Day two back in UK.  An efficient but pleasant banking experience.  A walk along a tarred road.  Buses, no rubbish, and cool enough temperatures to walk at high speed - full toubab!

"Let's get a bus back."  Allan stuck his hand out. 

Ïn UK you need to go to a bus stop"-Ah! of course.

 Isn't civilisation great.

On 16th May 2006 we left The Gambia amongst good wishes from friends and colleagues.  What would UK be like?  What were we going to do?  A lot of decisions had to be made.  We've spent the time since then doing just that - of which more later.

First impressions.

We arrived at the dead of night at Gatwick.  The queues for passport control were the biggest I have seen - but they were queues!  Two young men surreptitiously edged forward.  I glared but had not the courage to say anything.  A young feistier woman decided to act and politely pointed out the obvious, "There is a queue."  The young men retreated gracefully.

"Ahh," I thought "Good old British Etiquette."

My newfound Britishness had disappeared by the time I reached the passport officer.  I beamed in true Gambian fashion.  "Hello, How are you?  How's the day?" Oops Forgot where I was.  The reaction, however, was favourable.  The man looked up in surprise, smiled and said "Very well thank you.  How are you." 

 Success!  I'm back in the UK.

Best of all was the warm welcome from our friends Terry and Dot.  Beyond the call of duty Terry had come at dead of night to collect us. Dot had prepared a warm welcome, a comfortable bed and a good plate of soup.

Maybe UK will be fine but why are my feet still itchy?