Keith in Sri Lanka

Today is my mother's birthday - or it would have been - she died some years ago now on Christmas Day 2008, aged 79. She would have been 94 today! It's a date you just never forget! It also happens to be my last day in Sri Lanka, and my final blog entry on my latest trip out here. What a trip it has been - quite different in some ways - and certainly a month shorter than my two previous trips - but still a memorable one and a wonderful one too! I was very pleased to be able to meet up with Tim and Liz Westbrook for lunch at a very pleasant restaurant called Upali. They only flew into Colombo yesterday, and it was great to have a catch-up with them over a delicious meal, the highlight of which for me was a dessert of buffalo curd and palm treacle. I had been wanting to try this again throughout this trip, and finally got the opportunity to do so today! Tim was a huge support to me in the leading and managing of the Rotary International Project, dealing extremely well with the app...

I have reached my last full day in Sri Lanka, which also just happens to be a Poya (Full Moon) Day. Sadly, this means that you cannot be served alcohol in public - not a huge loss for me particularly, as I can take it or leave it - a cold Lion Beer is rather nice with a meal, and the odd glass of Arrack is warmly welcomed, but not essential! I had another relaxing morning catching up on the weekend's blog and diary. I stayed at the Colombo Swimming Club for lunch and was joined by Brian, Jit and Kapila from Colombo West Rotary Club, who were the fundholders for our Rotary International Project. I was able to give them an update on what has been happening since we completed the project in December, and I was delighted that they would like to find a way of continuing to fund the project now that Tea Leaf Trust has taken over the running of it. After lunch, I took a tuk-tuk into Colombo, to the Metro Port City Hotel, where I had a brief stay in 2019. The biggest disappointment for me ...

I had a relaxing morning at the Colombo Swimming Club - sleeping in a bit, and having a late breakfast, before trying to catch up on some emails - particularly trying to sort out the conversation sessions between various volunteers from around the world and the Sri Lankan teachers on the fifth cohort of what was our Rotary International Project, but is now being run by Tea Leaf Trust. Daya arrived around lunchtime, but neither of us were particularly hungry, so we got a tuk-tuk to take us to visit his uncle - his father's younger brother. We had such a lovely welcome from the family, who live on the outskirts of Colombo in a very nice apartment. We spent most of the time just eating, chatting, and relaxing - sitting out on the balcony whilst it rained. I hope to see them again next time I am in Colombo. From there, we went on to Afwaj's house for dinner around 19:30. He also lives in a very nice apartment, and he had arranged a lovely meal for us, which was extremely kind of hi...

We were up early this morning, as we were hoping to leave at 07:30. I said my goodbyes to Jana, Yad, and Meena, and we did get away at 07:45, which was pretty good going. Yad's brother Reuben drove me and Daya to Colombo, and it was a very pleasant journey, with only one stop for refreshments on the way. We arrived at Colombo Swimming Club just before 13:00, which was pretty good going. Colombo Swimming Club is a very pleasant place to stay, and very reasonable compared to local hotels - I stayed there for three nights at the end of my last trip to Colombo. You have to be a member of the Club - or be recommended by a member of the Club to stay there, and fortunately for me a few members of Colombo West Rotary Club are also members of Colombo Swimming Club, and very kindly recommended me as a guest. I couldn't check into my room until 14:00, so I just had a bit of lunch, whilst Daya went off to find his brother Ragu's place. He eventually returned around 16:00 and we headed ...

I reached my final day in Nuwara Eliya today, which started with a fairly leisurely morning at home in Blackpool before I headed off to Tea Leaf Centre Nuwara Eliya at 11:30, so that I could arrive in time to say goodbye to Ram, who was catching the 12:30 train from Nanu Oya to Ella. Ram is quite an amazing character, who has run over 100 marathons all over the world to raise money for charity, and I very much enjoyed chatting to him. I was treated to lovely farewells from both staff and students at Nanu Oya. I think Daya is extremely fortunate to have the loveliest team of staff supporting him this year, and I know this has made his role as Principal both easier and more enjoyable. They presented me with a lovely dark orange jumper that I will treasure, as every time I wear it, I will be reminded of them all - each and every one of them! As is the tradition with Tea Leaf, I was given the loveliest of send-offs by the students, with a touching little ceremony where they said very kind ...

With only two days left here, this morning was spent doing a second and final wash this week, including sorting out my bedding. I then ironed my clothes and sorted out what I was leaving here in my wardrobe, and what I was taking home, and started to pack seriously, ready for the long trip home next week, prior to which I have a 3-night stay in Colombo, which I am very much looking forward to. I had a break from all of this when the Central Team took me out for a farewell lunch at Milano Restaurant in Nuwara Eliya. It was very kind of them to do this, and also very enjoyable, as I work closely with all of them - particularly Yad, Jesmin and Tharika - less so with Sutharshan, as he runs the finance side of things, which I don't get involved in. They presented me with a lovely burgandy coloured shirt as a thank you for my work with them. I returned to Blackpool after lunch and completed my packing, with my lovely room looking quite bare now. I am renting my room at Yad's all year...

I am still playing catch-up with my blogs, and I was looking forward to sharing today's adventures, as it was quite a day! Jesmin had asked me to do some promotional work today for the Palmerston Centre, and I was a little reluctant, as I wanted to get my final washing out of the way and start packing. In the end, I agreed to a 10:00 start, so that I could as least get my washing done and hung out to dry! Apart from wanting to help Jesmin out, I was particularly keen to do the promotional work at Palmerston, as I would be accompanying Tharika, which is always great fun! Anushan took us in the school tuk-tuk, which hasn't been the most reliable of vehicles recently! We picked up Madona, the Principal at Palmerston and found out it was her birthday today - and what a birthday treat she had in store for her! We managed the first school visit without incident, and we were very well received there. However, the second school visit proved much trickier, as the tuk-tuk broke down twic...