The Real Thing

John blogs ...

Quick journey from Bristol with Kath and Emily and 3 large suitcases. No hold ups on the motorways. Heathrow Terminal 4 like a small city.

Drinks at Café Rouge, Claire joined – has found a new flat to move in to for her new job – it’s all happening for5 Claire at the moment! Jenny meets us with her penguin.

A competition to see who has packed lightest – John and Jenny (?) lose with equal heaviest weight of 28.8 Kg. All suitcases labelled ‘very heavy.’ No checks made on hand luggage. Easy check-in, no queues, great. Board plane easily, John by window, Claire next, Emily, Kath and Jenny spreading themselves over adjacent 4 seats. Claire gave John quick lesson in video-editing software – seems pretty good as a basic starter software. Well done Microsoft Movie Maker. Colourful outfits of stewardesses. In-flight meal of Sri Lankan Chicken Curry and breakfast of Black Pepper Chicken Curry sets the scene. Flight occasionally a little turbulent. Jenny felt the movement more than the rest of us but having Meatloaf turned up loud on the headphones appeared to help. Short stop at Male, Maldives – a tentative feel of the warmth of 30 degrees – very nice thankyou. Completed arrival cards. Agreed to take first video sequence at the arriving at the Airport. Claire takes photos of the Maldives – much like blue pebble being bounced across a crystal blue ocean. Very beautiful. Next stop Colombo to meet with Suresh and our hosts. Want to find another word for ‘exciting’, as it seems to be appearing far too often in these blogs – but for now, ‘excited’ will do!





Our first taste of Sri Lankan hospitality

  
A warm welcome – and not just the weather which was a cool 30 degrees – but it is slightly overcast, very unseasonal, something called Climate Change I believe. All bags accounted for, changed into casual team uniform, changed currency, bought new SIM phone cards and met Suresh, Sisara, Hassan, Sumith and Shaheen from the Rotary Club of Colombo Uptown. A wonderful friendly greeting that bodes very well for the coming month.




Hans at home

  First stop, the bar at Airport Hotel for a refreshing drink overlooking swimming pool and orange sunset. What a very good idea! Later dropped off at our respective host families – but some delay as Jenny was feeling decidedly under the weather. John’s host – a very personable Dane – Hans Van Svendsen was very welcoming, as were all our hosts. A beer and brief chat followed by snack of hot buttered cuttlefish at the Colombo Swimming Club with Hans. Then turning in very tired from the journey.