Up early again and we are all off to the shipping company to pay container charges - this is the same office where they tried to fine us $200 a few days ago this time the paperwork is filled in with no mention of a fine - it leaves us wondering are our new friends to thank ? - this takes about an hour then they say we can't pay in sterling so off to the money changers and back then another hour before we finally get our container cleared they also tell us it will 12.00noon before the ship docks - off to the docks where we go through the same rigmarole as the day before to get clearance for us and Neil's camera - where we find out that the ship will not be in until 2pm and we need to leave at 4pm to get back to hotel and then to the airport - not looking good we are now resigned to only seeing the container before we leave - it has been decided that nobody will stay as it could be quite a while before the bus actually clears the dock - this has proved correct as it is still in there as I type we expect it out on the morrow we hope - we through our new friends did pull off one minor coup - no less that the British High Commissioner for Sierra Leone is going to go to the docks on release of the container and hand it over to Armani and MCFC SL on our behalf . Neil got some good footage and did some interviews by the cargo ship we took photos - we were exhausted to a man and even though we did not see the actual bus coming off we like to think that is was mission 99.9% accomplished - we have formed new ties and made a good immpression wherever we went (I hope) - If the Man City name was big before its massive now - and we helped a few people along the way - we dragged ourselves away from the docks at 4pm and headed back to the hotel where we ate before heading to the airport to fly home everyone was hit with a sudden loss of energy and it was mainly a quiet trip to the airport - some of us did not want to leave. The guys are typing up an overall view from a personel perspective which I will post soon but I will leave this post and pic of Armani at the container ship up top for a while seems fitting.
Aaah, I was hoping so much for the fairy tale ending. Still, as you say, 99.9% of the original mission completed - and 100% over and above too I'd say.
ReplyDeleteVery, very well done to you all on a fantastic effort, amazing adventure, and spreading the Blue goodness. Have loved reading this blog from the very first entry.
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The story continues my girl dont go away - but I must admit you are one of the best followers and comment all the time which makes its all worthwhile Thanks Anji
ReplyDeleteOh I'm still here, and still hooked :)
ReplyDeleteThe pleasure is all mine.
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