With each of us excited and relieved in equal measure, these rapid-fire smartphone pictures capture Misa’s unbridled happiness outside the Sri Lanka High Commission in London on leaving with entry visas in our passports. With Misa pushing six feet tall at not even fifteen years of age, just look at the height of that bollard!
Steve
One of the treats of being in the UK during July and with Covid-19 restrictions lifted has been celebrating Mum and Dad’s birthdays. After so long apart we felt very privileged to be able to do so.
I let the photos convey the occasions.
Steve
I get my motorcycling genes from my mum, who along with some of her siblings got it from her father and grandfather. Ever since I purchased my Thruxton R I have wondered if Mum would like a ride, the last time she rode pillion being with me on my Honda Hornet approaching twenty years ago.
When asked, Mum replied “All right then!” so donning Rennie’s riding gear and one of my helmets, and with an easy swing of one of her legs over the seat, off we went. The date was 18th July – less than a week before her 82nd birthday.
I felt so proud – and so aware of the responsibility that I held as we rode for forty minutes or so over to the church where Mum’s parents are laid to rest. Her Dad would have been so proud too. Afterwards we rode over for a cuppa with her sister before heading home, the route including climbing Fish Hill at Broadway with its alpine-like curves.
What a treat. A very special day that I will treasure to the end of my days. Thanks for trusting me, Mum!
Steve
It struck me when looking through photographs of this trip how many cooked breakfasts we had enjoyed. It is a wonder we are not putting weight on!
Steve
The first job for me to do after Rennie and the children arrived was to head off to Liverpool for fast track new passports for the children so that we can all have our Sri Lanka visas in time for our return.
I took my Honda motorcycle to save time and whilst much of the ride needed great caution still enjoyed the run up the A41 from Telford via Chester to Birkenhead before taking the Queensway Tunnel under the Mersey. Afterwards I enjoyed a walk around the harbour with its contrasting architecture before heading back to Mum and Dad in Warwickshire for the night and an early ride in to the office in Staines the next day.
Steve
In her last post Rennie mentioned PCR tests being in the Cheltenham apartment post box, but us not having the key. Not only that, but the slot was very narrow, being the same height as each PCR box – and there were six of them to retrieve.
This proved no problem at all for Misa with his nimble fingers, a spatula and a bread knife! Here he is with the first three boxes before going back for the others.
Steve
Monday, 14th June
My first proper motorcycle ride of returning to the UK was on my Thruxton R to see family at Hinton on the Green, followed by fish and chips sitting outside in the evening sunshine at Barnaby’s in Stratford-upon-Avon. Lovely! Simple pleasure, but a real treat.
It then occurred to me that the last time I had taken this motorcycle for a ride before moving to Sri Lanka was nearly two years ago on 4th July, 2019; also to Hinton on the Green and also back to Stratford for some nosh, though this time with Emi on the pillion and she choosing Maccy D for us both!
I just realised that Emi is wearing Misa’s jacket that got attacked by the mice as described in my last post.
Steve
Sunday, 13th June 2021
Having paid for Day 5 ‘Test to Release’ from Covid-19 self-isolation, I was delighted when on Day 7 the result came through as negative so I was a free man. My priority? With glorious summer weather prevailing, to enjoy a ride on either of my two motorcycles that are the tangible objects that I miss the most, living in Sri Lanka.
Stuart kindly took me to my home very shortly after the email arrived, and within a few further minutes my Triumph Thruxton R was ready and I was donning my riding kit. Prior to moving to Sri Lanka I had cleaned my riding boots and placed them in their original box, in the bottom of a steel cupboard in the garage – but on picking the box up it felt far too heavy just to contain boots.
“What could I have packed in there too?” was my thought during the few seconds it took to place the box down and open the lid.
The answer was “nothing”.
The extra weight was a good kilo and a half of seeds and mice droppings. Goodness knows how many trips the mice had made. My guess is that this dates back to late 2019 or early 2020 because on returning home in January 2020 during a business trip I had found that mice had been living in the engine bay of my car and turned its polished cleanliness in to an unholy mess.
Fortunately the boots were undamaged bar the mice chewing through the special laces, and the kind manufacturer (a shout out for Alpinestars) kindly offered to post a new set free of charge.
Unfortunately the lining in Misa’s all weather riding jacket and likewise in my leather jacket faired rather worse; both are now with a specialist company in Coventry for the linings to be replaced.
The door to the cupboard now has a heavy brick in front of it.
Steve
At 18:31 hrs BST last Thursday, so 23:01 hrs for me, I received the news long felt likely; Sri Lanka was going to be red listed. Not only that, but from 04:00 hrs BST on Tuesday.
Time to get my skates on and change travel plans.
When I booked UK travel for 1st July it was with the possibility of the need to travel earlier, and so it came to be. My ticket was booked via a local travel agent so I had a somewhat restless time waiting for them to arrive at work and read the email I had sent right away at night. True to form, they were on the ball immediately and changed my reservation to secure the last available seat on UL505, departing at 02:40 hrs on Sunday.
In a blur followed a very fast track PCR test, UK formalities including booking Day 2 and 8 PCR tests and completing the Passenger Locator Form, and preparing an apartment for nearly three months without occupancy. I was ready on the Saturday night just three minutes before the taxi arrived.
Travel itself was an anti-climax, everything falling easily in to place. Although check-in was slow due to the formalities, it was efficiently handled as Rennie and the children had also found a couple of weeks prior on their own journey. The business lounge was enjoyed in the company of friends from the children’s school, also travelling back to the UK for the summer earlier than planned, and then it was time to board. Eleven hours of flight passed quickly with reading and semi-sleep, full sleep being prevented by the discomfort of wearing a mask throughout causing pressure on my ears that led to a splitting headache.
My first glimpse of England was the familiar shape of Felixstowe Estuary, followed soon afterwards by a lap of central London in clear visibility, and then touchdown just after 09:00 hrs. Stu was waiting for me, and after a nice drive to Mum and Dad’s and plenty of natter, I was back. A surreal feeling of having been away forever yet not at all (for example muscle memory of light switches and furniture obstacles in a darkened room), and the privilege of enjoying the love, care and tranquil setting that is Mum and Dad’s home.
Having brought fresh Papaya, Passion Fruit and Lime from Colombo courtesy of Rennie’s quick thinking (she placed a market order from Krnov via WhatsApp when she realised I was going to use nothing like my 50Kg baggage allowance), it would have been rude not to make some G&Ts on the first evening; Sri Lankan Lime is wonderfully intense and flavourful.
Steve
Sunday 30th May
A hot and spicy Nepali lamb curry and a medium hot potato curry both courtesy of my friend Rajeev. Both delicious and enjoyed for lunch on the balcony with his company and that of a few Lions!
Steve
