Movember

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Hi All,

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I'm growing a Mo. That's right I'm bringing the Mo back because I'm passionate about tackling men's health issues and being proactive in the fight against men's depression and prostate cancer.

To donate to my Mo you can either:

1. Click this link https://www.movember.com/au/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink&rego=1768336&country=au and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account, or
2. Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Foundation', referencing my Registration Number 1768336 and mailing it to:

Movember Foundation
PO Box 292
Prahran VIC 3181

Remember, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.

The money raised by Movember is used to raise awareness of men's health issues and donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue - the national depression initiative. The PCFA and beyondblue will use the funds to fund research and increase support networks for those men who suffer from prostate cancer and depression.

Did you know:

• Depression affects 1 in 6 men....most don't seek help. Untreated depression is a leading risk factor for suicide.
• Last year in Australia 18,700 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 2,900 died of prostate cancer - equivalent to the number of women who will die from breast cancer annually.

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So, this whole thing. I figure that, since I'm in the mo business anyway, I may as well try to assist in raising money for good causes.

However, as you all know and care, I have already been growing a mo (for about a month). As such, the question I put to you is this: do I need to completely shave off my current mo and start again (I don't really want to do this)? Alternatively, I could just trim it back to fuzzy caterpiller status and sort-of 'begin' again? OR, I could just figure that I got into Movember a month early and can just continue with my mo-ness the way it is.

As such, because I can, I have created a POLL just up there at the top of this page. This means that YOU decide. It finishes at midnight in 4 days' time. Also, feel free to comment. I will give your opinions very careful consideration.

And, of course, donate.

Cheers,
Jacob

I am using my power for personal gain.

Which is what power's all about, no?

It rained last night. REALLY heavily. Like, the heaviest rain I have ever experienced - like being under a fire hose.

Kinda wet.

More importantly, if you click on this link and sign up to Mozy I will get extra online backup storage. If you can be bothered, please do it.

For your information, Mozy is a free (or paid, for more space) service whereby it enables you to backup your important files to the net. This means that if your house burns down and your computer and all files and backups are destroyed, you still have an offsite back-up (2GB free) of your most important files. I recommend it - it's free and totally could save you if something bad happens. Additionally, if you don't have any backup solution at the moment, this is better than nothing, easy and free! Alternatively, if you wanted to back up your whole photo library or something, you can pay a monthly fee for more storage space.

It's a good idea. Please do it.

[UPDATE: Apparently, I get my free space (and you too) when you actually use Mozy to make a back up, and not before. As such, I encourage you all to use it, not just sign up...

Really, you should use something like this anyway if you don't currently back up - hard drives die and your data will disappear with them. Thanks. Sweet dreams.]

On another note, I have added one of my favourite songs that I've heard in Ghana to the music player over on the right. I'm not even sure of the song's name or artist. Listen to it. I am putting it up there for purely educational reasons, if anyone likes it I will find out who it is and buy their CD (I hope to do so for myself).

No worries.
Bye.

It was hot today.

Like, really hooootttt. And humid. I was as sweaty as a sweaty alligator.

Anyway, to the important news:

I have added some music over there on the right. This is my music. You can listen to it while you read. You can download it. You will love it. I will try to keep writing a few little doodley things and putting them there.

Additionally, I played around on Google Maps and annotated a little map that shows you where I am. You can see where I live, where Kusun train, where Afotey trains and other such lovelyness. The link is over on the right under 'About Me', or you can click here.

Have fundybungles.
By Jacob

The Australian Government is trying to break the internet.

Basically, they are trying to implement a 'child porn' filter on the Australian internet pipeline. While this sounds like a noble idea (think of the children), it is evil and scary. And Bad.

While in the short term this filter will probably only make browsing a little bit slower (which is Bad anyway), its long-term ramifications are worrying. The government is effectively putting in place a means by which to censor all internet traffic into Australia. In short, they want to break what makes the internet the internet - a means for people like me to write waffle like this.

Now, I'm sure they will deny this up and down and, truthfully, they may not even have any such totalitarian plans. However, they are laying the groundwork for some scary stuff later on, should someone Bad get their filthy hands on it.

I think if any of you know what I'm talking about or agree with me, you should contact Stephen Conroy or your MP and tell them 'No.' Just like you would a puppy dog.

Please read about it at my headstrong young friend's blog here.

Aaaaand in The Age, here.

Also, read Senator Conroy's press release here.

Thanks.

Oh yeah, I did another song.

Yo.

I just remembered that a couple of weeks ago, when the internet was down, I did another song.

You should totally listen to it here.

And download it.

And give it to your friend at the radio station.

And get them to play it on the national airwaves.

And then pay me lots of royalty money.

I also took some photos, here.

That's all.

Something I stumbled across on the Interwebs

This is nice:




I found it here.

I was a commando for a day

Salutations.

Apologies once again for the delay between posts - the internet and power have been not working again. Bad luck for you.

The last couple of days:

Monday, I finished all the shipping business. Everything is now packed, all fits and is ready to go. It is now out of my hands. Thanks to those of you who have expressed concern for my mental health due to this organising - I was stressed as a gnome earlier but now that it's all done, I have relaxed a bit. Once again, it's now out of my hands.

Thanks be to the tiny baby Jesus.

On Monday night I finally managed to get to Afotey's rehearsal, which was good. It was nice to do some drumming for a change.

On Tuesday, Kusun didn't rehearse - apparently they have this week off. So, after having a phone chat with Mr Ray the other night, I'm planning to just have some daily playing sessions, where I can just practice my stamina and chops, instead of the rehearsals. Yeah!

So, instead of rehearsing, I hung around and organised some things - got some video transferred to the computer and generally did academic sort of work. I washed some underwear. At 4 I had a lesson with Afotey.

Ove the last couple of weeks, it has been getting easier and easier to get distracted and not spend time drumming. I am attempting to put a stop to this.

In order to do that, I have to finish here.

Bye.

A Post from the Holy Day.

Today is Sunday.

It has been a day of FAILURE.

I didn't go running in the morning - I barely slept last night and was still awake at 5 when I was supposed to get up to go. I took a raincheck and tried to get some sleep. I did sleep, until 9 or so.

FAIL!

Not much happened from then on. I hung around, had some toast, had a lesson with Mr Lokko... and that's about it.

FAIL!

Later, after dinner, I went to an NDC (National Democratic Congress) meeting - the NPP (New Patriotic Party) is the corrupt right-wing government currently in power and the NDC are the left-wing hopefuls. There is an election on December 7th. The current government is one of those that feature in any discussion of African politics, with the President receiving millions of dollars in kickbacks, regular power outages (because the electricity is being sold to other countries) and the president apparently "can't close his fly". Alongside this corruption and bribery, the majority of the population is impoverished. Indeed, because the government has so much money, there is a very one-sided representation in the political advertising arena and hundreds of Ghanaians have been paid 10GHS (a significant amount for people who have nothing and virtually nothing to a government with everything) to wear propaganda t-shirts. Additionally, the government still has the capability and resources to bribe police into switching ballot boxes with rigged papers. Fun eh? So, the NDC's situation is interesting to say the least - the NPP government is sucking the country dry and there seems a desperate need for change (sound like any other countries?). The NDC then is very involved in trying to be vigilant and ensuring that no shifty business takes place.

That said, most of the meeting was in another language. I just sat there.

FAIL!

I think I will try and vote on December 7, see what happens...

(I will most likely get turned away [and so I should]... FAIL!)

[As the first independent African nation, Ghana has a very interesting political history. If you're interested, (and it is interesting, though long) go here. Also (shorter), Jerry John Rawlings, the Flight Lieutenant who staged a coup, gave power back to the people, formed the NDC and really is to credit for Ghana's unity and political success, can be read about here. Alongside that, if you haven't already, Wikipedia has information about Ghana here (don't you care about where I am at all?). FAIL!]

Finally, my last failure for the night.

We went to Mr Ricky Nana's house. His daughter was being tutored in basic algebra. Tettey knows that I'm doing math at university and asked me to solve one of the problems on the board (solving linear equations with fractions). I blanked out and couldn't do it. Even though I am doing math as a major and am quite good (albeit lazy) at it, I couldn't do something from year 8.

Oh the pain.

I shall cry myself to sleep tonight.

Also, I am trying to learn French.

Au Revoir.

The silence brakes.

Hello.

By 'brakes', I mean 'stops', or 'ends'... or even 'breaks'.

It's been a while. The internet has been down here. It's working again now. So I am writing this.

What's happened:

Monday 13th Oct and Tuesday 14th Oct:
Do you really expect me to remember back that far? I think what happened was, I rehearsed with Kusun, had a lesson each day with Mr Lokko and went to Afotey's group for a rehearsal on Monday and a lesson on Tuesday. Pretty standard fare. (As a bit of a spoiler, the same thing happens on the following Monday and Tuesday - you heard it here first).

As a guess, I probably had fried rice for dinner.

Wednesday 15th Oct:
Kusun now don't rehearse on Wednesday's as the place at which they train is used by some church group (because Wednesday is the holiest of days). Thus, on this Wednesday I didn't train. Additionally, Mr Lokko wasn't around so I didn't have a lesson. What I did was go into Accra with Jane and Okuley. We wandered about for a bit, got some (good) food and went to Okuley's house. It was hot. I fell asleep on his couch for two hours or so. Then I realised that I was missing Afotey's rehearsal, so I called him and apologised. That was bad. Then I went to a western supermarket in Osu and bought chocolate hazelnut spread. And a Kellogs variety pack. And some hot dogs in a can. And Milo in a can. All very necessary items. I haven't eaten the hot dogs yet, I'm saving them for when I really need them.


Thursday 16th Oct:
Today I also didn't rehearse with Kusun as Nii Noi and I went into town to post some drums to Eve (one of the peoples on the tour. Hello Eve) in Swaziland and then go to the Fetish market to buy some bells and shakers. Posting was fun. Well, not in the usual sense of the word, but fun in a way that refers to hanging around getting bored and frustrated while waiting for people to do things inefficiently. The Fetish market is always interesting - if you want a dried alligator head, any bones, 'voodoo dolls', human arms, etc., this is the place. I got some bells and a shaker. That was nice. It was really hot. Actually, I would like to mention that it has started to get hot here. In the last two weeks or so, it's warmed up and gotten very humid. So, yeah. I guess I should've expected that in Africa, but it's still freakin' hot.


Friday 17th Oct:
I can't really remember what I did this day apart from the fact that I didn't do any drumming. That makes a couple of days in a row. In reality, I was busy and also a bit overloaded so was in need of a break. Surely I did something wonderful (like kill a buffalo) on Friday, but I just don't know what.


Saturday 18th Oct:
Today I got organised (ie., paid lots of money) to get a crate made to ship some people's drums back to Australia (I remember what a large part of Saturday was - organising and finding out about getting this crate made and other shipping-related matters (I was waiting for several weeks to find out from the agent what the dimensions of the crate would need to be before getting it built. As you'll read later, after finding this out [after weeks and weeks of not hearing anything and actually thinking I was waiting for a quote, not for things to be put in motion] I had about 3 days to get everything packed and ready to go. Fun fun fun). Apart from that, I hung around. Yes indeed, I hung very much. I have a feeling I did a lot of washing as well. Yeah, I think I did. Darned interesting.


Sunday 19th Oct:
I did the silly running thing again. At 5.00. We actually ran faster this week than last week and I hadn't had very much sleep, so it felt a lot harder. Nicely though, it wasn't raining this time. After getting back from my awesome run at about 7.30, I made some eggs for breakfast. I think I am establishing a Sunday routine. Other stuff went on, but I either don't remember or don't want to tell you. Actually, I just don't remember.


Monday 20th Oct and Tuesday 21st Oct:
As suggested earlier, my schedule on these two days was very similar to last week. Fortunately, I did some drumming again after my little break. The stuff I am learning with Afotey is good and interesting, likewise what Mr Lokko is teaching me. I also managed to have another lesson with Otu on the Monday. I also found out some more information about the shipping and, by the end of Tuesday, the crate was made. Once this was done, I packed every one's drums into the crate to make sure they'd fit. They fit easily with some extra room, which meant that I would have to get more things to fill it up.

The good news though, is that my legs didn't hurt from running - last time they hurt like hell for about 5 days. I am becoming an iron man.

From memory, I'm pretty sure I would have had fried rice for dinner.


Wednesday 22 Oct:
Like last Wednesday, there was no drumming today. I did some running around to get kpanlogo pegs (to replace broken ones) and bought another drum. Also, the plan was that I would go into the Fetish market again with Theofo to get some more shakers and then meet someone who had some djembe shells for me to look at and buy. However, I ended up waiting for Theofo for hours and by the time we got to Accra, he decided that it would be too late to go to the market. So, cutting my losses, I figured we'd at least catch up with this djembe shell guy. Unfortunately, a phone call determined that he was still in Kokrobite (2 hours or so away, where he was when I called him earlier that day to check that it was ok to meet up with him) and couldn't get back until the next day. So, cutting my losses, we had some food and went home. The food was chicken with stew, not fried rice. Unfortunately, all this ineffective tomfoolery meant that I missed another of Afotey's rehearsals. Poo.

Thursday 23 Oct:
Hmmmmmmmmm. On Thursday, I got everything together for the shipping. First, we loaded all the drums onto the Kusun bus and put the empty crate on top, then drove it to where the shipping company lives. I went separately in Tettey's car and we went via the Arts Centre market. As I mentioned earlier, the extra space left in the crate meant that it would work out better if I could fill the crate - we were paying by volume in units of cubic metres. Also, since my trip to the Fetish market was unsuccessful, I was looking to pick up some shakers. So, I went to the market and after a long time of bartering, being hassled and standing in the sun, I got some djembe shells and shakers. Hoorah.

Then we went to the shipping company. The crappy thing here was that I had to pay a heap of USD (all my remaining USD - a bad move considering how the Australian dollar is completely tanking at the moment. For your information and entertainment, every time I withdraw money [Ghana cedis, GHS] from the ATM, my Australian dollars get converted to USD, which then get converted to GHS. This means that a crappy Australian dollar versus the USD means that I have much less money than I had 2 months ago. This is bad. Could someone out there stop the economy from crashing? Thanks.) as well as GHS. Right now I'm still in the middle of sorting out what exactly it is that I have paid for so am too confused to really tell too much more of a story. Needless to say, the day was long and difficult with lots of waiting interspersed with lots of running around in circles. Again, I missed the Kusun rehearsals, lesson with Mr Lokko and lesson with Afotey.

Friday 24rd Oct:
Yesterday. More running in circles concerning shipping. The idea for Friday was (as I was told on Thursday) to take the shipping address, as well as a receipt for what was in the crate (for insurance) to the shipping company and then be there when they (re-) packed the crate. I also got the impression that I was waiting for some forms from the agent. So, after waiting for him, not being able to contact him and then leaving without him, we got to the shipping company. They told me that they assumed I wasn't coming because it was 'late' and that the people packing the crate had gone off to do something else, leaving it half done.

Ghana.

I was told to come back on Monday at 8.30am. So I, kinda frustrated, turned around and went home. This day was even less useful than the others. And I missed rehearsals (Kusun and Afotey) and my lessons. Poo. Additionally, when I asked the person at the shipping company some clarifying questions, I got completely different answers from what I had got previously. This is really messing with my head - I made every possible effort the previous day and weeks to ask questions so as to determine what I was paying for and what was necessary. The answers to these questions change dramatically according to when and by whom they are given. This brings me to my mission on Saturday. I didn't get to sleep until about 3am because I was sorting out shit and working out every one's costs for the shipping (I had egg and bread and kebabs for dinner. Gotta have variety).

Saturday 25th Oct (TODAY, fools):
Today I still haven't really gotten up. I've been awake, but haven't yet emerged from my room. It's now nearly 12.00 (this has taken a long time write though). I did sleep in too due to my late night, head full of worry and total stuffed-ness.

Something I forgot to mention was that, as well as the internet not working the last couple of weeks, the power has been going off for whole days at a time (not so much in the last week thankfully, but the week before it went off for at least 4 or 5 hours a day and sometimes, when going off in the early afternoon, wouldn't come back until afternoon the next day) and we have no water. The way the water works here is that it only flows from the mains on Saturday and Sunday when tanks are filled, then we use the tanks during the week. Last weekend the water didn't flow from the mains, so we had no water all week. Thus, another reason I can't be bothered getting up is that I don't want to wash out of my buckets (which are empty anyway - I'd have to go down to the tank and get some more and I just can't be arsed). I want the pump to be pumping water to my shower. I will stamp my foot if necessary.

Did I mention that I'm in Africa? Serves me right I guess.

Well, that's it for this post. I think I made up for the silence. I think you are extremely grateful and will email and comment to that effect.

I am alive.

Bye.

The Weekend. Of Jacob.

Yo.

Saturday: A big day. I went to a funeral with Theofo (a different person dying from the previously mentioned one - this guy was the husband of someone I met in Ghana 9 years ago). It was big. And a day. A big day, some would say - we hung around and listened to overly-loud and distorted music, ate, drank a lot of coke and then went home. I met a heap of people. On the way home I went to the bank. Then I watched Resident Evil: Extinction, which was quite good. Then I slept.

Sunday: A bigger day. I got up at 5.00 and went running. As I mentioned a few posts ago, every Sunday a large group of people run down to the beach (a couple of km) singing, drumming and all running in time. This week, I joined. We ran to the beach, then hung around (in the rain) and did aerobic exercises and stretches, ran up and down the beach, (running up and down in soft sand is hard. The main running I did here was running away) then ran back. I ran the whole way there, did a few exercises and got laughed at and then ran most of the way back (my stomach got upset. And I'm unfit. And lazy. And I cry all the time).

This running thing was a great idea. < /sarcasm>

Actually, despite my SORE HIP (see much earlier post - a theme, perhaps?) I have been ok since and will do it again next week. It was actually quite enjoyable hanging out with dudes running and being the token white guy. I will do it every week, laziness permitting.

After the running (got home at about 7.30), I had a very eggy breakfast. Laterz on, Tettey and I went and got a large pile of food and drinks (including 5 chickens) for a party tonight. The rationale for the party involved the guys in the band getting upset that I kept quiet about my birthday (until the day after when we had cake). They were upset that they didn't get to celebrate with me, that is, they were upset that I didn't throw them a party with free food and drinks (in my honour, of course. And from my wallet). So I did.

Between buying chickens and the party, young Tetteh (Tettey's second son) and I watched Alien Resurrection. It was a pretty awful movie.

Right now, the party is sorta maybe finishing but still kinda going on. I, having satisfactorily attended to my hosting duties for the evening, am stuffed and going to bed. I will try and get up ridiculously early tomorrow too. I'm kinda like the Energizer battery man. Yeah. That's right. You read it here first.

Comment, email, follow, love.

A kick in the face to all the haters out there,
Jacob

I posted. So there.

Hello.

Today was a massive day.

As alluded to in my previous post, my schedule is going to be quite hectic. Today was the first day in which that's really hit me. Being Friday and all, I'm wiped. Here's what I did:

Rehearsed with Kusun from 9-12.30
Had a lesson with Mr Lokko from 1.30-2.30
Had a lesson with Otu from 3-4
Went to Afotey's rehearsal from 4-6.30.

That's a lot of drumming. I like it. But I am tired. Hence, this post is going to be only this long.

Actually, I lied. It's going to be this long.

Bye.

Today was a nice day. By Jacob, of course.

Hello.

Today was a nice day (as is suggested by this post's title).

The morning was not as planned - Kusun were supposed to rehearse here at the house but, for some reason or other, there was no rehearsal. Although not unpleasant this wasn't the bit that made it a nice day, that bit is coming.

So, instead of rehearsing, I went through some video, looked over and notated what I had done in yesterday's lesson with Mr Lokko, read a bit and generally busy-bodied myself around the house. At about 2.00 I had another lesson with Mr Lokko and at 4.00 went to Afotey's rehearsal.

This rehearsal didn't really happen either - it was a meeting about the death of one of the group members (a dancer) the day before. They were speaking in Ga and I didn't realise this until afterwards. I don't know how he died. In case you weren't sure, this is not the nice bit.

While I was there, before the group meeting, I spoke with Mr Afotey and arranged to attend all of his group's rehearsals (Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 4.00 - see you there!) and have individual lessons (at the same time) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This means that I will be sitting in on Kusun's rehearsals every day from 9-12, having a lesson from 1-2 (realistically, the rehearsal won't finish until about 1 and my lesson time will be very subject to change), then another lesson somewhere between 2 and 4 and, finally, a lesson or rehearsal with Afotey from 4-6 (or 4-5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays). I will be busy. This realisation is part of what made today a nice day. I feel like the wheels are finally starting to turn and I am going to stupidly push myself towards a mental breakdown. For some reason this makes me happy. This is the first bit of the niceness.

Another thing that makes me happy is three dinners. This happened tonight quite accidentally (and has actually made me feel a little sick). First, I went down the street to get some fried rice (for a change), then Jane came home with some Nando's-esque chicken burger, then Otu called me and invited me to his house. I didn't realise this invitation was for dinner - even when I said I'd eaten it was insisted that I join them. Hoorah. Three dinners = happiness.

The other lovely thing about Otu's place was the children. I played with Otu's kids (not all his kids - the whole extended family lives together) for a long time and it was totally enjoyable. In fact, tonight visiting Otu I felt as comfortable as I ever have anywhere.

The difficulty here, now with this blog, which I was thinking about as I walked home, is remembering, expressing and capturing how I have felt today (It was bugging me - even as I walked home I could feel my mood changing and my thoughts of how I could express why I was happy disappearing. Bastards). It has been a simple day; nothing that happened was particularly meant to happen or expected, yet it was thoroughly enjoyable. I found, while laughing with kids calling me Mr Jacob and trying to teach me games in a language I don't understand, I was totally happy, comfortable and enjoying myself. Also, just wandering with Otu and his brothers (actual brothers, not just homies) talking to people I don't know (but apparently have met before) and generally hanging around was great.

Additionally and extra-ly, you may know, I am generally not a guy to socialise for 'no reason'. Most of the time, anyway. Tonight, in fact, my main motivation for going out in the first place was because I was invited and felt obliged. I'm glad I did.

Since I'm in the mood, I think now is the time for me to indulge in the epiphany I referred to last week (and, consequently, sizzled until burnt). Basically it referred to how I felt before coming to Ghana this year. While still at home, I was thinking of how, the first time I came to Ghana (9 years ago - 13 years old), I felt instantly comfortable and was amazed at how things worked. Coming from my childhood; receiving a large dose of tall-poppy syndrome as a kid, it was refreshing -- liberating -- to hear children's interactions and descriptions of themselves. If someone was a good drummer, they and everyone else had no problems saying so. If someone was smart or thick, the same attitude applied. Basically, false modesty and bullying born out of jealousy of natural talents existed to a much lesser degree than Australia, it seemed to me. Largely due to this, alongside an overwhelming friendliness, I felt completely at home in Ghana. Now, while still at home in Melbourne, after coming back from Ghana 9 years ago, completing secondary school and 4 years of tertiary studies (with all the normal bullshit that 'refines' and confines people's thinking according to their society), I was worried that I would have changed too much -- become too white, middle class and pseudo-intellectual -- that I wouldn't be able to tap back into what I experienced when I was 13. If that doesn't make sense, ask me and I will try to explain it again more eloquently. For now, it will do: I was worred that I would have become too much of a western, head-up-my-arse dickhead to let go and relax again in Ghana.

I am happy to report that the outcome of my 'epiphany' (It's more just a simple realisation than an epiphany but I like the word), was that I realised that, to an extent I am happy with, I can relax and be comfortable here. This is handy. Actually, all my troubles with personalities, anxiety and loneliness/exclusion/not-fitting-in-ness have been related to whities, not Ghanaians. So far. (There are lots of reasons for this, let's not go into it.)

Of course, for those of you playing along at home, this does not mean that I am no longer too much of a white, middle-class, pseudo-intellectual, head-up-my-arse dickhead. Don't worry, I am the very same that you know and, most importantly, love. The nice thing is that it hasn't gotten in the way (or at least is so effective that it can fool me into thinking that I'm relaxed and coping when I'm not) of enjoying myself here.

Phewf. That was a long one.

Before finishing, I would like to add that there is a lot more to be learned (and that I did learn) from travelling to Ghana than this one tiny aspect I referred to above (the honesty/modetsy thing). Consequently, it has shaped my life in way that has kept me, even just slightly, aware that how things are at home is not how things are everywhere else. In some places, lots of things are a lot shitter. However, for some reason, while not having decent drinking water, healthcare, housing, and on and on, there are some things that Ghana seems to have much more 'right' than we do. I won't go into it now because of time, laziness and lack of forethought -- it's very hard to discuss these sort of differences without making sweeping generalisations and value judgements and I don't want to do so without working out what it is I have to say. This issue, however, is constantly in my thoughts (alongside boom-boom-tiddly-boom-boom-bap). Maybe, if you want to think about it and ask me, I will discuss it with you. Aren't I awesome?

Thanks very much for reading.

I bet it made you fuzzy inside.

Awww.

Shut up.

So many things have happened.

Salutations.

Most importantly, I had a haircut. You are excited by this.

Also, apparently it was my birthday yesterday. That meant we had cake today. Everyone was totally rapt in me because I am such a great person with short hair.. Also, it rained yesterday and the power went out. Until this morning. Which meant no lights, running water, internet, etc. I cried a little bit, then went out for dinner. I'm not going to tell you what I had or where. So there.

For those of you who wanted to send me heaps of stuff, my address is:

Jacob Kinniburgh
c/o Kusun Productions
PO Box 686
Nungua/Teshie Estates
Accra, Ghana

Cakes, presents, money, mosquito repellent... all will be welcome (and promptly stolen at the post office).

Really, you do not have to do anything, I am just too lazy to email specific people who asked for my address. I think I may be a bad person... Any thoughts?

You could pop in and visit. That would be nice. Or you could follow my blog (over there, on the right. I don't know what it does... but Sam did it... Good on Sam [See, if you do it, you may get international recognition and acclaim]). Go on, make a tiny African child happy.

On that note, if anyone has an old mobile phone (or any other such useful thing) and would not object to giving it to a Ghanaian who would like it, email me and I'll see if we can organise a way to get it here. You could make a difference.

In other headlines, Kusun are rehearsing again and I have started lessons with Mr Narku Lokko. My Visa has been extended until January so I am here until then. Sweet.

How's America going? Bit of a crash, hey? That's no good.

So, any other news? Feel free to bore me with your petty tales.

Thanks, once again, for reading.

Up, up and away.

I did a song.

Yo hodeley doo.

Welcome to this blog post.

Today I did some stuff. Every Sunday morning a big crowd of people run past the centre at about 5.30, singing, clapping, playing drums and jogging. Otu, one of the members of Kusun, was running. I got up just to check it out - perhaps one weekend I will join in. They run an awfully long way though. At 5.30 in the morning.

Hmmm...

In other news, my head is still hairy - I have booked a haircut with Okule, but it's all up to him as to when it happens.

After going back to bed at 6.00 and sleeping for a couple more hours, I did some washing; my sheets, etc. Then I went and had lunch/dinner with Otu and Shaanu. It was delicious (although, it wasn't fried rice...). On the way home, we passed a drumming group playing for a funeral (or wake, really). This was great, there was a large crowd of people singing, dancing, yelling and drumming - I had a bit of a join-in drum in the background and just listened, chillaxed and said hello to many people.

After getting home, I decided to try and make some 'music' on my 'computing machine'. This is what came out. Enjoy. Dance. Laugh. Cry.

It's an emotional rollercoaster/Romanian disco piece.

Good night, tired now. Kusun start rehearsing in the morning.

Gutenberg.

Another boring account of my day. And photos.

Hello. Today was another quiet day. Kusun's rehearsals have stopped until Monday, hence the quietness. I did have a lesson with Theofo today though. We have been through a few of the Tigali fetish rhythms. Hard, but going ok.

I had fried rice for dinner again.

Apart from that, more reading, fooling on computer (sorting out video and photos) and hanging with Africans. Another good day.

In other news, I have posted a big chunk of photos. The first lot are new ones of my room, for your updated enlightenment. To see them, click here. The second lot are photos from the party that signified the end of the study tour (a couple of weeks ago). To see them, click here. Additionally, I have added a link at the top of the right-hand (that way --->) column which takes you to the page where all my photos and video is at. This means you can just click there to see my photos rather than looking for a link in my posts. I'm all about you.

Indeed, to make your life even better , I have added a 'follow' thing. You see it? Just there under the photo link? I don't really know what it is, but I think it has to do with my ego. You should work it out and totally follow me.

The fetish video is still coming. Stay tuned.

In hindsight, I'm not really sure why I didn't just use my Me.com site for my whole blog, rather than blogspot? I thought you'd find that interesting, hence my including it here.

Any comments or love, feel free to share.

I didn't get my head shaved. Maybe tomorrow...

Buy.

Today's official blog post (+ more video)

Hello again,
This is the blog post that tells you what I did today.

Not much.

I didn't get dressed and showered (not necessarily in that order) until about 11.30, then I spent the day just reading and bumming around. It was quite relaxing and a nice break. I also watched Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. While doing so I ran my hand through my flowing 'stache. Afterwards, I changed how my blog looks (any comments? I'm not particularly attached to it so feel free to abuse my sense of colour matching). That's about it.

Oh, I had fried rice for dinner.

Additionally, I have (or will shortly have) uploaded some more video, of Theofo's fetish ceremony. Have a look. Also, any requests for other video, let me know.

I think I will get my head shaved tomorrow.

Good night little children.
Happy little children.

Some small video be up.

Just to let you know, I have uploaded some video.

I found out that, although I can't upload video directly to my site, I can upload to Youtube then embed it in my site. Odd, but it works.

The video is of cows and rather long.

Go here.

I am trying to chop out and upload some video of Theofo's fetish ceremony (trancing and freaky drumming and whatnot) in the next day or so. Any other requests? I won't be putting much up because it takes a lot of time and effort. So there.

Bye.

Mustacholini.

Wow. Sorry for that title - it hurt me more than it hurt you.

Today's story:
I am growing a MUSTACHE!
I have uploaded some photos so check them out.

In other news, I have worked out that I am going to be able to stay here until January - I have worked out how much living here is going to cost and how much money I have. Fortunately, money I have > how much it costs. This is good.

Of course, you will almost die because you miss me, but it is still good.

Actually, I think your emotional blackmail is just plain selfish. You know, sometimes things are bigger than you. I recommend you go to a mirror, look in and have a deep think about yourself. Missing me is ok though.

In fact, if you don't miss me I recommend you go to a mirror, look in and have a deep think about yourself. And me.

Actually, mainly me.

On that note, back to me. I am having lessons every day and rehearsing with a couple of groups.

The thing I said I was going to talk about tomorrow two days ago, I am not yet going to talk about it. I am going to keep that epiphany sizzling for a while more, so deal with that.

Still, be excited.

So, apart from that, I don't have an awful lot of news. I had a lesson with Theofo this morning, continuing to learn some freaky rhythms. Kusun are playing a show tonight that I am going to watch. I had breakfast. I am sitting at my computer right now. I will try again to upload some video later.

That's about it.

You got anything better?

Chow.