 - Wednesday

Another busy day on site as we aimed to have all the footings cemented and ready to be built on by the end of the day plus a second coat of paint done in all the classrooms. Once again the local community turned out in force in order to ensure the projects run effectively and smoothly. However, there's a small issue with this in that there tends to be a lot of discuss/heated debate for quite a while before any decision is made due to a lack of project management. Once it is all cleared up and a direction is agreed on everyone quickly gets back to working flat out.

I forgot to mention that Mr Osbourne our resident wildlife expert whilst sat admiring the work spotted a snake. He mentioned this to one of the local guys who picked up a large stick and proceeded to chase the snake before battering it to death and then chopping it up with his machete! It was only our group that seemed at all amazed by this process as the locals seemed fairly nonchalant about the whole affair...

We again divided into working parties but today the students tended to gravitate towards the areas of work they felt best at. Jekin and Barney continued to work at a ferocious pace setting an outstanding example to others in cement mixing which was being used in the footings. This was matched by Rosie who took care in ensuring that the cement was properly mixed much to some of the boys dismay when they were happy with half a job, an ear bashing quickly followed and back to work they went. After mixing what seemed like enough cement to building a housing estate and with everyone worn out Dan Mallett pointed out that if anyone had asked he could've brought the cement mixer he has at home!!! Alongside the cement mixing we also moved approximately 150 bricks using a chain gang method to pass them down the line where they were placed ready for laying tomorrow.

The painting group did a very professional job in all the classrooms based on the locals desire to water the paint down so much it basically ran off the wall. Olly Clark led the way on the painting front and made sure that none of the paint went missing as he carried everywhere he went. There is now no more magnolia paint left in west Ghana so we have had to move to the slightly more garish green and blue for the remaining rooms which certainly provides a stimulating working environment. As well as competing against the very watery paint the students also had to deal with several hornet nests and numerous large spiders which lurked in the corners of the rooms.

Various groups of students continued to have surfing lessons throughout the day and some of them hired the boards at the end of the day to practise their skills further. Most impressive were Greg, Dan B and Cameron who seem to have the whole surfing thing mastered, with Greg even picking up some of the lingo by referring to things as "sweet".

A student organised quiz was the evening entertainment which proved challenging for all that took part including the quiz masters who had to write the questions without the aid of the Internet. However, Jamie, Stuart, Nathan, Alex and Harry did a fantastic job organising the quiz which allowed the teachers to prove themselves of superior intellect much to the students annoyance. Mr Abbott seemed to be attracting all sorts of wildlife...

Day 14 - Tuesday

Another early start in order to continue from yesterday's good start on site. The group was broken down into 3 desperate groups with student team leaders designated by the groups in each one. There were three main tasks to complete today and each group would work on a rotation as to experience each aspect of the work. The three areas of work today were the continuation of the digging of the footings, making bricks and painting the existing 3 classrooms.

The local community turned out in force again today and not only matched our numbers but actually raised us which made for many hands on deck. This meant that we were able to dig the footings even deeper to combat the risk of erosion around the building to the land and make sure that it is more stable. 

As a result of the deeper footings more bricks were required and the students learnt how to make these in one of the empty classrooms where once they were made they were left to dry out.

The painting involved the mixing of the paint with water to ensure that we had enough. The classrooms were very dirty and we think hadn't been painted since the school was built in 2004, so it was certainly in need of a lick of paint. The students cleaned the walls and removed any debris before getting to work with the paint. At the end of the day we had given 3 classrooms a first coat and managed a second coat on one of the rooms.

We knocked off work at 1.30pm as we had used all the paint and cement. This gave us plenty of time to hit the beach and take advantage of the good surf!

After dinner Mr Abbott organised a poker tournament for approximately 10 players which included Mr Osbourne and Mr Dickens. The deal was Mr Abbott who also won, not want to cast aspersions but this was particularly suspect and Sam Keys who came 2nd was asking for a stewards enquire about the result but to no avail!

Day 13 - Monday

Today was the first day on the new project which was three 22ft classrooms starting from scratch and painting the existing 3 classrooms.

Mr Abbott turned Sir Alan Sugar as he sent Mr Harris and Sarah along with Cameron Ashworth and Barney Thorpe to Agona Junction. The concept he seemed to of come up with was a cross between Top Gear and The Apprentice with the rain it made the road very slippy for our very old Mercedes Sprinter which I'm sure has many stories to tell since it was first sold in Leeds. The first problem came after 5 miles when we became stuck and acquired the services of 10 local men who endeavoured to dig us out and send us on our merry way, this took 4 shovels and 30 minutes!

On arriving at Agona Junction the 2nd concept of the challenge took place with us having to go around and purchase 1 tonne of cement and various other building materials to start 'Abbott & Students Builders Ltd'. We successfully achieved this challenge and even managed to negotiate a 5% discount which we were most impressed with!

Back at site the students were hard at work clearing the site of tree roots and digging the footings for the buildings. As Mr Abbott keeps reminding us that it's dynamic project management as the locals change their minds as often as the wind and suddenly we were adding a store room as well! We spent 5 hours digging the footings and the locals matched our efforts as we flew through the earth in a blur of pick-axes, shovels and matlocks... At 3pm we knocked off for the day to enjoy a well deserved dip in the sea and for one group to try their hands at surfing with the local instructor Bjorn (via Sweden).

The food at night was delicious and the quiz that followed devised by Mr Osbourne  provided an excellent quizmaster! The conception was fierce but Jack K, Jekin, Dan L, Tom B and Barney showed that a year extra at TBSHS really helps as the Year 13's beat all others...

Tomorrow we will be painting, making cement for the footings and making bricks! 

Day 12 - Sunday

Following the first night of luxury in double beds listening to the sound of the sea and animals as we drifted off to sleep we were also given a lie-in which was gratefully received. The students rolled out of bed between 8am and 10am to tuck into pancakes and local honey which was delicious.

The plan for the day was a gentle stroll to the local lighthouse along the beach and then back via the village to have a look at what work required doing. This was all going very well until halfway round the walk the heavens opened and it started to rain quite heavily. Walking past the school it became very obvious that it was in a dire state but a great project for us to undertake as we could make a real difference. A group if Americans had recently done some work at the school building latrines which looked excellent.

We finished walking back along the beach before changing out of the wet clothes. The rest of the day was spent on the beach, in the sea and around the central venue of the lodge playing cards, table tennis and reading. All in all a very relaxing day before the hard graft starts again at 6.30am!

Day 11 - Saturday

Following the success of Sports Day and the victory in the football match Abbobayor allowed everyone a little bit of a lie-in before we bid farewell to Bronyibima. Unfortunately, the night was disturbed by constant loud music from the village which went on through the whole night finishing with a flute ensemble. It turns out that this was a funeral that would be taking place today and that's common practice for the equivalent of an all night rave to take place the evening before.

The journey down to Cape 3 Points took about 4 hours with a stop at the local market which unfortunately seems to run on the same day as Stortford market, so there wasn't much happening!

We arrived at the Eco lodge (www.escape3points.com) and the students were amazed at the beauty of the place. Once off the bus they ran down to the beach and paddled in the sea before having a look around the site. 

After a lovely chicken and rice lunch the students were allocated their lodges and given some time to relax before dinner of pasta and mushroom sauce!

Tomorrow we will be walking to the local lighthouse and having a look around the village we will be working at for the next 9 days...