Bentsifi’s Tattle :A guy about town
What’s the matter with you and all this rain, October? You usually were a nice cool month. You didn’t disturb with rains that kept us wondering if our rooms would be flooded, but this year, you have changed.
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Why? Is it because we are still throwing things indiscriminately into our gutters which in turn cause blockages in our bigger outlets? Is it because you want to teach us a lesson to make us know that, indeed, you can come down heavy on us anytime? Ok, yes, we have heard. Or have we?
I love rain, drizzles, you know, just enough of it to water our gardens and cool off the ground that has been glazed by the scorch of our ever-blazing sun.
But when our rain comes in with such force as it has been lately, even in October, which we all know is normally a dry month, then something is giving and we ought to be up and doing!
Checking our drains, checking our attitudes regarding garbage disposal, checking our city authorities and reminding them to keep working on making Accra flood free!
This is so like us. When the rains stop, the efforts to make the city flood-free stops! October has been kind enough to remind us in varying ways.
I have been down intermittently with fever, and last week, I believe full-blown malaria that got me to undertake bed rest while under medication for a couple of days.
The rest has helped tremendously. I feel rather fantastic, and I am lying here thinking how blessed I was last September, my month of birth, and all the beautiful things that happened to me. The people in my life who called, and sent me messages! What a wonderful world it is. Even in times of gloom as times have been lately, people still make living worthwhile with all kinds of simple gestures.
My beaming was topped when Felix, who did a stint with me in my work over 10 years ago, called to thank me honestly for all the things I taught him. Why now, I asked?
He’s been looking for the opportunity and felt this random call was as good as any. He was really appreciative of all the things I exposed him to. Those are the things, not the ones he learnt in the classroom, that he is using to advance himself and his career! How nice! It is always nice to share, particularly with younger ones who want to learn.
In the last few weeks in between coming down with my fevers, I have managed to also expose myself to some exciting events and experiences. Like getting to watch Lydia Forson’s directorial debut “Letter From Adam”, a movie in which she starred and in which she managed to get me to laugh.
While I did find a few scenes lingering and technical setbacks with sound, the movie is an interesting take on love and relationships in a modern setting for a person who doesn’t even believe in her own self worth!
Do catch it when you get a chance or buy the DVD when it comes out. You’ll enjoy it. I watched it at the Silverbird Cinema at the Accra Mall, where I find is still showing some rather fantastic movies.
I also found myself among gourmands at the first ‘Festival de la Gastronomie’ hosted by the Alliance Francais and ‘Accra Premiere’ club at the premises of Alliance Francais in Accra.
It was a most exciting day with demonstrations and tastings and I did a world tour on my palette with explosions of tangs from Spain at the Toro Restaurant stand to the various others from Auntie Ophie’s Orangery delights, to Renee’s super Pina colada, to Priscilla’s Ab Ovo handmade gourmet chocolates, to the cocktail mixes at the Champs’ stand.
It was such a successful event, and though I felt weak, I still managed to apply my buds to a tasting spree. You know, just so I can better describe the experiences to you!
So, the Goethe-Institut now has a ‘bar & grill’ that dishes out some rather nice fare too, including khebabs and burgers. Every second Friday, like tonight, there’s a jazz jam with an open mic session where everyone is invited to perform!
It is not Karaoke, it is better! It is where all you budding singers can now have centre stage to do your thing, you know, away from the shower room! And its free entrance!
So, Ghana’s female national football team, the Black Queens have arrived in Windhoek, the Namibian capital to participate in the CAF 2014 tournament.
The Queens take to the field on Sunday, October 12 with ‘Les Fennecs Dames’ of Algeria. I should like to see them do a better job for our national psyche as the Brazil debacle seems to have doused our collective appetite for soccer, especially such international affairs!
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I believe with my big brother and friend, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Namibia, H. E. Alhaji A. Harruna Attah there, he will encourage them to soar high! We need an uplifting story! We all wish them the best of luck.
The championship gets underway at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tomorrow, October 11 at 5.00pm with hosts Namibia taking on Zambia in the opening match in Group A.