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Published: September 26th 2009
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Jake
Enjoyng being reunited with his skateboard Our flights back were delayed or cancelled - it was not exactly clear - but this had two outcomes: the airline paid for a night in a hotel near Colombo airport; we were a day late arriving back to the UK. We felt so excited arriving back in familiar Colombo with its gloriously lackadaisical approach to everything. A 5 minute chat with the immigration officer in which he did everything short of inviting us round for dinner would be impossible to imagine anywhere else, especially in the States. Hotel rooms were soon organised, but then we had a half hour wait in the airport for a taxi to take us to the hotel.
The hotel was part of the Ramada chain and was by a long way the poshest hotel we stayed in Sri Lanka (you could tell we were not paying the bill!) Typically Sri Lankan organisation prevailed however, with the young lad on reception greeting us like friends and cheerfully showing us to our room - sadly within a moment we noticed the room was full of someone else’s belongings and clearly occupied. We were promptly offered another.
The boys were asleep by the time we had
Cake Mark III
For his party rather than his birthdy brushed our teeth. We were thrilled to discover that there was an option for a Sri Lankan breakfast and promptly ordered it. Soon we too were asleep.
We woke and dressed far too early, and wandered down to the restaurant to discover no sign of the breakfast we had ordered for 07:15. It arrived half an hour later, and was a delicious fish curry with some milk rice, though we were disappointed with no sambol or hoppers. A minibus then arrived to deliver us promptly to the airport. Again we marvelled at an airport that in our experience could only be Sri Lankan. Where we had grown used to there being a strictly enforced zone between the queue and passport control here at least 15 people were crammed between the yellow “Please Wait Here” line and the desk. A chance conversation with a couple of strangers behind led to us commenting how at most you were not even allowed up to the desk with your children -at which point Elliot turned and interjected “But luckily we’re grown up”. The man’s face was a picture, but they are certainly experienced travellers. Getting through security was equally “only in Sri Lanka”
and we found ourselves in the departure lounge with 4 bottles of water that would have been confiscated anywhere else - mind you no pen knifes or lighters, unlike on the flight into Bangkok!
I wish I could say that the flight was a delight, but it was far too long, and really the only highlight was nearly two and a half hours of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - which only Nicky had seen before. After landing in London we were nervous having not seen our bags since Bangkok, but needlessly, and we were happily reunited with them. Greater joy came minutes later with the reunion with Granny and Grandad who had very kindly driven down to meet us.
Friday morning came very early after a midnight return to Stourbridge. Still people at school were friendly and at least seemed pleased to see me back. One day and then the weekend was not a bad way to start back. Thankfully they were also understanding of my brain barely functioning and my all too apparent exhaustion.
It is astonishing how quickly you can settle back into life at home. It is wonderful to see people again and a
Child labour on the Allotment
Jake and his best friend from reception - who having left has returned! real pleasure to be back (if you discount having to deal with insurance companies, reconnecting phones and anything involving talking to a call centre!) We have happily inspected our allotment -which thanks to neighbours and parents is looking surprisingly good; reacquainted ourselves with friends and family; gorged on the foods we have missed while away; familiar toys have been played with again. Work is fine, and we are busy with new plans and projects. I have been flattered by the questions of students and more so by visits by ex students coming into school to see me. We even got both cars working again after 5 months off the road. On one day before school Jake complained that he did not want to go. Worried we asked what was wrong only for him to respond “Nothing, it just doesn’t make me genuinely happy!” I guess the last few months had.
In lots of ways a wedding marked the beginning of our trip. Attending Kannan and Sweta’s registration was the first day we enjoyed, and was the moment we began to feel happy, at home, and that we were doing the right thing. It is sort of appropriate that in
a way another wedding marked the end. The weekend after our return Aunty Kirsten and (I guess now Uncle) Gareth got married. Again the weather was glorious, the setting spectacular, and the company friendly, welcoming and warm. It was great to catch up with family and to celebrate the beginning of something new.
Have things changed? Well yes and no. We are enthusiastic about life and excited about the opportunities we have- but I think we were always like that. Jake eats his tea without even looking at it yet alone complaining - he said tonight well whatever it is it is not going to be as bad as Chau Doc - so I guess that is progress. The rule at the gym where if one adult goes out to the outdoor pool he can take one child, but if there are two children, the lifeguard has to come out to supervise too seems truly ridiculous after what we have done together. We are still dreaming, plotting, planning and playing but above all loving each other and the lives we are so lucky to have together. If anything I think we just appreciate each other, and what we have
Stunning Castle and day
Bride and groom in the backround - boys wresting in the front! even more.
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Chaz
non-member comment
You have always been enthusiastic about life, Joe...and what a great thing to say! The next planned world tour...starts now...