But in the middle of what could potentially be a very difficult situation Divine Providence had already been working behind the scenes and sent help in the form of another guardian angel, this time from Holland, my friend Birgit. She arrived about a week ago to stay at the hotel for the third year running on her yearly trip through West Africa to stock her Amsterdam jewellery market stall with African beads. (See blog entry February for our sunset pirogue trip around Djenne with my friend Neville)
Only this time she intended to stay for two months in the hotel, helping to develop the vegetable and herb garden and to work on new recipes in the kitchen. As it happens she may be helping in more ways then anticipated, and she has been given the authority to run the place in my absence, a task I am sure she will fulfil with both charm and Dutch efficiency.