Friday 2nd February 2024

I was up at 07:00 to do my washing, as I wasn't needed in school today, because it was a staff training day, and I won't be around tomorrow to do it. It takes the best part of 2 hours to get the washing done and hung out on the line, so by the time I had done that, it was time to go to Chooty's house for a lift in his tuk-tuk to school. I wanted to go into school anyway to say goodbye to the staff, because I won't be back at Tea Leaf Centre Nuwara Eliya again during this trip to Sri Lanka.

I had a cup of tea at Chooty's house, and took some photos of him and his family, then we went into school, stopping on the way to buy chocolate cake and strawberries for the staff. I found it hard to believe how expensive the strawberries were - well beyond what local people out here could possibly afford! School felt very empty with no students in today - just Mr. Chan, one of Tea Leaf's most energetic characters, now on the Central Team, in school to lead some staff training.

It felt a bit strange leaving Tea Leaf Centre Nuwara Eliya for the last time today - more empty than sad - but, with my busy schedule, there will be no further opportunities to visit the wonderful Edinburgh Tea Factory this time round. I walked down the hill to Nanu Oya, and chatted to an old lady sitting on the steps of her little line house, which was adorned with plants, took a photo of two brothers playing in the back of an old truck, and another one of the local tailors.

I had things to do in Nuwara Eliya, so I was happily walking along when a voice called out to me, and it was Sajeevan's father (also called Sajeevan). You may recall I was at his house on Lindula the other day for lunch, so I invited him to come to The Grand Hotel for a cup of tea, which was certainly a surprise for the younger Sajeevan, as he didn't even know his father was in town! I cannot believe how many people I have got to know in Sri Lanka over the past 4 years!

Today's photographs show some nice shots of Chooty and his family, the energetic Mr. Chan, the lovely old lady with her flowers, the two brothers playing in the back of the old truck, the tailor's, and Sajeevan senior in town, and at The Grand Hotel having a cup of tea.

N.B. I rather cheekily like to call them photographs, but, to be honest, they are just incredibly amateurish snapshots taken on my mobile phone. If you want to see what a real photograph looks like, I refer you back to this month's Tea Leaf Times newsletter, where you will find an absolutely stunning photograph that Stephanie has taken of one of the tea pickers. She is clearly immensely talented, and Tea Leaf is so fortunate to have had her with us as a volunteer for the past few weeks.

🍃 Tea Leaf Times - January Edition ☕ (mailchi.mp)