Yes Phil, i agree with your final comment 100%
Scoots 2013. The road to Bansang
- Thread starter Humbug
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Paula,
I don't understand this scenarioI went with four friends on a ride - albeit exploring a bit of Europe and not as far as Africa..!! and one of the gang has the same medical condition as your Andy does. It was fully explained to us beforehand that we would need to make frequent stops for them to administer injections and stuff and we would HAVE to eat when that person HAD to. We fully understood and went along with their requirements even though it wasn't convenient for the rest of us but we did it because we wanted that person to come and enjoy the trip with us. It all worked out fine for us and I am sorry that it appears not to have worked out for Andy after all that time, effort and expense.
Don't be pissed off. Rise above it - move on: Andy has achieved something most of us will only dream about never mind doing it.
Very sensible reply Phil
It seems that you fully understood the task you were taking on and more importantly fully prepared to adapt your schedule and own needs to make sure your mate
a) Enjoyed his trip to the max
b) Made sure he was well, happy and content
Hats off to you fella..............i
Well done Paula for posting up the excellent photographs, and doing a ride report of exceptional interest, for sharing the ups and downs, the sadness the joy, and sharing Africa with us
Well done everyone concerned ...
Well done everyone concerned ...
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
Well done Paula for posting up the excellent photographs, and doing a ride report of exceptional interest, for sharing the ups and downs, the sadness the joy, and sharing Africa with us
Well done everyone concerned ...
What he said.
Fanum
Toubab
Indeed
I sincerely hope that nobody is put off from doing a scoots trip.......I'm sure that all that has been said will be taken on board by Dennis or whoever leads the next one (fuck, I'm so tempted but I really can't at the moment
) The ends don't always justify the means, but what the guys have done on this trip will result in hundreds if not thousands of lives being saved in the long term.
It's also a fucking good example (pardon my French) of charity in its truest sense.....The team will have paid for all of their own costs, supplied and prepped (or not
) their bikes and paid for their own food, accommodation and beers out of their own pockets (or funds raised explicitly for those purposes).Anything else donated will now be with the Bansang Hospital.........and not in some anonymous NGO who send their area reps out in £50k air conned Landcruisers to 'assess' things and go to all the parties they can whilst 'assessing'
Paula aka Mrs Humbug
Registered user
Paula,
I don't understand this scenario
Thanks for your reply Phil - we are determined to rise above it - it is just hard at the moment as Andy still feels unwell and is very down about the entire thing.
When you say "we wanted that person to come and enjoy the trip with us." you have hit the nail on the head. In hindsight, it is clear that this did not apply to Andy.
Interestingly, the allowances that Andy had been promised and were not forthcoming were not as demanding as those that you experienced. He needed breaks but he was very able to fit in with the others - the problem was that there were either very few or no breaks at all and a lot of sarcastic digs and criticism being directed at Andy right from the start.
He was the odd man out - a lone voice - very uncomfortable. It is quite ironic that in Dennis' book he talks and grumbles about been a "lone voice"...............
Paula aka Mrs Humbug
Registered user
That's it folks
Well , I did manage to get them home safely from Gatwick on Friday – flight was on time and hardly any traffic to hold us up.
Andy was not very well at all – he is gradually getting better but it is a long slow process. They refer to it as the Pendulum Affect. When blood sugars have been all over the place to the extent that Andy’s have it is like a swinging pendulum – it takes a long time to settle down and stop swinging. We just have to be patient and hope and pray that there is no long term damage.
Although Andy was very disappointed that he could not stay at the hospital and help out – after all the speeches and back slapping they only managed one and a half days of putting up mosquito nets. In fact one of the others in the group was in bed for several days as he was exhausted and not well at all.
Whilst in Banjul Andy did get out for a walk on the beach and met some lovely people. Two particular people found a place in his heart.
Amie – a young woman, selling fruit on the beach to support her unwell Mother and young sister. Her spoken English was very good but she said she could not complete her education as she had to earn money. Business is not good – when Andy was chatting with her it was 4pm and she had sold nothing that day. She lives, with her Mother and sister in one room. The toilet is outside and there is no electricity. The room had a mat on the floor and a small mattress for all three of them. Her aim was to have money to buy chicken to cook on Christmas Day.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Amie_zps36553c02.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Amie_zps36553c02.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Amie_zps36553c02.jpg"/></a>
Omar – a Father of three. Working on the beach selling T shirts. If he can sell three he can cover his costs and buy food for his family. He makes beautiful jewellery – he gave Andy a shell necklace for me. It is so delicate – the shells are all polished by hand and to make the little hole in each shell he gently rubs with a stone until the hole appears – it takes a day to make one of these necklaces. He also makes a natural oils skin balm.
He was given a jeep by an English holiday maker a while ago. He was using it to take tourists out and about and made a reasonable living, supplementing this with his jewellery, balm and T shirt sales - clearly an enterprising man. Sadly the jeep is off the road with poorly piston rings and he simply does not have the £200 to buy replacements. If he can buy them he has a friend who will do the work.
He has twins – a boy and a girl – and a younger daughter. He has enough money to pay for one more term at school. After that they will have no more education.
This man invited Andy to his home and shared food with him.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Omar2_zpsb48067b4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Omar2_zpsb48067b4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Omar2_zpsb48067b4.jpg"/></a>
I mentioned that Andy met a camera crew in Bansang and spent the day with them when he did not feel able to ride little Chubby. He met up with them in Banjul – they had sought him out at the hotel to make sure he was OK as they were worried about him.
Andy was touched by so much kindness shown by complete strangers.
The “team” joined Andy at the hotel in Banjul on Thursday night in readiness for the flight home on Friday. Dennis muttered a hello but never spoke to Andy again – not even to say goodbye. Needless to say there were hugs and handshakes all round for everyone else!
I do not think we will be on Dennis’ Christmas Cards list!
On a rather toungue in cheek note - just think, that on the next trip, Dennis can add Andy to his long long list of people he vehemently criticises - it will add variety to hearing about the team of 2011 - you know who you are!
And finally – I just had to share this with you all.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Faraffeni%20to%20Bansang/Peter379Custom_zpsa6d3e20c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Faraffeni%20to%20Bansang/Peter379Custom_zpsa6d3e20c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Peter379Custom_zpsa6d3e20c.jpg"/></a>
THE END
Well , I did manage to get them home safely from Gatwick on Friday – flight was on time and hardly any traffic to hold us up.
Andy was not very well at all – he is gradually getting better but it is a long slow process. They refer to it as the Pendulum Affect. When blood sugars have been all over the place to the extent that Andy’s have it is like a swinging pendulum – it takes a long time to settle down and stop swinging. We just have to be patient and hope and pray that there is no long term damage.
Although Andy was very disappointed that he could not stay at the hospital and help out – after all the speeches and back slapping they only managed one and a half days of putting up mosquito nets. In fact one of the others in the group was in bed for several days as he was exhausted and not well at all.
Whilst in Banjul Andy did get out for a walk on the beach and met some lovely people. Two particular people found a place in his heart.
Amie – a young woman, selling fruit on the beach to support her unwell Mother and young sister. Her spoken English was very good but she said she could not complete her education as she had to earn money. Business is not good – when Andy was chatting with her it was 4pm and she had sold nothing that day. She lives, with her Mother and sister in one room. The toilet is outside and there is no electricity. The room had a mat on the floor and a small mattress for all three of them. Her aim was to have money to buy chicken to cook on Christmas Day.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Amie_zps36553c02.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Amie_zps36553c02.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Amie_zps36553c02.jpg"/></a>
Omar – a Father of three. Working on the beach selling T shirts. If he can sell three he can cover his costs and buy food for his family. He makes beautiful jewellery – he gave Andy a shell necklace for me. It is so delicate – the shells are all polished by hand and to make the little hole in each shell he gently rubs with a stone until the hole appears – it takes a day to make one of these necklaces. He also makes a natural oils skin balm.
He was given a jeep by an English holiday maker a while ago. He was using it to take tourists out and about and made a reasonable living, supplementing this with his jewellery, balm and T shirt sales - clearly an enterprising man. Sadly the jeep is off the road with poorly piston rings and he simply does not have the £200 to buy replacements. If he can buy them he has a friend who will do the work.
He has twins – a boy and a girl – and a younger daughter. He has enough money to pay for one more term at school. After that they will have no more education.
This man invited Andy to his home and shared food with him.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Omar2_zpsb48067b4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Amie%20and%20Omar/Omar2_zpsb48067b4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Omar2_zpsb48067b4.jpg"/></a>
I mentioned that Andy met a camera crew in Bansang and spent the day with them when he did not feel able to ride little Chubby. He met up with them in Banjul – they had sought him out at the hotel to make sure he was OK as they were worried about him.
Andy was touched by so much kindness shown by complete strangers.
The “team” joined Andy at the hotel in Banjul on Thursday night in readiness for the flight home on Friday. Dennis muttered a hello but never spoke to Andy again – not even to say goodbye. Needless to say there were hugs and handshakes all round for everyone else!
I do not think we will be on Dennis’ Christmas Cards list!
On a rather toungue in cheek note - just think, that on the next trip, Dennis can add Andy to his long long list of people he vehemently criticises - it will add variety to hearing about the team of 2011 - you know who you are!
And finally – I just had to share this with you all.
<a href="http://s101.photobucket.com/user/AndyHumbug/media/Gambia%20Faraffeni%20to%20Bansang/Peter379Custom_zpsa6d3e20c.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m53/AndyHumbug/Gambia%20Faraffeni%20to%20Bansang/Peter379Custom_zpsa6d3e20c.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Peter379Custom_zpsa6d3e20c.jpg"/></a>
THE END
That should be the very least of your worries. The man sounds like a prize cock to me.
Hopefully in time Andy will seperate the memories in his head and only bring forward the good ones, ie the places he has seen and the good people he met along the way.
Thank you Mrs Humbug for your report and honest appraisal of this effort.
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
You idiot.
MATKAT
Registered user
Why am I?
Paula
Many thanks for taking the time and effort to write such a detailed report even if it makes uncomfortable reading at times.
I think two major issues come out of the whole thing.
Firstly, the difficulties of group riding. Personally, I really don't like riding in a group for many reasons, mainly because I'm an impatient git and hate to have to wait for others
. Also I'm not known for my tact and diplomacy so can often say something blunt that can be taken the wrong way. Being an ex-instructor of many years, I can also be over critical of other peoples riding ability. Overall, I probably would make a far worse team leader than Dennis on a bad day. It is easy to be overly critical of others, especially when you are in a stressful environment and I mean this comment equally to anyone on these sort of trips. On my last trip to The Gambia, I rode back alone and it was one of the best rides of my life. You are forced to interact with the locals and there is nobody to blame but yourself if anything goes wrong. I also managed to cover four times the distance each day and still have time to manage my own diabetes.
Secondly, as has been pointed out a few times above, the issue of giving aid to Africa is not as simple as just giving a scoot, Jeep or ambulance etc. Unfortunately, people giving aid always want to feel that they have given a tangible asset that they can see and touch rather than just funds for ongoing projects. I was in Round Table for many years and we always had this problem as Bill has highlighted above. People generously donate a piece of medical equipment but don't want to pay to the ongoing electricity to make it work. There is also the attitude by the Africans that if something is given to them then it is worthless as it's being given away. For example, on the first Plymouth - Banjul Banger Rallies, they simply donated the cars to worthy causes. A year later the vehicles were trashed and the Africans simply asked for more. Subsequent years, they SOLD the vehicles and strangely enough the vehicles are now valued and looked after.
Sorry to hear about Andy's blood sugar level problems and hope he makes a full recovery. I'm sure in time, he will have many great memories such as meeting the people you note above.
As for Dennis, he is definitely very well intentioned and fundamentally a very decent bloke. However, like all people he has his faults and any weaknesses in people skills are greatly exaggerated in such a hostile environment.
My offer still stands for any future trips. I will happily strip and rebuild any C90 free of any labour costs and only charge for the genuine Honda spares used. Secondly, I will happily donate any spares needed by the hospital such as boxes of NGK spark plugs, gasket sets etc. As I'm retired with nothing to do all dayD) I could even spend time in the Gambia servicing the bikes in situ if possible.
Many thanks for taking the time and effort to write such a detailed report even if it makes uncomfortable reading at times.
I think two major issues come out of the whole thing.
Firstly, the difficulties of group riding. Personally, I really don't like riding in a group for many reasons, mainly because I'm an impatient git and hate to have to wait for others
. Also I'm not known for my tact and diplomacy so can often say something blunt that can be taken the wrong way. Being an ex-instructor of many years, I can also be over critical of other peoples riding ability. Overall, I probably would make a far worse team leader than Dennis on a bad day. It is easy to be overly critical of others, especially when you are in a stressful environment and I mean this comment equally to anyone on these sort of trips. On my last trip to The Gambia, I rode back alone and it was one of the best rides of my life. You are forced to interact with the locals and there is nobody to blame but yourself if anything goes wrong. I also managed to cover four times the distance each day and still have time to manage my own diabetes.Secondly, as has been pointed out a few times above, the issue of giving aid to Africa is not as simple as just giving a scoot, Jeep or ambulance etc. Unfortunately, people giving aid always want to feel that they have given a tangible asset that they can see and touch rather than just funds for ongoing projects. I was in Round Table for many years and we always had this problem as Bill has highlighted above. People generously donate a piece of medical equipment but don't want to pay to the ongoing electricity to make it work. There is also the attitude by the Africans that if something is given to them then it is worthless as it's being given away. For example, on the first Plymouth - Banjul Banger Rallies, they simply donated the cars to worthy causes. A year later the vehicles were trashed and the Africans simply asked for more. Subsequent years, they SOLD the vehicles and strangely enough the vehicles are now valued and looked after.
Sorry to hear about Andy's blood sugar level problems and hope he makes a full recovery. I'm sure in time, he will have many great memories such as meeting the people you note above.
As for Dennis, he is definitely very well intentioned and fundamentally a very decent bloke. However, like all people he has his faults and any weaknesses in people skills are greatly exaggerated in such a hostile environment.
My offer still stands for any future trips. I will happily strip and rebuild any C90 free of any labour costs and only charge for the genuine Honda spares used. Secondly, I will happily donate any spares needed by the hospital such as boxes of NGK spark plugs, gasket sets etc. As I'm retired with nothing to do all day
D) I could even spend time in the Gambia servicing the bikes in situ if possible.
I doff my metaphorical hat to Andy for even considering taking this on with T1. The fact that he completed the trip, delivered Chubby as planned and has made it home safely speaks volumes for his strength of character. Hope that your health stabilises quickly Andy.
I wouldn't want Dennis' job as group leader under any circumstances and don't envy him trying to manage a disparate group of relative strangers of varying abilities in a very challenging enterprise. My only observation, again based only on what is written in this thread and comments from threads relating to previous years, is that when you state something you stick to it. Andy should have either been told no at the planning stage, we can't guarantee scheduled stops, or having said 'no problem' the stops should have been sacrosanct.
I would be up to joining Sid for a spell repairing machinery over there. Identifying issues and drawing up a required spares list would be the first stage. I'd rather walk over burning coals than take a C90 across the Sahara. 500 mile days on a GS is no problem but I once did 50 miles in a day on C50 and thought that my backside would never recover!
Excellent report Paula, thank you.
I wouldn't want Dennis' job as group leader under any circumstances and don't envy him trying to manage a disparate group of relative strangers of varying abilities in a very challenging enterprise. My only observation, again based only on what is written in this thread and comments from threads relating to previous years, is that when you state something you stick to it. Andy should have either been told no at the planning stage, we can't guarantee scheduled stops, or having said 'no problem' the stops should have been sacrosanct.
I would be up to joining Sid for a spell repairing machinery over there. Identifying issues and drawing up a required spares list would be the first stage. I'd rather walk over burning coals than take a C90 across the Sahara. 500 mile days on a GS is no problem but I once did 50 miles in a day on C50 and thought that my backside would never recover!
Excellent report Paula, thank you.
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
Yes thank you Paula, very good thread and I have enjoyed following it even though as said it does make uncomfortable reading occasionally.
I cannot even begin to imagine the stupidity though of some people (not yourself) who will make personal and abusive remarks about Dennis.
I have given a few quid now and then to help support his fund raising and would like to be more involved but riding a scooter to Africa really isn't my idea of fun.
I sometimes think the best way to help Africa is to make friends there and maybe support them directly, after all I should imagine £20 a month could make a real difference to the sort of people Andy met.
I used to get a bit down sometimes, fed up I couldn't afford a house with a garage or the campervan I would love to own and envious of people who have a lot more than me, but over the last year I have decided to be a lot more content with my lot. When you read reports like yours and more recently I re-watched Kevin McClouds slumming it on YouTube (well worth watching if you haven't seen it) you realise just how lucky we are.
As I read it.
If you are organising such a trip and are taking other folk along then you have a responsibility to those people. Yes they have to be responsible for themselves, but as the organiser and leader of the trip there is a considerable burden upon you. Added to that, the trip is not just a bunch of mates away on a holiday jape but they have contributed serious effort and money to be able to partake in the effort.
So, the trip organiser is putting another trip. One guy who comes forward has a medical condition that needs constant monitoring but after discussing the matter with the organiser is accepted onto the ride. On the ride the guy with the medical condition is not given time to tend to his condition and his health suffers as a result, but instead of getting support he is ridiculed and ostracised. It doesn't make for good reading really in my opinion.
Oh, and Trippy, if the above was aimed at me then say so you cowardly shit stirring little prick.
If you are organising such a trip and are taking other folk along then you have a responsibility to those people. Yes they have to be responsible for themselves, but as the organiser and leader of the trip there is a considerable burden upon you. Added to that, the trip is not just a bunch of mates away on a holiday jape but they have contributed serious effort and money to be able to partake in the effort.
So, the trip organiser is putting another trip. One guy who comes forward has a medical condition that needs constant monitoring but after discussing the matter with the organiser is accepted onto the ride. On the ride the guy with the medical condition is not given time to tend to his condition and his health suffers as a result, but instead of getting support he is ridiculed and ostracised. It doesn't make for good reading really in my opinion.
Oh, and Trippy, if the above was aimed at me then say so you cowardly shit stirring little prick.
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
Yes it was.
MATKAT
Registered user
I know Dennis, Paula and Andy and count them all as friends. Paula has written an account of the 'Scoots trip' basically as lived by Andy and his experience has been well recorded. I have no problem with anyone who was actually on the trip making comments, negative or positive. however, I do think that making a comment such as yours is being an 'Idiot' as you are basing your comments/assumptions on an account of the trip from one party.
As I said in an earlier post there are three sides to any story.... your side, Their side and of course the truth.
I know first hand all the effort Dennis put's into this charity and also know Andy and Paula had many concerns over the trip and they also put an aweful lot into it. I wonder if yo have ever ventured on a trip such as this ? Hats off to everyone for completing and ma I suggest tha every tiem someone thinks of making a negative comment fine yourself £20 and send it to the Bansang Hospital scheme.
I don't know any of the people involved and have formed my opinion by what I have read here and accept to be a truthful account of what happened.
If you don't like my opinion that is your problem not mine.
If you don't like my opinion that is your problem not mine.
Deleted account 231002001
Registered user
I'm sure it is a truthful account of how Andy saw the trip, both he and Paula are very nice and decent people, as is Dennis.
Maybe as you don't know any of the people concerned you should refrain from the personal insults.
That's a bit rich coming from you.
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