Thursday - up at 6.30 and have got into the habit of doing some gentle exercises before breakfast at 7.15.
No school today - so faffed with my bits in the room - tidying - sorting through things in my case - Yes Yas and Karen - I still faff pretty well
Nimal was drying the rice from the paddy fields in a cooking pot in the garden. Then it was all laid out on the patio to dry in the sun and will be sent to the mill to remove the husks before taking to sell at market.
Ranjani started to read my palm but then said she would do it later -- What did she see!!!! Still waiting for the reading.
Took a leisurely stroll to the internet cafe along the banks of the tank. It was just like strolling along the beach with a nice breeze to cool us down. Must say the long walks are keeping me fit.
Back by 12.30 for lunch - Rice Fish Pumpkin Dahl Bean Curry and what looked like seaweed. After dinner is the daily ritual of hand washing my clothes at the washstone in the garden. Chatted with Jenny and Rowena about their favourite subject - Food they miss from back home.
Jeep arrives to take us to the oorphanage and there are lots more children there as 'no school' today. Played our usual games and made a fuss of the new puppy - who has loads of fleas!!. Jenny and Rowena had traced some pictures onto paper for the kids to colour. We finished off the afternoon with the hokey cokey - pics on skydrive. The kids argue over who is going to hold the volunteers hands.
Back home and Nimal brings us ginger tea in the garden and we chat for half an hour. Ranjani collects 3 coconuts from the garden which she needs for cooking and takes the outer layer off using a 'vicious' looking blade
I catch up with my journal and ironing and then shower, check my hair for head lice - Yes Mam the kids at the orphanage have loads . Then tea at 7.15 and TV is on afterwards but don't watch it as I can't understand most of it. A bit of suduko and then bed by 9.30. OH IT'S A HARD LIFE!!
Friday After the orphanage I walked through the paddy fields with Nuwandi and Kimali to a rock that overlooks the fields. - A really tranquil spot.
Saturday Up by 6 today for an elephant ride - bare back. It was a real blowy drive to the place but worth while. The driver sat with me on my ride to stop me falling off but I suspect there were other motives as he held on to me a little too tightly. I can hear Karen and Yas laughing!!
That's all for today. Love to everyone especially Rubes, Ceri and Dave and of course Jeanette and David
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Ramblings
I also now used to eating with my hands and no milk in the tea
I've got into the routine of school in the morning and orphanage in the afternoon so the days are all sorted.
School
School here is kind of odd sometimes - the teachers leave the class unattended or get the kids to sweep the grounds or ask us to take over the class so they can take a break.
Orphange
Communication at the orphanage is still challenging but we have now taught the children the Hokey Cokey, 'Do like I do' and dominoes. I gave some of the kids a wet wipe and some anti bacterial hand wash which smells nice and they were over the moon with this new thing they had acquired. We also bought some jigsaws, balls and paper for them to play with so they're made up. We did also take nail varnish but got told off by the matron as they're not supposed to wear it to school.
Wednesday
Learned on the local news that the school teachers are on strike for 2 days so that has thrown our routine out. Have organised a trip on Saturday to ride elephants and on Sunday I'm going to do the local ancient ruins (by bike)
We then helped Ranjani prepare dinner and wrote down some of her recipes. Ranjani also gave us a treat - cheese and crackers.
Next week is one of the full moon poya days so that will be a day off school too and lots of celebrations in the community.
The pace of life seems so slow here and yet time flies by so quickly
Thats all for now. Love Sue
I've got into the routine of school in the morning and orphanage in the afternoon so the days are all sorted.
School
School here is kind of odd sometimes - the teachers leave the class unattended or get the kids to sweep the grounds or ask us to take over the class so they can take a break.
Orphange
Communication at the orphanage is still challenging but we have now taught the children the Hokey Cokey, 'Do like I do' and dominoes. I gave some of the kids a wet wipe and some anti bacterial hand wash which smells nice and they were over the moon with this new thing they had acquired. We also bought some jigsaws, balls and paper for them to play with so they're made up. We did also take nail varnish but got told off by the matron as they're not supposed to wear it to school.
Wednesday
Learned on the local news that the school teachers are on strike for 2 days so that has thrown our routine out. Have organised a trip on Saturday to ride elephants and on Sunday I'm going to do the local ancient ruins (by bike)
We then helped Ranjani prepare dinner and wrote down some of her recipes. Ranjani also gave us a treat - cheese and crackers.
Next week is one of the full moon poya days so that will be a day off school too and lots of celebrations in the community.
The pace of life seems so slow here and yet time flies by so quickly
Thats all for now. Love Sue
Monday, 9 June 2008
Simple Pleasures
Well the weekend has come and gone. Saturday we caught the bus into town to do a little shopping. Everyone looks at the white people and the children are so friendly - they"ll come and get a seat as near to you as possible and then ask how you are and where do you live and can they have your phone number.
It was either cooler at the weekend or I"m getting acclimatised and I can"t believe how much I sleep. Everyone in the house is in bed by 9.30 and then we"re up around 6 but that's still a lot of hours.
Saturday evening I helped Ranjani make some rotis - Flour salt water and coconut then you cook them on a banana leaf on a griddle - they are really good.
Sunday saw the simple pleasures in life. I did my washing on the stone in the garden, ironing, tidied my room a little and then in the afternoon we walked the mile to the Hotel Aralyia. It was so nice to be cool for a few hours in the pool. Best of all - we had tea (with milk!!!)and cake - it made my day.
Today have been back at the school and orphanage and I think were going to have an ice cream on the way home.
I hope you had a great birthday Dave and Mam I hope you had a good afternoon with Dave Linda Gavin and Annie
Love you. Sue xx
It was either cooler at the weekend or I"m getting acclimatised and I can"t believe how much I sleep. Everyone in the house is in bed by 9.30 and then we"re up around 6 but that's still a lot of hours.
Saturday evening I helped Ranjani make some rotis - Flour salt water and coconut then you cook them on a banana leaf on a griddle - they are really good.
Sunday saw the simple pleasures in life. I did my washing on the stone in the garden, ironing, tidied my room a little and then in the afternoon we walked the mile to the Hotel Aralyia. It was so nice to be cool for a few hours in the pool. Best of all - we had tea (with milk!!!)and cake - it made my day.
Today have been back at the school and orphanage and I think were going to have an ice cream on the way home.
I hope you had a great birthday Dave and Mam I hope you had a good afternoon with Dave Linda Gavin and Annie
Love you. Sue xx
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