Monday 9th January 2023

I was still feeling rather exhausted with everything, and the Management Team had a key start-of-the-year meeting, so I was grateful for an extra day today to just sort myself out and relax. I was fortunate to see Tharika briefly before heading out to Nuwara Eliya, as she arrived early for the meeting, and it was so lovely to see her again, but I missed out on seeing Sutharshan and Jesmin, as they arrived a bit later for the meeting.

There is a huge boundary wall surrounding quite a large property on the path downhill leading to the main road, and I chatted a little to a craftsman who is doing an exemplary job with some very intricate plaster work, that he estimates will take him 20 days or more to complete. I pass this way every day, so I will enjoy seeing the progress that he makes with this. He was very friendly and allowed me to take a photo of him and his workmanship.

I spent some time today sorting out some lovely, framed pictures that I had been presented with on my last visit. I foolishly packed them (well-wrapped I thought) in my suitcase and allowed them to go in the hold. Imagine my disappointment when I opened my suitcase to find it full of glass, with one picture badly damaged. Thanks to a wonderful shop in Nuwara Eliya, all that was rectified today, and those pictures will now remain in Sri Lanka!

I ended up having a very late lunch at The Grand Hotel this afternoon, the main part of it being a jackfruit burger, which was rather tasty. It meant that by the time I got back to Blackpool in the early evening, I didn't need an evening meal and I just had a quiet night in, as Daya had gone back to Norwood, where he grew up, in order to pay his respects at his parents' graveside first thing tomorrow morning on his 30th birthday.

Today's photos show the lovely workman I met, plus some more views of the Blackpool area.