May 20, 2022

Things here are more or less fine.  

As I wrote before, I had my second cataract operation 2 weeks ago and everything is as it should be there.  Of course, the actual experience at the hospital was nuts.  First of all, they tell you to be there at noon.  The doctor doesn't show up until 1400 when he has lunch.  They change you into "sterile" OR clothes and then seat you in the general reception area where everyone is wandering in from the street.  When they finally lead you into the theatre area, they want you to take off your shoes.  I refused as everyone was walking around in their street shoes and the floor was dirty.  More waiting, to the point where I had to go to the bathroom.  They were very put out by this.  When I insisted, they finally took me to the washroom which is on another floor.  So you walk through the general reception, up the urine smelling elevator to the washroom.  Finally, you get into the theatre.  Things there went well.  Then they want you to wait again until the doctor gives you the prescription for the post op drops.  By 1600 I was totally fed up and said I was leaving.  They tried to stop me.  No luck there!  Miraculously, the prescription turned up two minutes after I walked out.  Totally crap system!  The one ray of good news was that it cost LKR.10,000 less than expected.

We continue to limp along.  I have everything I need.  There was a milk shortage; not that I drink it, but one of my Buddy is sick and can only drink liquid.  Thankfully, a guy came by in a tuktuk a couple of days ago selling fresh milk.  He must have some cows.  Now he will deliver fresh milk every week.  Time to make ricotta.  The only big problem that remains is the shortage of petrol.  As I don’t have a car, I am not too bothered and my tuktuk man seems to be able to keep his tank full.  So all in all, things are progressing now that Mahinda Rajapaksa, the PM, has resigned.  Now to get rid of the President and the other 15 Rajapaksasas in the parliament.

Putha in a basket