Friday 9th May- Going into town on my own to collect my cheiftancy cloth!

The mechanic was moving out to town at 10 so I was argued into entering the vehicle 2 or 3 hours before I intended to leave. I was in town by half 11 so decided to have a wander around the market and enjoy being free to stop and look at anything that caught my eye with out worrying where Martha was walking. Shopping free from time constraints was another luxury. I wanted to get some make up and beads for my chieftaincy ceremony and then see what else looked good.

I went to the part where the Alsa people come to sell. I asked the advice of a girl on what beads I needed to get and she was kind enough to take me away from the stall and lead my through the market to the correct shop. The asking price was 800N for necklace, earrings and bracelet. We reduced it to 250N although I am not sure what happened to my bracelet. As soon as she left my side I stood out like a beautiful zebra that had run loose in the market. Everyone was shouting at me and wanting to catch me and got overly excited when I trotted past. What will you buy Mrs White? What do you need?….NOTHING!! I do not need to buy anything!!! And they would laugh and leave me. I had fun exploring and teasing the market people by running back and forth past their shop it was a good learning experience to practising pricing. I got things cheaper than even Eunice and Martha can get them but as I did not know the value of the items I did not realise what was happening so I just laughed and ran away whenever anyone thought they had a sale. I ventured into the market so deep I found the farm section where they sell chickens. A big turkey escaped from his cage and came to frighten me. I did not like that ugly bird one bit. I saw a funny looking bird lying on the floor. He was squawking and blinking at me. It took me some seconds to realise that it was a chicken that had had his feathers and head skinned off and that, that was what I was looking at. It was strange seeing a living head. I wonder what his body was up to if it was running about also or if they had it tied up with rope?

I went back to the Alsa people to buy eye liner. One man told me it was 40N but I did not like his colours. I found one I wanted and suddenly the price was 100N. I told the boy he was being cheeky and I would never talk to him again. He was then begging me to have it for 50N. I said it was too late and I skipped off. I got a green one and a double colour black/white one both for 40N. I met a friendly fat man who I wanted to buy a horse pendent from. His sister said 600N but we played and joked for almost 20 minuets because I had nothing better to do. In the end I told him that it was tacky and going to spoil too fast and probably turn my skin green so it would be 200N and put the money down and took the horse and ran away. I came back again and he tired to sell me necklaces with baby scorpions in that glowed in the dark. He sells with his sister and they kept my company till I decided it was close enough to 3 for me to go to Benson early.

Bensons securities love me too much. Benson was held in a meeting till after 4 so we had plenty of time to joking and story telling. They had their lunch brake whilst I was there and shared to me. We ate roasted yam with some green vegetable sauce. It was actually surprisingly good. If I see it being sold again I will defiantly buy some. At 4 Benson came out and gave me Innocent to drive us to my tailor. The tailor was a horrible woman. She had sown my cloth too small so I could not even get the shirt on. The lace skirt was skin tight. I joked that I had fatted from eating too much garri. The joke wore thin by the time I got to my white lace shirt where she had to adjust it three times before I could get it on. I abused her and abused her how dare she make a cloth I can not enter. She took my measurements and if she wants to ignore them and do it wrong she should at least make it too big and then reduce it so I would feel complemented not insulted. We all laughed. Its quite fun being able Welfare officer called to say him and Martha would not be coming home that night and would not be coming to collect me. I was annoyed because it was half 5 and I was still in the tailor. When we got back I told Benson I was not getting my lift so he helped me to Bende and gave me a bike home. I was back in Amaudo just seconds before the heavens broke and the rain fell. It truly is rainy season now.