Auntie Araba's Space: Social Interest

I FELL IN LOVE WITH A MERCEDES BENZ MODEL W123

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:19:53 GMT

I fell in love with a Mercedes Benz. I was given this to use and it was in a state. Driving it was a dream even though I had so much work to do on it. I changed engine, starter, alternator, heater plugs, brake pot, radiator, ball joints and many more things. Everyone thinks I am a fool and all I hear is "why don't you buy a new car". This is a classic. I am a woman in love. I can sit in my car, switch on the engine, and just listen to her purrrrrrrrr. I have had her upside down and rewealded, undercoated, and resprayed. I have just got the crown, and more trimmings for the finishing. Saving up for chrome wheels. I have done the inside and just need a footwell and new dashboard. No one thinks a woman can be crazy about a car but I love her. Will keep you posted with new pictures. This is an expensive time consuming hobby but when its all done............Can't wait

Loneliness in Society

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 12:13:51 GMT

Yesterday I sat in the park and watched people pass by. In this advanced world people have no time for each other. The coldness in people’s eyes and the body language was very obvious. It seemed that eye contact and a smile were something that could give an allergy. I have said "good morning" many times to people and had a blank look in return or a look as though they were saying "is she mad?" but I always say to myself, "its not your fault" and don’t feel hurt. I will never stop saying "good morning" ,"good evening" ,"hello", "thank you" "please " or "have a nice day" to people when I meet them. i.e :bus drivers, ticket collectors, shop keepers, postmen, or people I have to interact with. The day I stop doing this is the day I know my spirit will be dead. I was brought up to show kindness and it can never change.

In this society, there used to be that friendliness and calls of "morning " but not any more, even the thought of your arm touching someone in a bus and train gives one the shivers. Why? Humans are meant to have contact with each other. We are meant to have care and consideration for each other but all that is gone. Keep an animal in a cage with no love, care and attention and it will turn on you. Is that why there are so many dysfunctional people around? Because no one cares, not even even to say hello?

You may even live in the same block with ten other people and I bet the only ones who talk to each other are those over the age of 70 or children under the age of 10. Some adults wait until Christmas before contacting a parent or family member or worse still just send a card to them. What is the cost of picking up the phone and saying "I love you" to a parent or family member or just asking how they are? We are losing it!!!!!!!

Parents leave children all day in school, with nannies, with child minders and sometimes you can see them going home around 6pm with their kids. How much time would they have spent with them the whole week? Is making money more important that spending quality time with your kids? They didn't ask to be born, we brought them into the world and the least we can do is give them our love and attention. They are on loan to us for 18 years, after that they will leave or become responsible for their own lives so while we have them, give them care and love to the fullest.

If we cut down on our material needs and unnecessary expenses like new clothes every time, new furniture, the latest car, modern gadgets, expensive toys and games and spent more time with our kids ,we would see the difference and they would appreciate it. Rewarding a child with your time is worth more than just putting another gift in their hands.

Children brought up in a brand name conscious atmosphere tend to be the unhappiest (even though they would not admit it). I know that peer pressure is to blame sometimes but I have seen kids who don’t care if they wear certain brands or have certain games and things because they have attention, love and care from parents who don’t put so much emphasis on material things even though they could afford them, but who spend quality time with them. Children from a caring home tend to have less social problems and pass on their confidence to their own children.

Water Water Everywhere

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:41:48 GMT

There is an acute water shortage in Ghana. Some get water flowing once a week (if you're lucky). The water will sometimes come on at night then the whole household gets up to fill every container available. You see little children half asleep, carrying little pots and pans filled up with water. Everyone has drums, jerry cans, tanks barrels and underground tanks at home. Most days you will see people going to work in their suits or uniforms sitting in pickup with large yellow or blue drums on the back or in the boot of their cars. The centre of town (the business centre) has water 80% of the time, so everyday you go in with your containers and bring water home. This puts the value of water up. It is more expensive to have a box of 24 bottles of water than a bottle of champagne, taking into consideration the man hours fuel and strength it takes to get the water home. One thing though, no matter the task of getting water, Ghanaians will always have their twice daily bath (not in a bath tub) but shower or bucket.

There are many queues for water all over town and you see both men and women out early in the morning, by early I mean 4am, carrying buckets on their head for their precious water. Wells are being dug at the homes of those who can affort it but it is not enough.

The most common scene is the farming tractor with a square tank built behind it delivering water (popularly known as "tu tu tu" )- which you have to buy of course. They all have mobile phones and deliver on demand. They are a mafia of water deliverers and can refuse to deliver if your attitude is not to their liking but usually there is another one nearby if you are lucky. I have driven 10 miles across town looking for them sometimes. When there is a complete shortage they they are in heaven 'cos no matter what, you will pay the price they ask. I must say though, that they have an unofficial union that sets the prices they should charge and it seems to work.

Where I live the pipes have not seen water flowing through them in over 8 years. I always buy water every two weeks to fill my tank which is connected to my house and drink bottled water. The water company seems to be able to sell to the water deliverers but can't get the water through the pipes - with the excuse that the towns are expanding, and the pipes not enough to let the water flow everywhere.

I read somewhere that one day wars would be fought , not over oil, but over water and looking at the situation in Ghana, I can believe that. My advice to those in countries where water is always flowing and to those who complain when it goes off for 30 minutes, or those who face the hosepipe ban, be thankful for what you've got, think of how you can conserve water and maybe how to purify and desalt seawater and believe the hype - water will disappear one day. Then it will be "Water, Water everywhere but not a drop to drink", especially for those surrounded by the sea - Even with all this Wahala" (problem) I still love GHANA