March 8, 2015

Quite some time since I wrote.  Lots of things happening, but the really big news is that my good friend Monica Power is coming to visit me.  Apart from the joy of seeing her, I have given her a long shopping list:  nuts, dental floss, sports bras, vermouth, kalamata olives.  She does not leave until the end of March, so I may be able to think up some other things before she departs.  A friend of Mike's recently came from the States and brought me a Kindle, an electric toothbrush and replacement heads for my water pik.  Unfortunately, the replacement nozzles don't work on my water pik, but the electric toothbrush is a godsend.  It is amazing what you can get excited about out here.

I continue to meet with education officials, this time in the Central Province, trying to get English language training for teachers in plantation schools going.  These schools have badly neglected and have suffered more than most over the years.  This programme would get some competent English language training into those schools which the kids need desperately need if they want to work in more responsible jobs on the plantations, go on to higher education, or find a job off the plantation.  Plus, it will hopefully get me a visa.  A little enlightened self interest never hurt.

On Friday last, we suffered a monkey attack.  I was out, but when I got home, my veranda was a battlefield.  They had smashed or thrown everything they could get their hands on and peed and pooped as well.  Apparently, Veenitha had saved the lady in the annex and her baby who were being surrounded by the monkeys until Veenitha threw a stone at them.  They dispersed long enough for everyone to get inside.  It took me two hours to clean up the mess they made.  Now, my landlords are prepared to have a grill put up around the veranda to keep them out.  They are not only destructive but can be dangerous as well.

These are the things that were sitting in the folded palms of my Buddha.  The Kawasakis gave them to me for my birthday.  The shell and the fish, which the monkeys tossed into the jungle were for long life, the coin is from Japan for wealth, the elephant represents my new home of Sri Lanka, and the pearl I added because I thought it was beautiful.  Hopefully, I will find the jade items in the garden when the gardener comes to clean up.

Speaking of monkeys, the other day I went to the Assistant High Commission of India to meet with the Assistant High Commissioner about the English language training programme.  While I was waiting for Sam to pick me up, I was chatting with guards at the gatehouse when a monkey came up  behind me and just about touched me.  Turns out there was a whole gang of them.  They were walking from the roof of the High Commission across some wires, down the pole supporting the roof of the guardhouse and across to the neighbouring roofs.  Luckily they were not aggressive.

Patches continues to ingratiate herself.  Only problem is she must have seen a snake in the back hall a few days ago.  She gave out a real yowl rather than a meow and now she keeps attacking Stanley Snake (my snake puppet) thinking she is protecting the house.  Of course, she has insinuated herself into my bed and slept with me last night.  This morning she was hesitant to go out the door until I preceded her, she kept looking around corners before she would advance and then she ran directly to Stanley and was about to pounce on him when I picked her up.

Beside me at the breakfast table

On the cushions at the breakfast table after I get up.  Won't be able to do that until the monkey grate goes up.  The monkeys threw all the cushions around like they were playing catch with them.  They were all filthy.

Finally made it into the big bed.

Pretty happy about it too.

The garden is also coming along.  The stick that Tulla put into a pot under my brick oven frame has bloomed into a beautiful vine.  Should be lovely when it has filled in the whole frame.

Went to my friend Judith Smith's for lunch the other day.  She recently lost her husband to cancer and is still getting adjusted.  She is doing very well considering.  Her place is magnificent.  Very open and light.  The really good part, however, is that she gave me a Krups espresso machine.  It is a really professional unit, has never been used and makes very good coffee.  I am enjoying it tremendously.  Thank you Judith.