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Friday, January 2, 2015

Happy New Year 2015

On Wednesday evening just after five, Grant and I; Steve and Carolyn attended a function for the workshop staff. It was held at the pool bar, which although frequented by expats, it is mainly patronized by the locals. 
Top photo with the first workshop guests and the bar on the left; photo above is of the pool on the right - hence the name pool bar
Apart from being a New Years Eve celebration, Steve also announced the Employee of the Year (the man wearing a kofi/hat) 
Once the formalities were over, every employee came to our table to clink glasses with us. And then we had requests of everyone wanting to pose with us while another takes the photo; on cell phones, on Smartphones, on cameras and on Ipads

We took our leave and drove back to the Guest House. The expats were waiting for us to join them for an evening of karaoke and a Mongolian BBQ. 

The men were enjoying the new dart board 
Just like last week, Poena was manning the karaoke machine
Me and Carolyn

As this post is aired this morning, Carolyn is on her way to Mwanza. She'll spend five days there visiting friends with whom she taught with for four years. On Tuesday she flies out to Dar and then onto the UK. 

Carolyn arrived in Mwadui two weeks ago to visit her husband, Steve. She and I clicked immediately and as I posted about in several previous posts, were together almost every day of the past fortnight.  Carolyn, I'm going to miss you! 
Bibi and Babu

Because New Years Day is an ordinary working day on the mine, we decided to have New Year a little earlier than midnight CAT. One of the expats, Manie said his wife in India is celebrating New Year two and a half hours before East Africa so we pinned the time at 9.30pm. Steve explained to everyone that he'd be doing Big Ben Chimes to herald in 2015. After which Solomon would sing us a solo. And then we'd all stand in a circle and sing Auld Lang Syne. 

All good and well. Except that at exactly 9.30, Manie's phone rang; it was his wife. He put her on loudspeaker, wished her Happy New Year and then we all called Happy New Year! She wished us in return and added  felicitations in Hindi which only Manie and Dippen (the other Indian expat understood!) 

When Mrs Manie said goodbye Steve did the 12 chimes of midnight: Big Ben Style. Next he asked Solomon to give us a few songs. Solomon has a beautiful voice and can always be heard singing. He sang four Ancient and Modern Anglican Hymns.

O God our help in ages past
Guide me oh Thou Great Jehovah !

Finally it was time to sing Auld Lang Syn. I didn't photograph or video this part as I was having as much fun as the person next to me! 

Grant then asked everyone to pose for a group photo, after which those who wanted to go to bed could do so.
This photo was taken with the self-timer function on my camera. Therefore I managed to get to the group in front of Solomon
Dr Satish (the man in purple shirt in top group photo) took this photo. This time I was able to stand next to Grant

With Poena, the music man assisting, Jung took the mic and entertained us with several songs.


A great start to a Great New Year! 









14 comments:

  1. you are partying people! :) safe travels to your friend. :)

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  2. What a lovely way to bring in the New Year. I enjoyed the video of the man singing. He has a lovely voice. I wish I could have heard Solomon singing those old hymns. May God grant you a marvellous New Year in 2015 my friend. Big hugs. xx Penny

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  3. You were a lot busier than I was. :-)

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  4. Oh, what a fun celebration it was!! Love your pics and thank you so much for sharing the fun with us, Jo!! Wishing all of you a most wonderful and Happy New Year!!!

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  5. Happy New Year to you and yours... I hope that 2015 will bring you (and us) lots of joy, happiness and GOOD HEALTH....

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  6. Hi Jo. I really enjoyed all the festivities of this post and felt I was celebrating with you. Mine was a quiet affair as my folks were on the mainland. I fell asleep on the couch, woke up when I heard banging! It was fireworks going off in the neighborhood to bring in the New Year then saw the fireworks from London on TV and went to bed. Not as exciting as you but I was happy,

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  7. Jo, looks like another fun party and New Year celebration.. I especially like the group photo. I wish you and your family a happy, healthy New Year!

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  8. Jung has a beautiful voice. i would love to hear Solomon sometime. i love both the songs he sang. what a wonderful way to usher in the new year...

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  9. How since to sit outdoors to celebrate New Year. Looks like a wonderful, relaxed evening Jo. You clearly have lots of friends the world over.

    Happy New Year to you.

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  10. What a fun time had by all....busy life, friends and enjoying bringing in the new year together. Nothing better in this life!!

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  11. What a fun post and such lovely photos, Jo. Happy New Year to you. :)

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  12. Looks like fun! Happy New Year!

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  13. That was a great celebration ! The guy really has a nice voice and sings like Elvis ! I love Grant's "hippy" shirt !

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  14. You folks sure know how to party.

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