Today was Yendi’s big market day; we needed to see Mr. Adams, the fix-it man, about a drill press that we wanted to get working. Well, it actually ran but it had a 110v motor which means it has to be run with a transformer. In years past the plug had been replaced. We thought that Mr. Adams could rewind the motor and turn it into a 220v machine. Mr. Adams is not always in his shop because he makes house calls and helps people with their electrical problems but he is usually in his shop on market days. We have his phone number but it is easier to explain things in person, especially when you have the machine loaded in the back of the truck. Mr. Adams said that he could rewind the motor but he said that he had another idea. He said he had a home-use (used) 220 motor that he thought could be mounted on the drill press. The problem was that our motor had a bigger pulley shaft than the home used motor had. So we were back to rewinding our motor. This afternoon Mr. Adams called and said that he had another idea. He said that he would take the shaft off the used motor and send it to the machinist and have him rework the shaft and make it small enough to fit the pulley from our machine. Sounded like a good idea. He is going to start working on it tomorrow.
Steve spent almost all of the morning working outside; he trimmed up some of the shrubs and then he started repairing one of the church pews that belongs to Kulkpeni church. He repaired the same pew a couple years ago but it came apart again. The pews take a lot of abuse because the people carry them in and out of the building when it is too hot to sit inside; people sleep on them and they use them for ladders so it is a wonder that more of them are not broken down! He added extra reinforcement today. We did not have an “L” bracket so he used a hinge instead; I think it will work fine; it is on the underneath side of the pew so it is difficult to see. There was lots of chewing gum stuck under the pew. People are the same all over the world! Ha!
This afternoon Steve worked on Social Security for the workers. We as employers have to collect a certain percentage of their pay and then we have to add another percentage so they will have an income when they retire. Today he worked on the portion that the employees contribute. We are allowed to pay this tax 1 year in advance which lightens our paperwork load. We then collect the tax back monthly for the employees. It is sort of like a revolving door. This time they gave us a new form to fill out which required much more information. Steve had to find everyone’s phone numbers, Ghana Card number, Social Security number and Enterprise number. Please, makes my head hurt just thinking about it. Steve got all the information gathered and the form filled out. When we get a moment we will cross check the numbers to make sure that they are correct.
Enjoy your weekend!
In HIS Service,
Steve, Kandie and Skeeter
The Monkeyshines
I had a grand and glorious morning. Dad was outside all morning and I helped him! I have decided that I am not afraid of the truck as long as it is not running. The roof is the perfect height for me to launch off of and land in the trees. I was a little annoyed with him because he cut down one of the bushes right outside the front door. It has the prettiest, tastiest little red flowers. Dad cut them all off. I jumped in the pile and grabbed as many as I could but now the bush is bare! Every once in a while Dad had to go in the house which scared me! I don’t like to be left alone but then later in the morning Donkey finished raking the yard and laid down on one of the benches under the big mango tree and that made me feel better when Dad had to go inside.
Mom and Dad went to the market this afternoon and Mom saw a lady selling used stuffed animals. She bought a couple for me; some of them have huge eyes which are sort of creepy! There is a small black and white bear that has a weighted bottom; every time I jump on him and knock him over he pops right back up! He is my favorite; I think he is alive! He is small enough that I can jump down and pick him up when he falls off the bed!
I hope you have as good of a day as I had!
Love, Skeeter
