Keep Track of Julia: June 25, 2025

No postings for 3 months. I think that a record.

I have a good excuse. After almost 11 years, I have to move. Since April 25, I have been occupied in trying to find a new place to rent. So far I have seen 22 houses. A lot were not suitable. Some were too expensive and the owners were not willing to negotiate on the rent to a level that I could afford. I got close on a few but they all failed for one reason or another.

not happy with Rizvi living on the property
too interfering. Wanted a copy of my will. Misread the lease agreement. Too much trouble even before we started.
broker lied about the initial rent amount and about the progress of negotiations
owner wanted to tear down the servant's quarters after 6 months and start construction of an apartment building
sold
didn't want pets despite the fact that the son of the current tenant had scribbled all over the walls. I guess that is OK, but cats are a nuisance.

So the search goes on. My 3 months notice is up on August 5, but Tiullia has assured me that they are not going to throw me out. Not that they could as they owe me more than LKR.1M. No moving until they pay up.

The other complication is that I have taken in a dog. I initially found her on my morning walk with her 2 puppies. She had clearly been someones pet. They probably threw her out when she became pregnant. I've named her Honey as she is really sweet.

Honey were I first found her

One of the puppies. One got hit by a car and died. Not sure what happened to the other one. Hoping it was picked up by someone.

Both puppies chewing my runner

Honey looking after the pups. When the first one disappeared, she was totally distraught; running up and down trying to find it. Same thing when the 2nd one went, but not as intense.

I took her in after the 2nd puppy disappeared. I should have acted sooner and taken them all in. She has been with me since April 19, just days before I got the news that I have to vacate. I have been trying to find her a home without any luck. She has since been spayed and vaccinated and, of course, I have become attached to her and her to me. Now I am torn as to what to do. Two of the cats have all but relocated because of Honey. Admittedly, Buddy and Nangi had been wandering and going off for days even before she came, but now it seems permanent.

It is more difficult to find a place that will take dogs. Cats seem to be less of a problem. Rizvi says his family will take her, but I an not sure. Will have to see.

She has settled in quite well. Only thing is she chases the cats. Not to harm them, but to play. Chewy and Putha do not like her. At first they all disappeared. Then I started keeping her outside only and Chewing and Putha came back. Now they spit and hiss at her when they see her, but they are here.

She loves to have her belly rubbed.

In the shade on the patio.

Mahjong continues on Thursdays (Secret Mahjong as we do not tell Judith about Thursdays) and Saturdays. Gerry, our teacher, has rejoined us for 2 months as she and her husband are on a visit here.

We celebrated Lesley's birthday belatedly. She is going through a very rough patch as her husband, Ralph, has cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy and now radiation. Very tough row to hoe.

The Democratic Socialist Sewing Club of Sri Lanka continues, although we are down to 2 members at the moment. Christine resigned due to bad health, Corrie and Marianne are both away until July and August respectively.

This was a cake that Viv had made when the DSSC was at her place. Not only was the cake beautifully decorated, but it was also delicious. I ordered Lesley's birthday cake from the same place and was not disappointed.

Simon had his second birthday lunch at Rangalla House. Beautiful spot but a little out of the way. As usual, Yvonne and I got lost going there. Thank you Google Maps! Antony Newman was a most gracious host and the lunch was wonderful.

The revived Book Club has also taken hold. Not very many members. Maximum 13 at the initial meeting at my place and now down to about 6. Good crowd and good books. Coffee at L'Atelier is also good.

In an attempt to get organized for a pending move, I rang up some house movers in order to get estimates. One outfit actually showed up and gave me an estimate of LKR.75,000 exclusive of packaging. When I asked for a detailed written quote, I got radio silence. Another outfit said they were going to send someone at 1500. No-one showed up until 1830. At that point 3 guys and a truck came looking like they thought they were going to move me there and then. I sent them away. After calling the company, they said they would be out again at 1430 the next day. I have not heard or seen anything of them since. The 3rd outfit did send someone, but they only hire out lorries. They are not actual movers. So I will have to rely on word of mouth to find someone. Oh, the joys of Sri Lanka!

Have had a couple of hopper nights at the Kandy Club with Simon and Pauline. They have also stayed with me a couple of times when Pauline has to come into Kandy for her immunotherapy.

Went for breakfast at the Devon Rest when Janie was here from the UK. Total disaster. Long waits for food, orders mixed up, watery espresso. Not going to repeat that experience. No wonder it is so cheap. You get what you pay for.

Went to Los Amigos Locos for dinner on Sunday. Drinks at my place before hand. Another disaster. The servers and the "chef" were completely vacuous. Another place to give a miss for a while.

Carried on with my daily walk until June 1. Then the rains set in, plus I was having a problem with Honey following me. She was fine, but the gang of 4 dogs around the corner were ganging up and attacking her. So on June 2, I switched to aerobics. Better exercise as the whole body gets a workout, not just the legs, but not as interesting. Here are some sights from my final walks.

Mesua, Fried-Egg Tree. The new leaves are red. Located at the junction of my road and the road that follows the river.

The flowers from which the Fried-Egg Tree gets its name.

The same young peacock wandering around.

The playground set up for New Year games. The line on the road marked the finish of a "marathon". Not sure if it was an actual marathon or just a running race of indeterminate distance. Runners running in bare feet or flip flops. Not a running shoe in sight.

Following Auverudu (Sinhala and Tamil New Year), it is Vesak Poya, the full moon that celebrates the birth and death of the Buddha. It is celebrated with light, consequently lanterns are erected all over town.