Saturday 7th January 2023

I was feeling rather jet-lagged this morning after a quite extraordinary journey yesterday, but I was still up very early to pop into Nuwara to buy some 'emergency' clothes, pending the arrival of my luggage, which I had been told would be sent by courier to me today. I was so enjoying being back here that I sort of forgot my luggage issues but my luggage did not appear by the end of the day!

I caught the bus into Nuwara Eliya for the extraordinary price of 50LKR (around 10p) and bought a few clothes from Raheem at the indoor bazaar. I had arranged to meet Donald from GROW a 10:30 and it was lovely to catch up with him, as he seems to be doing very well, but I should have given myself a bit more time before getting stuck into things I think, as I wasn't really quite 'with-it' so soon after my arrival.

I returned to Blackpool and set about sorting out my room, which I have hired from Yad and Jana on a permanent basis, to make regular trips out here more straightforward, including leaving stuff here. I had left a suitcase of essential items (mainly clothes) from my last visit in 2022, but the climate here is very damp and all my clothes smelt very musty and needed a good wash before I could contemplate wearing them.

I was back to using a twin-tub washing machine again here, but it was a slightly upgraded model from one I used previously. I quite enjoyed using it (it felt like something out of history), but it does take a bit more time than using a modern machine, although Yad insists that it does deal with 'stubborn stains' better than a modern machine. I felt like I had got a lot done during my first full day here and I was glad to get to bed at a decent time.

Today's photos include a lovely one of the approach to The Grand Hotel, with further views from it, plus a lovely picture of that twin-tub!






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