December 18, 2015

Have had some lovely experiences lately.

Firstly, my sewing machine gave up the ghost.  Well only the feed dogs.  I never even knew there was such a thing as feed dogs, so there was something new to learn.  These are the little tracks that move below the foot to feed the fabric ahead as you sew.  I opened up the machine myself with no luck.  So I started asking around about where I could get the machine fixed.  My friend Clare, who is a sewer and has lived here a long time, told me about an old man named Charles who is apparently the sewing machine whisperer.  She thought he might be dead as she had not seen him in 4 years and he was very old then.  I called the number she gave me and lo and behold, Charles is still alive.  He came over and got the machine with his nephew.  They both speak very good English, were prompt and polite.  I didn't hear anything for 3 days and then Charles shows up at my door saying the machine is fixed.  He delivered it with his nephew again and had me test it.  It works like a top.  He did inform me that the light bulb had broken.  He removed it and showed me how to install the new one.  As we came to the end of talking, he bowed his head and asked me if he could take his leave.  Such a charming old fashioned man. 

Secondly, it turns out that Charles's nephew will take on the occasional tuktuk hire.  This is great news as I have not had a backup for Sam.  Ravi speaks excellent English, lives close by, and will work at night.  The latter is something almost unheard of.

Thirdly, I have discovered pumpkin greens.   They are delicious.  I made an African recipe that uses peanut butter.  What's not to like.

Fourthly, we have harvested some of the spinach that is growing in the yard.

Here is Veenitha with our own spinach and a huge pile of kan kong in the background awaiting processing.

 Fifthly, I planted a few grass seeds, one of which has germinated. 

Our Canadian tomato

Sixthly, Judith threw a fabulous champagne brunch for her birthday at Ozo.  I broke my vegetarian vow to partake of the smoked salmon and the crab.  Really great.

Seventhly,  I have been suffering with my left knee for some time now.  It has even been keeping me up at night.  The other day we had our club luncheon where I asked my friend Marlise who is a retired nurse who still does acupuncture about it.  She proceeded to dig into my knee to the point where she bruised me.  I was almost screaming in pain in the middle of the restaurant, but she managed to unlock my knee cap.  No more pain.  Such a relief.

Apart from that, the rain continues unabated forcing all manner of snails and frogs into the house.

Here is a very large snail oozing its way across the leaves of my bird of paradise plants.

 Lastly, the other day at art group, Deanne's houseboy Indika presented us all with mugs with our names on them for Christmas.

Here are Deanne and Indika with the beautifully wrapped presents.

This is always how my name gets spelled here.  Judith's ended up as Julith.  A very sweet thought though.

Will be busy every day from the 24th through the 28th.  Such a wonderful life.

Merry Christmas to all!